[LEVELFOUR]

Are there any LE agencies that still use revolvers?

[19-3Ben]

A few years ago while I was in NYC for a parade I noticed a lady-cop who had what seemed to be a Model 66 on her hip. So as of a couple years ago I suppose NYC cops were still allowed to if they wanted.

[wcwhitey]

NYC, all new officers started being "issued" 9's back in 1993. A conversion took place to all existing over 3 years or so. It was not mandatory but most converted once the cost was picked up by the department. If you see a blue steel gun out there they are past their 20. I still have my 3" Model 64 NYPD-1 in the locker, no longer authorized in place of a Sig 226. SP101, 64 2" and 640 were authorized "off duty" till recently (3-4 years). I still have my 640, not giving that up, and it is authorized, carry it 24/7. For new guys and gals there are a few smaller 9's to chose from for that role, none are "five for sure" though. Bill

[ewayte]

I was in Chicago/O'Hare in 2005 and saw a member of Chicago's finest with a blue steel revolver. He was probably grandfathered in like NYPD.

[W.E.G.]

Some DMV police in Virginia still carry revolvers.

[SA Friday]

I could see a revolver making a lot of sense for a cop in a predomanently low-crime rural area with large critters around. As for a dept that a revolver is their issue weapon? I don't think there are any that do anymore. Some dept's have 'approved gun' lists and there are a few that allow for revolvers.

[chipperi]

Ocean City MD issues their Seasonal cops mostly college kids nice stainless revolvers (not sure make or model), while the full timers carry autos.

[Tom Servo]

In the Atlanta area, you'll still see a few older officers and detectives carrying wheelguns. My understanding is that they have to qualify with them, which means that the guys carrying revolvers really know what they're doing :)

[texjack]

I know a police chief and a bailiff who wear single action revolvers. Of course this is in East Texas.

[wideym]

I met a Police officer in Kentucky outside of Ft. Campbell a few years back that carried a Ruger .44mag single action.(can't remember the model) He was into Cowboy action shooting and I could swear he was Wyatt Earps reencarnation with how fast he could draw, shoot and actually hit the target.

[mikec]

A few years back I did see a Philadelphia, PA officer with a stainless S&W. (He said he didn't know the model... "It's what they gave me")

Also, the Baltimore PD allowed officers to carry a S&W Model 10. (This was maybe six years back when I talked to the officer.)

[8830]

I carried a S&W model 10 from 1994-1995 and then a S&W 610 in a custom made BladeTech from 2004-05. Back pain is why I stopped carrying the 610.

[bill larry]

I saw a Houston PD officer carrying a huge N frame S&W about two years ago.

Also, all the bank guards (Wackenhut) in Boston MA all carry stainless 4" .38 special Smith and Wesson's.

[Rob96]

The Lehigh County Sheriffs office still issues and carries S&W 357 magnums.

[Quoheleth]

This spring, while I was on jury duty, our baliff carried a stainless Security Six. VERY well worn. Either it was a beater that he carried 'cuz he had to, or it was a gun he knew and used (and if used that much, probably very well).

Q

[Silvanus]

In Luxembourg the Police has S&W 686s. They also have Sigs, but the "normal" officers carry revolvers in .38spc. The Customs officers and the army have all changed to Glocks recently though. I would not be surprised if the police did the same.

[Ala Dan]

Here, my local agencies leave the weapon of choice up to the individual
officer. Having said that, I know a recently retired Chief Deputy with the
sheriff's department who never toted anything other than a "wheel gun".
Like most of us, he had many weapons too choose from; but preferred
to carry his 4" stainless S&W model 66, as his duty weapon. Needless
to say, he knows how to use it; always qualifying for the "Governors
20", signifying the top 20 LEO shooters in the State of Alabama. ;)

[Thaddeus Jones]

There was a DA Investigator in High Point NC, carrying a 3" model 66. I saw him with it when I had jury duty. He carried it in a left hand, black leather, paddle holster.

According to the bailiff I spoke to, he was the last LEO in Guilford county NC, carrying a revolver. The bailiff had seen him shoot, and said he knew how to use it. Apparently this investigator had a reputation with a revolver. TJ

[Rexster]

"Use" and "issue" are very different. Most agencies have probably converted to autos as issue weapons, but many officers work for agencies that require the officer to provide his/her own weapons, or at least pay for them, and as rules change, officers may still be allowed to retain their older weapons, under what some call a grandfather clause. That is why one earlier post mentioned a Houston PD officer being seen with a sixgun. HPD officers still buy their own weapons, but for about a decade have had to select from a list of .40 DA autos for use as uniform duty pistols. An HPD officer wearing a sixgun while in uniform has at least a decade of experience. (I live in a city surrounded by Houston, and know many HPD officers.)

[OH25shooter]

In Luxembourg the Police has S&W 686s. They also have Sigs, but the "normal" officers carry revolvers in .38spc.

That's very interesting. Don't some Departments carry the Walther P99?

[TallPine]

I met a Livestock Detective (brand inspector) a couple years back who carried a DA revolver and a couple of speed loaders in nice brown leather. He was the "real deal" and looked like a character out of some western movie. Nice guy, too - though I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side with him.

[Magnum.35744]

These threads I started up a while back should keep you busy for now ;)...


http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=168637
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=170323
http://smith-wessonforum.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/530103904/m/6271094322?r=6271094322#6271094322
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=252488


Enjoy :D!

[Silvanus]

That's very interesting. Don't some Departments carry the Walther P99?

Hehe, do you know how small this country is? :D There are different police stations of course, and many of them. But no "departments". The police is the police. There are no differences for certain regions of the country.

But why do you ask specifically about the Walther P99? I only know of a German "Bundesland" (NRW) that use them...

[Eljay]

In NJ I see armored car guys picking up bags from banks with revolvers on their belts, looked like Rugers to me.

[Tom Servo]

In NJ I see armored car guys picking up bags from banks with revolvers on their belts, looked like Rugers to me.
Revolvers are still common with security/armored car folks, but sadly not for the right reasons.

Every one of my students I've drilled with a revolver has come away a better shooter. I wonder if limited training with wheelguns would help improve LEO marksmanship.

[packarat]

Douglas County Sheriff's, just south of Denver CO, carry 4" S&W revolvers. I believe they are the 686 but did not ask or get close enough to get a good make. My work puts me in close proximity with a lot of LEA across the country. This was very noticeable as I mostly see Glocks on the uniformed, commander sized 1911 in plain clothes and in the south what ever daddy brought you up on :neener:.

I did have the opportunity to witness that a senior uniform LAPD officer did have an old blue S&W in a drop holster. Most likely grandfathered in and did have the look of heavy use. I wish I had asked him what model he was carrying :banghead:.

[kasTX]

Every one of my students I've drilled with a revolver has come away a better shooter.

I had to read that twice to figure out just what you were saying. :o

A couple years ago I was doing some work within the federal courthouse system and noticed the officers were all carrying stainless wheelguns. I asked one about it, and he said it was because they were afraid of rounds making it through the walls and hitting people on the other side, so they used revolvers because they can't shoot through walls.

Uhhhhhh... :eek:

I just let it go at that. I think he meant they are using frangible ammunition. A few days later, one of the officers left their gun in the bathroom, so I am thinking training had something to do with it as well.

[ryan b]

A lot of the agency that are around here allow officers tocarry what they want i use to carry a 625 mountain gun but i do know that i believe University Arkansas Medical Science police carry 686's

[jaholder1971]

Brink's armored car drivers usually carry Ruger Security Six revolvers nationawide I believe. When i worked armed security we'd have to qualify with the local PD and some of these weapons were basketcases that never left leather except for annual qualification.

[Rexster]

To identify myself as an officer with "XXXXXXX" PD and write or speak publicy about our weapons policy could get me in trouble, as I am not the PIO, but I regularly take two revolvers to work with me every night, an SP101 snubby that I keep concealed on my person, and a 4" GP100 or 4" Speed Six that is kept in a Safepacker, which usually rides in the patrol car. Both have the official status of "backup" firearms, with which I must qual annually. A SIG P229 rides in my duty rig, but I can choose to deploy a revolver while leaving the SIG in the holster, and many bad guys have seen the business ends of my larger Ruger sixguns. One of the GP100s was my primary duty sixgun for a couple of years starting in 1993. I switched to lighter K-frames about 1995. I started my LE career in the early 1980's with an S&W M686.

[Checkman]

Likely the LAPD officer was carrying a S&W Model 15.

[Erik]

"Douglas County Sheriff's, just south of Denver CO, carry 4" S&W revolvers."

Only if they were grandfathered.
--

LEO use of revos:

Many... as back up guns.

Not so many as primaries, the acception usually involving those grandfathered in following a state or local level mandated change to semi-auto pistols.

[Rexster]

I forgot to mention earlier, I could still be carrying grandfathered sixguns as primary duty sidearms, but I grandfathered three 1911 pistols instead. So, when I decided to drop the 1911, I could not go back to a sixgun as primary, only back-up/off-duty. Just as well, really, with all the other stuff I now have to tote on the duty belt! The compact P229 fills the sidearm role well, and my SIG has a wonderful "DAK" trigger system, that closely matches my sixguns' trigger pulls in length of stroke.

[Finalizer]

I was in Chicago/O'Hare in 2005 and saw a member of Chicago's finest with a blue steel revolver. He was probably grandfathered in like NYPD.

He's still there. :-) I saw an older CPD officer in O'Hare just about 4 weeks ago wearing a blue steel revolver.

[packarat]

Erik, I would agree with most agencies. However every officer in the Douglas CO courthouse/SO was carrying an identical S&W revolver, with Hogue grips. One of them in his early twenties and most likely just out of the academy.

I want to qualify this and can ask some contacts in the area if what i say is true. Not to hijack this thread but at least we could have one agency in the west still packin' a six/seven gun :)

[Erik]

Got it. I know who you're talking about - I used to regularly visit DCSO's facility. They are not regular deputies, if at all. (Different uniforms, guns... contracted iirc.)

Revos will do if the shooter will. They've largely gone away nation wide because of capacity and ease of reloading issues - take away the need to reload every six rounds and the shotoer has less to worry about. Theoretically a good thing. That's what it really all came down to, imo.

[rc135]

Saw an older San Diego County Sheriff with a stainless Smith revolver, think it was a K-frame in .357.

I spoke with him and found that he was retired, and working the front desk, or something like that. I loved the look of a peace officer with a revolver on his hip!

Vidi Vici Veni...!

[Jomax]

I know a police chief and a bailiff who wear single action revolvers. Of course this is in East Texas.

Do they carry SA so that discharging their weapon is a much more calculated and deliberate effort? As chief and bailiff, they are not actually out on the streets or actively pursuing and arresting folks so perhaps their carry is more symbolic?

[Jomax]

[QUOTE][I loved the look of a peace officer with a revolver on his hip!
/QUOTE]

Revolvers have a romance about them as their roots go way back to the earlier days of this Country. Semi-autos are more modern and therefore far less nostalgic.

[ashgee]

...one of the officers left their gun in the bathroom...

:)

[rick newland]

"Brink's armored car drivers usually carry Ruger Security Six revolvers nationawide I believe."

Brinks carry S&W. Brinks is now changing over to the S&W MP in .40 cal for those that want to carry it.

[Timthinker]

This thread confirms what I have suspected about police/security agencies and revolvers. Wheelguns are "grandfathered" in or they are used by small, perhaps rural, departments. In terms of armed security officials, revolvers appear to be the predominant handgun carried, perhaps for safety reasons.


Timthinker

[Erik]

On why security companies use them so much, I believe it is a combination of perceived need, public perception, training standards, legislative mandate (in some locals), insurance concerns, and budget. YMMV depending on location.

[Alan Fud]

The Lehigh County Sheriffs office still issues and carries S&W 357 magnums.+1 on that.

[White Horseradish]

Just last week I saw an MPD officer in uniform with a S&W wheelgun of some sort in a duty rig having a cup of coffee. I specifically looked at his uniform - he was MPD, not park police or anybody else.

[Tom Servo]

On why security companies use them so much, I believe it is a combination of perceived need, public perception, training standards, legislative mandate (in some locals), insurance concerns, and budget. YMMV depending on location.
I'm familiar with the training regimens, and they're not very comprehensive. If the agent isn't already a shooter when they take the job, most companies' training isn't going to make them one. NRA Basic Pistol is more thorough than the training most of these companies give. Basically, the idea is to keep the rounds on a B27 at ten feet without hurting anyone.

As such, it doesn't make much sense to issue expensive weapons to most applicants. I have one agency that comes in to my shop once a year to drop of their service weapons for our gunsmith. The idea is to drop off 15-20 guns and out of that, restore at least 5 to working condition.

Most of the guns turned in are horribly neglected. Alot of Model 10's and 65's. In many cases, the corrosion is so bad that the internals are useless, and most have likely never left the holster during their whole time in service. Judging from the treatment of the weapons, I wouldn't be giving out Les Baers, either.

I've been called to the aftermath of a shooting involving Brinks. Of 14 shots fired by Brinks guards, two hit their target. This was at 4 and 15 feet, respectively. What's more, they fired from the parking lot and sidewalk, with a crowded store serving as backstop. It's a wonder no customers or employees were hit. :fire:

Weapons in that case were a Ruger P-series and a Ruger Security Six. Both hits were made with the Ruger. I once asked a Brinks messenger what he was carrying, and he took it out of the holster, looked it over, and informed me that he wasn't sure. (It was a S&W third-gen auto)

The cops I've seen carrying revolvers are generally a different breed. They've had to jump through some hoops to retain their preferred guns, and those guys are really good shots.

Some folks carry revolvers because that's what they're given. Others do so because they've had to earn it.

[DouglasW]

I saw three RTD police officers/fare enforcers while riding Denver's light rail system (http://www.rtd-denver.com/) yesterday (Sunday), and it appeared they were wearing 4" S&W revolvers -- perhaps 686s...

[doc2rn]

In terms of armed security officials, revolvers appear to be the predominant handgun carried, perhaps for safety reasons.

The reason for this is the gun ports on armorred vehicles. Auto's may get 1-2 shots before a jam from the spent casing falling back into the slide. You get a full 6-7 with a revolver.

[boalex207]

The reason for this is the gun ports on armorred vehicles. Auto's may get 1-2 shots before a jam from the spent casing falling back into the slide. You get a full 6-7 with a revolver.

Never heard this before, but it makes sense !

[Rexster]

At my duty station last night, on my shift (2200-0600) I made a note that two of my uniformed co-workers were still wearing their S&W sixguns. Another who worked day shift at the same station until a recent transfer to an outlying station, was still wearing his S&W M681 last time I saw him. Yes, there is something so "right" about a lawman wearing a sixgun. :) My P229R works well for me, but its cool factor is somewhere in the basement; so mundane.

[Timthinker]

Doc2rn, I would not have thought of that explanation. My assumption is that armed guards receive less firearms training that police officers, so the revolver appears to be the safer firearm in this setting. May I ask where you heard about the semi-auto jamming from use in a gun port? I do not doubt this explanation, but I am curious about the source. Thanks.


Timthinker

[Rexster]

Anything that interferes with the free the movement of the auto's slide can cause a malf. An auto inserted into a gun port would be likely to come into contact with the walls of the port. When shooting "barricade" at a competition or a police qual, you keep your auto's slide clear of the barricade. A gun port is like a barricade, except it is solid for 360 degrees, not 180.

[Timthinker]

Yes, I understand the slide must remain free or risk a jam. I experienced this situation, though certainly not with an armored car, when I began shooting semi-autos years ago. I have not paid detailed attention to the size of armored car gun ports so I did not realize they would not accomodate a semi-auto pistol. The next time I see a parked armored car I will look at the gun ports carefully. If anyone asks what I am doing, I will say my name is Jesse James.:D

[rick newland]

This is a safer way to check them. My guess is about 2X2 inches. I have never measured them. Guess that could give me something to do tomorrow between stops.

http://img492.imageshack.us/img492/1856/rickatwork26ee.jpg

[Hikingman]

What would be the distance (from target) or other criteria to qualify with a revolver or pistol? Where I'm going with this is trying to picture someone qualifying with a snubby-past, present or future...

[heyjoe]

I have qualified with a 2 inch revolver for eleven years. The course was 50 timed rounds total, which included 3 yards, 7 yards, 15 yards and finally 8 rounds at 25 yards. 2 inch revolvers i have qualified with are the S&W 640, S&W 36 , Ruger SP101, all with 38+P and a S&W 940 which is 9mm. I never had any trouble qualifying and am really just an average shooter.