chickasaw_hunter
Member
- Joined
- May 13, 2014
- Messages
- 157
TomT, I might have known your Uncle. I think I can speak a little on old school. I was a Ft. Worth Policeman in the 60's. We were issued a S&W Model 10 (bull barrel) when we graduated the Academy in '68. The older guys were issued the Model 10's with the profiled barrel and the half round front sight. We were on our own for ammo, but we were restricted to a standard factory load of 158 grain round ball ammo. If you were assigned to the Patrol (everybody was fresh from the Academy) you reported to work every day to "roll call". You stood inspection and the sergeants check we were all properly uniformed and sometimes they would check your ammo, so not cheating. They were still using that crappy ammo when I left. They were very concerned about over penetration and wanted to make certain we were using the crappy ammo. Absolutely no .357 mag. We could carry personally owned .357 pistols, but best not to get caught with anything but the crappy ammo. I ventured into Model 19 arena for a while, but after having it banged into a couple of door frames, wet nights, and it flying out of an unsnapped holster in a foot chase, I went back to the department issued pistol.
Later I went to work for the Secret Service. They issued me a 2 1/2 inch Model 19. That's your pistol and the only pistol you will use. They also issued us the ammo we would use. It was a 110 grain .38 spl +P. I think the term +P was invented to describe this round and loading. It was the result of a research project to get the fastest round, least penetration, fastest recovery time for a second shot. They bought a lot of it. They had contract specs for it and all of the other Treasury agencies bought off of the USSS contract. Years later, when I worked for another agency I was buying of of that old contract. That was your ammo, the only ammo you were allowed to use. Over the years it got a lot of "testing" in the real world to see how it worked. The verdict was that it did. I still have some and it still goes bang. I remember the first SuperVels, but we weren't allowed to use them. WD-40 showed up about the same time. If you wanted to ruin your fancy new supervels just spray you pistol down with a liberal dose of WD-40. It was supposed to be the new shinny thing to protect your guns. We would learn later the hard way. That's how it was in the good ole days.
Later I went to work for the Secret Service. They issued me a 2 1/2 inch Model 19. That's your pistol and the only pistol you will use. They also issued us the ammo we would use. It was a 110 grain .38 spl +P. I think the term +P was invented to describe this round and loading. It was the result of a research project to get the fastest round, least penetration, fastest recovery time for a second shot. They bought a lot of it. They had contract specs for it and all of the other Treasury agencies bought off of the USSS contract. Years later, when I worked for another agency I was buying of of that old contract. That was your ammo, the only ammo you were allowed to use. Over the years it got a lot of "testing" in the real world to see how it worked. The verdict was that it did. I still have some and it still goes bang. I remember the first SuperVels, but we weren't allowed to use them. WD-40 showed up about the same time. If you wanted to ruin your fancy new supervels just spray you pistol down with a liberal dose of WD-40. It was supposed to be the new shinny thing to protect your guns. We would learn later the hard way. That's how it was in the good ole days.