Sold a LEO on a new duty weapon

Status
Not open for further replies.
H

herrwalther

Member
Joined
May 1, 2013
Messages
8,117
So this is one of those feel good gun stories I had this month.

I was leaving work with one of the local police officers. He stopped at the employee drop safe to get his duty weapon Smith and Wesson M&P (2.0?) in 45 with a 5" barrel. I got my off duty weapon Walther P99 in 40. On the way out the door we were talking firearms. He was complaining his Smith has too much recoil for duty carry, but its a 45 so he likes it. I dry fired his M&P, flat out not impressed by the trigger. It felt like crap to me.

I let him dry fire my Walther. "Wow" was all he said. He asked if it was single stack because the grip was so narrow compared to his S&W. "Nope, double stack .40." I had to put the magazine in my Walther twice to show I wasn't swapping them out. "Too bad, my duty weapon can't be double action." So I recommend the PPQ in any caliber, almost the same firearm as the P99 except with a consistent trigger.

Walked out of work today with the same officer. He was showing off his new weapon. PPQ 9mm.
 
PPQ is a great guy. I have been eyeing one up for a while. Next gun is either that or the CZ P10. Decisions
 
So pardon my ignorance but how many police departments around the US allows one to decide their own “duty weapon”? Is it more departments then not?

In the case of your cop friend what are his requirements on his duty weapon?

And is he issued a weapon if he doesn’t want to purchase his own? Or how does that work?

By the way he made an excellent choice I love my Walther PPQ M1, sweet trigger that one.
 
<*(((>< said:
So pardon my ignorance but how many police departments around the US allows one to decide their own “duty weapon”? Is it more departments then not?

In the case of your cop friend what are his requirements on his duty weapon?

And is he issued a weapon if he doesn’t want to purchase his own? Or how does that work?

By the way he made an excellent choice I love my Walther PPQ M1, sweet trigger that one.
Click to expand...

It all depends on the size of the agency to my experience. The bigger the agency the more regulations, smaller agencies have fewer. You'll find some require you to carry only issued guns both on and off duty. Others will specify certain calibers on duty and let you carry whatever you want off duty.

I worked for a federal agency that had a list of approved firearms. Just about anything from 38 special/9 mm you would think of carrying was on the list. The late 90s brought about issued guns and issued guns only. You had a choice of Glock 17, 19, or 26 issued and a J frame for back up or off duty use. All issued no personal firearms.

This changed to carrying issued guns or a much smallergic list of approved personal guns before I retired.

You can find department regulations all over the place. Smaller departments may only require the chief to okay it.
 
BTW, since LEOSA went into effect most state and local agencies don't want issued guns carried out of state unless you're on official business. I know of situations where the state or local agency says issue guns only. This means the LEO has to qualify with a personal gun in order to be able to carry it out of state only.
 
To reinforce what Girzz said, it really does depend on where you work. Big City PD where I live has a very short list of dept that are all the officer can carry. Most of the surrounding suburb departments have longer and longer lists of approved for personal purchase firearms. The state boys get to carry what the academy gives you, unless you are one of the special ones, then you wear a custom 1911 in a fancy holster on a fancy belt.
 
I know of one small town P.D. that supplies it’s officers with either a Glock or S&W 9mm AFTER the first year of duty. For the first year, the officer must supply their own sidearm , the only requirements are full size and 9mm. I know of one rookie who carried a Jimenez Ja-9.
 
Last edited:
sbwaters said:
Which PPQ 9M? The PPQ 4" classic or the PPQ M2 4", 4.6"(Navy) or 5"?
Click to expand...

He chose a PPQ M2 4" barrel. I tried to encourage the classic paddle release but it didn't fit him well. He is too used to button style.

<*(((>< said:
So pardon my ignorance but how many police departments around the US allows one to decide their own “duty weapon”? Is it more departments then not?

In the case of your cop friend what are his requirements on his duty weapon?

And is he issued a weapon if he doesn’t want to purchase his own? Or how does that work?
Click to expand...

All the local PDs I work with require deputies to purchase their own firearms if they start on as part time. Full time officers can either purchase their own or choose an issued firearm. Department issue is usually a Glock 17 or 19 as far as I know. They have very loose requirements for officer supplied weapons. 1) They must be either Single Action Only (AKA 1911) or striker fired. One type of trigger pull, no DA/SA. 2) Must be in a "duty" caliber. 9mm, 40, 45ACP. Nothing that is considered "exotic" by the department armorer like 357Sig, 45GAP or anything like that.
 
Not trying to derail the thread, but I find it interesting that different folks find different triggers to their individual liking ... as far as striker-fired pistols go, at one of our last instructor get-togethers, I brought my SIG P-320, an H&K VP9 and a S&W M&P-9 2.0 out; one of my guys brought his Walther PPQ out, and someone else brought a new (Gen 4) Glock 19 ... guess what? Out of about ten experienced certified firearms instructors, it was about evenly divided that each pistol had the best trigger pull.

My conclusion: trigger pulls are kinda a subjective thing ... different folks like different strokes. But certainly, between the best Walthers, SIGs, S&Ws, H&Ks and Glocks ...almost everyone will find a level they favor. Seems these days, we've got some great options to choose from if we have to carry a striker-fired polymer-framed pistol, so pick whichever one has the ergonomics that fit you, and the trigger that suits you, best ...
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

W
  • Locked
HK Days Rebate came in, P30L 9mm V3
Replies
5
Views
1K
Chuck R.
Chuck R.
Skribs
  • Locked
Duty/Pocket combos
2
Replies
25
Views
1K
WC145
WC145
sigarms228
  • Locked
Walther P99 and PPQ lovers please report experiences!!
Replies
24
Views
3K
RBid
R
G
  • Locked
.40 S&W Duty Gun (Concealed)
Replies
9
Views
679
kolob10
K
W
  • Locked
My New P99AS vs My Canik TP-9 and My PPQ M1
Replies
4
Views
1K
wild cat mccane
W
Back
Top