do US PD's stil issue sixguns?

[max popenker]

as far as i know prior to mid-1970 almost all police dept's in USA were issuing revolvers as a standard sidearms. At the present time i belive most PD's issue some sort of selfloaders.

But, maybe some dept's still issue old venerable sixguns as a STANDARD sidearms? If yes, please tell me what depts and what guns?

another question is - were ever Ruger DA revolvers, like Security Six, Speed Six, Service Six or GP100 popular among LE troops? were these guns ever issued as a STANDARD sidearms by some Police Dept's?

what else brands of sixguns (other than Colt, S&W and maybe Ruger) police officers used on any larger scale?

TIA.

 

[RON in PA]

This is an incomplete answer, but I do know that in some large police departments such as New York and Philadelphia older officers trained on revolvers are still allowed to carry them. Ruger revolvers started to compete with Smith and Wesson in the late 1970s and were allowed in the New York Police Department. They were also adopted by the US Military for military police duties, I saw them in the holsters of Marine sentries at Willow Grove Naval Air Station 10-15 years ago.

Private security agencies still issue revolvers as well as some sheriffs officies and game commissions, but I think I am safe in saying that for all practical purposes semiautos have become the standard for US police.

 

[Shweboner]

I saw an officer of Oregon State Police carrying some kind of hogleg, I wanted to ask him about it, but decided it probably wasnt good timing.

It looked like a S&W or Taurus, from the look of the cylinder-release button, and had a 6" bbl or longer? it definitely screamed "do not @$%^& with me"

this was back in November 2003, but I doubt it was an issued weapon.


~Brian

 

[Ala Dan]

An Answer Not Sat In Stone, but

Some LEO's would rather fight than switch !

I have a friend, and former chief deputy in my old
department that still swears by the wheelgun.
His choice, a 4" Smith & Wesson model 66 in .357
magnum. He is noted as a "Distinguished Expert",
and is a member of the State Of Alabama's famed
"Governor's Twenty"; winning numerous
trophy's along the way.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[BluesBear]

I used to see quite a few LEO in Kentucky & Indiana carrying Ruger .357 Security-Six revolvers.

I also know of quite a few that carried the fixed sight Speed-Six revolvers either off duty or plainclothes.

Back in the late 1970s and early1980s S&W was allocating their stainless guns because they couldn't keep up with demand and many dealers were scalping them for obscene prices. Anyone remmber those 1980 $300 M60s?

Stainless Rugers were available, reasonably priced and they stood up well. I had a short barreled Speed-Six myself that was incredibily smooth right out of the box.

 

[WT]

I frequently see older New York City police officers carrying revolvers. A few months ago I saw a New York National Guardsman at Penn Station carrying a 1911, but that's another story.

I know that some New Jersey State Police officers carried .357 magnum Ruger revolvers back in the early 1980's. They have long since gone to semi-automatic pistols.

I am not aware of any other revolvers issued for police service in the USA besides Colt, Ruger, and Smith & Wesson.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Blues Bear-

Yes sir, I remember those days very well. From the model
60's introduction, until about 1973 we didn't see these
little stainless chief's specials. Some where about 1974,
I bought 2X NIB model 60's for $185.00@. Turned those
into a small profit; and nowdays I have one of the old
ones .38 Special with pinned barrel and "R" serial prefix
that was made between 79-80.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[9mmepiphany]

i just learned that the california department of corrections still issues a wheelgun

i'm thinking that the largest department still issuing wheelguns would be overseas...i think i read that singapore just picked a new issue gun, the tarus 85

 

[Wil Terry]

YOU BETCHA THEY DO! MOST ARE SMALL DEPARTMENTS BUT

I know of two right now who are looking at going back to their 357 revolvers after going through the 9mm phase, then jumping on the 40 bandwagon, and finally deciding " we ain't had all this grief with the old sixguns. Gimme six for sure! "

 

[CZF]

I've seen where Mas Ayoob has called the Service Revolver "quaintly
archiac' I guess he is trying to be nice.

Given the fact that the S&W Military and Police model was designed in
1899. That's the technology you get when you carry a DA revolver
for your main sidearm.

Autos are faster to reload and in my experience, more trouble free
than a Revolver. I've had some real problems along the way, be it
S&W, Ruger or Charter Arms wheelguns.

Like the 1911, Revolvers can do the job, but there are far better choices
in the year 2003.

As for being issued. The Durban South Africa Metro Police still issue
the Ruger .38. So do many Canadian depts.

 

[Rob96]

Lehigh County Sheriffs Dept. and the PA Game Commission still issue revolvers.

 

[BluesBear]

Of course we just did this less than 3 weeks ago. But since no one pays attention or does searches anymore..... http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=51575

 

[Lightsped]

Cobb County Sheriff's Office issues stainless S&W 686s to the Court Officers. Not sure what the rest of the SO is issues. Probally Glock 40cal.

 

[RWK]

CZF Said . . .

"Autos are faster to reload and in my experience, more trouble free than a Revolvers". While we all have unique experiences, I strongly suspect most of us have experienced more reliability problems with autoloaders than revolvers (although I have never had a single problem with my CZ 75B).

 

[chaim]

Autos are...more trouble free

Umm, you're kidding right? There is often a reason that "conventional wisdom" comes to be. Most revolver owners can attest to the fact that, while revolvers can break down from time to time, autos are far more likely to fail you.

My CZ 75B, highly reliable, has had half a dozen hiccups in about 6K rounds. My Charles Daly has about one every now and then. My CZ 40 I had might have had one or two. My Bersa is my only auto that hasn't. My best friend's Kimber has had about half a dozen hiccups, his CZ 85 too. Another friend's Ruger P90 had one or two hiccups. I've had range rentals from Beretta and SIG have hiccups on me.

My S&W 65LS (stopped counting some time ago, but it is certainly over 5000 rounds), Colt PPS (no idea the round count, I bought it used), S&W 586 (bought used, don't know the round count), Taurus 85 (bought used, don't know the round count), S&W 19 (bought used, don't know the round count), and numerous rental guns (from Taurus to Ruger to S&W) have never failed me yet. My Taurus 82 I bought used did have a loose ejector rod (came that way) that I never locktited and once or twice when I let it get too loose I had a little trouble opening the cylinder, but it fired fine (my only "bobble" with a wheelgun, ever, and that was because something needed fixed that I didn't bother getting fixed).

An auto that can go 200-500 rounds without a jam, misfeed, ejection problem, etc. is considered reliable enough to stake your life on it. One that can go 1000 or more rounds without a hiccup is extremely reliable. A revolver that can only go 1000-2000 rounds for a non-ammo related problem (hard primer, dud round, etc) would probably be considered a very unreliable gun.

Of course, you are talking only about your own experience. Maybe you got unlucky with your revolvers, maybe you are attributing problems with bad ammo to the gun, maybe you got very lucky with autos, maybe you have only owned one or two wheelguns that may have had some issues... However, when your experience is so different from most I think it is probably a safe bet to say that it is a rather unique experience that is not representative of what most people have found.

 

[snubby]

Saw a security guard last month at the Social Security Office in Ft. Wayne, IN carrying what looked like a Ruger GP100. Don't know if that's "standard issue" or not (didn't even realize the SSA needed armed guards, but who knows these days?).

 

[dinosaur]

I ran into a guy from the Pa. Game Comm. last week and he told me they`re switching to Glocks in .357 Sig next year.

A p/t LEO here in town works at Social Security and I remember him telling me they were issued revolvers.

 

[Zenon]

I've seen some fairly young Philadelphia LEOs carrying revolvers recently. Not a large number, but I do notice that revos are not uncommon here.

 

[Stainz]

CZF,

Yep, the old 1899 'M&P' was the precursor to today's S&W DA's. Who'd want to use something that archaic when they could have something based on a semi twelve years younger?? In comparison, the venerable 1911 and it's variants don't look all of that modern. Sure, use some space-age material... voila, Tupperware! Most PD's went for increased firepower - a higher round count deemed more important than proper marksmanship.

My only near-LE job was as SP in the USN over three decades ago... and we carried 1911's that rattled as we walked. I remember then that some SP's on shore carried .38's... seemed better to me (6 vs 7 rounds). I have come full circle... my first handgun for 'protection' was a G21 with +2 extenders (15 rounds of .45ACP). Although never a jam... it failed to feed from a new 10 rd mag and I 'lost' faith. I have since become a revolver-addict... my only evil-bottom-feeders being my MKII .22 plinker and my wife's CZ-75B - never a problem with that piece. Of course, my revolvers have been 100% reliable - even my S&W 625 revolver with just six of those .45ACP's.

OT - if you must have a 9mm, you can't beat that CZ-75B. After several years - and 8-10k rounds - all but one box were 115gr FMJ Blazers - I have had no hiccups of any kind. In addition, even Cabellas has 15rd mags for 2/$39 - and they work like the included OEM one. Mine hits POA at 12 yd with those Blazers. As great a bargain in the 9mm semi market as their CZ-452 is in the .22LR rifle market.

Stainz

 

[355sigfan]

I know of two right now who are looking at going back to their 357 revolvers after going through the 9mm phase, then jumping on the 40 bandwagon, and finally deciding " we ain't had all this grief with the old sixguns. Gimme six for sure!
END

I would like to know the name of the department. I have yet to hear of any department going to a revolver after having autos. If they are having grief its because they chose a poor auto design, bad ammo or imcomplete training.

CZF the 1911 is the choice of most SERT(SWAT) teams and special operations teams. Its the best design for shooting fast under stress.

One area the revolver is still popular in is as a back up weapon. In this area it does fine.

As for reliability. If you compare a quality auto to a quality revolver both are about equal. Its more a function of individual guns rather than revolver vs auto in the reliability department. I have had autos malfunction and revolvers as well. Anything man made will fail.

Pat

 

[Johnny Guest]

I know of none currently ISSUING revolvers - -

Other than the Texas Prison system, and that's probably not within the bounds of the question.

Funny thing - - In 1972, I hired on as the first investigator employed by the county prosecutor's office here, and I was the FIRST peace officer, uniform or plainclothes, in this county to carry an autoloader full time. (Old model National Match "Gold Cup" or a Commander.) Over the years, things have evolved.

Now, though, I work for the Sheriff's Office, and freely admit to being some kind of reactionary old reprobate, still carrying a 1911-type practically every day. Of course, on the day I post this particular response, I'm packing a Colt Agent on duty. (But the Commander's in my car. ) I noticed one other guy carrying a 1950s vintage Military & Police today, though he usually packs a Glock 23. Sometimes, one simply feels a little, uh, retro.

Best,
Johnny

 

[Quartus]

there are far better choices in the year 2003.

"New is better!" is juvenile thinking, if it can even be said to be thinking. If something works, it works, no matter how old it is.


And "older is better" is just as bad.

 

[Marvin Gardens]

The California Department of Corrections is (by numbers of sworn officers) the largest law enforcement agency in the world. They issue Model 10's although the Model 15 is also authorized for Departmental purchase. I believe the issue is the perceived increase in training costs to transition to an autoloader.

Marvin

 

[BluesBear]

The California Department of Corrections is (by numbers of sworn officers) the largest law enforcement agency in the world.

I thought CA CDC has a little over 31,000 officers while NYPD has a little over over 39,000 ?

 

[Ala Dan]

Hello!

You know folks, I know a deputy U.S. Marshal that
swears and declares that he won't switch from the
wheelgun. Haven't seen this rascal in awhile, so I
don't know if the Marshal's Service is letting him get
away with that or not?

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member