45Guy
Member
Who decided that LEO;s on patrol would carry two reloads? Why? Also, when were BUG's OK'd? Any LEO's out there that routinely carry BUG's on patrol? Just curious about it.
LEO reloads?
- Thread starter 45Guy
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45Guy asked;
Most likely some admin type.
Probably because it made the gear on the duty belt look nice and balanced.
Varies by agency. Some departments still don't authorize them and I know of some that actually issue them.
Yes I do.
Jeff
Most likely some admin type.
Probably because it made the gear on the duty belt look nice and balanced.
Varies by agency. Some departments still don't authorize them and I know of some that actually issue them.
Yes I do.
Jeff
sacp81170a
Member
Don't know if it's true, but I would guess that widespread adoption of the practice of carrying two reloads came sometime after the Miami FBI shootout. Lots of our changes in tactics get referred back to that incident, including the standardization on semi-autos, the change in caliber(first to 10mm and then to 40 S&W), training in one-handed reloads(difficult to do with a revolver) and the change from using 10-ring targets to silhouettes on the range.
After the Hollywood shootout, there was a clear change in carrying rifles in the patrol car. Heck, we even have a patrol rifle course offered to officers that have already graduated the academy, a necessity when many officers now have no military background and no familiarity with the AR platform.
Can't give particulars, but I'd bet that post-Miami would mark the widespread adoption of the practice.
Oh yeah, I carry a BUG, but I'm required to qualify with it on the same course as my duty weapon.
After the Hollywood shootout, there was a clear change in carrying rifles in the patrol car. Heck, we even have a patrol rifle course offered to officers that have already graduated the academy, a necessity when many officers now have no military background and no familiarity with the AR platform.
Can't give particulars, but I'd bet that post-Miami would mark the widespread adoption of the practice.
Oh yeah, I carry a BUG, but I'm required to qualify with it on the same course as my duty weapon.
OldSchooler
Member
Don't know if it's true, but I would guess that widespread adoption of the practice of carrying two reloads came sometime after the Miami FBI shootout.
+1
I remember the incident and all the furor it caused. Plenty of policy changed that day. LE work went to a new level then. Will you ever need your reloads? Your BUG? Honestly? Probably not.
Has someone needed them? Yes. Has there been a case or cases where the lack of them was instrumental in an OSD? Yes.
The bad guys are better armed and more ruthless than ever. Admins want you LEO's to come home.
+1
I remember the incident and all the furor it caused. Plenty of policy changed that day. LE work went to a new level then. Will you ever need your reloads? Your BUG? Honestly? Probably not.
Has someone needed them? Yes. Has there been a case or cases where the lack of them was instrumental in an OSD? Yes.
The bad guys are better armed and more ruthless than ever. Admins want you LEO's to come home.
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Two reloads is not a standard, just what seems to be common. A lot of depts around this area that use single stack mags carry 4 extra mags. I carried a Glock 23 with a 13 rounder in the gun and 2 15 rounders on my belt with an extra 3 in the car. I usually left my backup gun in the car as well cause my pants were too tight to wear an ankle holster.
The concept of LEO's carrying a back up gun (BUG) goes back to New York City when revolvers were standard. It was faster to get the second gun than to reload the first. There is an expression referring to Back Up Guns as "New York Reloads" for this reason.
KIMBER45TLE
Member
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'74
Back in '74 when I first started I had long hair and assigned to Criminal Investigations. We carried what was in the gun on us and that was about it.. When I transfered into uniform and went on patrol we were issued two drop pouches for our issue side arm Model 28 Highway Patrolman. BUG was a Chiefs Special for most. When I left the state and went into U.S. Maritime Law Enforcement we carried what ever pistol we could qualify with which back then for me was my Model 29 six inch. Two speed loaders and all the ammo we could carry in the vehicle or boat. Not too much on us when on the high seas for fear of falling over board with it on. I also carried a Charter Arms Bulldog as a back up. When I transfered to San Fran, they raised all kinds of heck about me with the mod 29 but one of the other agents called me "Filthy Phil" it stuck and no one ever said anything else about it. As a reserve now, I carry a full size 1911 with two mags on the belt, and several others in the car.
Back in '74 when I first started I had long hair and assigned to Criminal Investigations. We carried what was in the gun on us and that was about it.. When I transfered into uniform and went on patrol we were issued two drop pouches for our issue side arm Model 28 Highway Patrolman. BUG was a Chiefs Special for most. When I left the state and went into U.S. Maritime Law Enforcement we carried what ever pistol we could qualify with which back then for me was my Model 29 six inch. Two speed loaders and all the ammo we could carry in the vehicle or boat. Not too much on us when on the high seas for fear of falling over board with it on. I also carried a Charter Arms Bulldog as a back up. When I transfered to San Fran, they raised all kinds of heck about me with the mod 29 but one of the other agents called me "Filthy Phil" it stuck and no one ever said anything else about it. As a reserve now, I carry a full size 1911 with two mags on the belt, and several others in the car.
armoredman
Member
Dept issues double mag pouch with two spares, and 45 rounds, (Good Lord forbid you come back with 44!), when we use sidearms. Off duty I carry two spares, haven't really figured out why...just do.
ChickenHawk
Member
Oh! It took a couple of replies for me to catch on to what this thread was really talking about. 
I thought the title was talking about carrying reloaded ammo which I assume leos are not allowed to do, right? Seems like most municipalities wouldn't be willing to bear the responsibility for any liability.
Just curious.
Cheers,
ChickenHawk
I thought the title was talking about carrying reloaded ammo which I assume leos are not allowed to do, right? Seems like most municipalities wouldn't be willing to bear the responsibility for any liability.
Just curious.
Cheers,
ChickenHawk
Hypnogator
Member
No, it goes way further back than that, to the days of the six-gun. It was common practice to issue 18 rounds; six in the revolver, and twelve in a double dump-pouch (later, speedloaders) on the belt. Don't know where it originated, other than that consensus at the time was that an officer should have two reloads to keep him going until backup got there.
45Guy
Member
I figured it went back further than Miami since yiu can find pictures of officers in the 20's with 2 reloads on their belts. Thanks for all the info, and thanks to all the LEO's for your service.
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