Please help me choose a gun for my law enforcement career

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Today I got to the gun store just before they closed. I held a Glock 21, 22 and 23. I like the 21 the most, they fit my big hands better than the compact model.

Then he showed me the XD model. I really liked this gun, and I think I might like it more than the Glock. The only draw back to this gun to me is it has alot of bells and whistles, and I just look at it as more stuff to go wrong.

Thursday I am going to go back when we have some time, and fire a few rounds through a Glock 21,22 and an XD in 45.
 
LEO's seem to have a need for high round counts these days.

I prefer a 1911 in .45 ACP, but there is that ammo limitation....

Now, if you're gonna consider something chunky like the Glock... have you considered a double stack 1911?

One of the shops in our area issues Glock or a 1911, officer's choice... and I've seen plenty officers running around here with that single stack 1911. That being said, if you can wield a double stack 1911 with a polymer frame for duty... do it.

.
 
Thanks for the help everyone. Just got back from picking up my gun. I went with a Glock 21!
 
I got my first gun when i turned 21...back in 1994..it was a Glock 22. I still have it and do not think I have ever once had a problem with it firing, feeding or ejecting. I today still trust that gun over anything new.
Like others I would also check to see what your partners are carrying.
 
Congratulations, shoot it as much as possible and best of luck with your career!




And please don't refer to non-police officers as "civilians", it is ridiculous and infuriating. Police are not Soldiers, they are not Marines, they are not Airmen, they are not even Seamen. They are civilians just like everyone else who isn't in the military.

Not that you are guilty of this, but I'm on another forum right now in a discussion with a guy who thinks civilian law enforcement are not civilians. It's a nasty habit to get into, and you don't want to be that guy.


Does your 21 have stock sights on it or night sights of some type? How does it shoot?
 
Personally, I'd recommend a GLOCK 17, but I am a devout 9 mm guy.
Whichever weapon/caliber you choose, your back up gun (if you can carry one) should be the same caliber. The selection of small 9 mm guns is pretty extensive.
 
Choose the gun that's right for you, not the gun that everyone and their brother owns, or recommends, or shouts out on the favorite gun board. Choose the gun that best fits your hand and eye, that you can shoot accurately and effectively all of the time, that feels comfortable day and night. Rather than think of a manufacturer, think of yourself and your needs, and then go from there. The very best thing you can do is to try out a number of guns from a number of manufacturers in a number of effective calibers until you find the one that's exactly right for you.
 
Congratulations on your Glock! If the slide bites your hand, there is a gadget available from Brownells that will make the pistol sit a bit higher, to clear the web of your hand. Don't get this gadget unless you NEED it, because there are advantages to your weapon sitting lower in your hand.

"Slide bite" is when the motion of the slide wears grooves in the skin of the web of your hand.

Good luck on your quest to become a peace officer! Do be careful out there.
 
When I signed up with my agency they issued your choice of either the Browning hi-power or H&K P7 M13. Once we switched to the HK USP40, they've outlawed the 9mm.
Now we're switching to the glock for issued weapon:cuss:. someone important sipped the kool-aid.

Fortunately we have an AWESOME alternate weapon policy; I and many others make use of it. They made me qualify with the issue guns, but I have ALWAYS carried a 1911. We can carry any quality brand manufacture in 9mm, 40SW, or 45ACP.
In plain clothes now and I don't feel under ammo'd with only 9 rounds in the gun and one spare 8-round mag. I keep two spares in my raid vest.
 
A Llama 1911 .45 with the 40rd drum mag, with predator style 3-dot lasers, suppressed. As for backup, have another 40rd mag.
 
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Find out what they train with at the acadamy and do yourself a favor and buy that gun. It never hurts to have more anyway and chances are your agency will also have that gun on their approved list. Most acadamy firearms instructors teach around a specific pistal and you'll have an eiser time in class if you use their prefered pistal. A Glock 22 is issued by more agencies then any other.
 
I would shy away from the XD. My acadamy class was told not to buy them or bring them to the range because the mags are to fragile when doing reload drills, when the mags hit the ground the feed lips break.
 
Congrats on your choice! I'm by no means a Glock fanboy, although I do have a G19 for general concealed carry, but they are great handguns for the money.

13+1 rounds of .45 should have the bad guys ducking for cover. :) Good luck, and be safe out there.

NG VI said:
And please don't refer to non-police officers as "civilians", it is ridiculous and infuriating. Police are not Soldiers, they are not Marines, they are not Airmen, they are not even Seamen. They are civilians just like everyone else who isn't in the military.
Click to expand...
First off, I'm an active duty commissioned officer, so take that FWIW. However, I've never considered LEOs, FFs and EMS personnel as "civilians", and apparently Merriam-Webster doesn't either: "one not on active duty in the armed services or not on a police or firefighting force".

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civilian

My $0.02...
 
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A hunk of advice. Now that you own the big Glock, think about saving some cash and buying its twin in the compact version in the same caliber. The big mags fits the little gun

I currently have a Glock 31 (357 sig) as a duty weapon with a rail light. I work mostly plain clothes assignments have to CC my hangun. For that I have a Glock 33 (357 sig) and for the extra magazine I pack one from my Glock 31. A few extra rounds in the big mag if need them to get back to the car where I have an M4 commando. Remember the north Hollywood bank shootings?

Other advice. A GOOD holster with retention and know how to draw and re-holster from ANY position. In the dark, on the ground, laying on it, off hand and in the car seated etc without looking or thinking about it.

Welcome to the field fellow sheepdog.
 
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