What kind of ammo do the Dallas police carry?

[Daniel1120]

I recently read an article advocating using the same ammunition in your self defense guns as your local police department. Reason being its easier to defend your choice in court. I would guess they use federal's LEO buckshot with flightcontrol wad and gold dot's for their pistols.

So does anyone know for sure what kind of ammo they use in their handguns and shotguns?

 

[indoorsoccerfrea]

call the department and ask, or when you see a cop somewhere and he isn't busy, ask him. you may want to phrase it wisely though

 

[pbearperry]

If I should carry the same ammo as my local Police Dept. does that mean I have to buy a Ford Crown Vic too?Me thinks there are too many lawyers online.

 

[Hawk]

Somehow, this is ringing my skeptic bell:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080823152312AAHFS81

If accurate, not much guidance.

It's just as well - I don't care for Crown Vics or those S&W branded mountain bikes either.

 

[dat2]

they carry glock 22's here, I have one but still carry my colt

 

[Daniel1120]

pbearperry, ammo and cars are two completely different things. You didn't even use a proper analogy. Ammo is to guns what oil is to cars. What you should have said is: "If I should carry the same ammo as my local Police Dept. does that mean I have to buy a GLOCK OR SIG 226 too?" I will consider switching to their motor oil, after all i'm sure they have thoroughly tested that as well.

 

[Daniel1120]

they carry glock 22's here, I have one but still carry my colt

Seriously, did you not read the question?

Somehow, this is ringing my skeptic bell:

What are you skeptical of? That I want to know what kind of ammo they carry?

Wow, thank you nobody for being helpful. All I was doing was try to figure out what kind of HP's to recommend to my mother, rather than recommending my favorite. My favorite might not be her best choice, but having her use the same ammo as DPD (she lives in Dallas) would give her and I peace of mind.

 

[Hawk]

What are you skeptical of? That I want to know what kind of ammo they carry?

I'm skeptical that the department doesn't provide ammo - which is what the guy is stating in my link.

In the event my skeptic bell is false firing, you have no answer: they buy their own and are restricted only to 9mm or .357 SIG and "anything goes" provided that's complied with.

Does that ring your skeptic bell?

If you're going to bag on the answers it's incumbent on you to read them - that would specifically include a link to someone stating that DPD doesn't have an issue ammo.

 

[Daniel1120]

Thank you hawk. I assumed you were trying to be derogative towards me, you were not. I apologize.

Thank you for providing the link, it gave me a little more insight.

 

[Hawk]

No prob but I still rather hope it's wrong.

First, it isn't much of an answer and, second, I'd like to think Dallas provides ammo to their own police.

It's all I could find but it just doesn't sound right.

 

[harmon rabb]

If I should carry the same ammo as my local Police Dept. does that mean I have to buy a Ford Crown Vic too?Me thinks there are too many lawyers online.

gun loving lawyer here

 

[dat2]

I didn't read it right, I need to open my eyes a little better

 

[pbearperry]

Most Police Depts. don't buy the best of anything including ammo.Most of their choices have a lot to do with cost.

 

[Rexster]

The legal climate in Texas is not such that this is a concern, IMHO. I work for another big-city PD in Texas, and we must buy our own duty/carry ammo, within guidelines. .40 is our mandated primary duty cartridge. Gold Dot is the prevalent choice, but Golden Saber, Winchester Ranger SXT, and various Federal loads seem to be popular, too.

Texas is not New Joisy.

Keep in mind, too, that agencies will often use whatever major-brand premium JHPs that they can get in quantity at a good price.

I cannot publicly discuss department policy, while being being identifiable as a member of my department, and my user name is not anonymous enough to be breaking that rule. I will say that I work for a bigger PD than Dallas PD. Use our method of ammo selection, and you will be fine.

Moreover, keep in mind that all of the major brands construct their duty-type ammo to perform to similar protocols, regarding velocity, penetration, expansion, and such. This is not like the days when Mas Ayoob first starting recommending that one use the same ammo as his local PD. Times have changed.

FWIW, I favor Gold Dots. 180s shoot closer to point of aim from my SIG P229s, and 165s are low, but still fairly close. 155s are more available locally, and are OK.

 

[GregC]

For what its worth, I believe Dallas County SO carries Winchester Rangers for department issued Glocks (.40 S&W).

 

[sgt127]

Dallas issues Sigs. Currently DAK. Prior to that, DA/SA. Mostly P226. Officers at thier discretion can carry any of the Sig line up. Issue caliber is 9mm, optional upgrade, out of pocket to .357 SIG.

During the transition to auto's, Officers were allowed to pick from several guns off the approved list to include Sigs, Glocks and Berettas (If I recall correctly) Again, out of thier own pocket. If you qualified with one of those, and chose to keep it, you may still carry it. If you originally carried a .357 Magnum or .38 revolver, you can still carry it, though, they are getting pretty scarce these days.

So, technically, you could carry a .38 Special, 9mm or .357 SIG or .357 Magnum and be carrying what DPD carries...ISSUE would be 9mm.

 

[lvcat2004]

^^did you read the original post?

we're talking ammo, not calibers or kinds of firearms.

 

[sgt127]

Yeah, silly me. I thought the question about ammo would include the caliber. Gold Dots in the 9mm and .357 SIG. (that may be dependant on if somebody else comes along with a lower bid) Winchester 145 Silvertips in the .357 Magnum. Not sure on the shotguns or .38's.

 

[franconialocal]

Sorry, but I think carrying the same ammo/firearm as your local PD isn't going to make a lick of difference when it comes right down to it. Types of firearms, cal., rounds, etc. vary widely even "in the business". Shooting someone is serious business, and the type of ammo you used may not nec. make or break your case as it stands alone. Either way the court/jury is going to see it that you "used deadly force".

 

[donato]

...using the same ammunition in your self defense guns as your local police department. Reason being its easier to defend your choice in court.

Daniel1120,

Are you planning to shoot someone or some thing??

 

[AKElroy]

Quote:
...using the same ammunition in your self defense guns as your local police department. Reason being its easier to defend your choice in court.

Daniel1120,

Are you planning to shoot someone or some thing??

I carry Gold Dots in all my defensive CCW's, and that is the load preferred by our local PD. I figure they have done more testing then I can afford to do, and have elected this load for all the reasons I would. Makes sense---

 

[Daniel1120]

Daniel1120,

Are you planning to shoot someone or some thing??

If you would read more you would see I am trying to find the right hp for my mother. And just MAYBE the ammunition choice could have an effect of a trial, but more so I wanted to know what kind they use so she and I can have peace of mind.

Rexster, your post was most helpful. I hear what your saying about them going with the cost effecient solution. Looks like she will be using either gold dots or sxt's, which ever is readily available.

 

[maroast]

Reason being its easier to defend your choice in court

Seriously? You live in Texas.... Joe Horn shot and killed two criminals robbing his NEIGHBOURS house.... I'm pretty sure he wasn't using the same ammo the police use....

 

[lanternlad1]

Joe Horn shot and killed two criminals robbing his NEIGHBOURS house

Umm, no. Joe Horn shot two people who were attacking HIM. They were robbing his neighbor's house when he confronted them, then they attacked him. They crossed into his yard and came straight for him. He shot them both with a shotgun. A Pasadena police detective saw the whole thing, and the information is in the court records.

To the OP, I wouldn't worry about ammo used in self defense, AS LONG AS IT ISN'T SOMETHING YOU LOADED YOURSELF. ALWAYS use factory ammo for SD. You never know when some sneaky lawyer will start asking you your qualifications on ballistics, and how you came to be such an expert on bullets. Don't give them the chance. Myself, I like CorBon Pow R Balls. Load like FMJ, expand like HP. Helps with the reliability of an autoloader, one less thing to worry about.

 

[sohcgt2]

I don't know what Police in Dallas use, but more important than ammo choice is keeping accurate records of what you are shooting (bullet weight, type, Mfg, lot # if available). If you end up in court that information will help identify you as a responsible gun owner.