you can pick your duty weapon and bug

[AWMP]

Going to work the reserves upon re-deployment ( TCLEOSE exam when I get back), Chief says you can pick your duty weapon as long as 9mm and above, bug as well, what do you choose and why?

I have narrowed it down to:

1. XD45 Service Model (I have one and really like it, 13+1 45acp, good combo)
Bug-not sure, would like to stay with 45acp, Glock 36, but have heard they have issues, kimber ultra cdp II, (can't use XD mags) SW642, but lose same ammo type, Glock 26

2. XD9 Service Model (16+1), bug Glock 26 (atleast same ammo type and more power than SW642 38), ?

3. Glock 17 (17+1), bug Glock 26 (can use Glock 17 Mags), lightest of all.

1- shoots good, heaviest of all, just have to decide on bug
2- shoots good, lighter to carry than 45acp, bug Glock 26
3- only one I don't already own, but have in the past, lightest package to carry of all, but XDs just seem to feel better, but Glock 17 is the best of all glocks in my hand

Either 45 or 9mm
45-big bullet, shoots well, twice as much in cost of ammo, weighs the most to carry daily
9mm-many rounds, lighter carry and cheap ammo

 

[JERRY]

no, dept. issues service weapon, but we can pick our own BUGs within the specs outlined in the policy....

i choose a 640-1 because i see first hand all the gunk that a gun gets exposed to with ankle carry and i just dont want to take that chance of it being in a semi auto that i forgot to give the daily cleaning to....besides, its a Magnum baby...

 

[RyanM]

Do you get to pick your duty ammo as well? If so, I'd go with the XD9 and Glock 26, and use Remington 147 gr Golden Sabers.

 

[strangelittleman]

How about the Ruger 2 1/4" sp101 w/bobbed hammer in .357, for a BUG, and the XD45 service or the Glock17 for the duty weapon.
Have you checked out the Glock21sf? I'm a small guy and have a bit of trouble w/ the std 21 but the 21sf is very comfortable and a breeze to control when firing hammer pairs & controlled pairs or when firing from non-std positions ie; wounded officer drills, weak hand, roll-over prone, etc.
, but then so is the Glock17, XDs & M&P series of pistols. Check them all out, take your time, and good luck!

 

[wtfd661]

Of your 3 choices I would pick number 3, interchangable magazines and operating system is the same, which means a lot when your under stress. You will lose fine motor skills and revert back to muscle memory when the crap hits the fan.

 

[Water-Man]

I like your first choice.

 

[Autolycus]

If you like the XD9 why not get that and use the an XD sub compact 9mm as your BUG?

 

[wunderkind]

I like my Glock 23/Glock 27 setup. If you can find a way to carry a "mini" version of a service weapon that shares the mags from the duty gun, what a winner that seems to be.

 

[THE MACHINIST]

id pick whatever my fellow combatants are carrying ,that way all our gear is interchangable parts bullets magazines.......

 

[fastbolt]

I can select from within a small range of similar issued models chambered in either .40 S&W or .45 ACP. It used to be 9mm, but the decision was made to 'upgrade' to .40 S&W and .45 ACP. Since then I've had occasion to carry both a .40 S&W and a .45 ACP model. Either is fine for my needs.

While I don't get too wrapped up around the axle regarding caliber, if it were left up to me I'd return to carrying a 9mm service weapon. All things considered, especially when able to choose from among the better modern 9mm bullets and cartridges, I happen to like the controllability and recoil management characteristics of the 9mm in service weapons. I fired more than 45K rounds through one of the several S&W 9mm pistols I was issued over the years and had reasonable confidence in my skill with any of them. I used a number of 9mm service loads, ranging among 147gr JHP's (OSM, Hydra-Shok, Personal Protection, Golden Sabre, etc.), 124gr +P & 127gr +P+, just to name some off the top of my head.

I have nothing against either the .40 S&W or .45 ACP, though. I own 4 pistols chambered in .40 S&W and 9 chambered in .45 ACP. I just like the reduced felt recoil, controllability & recoil management advantages offered by the 9mm, even when higher pressure loads are being used. It's just a personal preference ...

Back-up/Secondary weapons? Approved, although I'm not carrying one at the moment. If I were it would be one or another J-frame, like I used to carry as a secondary gun at times ... and which is my most common off-duty weapon of the last few years.

Personally, I'm not interested in sharing 'commonality' of weapons/parts/ammunition with other LE folks (we're not in a military AO, after all). As an armorer I have no problem supporting a number of various firearms platforms. Commonality of ammunition has never been a concern of mine, either.


I'm not in the business of 'recommending' specific firearms to folks. I prefer to have them handle and use them on the range and make such decisions for themselves. Lots of good quality pistols are available for use as issued/approved service weapons nowadays. Pick whatever suits you.

Ditto back-up/secondary weapons. The individual choice (if permitted) should reflect the user's ability to effectively utilize it under any and all conditions and situations anticipated. This may mean that some folks may not experience the level of practical reliability they might prefer when selecting one make/model/caliber over another. That's one of the reasons I tend to prefer a small revolver. Less potential ammunition-related issues (feeding/chambering & extraction/ejection) if grip stability & technique is 'less than perfect' for some reason (injury, physical activity/exertions, close proximity to the attacker during a rapidly evolving confrontation which becomes physical, etc.).

I don't make it a practice to interfere with (or unduly influence) the choices folks may make in this regard, though. (Just as with choices of off-duty weapons.) If they ask I'll relate the advantages & disadvantages of which I'm aware, but I leave the choice and decision to them. As long as it's a quality firearm of modern design and manufacture with which they can demonstrate sufficient familiarity and skill ... it's their choice. Informed choice and understanding the potential consequences ...

I've seen more than a few folks make what they thought was a perfect choice in such things ... influenced by friends, peers, gun store advice, magazine articles, etc. ... only to discover that sometimes what works for someone else may not work for them, or that sometimes 'advertising' is just another way to sell someone something.

Knowledge, skill, training, mental & physical conditioning, experience, awareness of the surrounding environment, strategy & tactics, etc., etc. are arguably more important than a particular piece of hardware/equipment ... in my opinion, anyway.

 

[strangelittleman]

Very well stated, Fastbolt!

 

[fastbolt]

Thanks, but none of what I said is original to me, you know.

The relatively recent 'saying' that development of the 'software' is more important than the particular 'hardware' selected has some merit to it ...

As long as some company's quality defensive pistol is chosen for service weapon usage, it's just that it might be helpful to remember that skills, abilities and individual experience doesn't come in the box with the weapon ... right?

Stay safe.

 

[10-Ring]

Me, I like the combo of USP 45 & S&W 442

 

[Defensory]

Primary---XD45 Service
Backup---XD 9mm Subcompact