If you were an LEO...

Would you carry a revolver on duty (LEO) in 2016?

  • Yes

    Votes: 72 29.0%
  • No

    Votes: 176 71.0%

  • Total voters
    248
  • Poll closed .
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Well, I too love to shoot revolvers. When I started at the BPD in 1985 we all carried the department issued S&W 686, with a 4 inch barrel. When I retired in 2007 I was carrying the department issued Glock 22. I use to carry 4 speed loaders when I wore the 686, total number of rounds carried was 30. I carried 46 rounds with my Glock 22, 1 in the hole and a mag holding 15 in my Glock, plus 2 loaded magazines (30) rounds on my duty belt. Our Police Department changed with the times and I for one agreed with the change from a revolver to a semi-auto.
 
Yes I am, and Yes I would. I would still have the 870 and the AR in the car though :).

I carried a revolver on duty as late as 2009 until we went to all autos, a Stainless 4 Inch Ruger GP-100 .357 Magnum loaded with Federal 125 Grain JHPs. At qualification I could load faster with HKS speedloaders than most in the office could change a magazine. I personally would not feel undergunned with the .357 back on my hip with 2 or 3 speedloaders.

With the Glock 17 I carry now, consistent upper torso hits at 50-75 yards are pretty easy. With the GP-100, consistent upper torso hits at 100 yards are pretty easy.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
Interesting. What model GP100 was it if you don't mind? What grips and sights did you have on it? I am always interested in LEO use of the Ruger GP100.
 
I am a LEO. No, I would not be OK (in the least bit) with a revolver as primary. J-frame tucked inside my vest though. I run both well, but want the capacity of my glock. On a side note, the ammo alone for the glock 22 (46 rounds of 180g hp) weighs in at 1.7#. Ridiculous, but I'm more than willing to pack it around every day.

When not at work, I am ok with my Shield in 9mm.
 
I had this conversation several times with an older fellow officer. I love revolvers and received my first handgun training from LEOs on revolvers, so I feel very comfortable with them. I even carried one off duty for 12 years. However, I would not carry one on duty, other than a back-up.

It's just the shear difference in capacity and quick reloads that separates revolvers and pistols by a long shot. We just switched to G17s from the G22s. I carry a total of 4 mags on my person on duty, which gives me (with a +2 adapter on my mag in the gun) 71 rounds on my person, compared to (traditionally) 18 rounds of a revolver carrier.

IF I were required to carry one as my main duty weapon, I'd have at least 30 rounds on my person if it were a 6 shooter; 50 if I got my way and went with an 8x S&W.
 
Cooldill,

4 inch Stainless with Hogue Grips, the Ruger catalog number on it is KGP-141. Stock sights, black front and black white outline rear.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
It's funny. You guys seem to think revolvers are Okey Dokey for the Andys but big city cop Fosdick NEEDs a 47 shooter semiautomatical.

How odd. Think it through. What is the response time in an urban area? Usually well under five minutes if the Cheifs are to be believed. What are the response times in Rural areas? Well you may need to break out your calendar to answer that one.

Old Barney out on the bad end of town....by himself.... may need that Barffeta 92 a lot more than Fosdick in the big city for the simple matter that back up ain't coming anytime one might call soon.

So why has the number of shots fired by police per hit gone up despite improvements in training over the 1970's? Where do those additional misses go? Any one remember who I mean by Fearless Fosdick? He was Lil' Abner's favorite "media" cop. His gun fights consisted of a cloud of bullets zipping through anything and anyone in the comic panel except the bad guy.

This is the perception many "civilians" have of todays police (also civilians BTW). 15 and 17 shot magazines just mean more loose shots on the street.

Perceptions matter. Where we really under armed in the 70's with a Winchester 94 in thutty-thutty as I support rifle compared to Joe Modern and his AR or surplused M-16A1?

Training matters, too. I found it odd that folks that went through my clubs little 12 hour basic pistol course with only about three hours shooting in it often came back after making it through the state academy to tell our club they learned more and better about shooting in our 12 hours than the week the state put them through.

Would I personally if young enough to be on the streets in uniform to day carry a revolver? Absolutely if that is what my department demanded, supplied and trained for. I would not feel I was cheating anyone as a city or county commissioner asking the LEOs working for my city or county to do the same.

All that said I was one of the folks that pushed for semi autos and black rifles back in the 70's when police were actually still fighting against militarization in many parts of the country. Andy still wore a white shirt and khaki pants and low quarters with shiny buckles and buttons and big old flashy badge and might get reprimanded for not taking off his raybans when dealing with folks. Body armor? Not Andy and Barney.

Today when many good folks see a policeman they see not a neighbor that means to protect them (protect and serve remember that?) )but mearly a heavily armed and armored agent of the state....think Storm Troopers and you are getting close.

The whole "getting home to momma at the end of shift" and "what is best for me" are the problems with law enforcement today.

Many folks view the "need" of today's police to carry a high cap military semi auto as just one more step in the separation problem of Us and Them that many LEOs have fallen into.

-kBob
 
I voted YES but it could be a MAYBE.

I love the K-Frame revolver and shoot it very well. I would feel well armed with the Model 10 that is sitting in my gun safe along with three speedloaders and premium ammunition. Come to think of it I thought the same thing years ago.

I would choose the revolver over a Glock if given a choice. Simply put I don't like the way the Glock fits my hand and functioning problems that have been reported. Alas the majority of departments in my area issue Glock 22 40 S&W.

If given my choice of another semi-auto maybe.
 
How odd. Think it through. What is the response time in an urban area? Usually well under five minutes if the Cheifs are to be believed.
Body armor? Not Andy and Barney.

Today when many good folks see a policeman they see not a neighbor that means to protect them (protect and serve remember that?) )but mearly a heavily armed and armored agent of the state....think Storm Troopers and you are getting close.

Many folks view the "need" of today's police to carry a high cap military semi auto as just one more step in the separation problem of Us and Them that many LEOs have fallen into.

-kBob
Would you want to be any less well equipped than a person you may need to apprehend? Would you not avail yourself of protection, like a vest, if it was available?
Unfortunately it's not Goober on the street now, but people who lay in wait to ambush or fire quickly into police vehicles. As close as backup in a city may be, the old adage "when seconds count, the police are only minutes away" is the same for them.

Barney and Andy didn't have to patrol dangerous housing projects, I don't recall ever seeing a ghetto in Mayberry.

As much as we'd all like things to be as they were in the 50's, it's just not reality. Neither is all LEO's being close to storm troopers a reality.

To be honest, I haven't heard anybody say modern semi-autos are what's causing a riff between the population and the police, except you.
 
I have been retired from Law Enforcement for a number of years and started out in the 60's with .38 spl. revolver, then moved to .357 mag, then to the Glock .40 S&W before I retired. The semi auto far out weighs the revolver for police work.
 
Started in 1980 and carried a Model 64 then later a S&W 66. Then in 86 or so department switched to S&W 645 Autos then 4506s then HK USP and ended my career in 2012 with a Glock 21SF. DO like my revolvers but for fighting will take a semi anytime.
 
For the most part I would feel alright carrying a revolver and would choose to carry one depending on where I was serving. If the argument against a revolver is because the opposing force is armed with autoloading rifles like AR's, AK's, Mini 14's, etc. no pistol is a match for those.

Alright then, what about if the target has a Glock or Beretta? In that instance, I already feel I have the advantage because I'm the one with a vest on, the training, the backup racing to my position at 90 mph and other factors like possible concealed carriers aiding me.

I'm not saying I wouldn't ever carry a Glock, but I think were I a deputy in a rural county, I'd rather have a good powerful revolver than a semi-auto pistol because the likelihood is I'm going to be using it to put down rabid animals or animals that have been hit by a car and less against a person.

If I was in a city environment, I'm not using a revolver for primary carry.

BTW, the revolver I'd choose is a S&W R8.
 
I am, and no. I can shoot my issue Glock as well as any revolver I've every owned, and the Glock is lighter, which is nice, given all the other gear we have to carry; it has more than double the capacity, so I can fire more shots between reloads; reloading an auto is faster, when I do need to do it, and less of a fine motor skill. Moreover, the modern autoloader has been brought to such a state of perfection that malfunctions (with the best autos) are so rare as not to be an issue. While it is true that in a great many police shootings, the six shots in a revolver's cylinder might well be enough, but the auto gives you that extra margin of safety with more shots and faster reloading. There is no upside to carrying the revolver as an LEO.
 
I am a FEDERAL LEO and used to carry a revolver for work. I would take a BERETTA, GLOCK, SIG or SPRINGFIELD ARMORY XD in 9m.m. over any revolver and I enjoy shooting revolvers.

I just cannot see any advantages of a wheelgun over one of the autos listed above.

Jim
 
I am a LEO and I have been in a gunfight with my issued G22. That incident was resolved with four rounds. I would not have felt under privileged with a six shot 357 or 38. I maintain a qualification score and leather gear for an M66 and an M10. I'm not in a big city or high crime area, but I would not feel helpless toting a wheel gun.
 
I am a LEO and I have been in a gunfight with my issued G22. That incident was resolved with four rounds. I would not have felt under privileged with a six shot 357 or 38. I maintain a qualification score and leather gear for an M66 and an M10. I'm not in a big city or high crime area, but I would not feel helpless toting a wheel gun.


Feeling helpless and being adequately armed for the job in today's society are vastly different.
 
"the modern autoloader has been brought to such a state of perfection that malfunctions are so rare as to not be an issue" You actually believe that? You should work on auto loading pistols and shoot competition with one for a few years and then see what you think. There are so many things that can choke an autoloader that you could write books about it. Most of the big name smiths have. Don't get me wrong I love 1911s as much as anyone but I have seen so many of them choke on people during big money matches that I only carry revolvers.
 
Maybe if only 6 rounds we stop this spray and pray and learn to shoot. .Fire 15 shots and hit BG maybe 3 times. Shoot over 100 rounds in to a car kill 2 unarmed people. . I would have no problem with a old Model 19 4" as a carry weapon .

Some Police seem to want you to believe from time they report for duty till end. Their in running battles. All shifts and need more firepower . Bad guys attacking from every point on compass . Every day almost Custer last stand. Truth is many never draw their weapons and from shooting results must never practice either.
I worked with a PD in mid 1970's for little more than a year I carried a 1911 I never felt under gunned with 7+1 and 2 spare mags . Now their officers carrying almost many rounds as my basic load out in Nam .
 
You have to assume the worst

Michael,

I have to disagree. You say 22 rounds is fine. Good.

Not everyone agrees with you and most would rather have too much and not need it, than too little and need more.
I have not drawn my gun on duty in almost 25 years and expect I probably will not. My job rarely rises to that level of confrontation in my location. It is a completely different matter at other posts.

On the other hand, I drew my gun, one night on the way home when I droved into what I thought was a kidnapping. A woman was being dragged across a parking lot screaming, "let me go". It turned out to be just a "normal" domestic incident with a drunk husband who claimed to be armed.

I did not have to fire (happy about that), but I was glad I had a GLOCK 19 and a full box of ammo with me anyway.
If I did fire and it ended with one shot, so what if I still had 49 more?
If it had gone bad and I needed to reload after six, I would much rather not have to reload a semi-auto than try to load a revolver with a speedloader.

It is not just ammo capacity. Few people can reload with a revolver as fast as a semi-auto and many need double or even triple the time. My GLOCK could have fought most gunfights without my even having to reload.

Also, have you tried to get a revolver with night sights?

If a wheelgun makes a shooter feel more secure than a semi-auto, then fine.
It is just the experience of nearly every major law enforcement agency and the military that the semi-auto is the way to go.

Jim
 
While I am a Police Officer we are not allowed to carry what is not issued to us when on duty. If I were allowed to carry any revolver with my choice of ammo I would carry my S&W 686-1 with 125 - 158 gr SJHP 357 Magnum ammo.
 
Pretty good choice I'd say. It worked very well for a very long time........
 
I started my career with the S&W 66, then moved to the 686. I do love the 686. However, in 1991 my agency transitioned to semis and I have never gone back. We have to carry approved weapons.

I still think the .357 magnum is the premier handgun fighting round though and own several for personal use. However, what I think doesn't matter.
 
Carried one my early career years (1980-1987) switched to semi-auto after that. If I was still was on the job, no I wouldn't, to easy to be outgunned by just about anyone today. But for a BUG? Sure would, those little Model 36's or Colt Detective Specials couldn't jam in a "get off me" situation. Some carried Charter Arms or Taurus 85's.
 
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