Carry Your Duty Weapon?

[c1ogden]

"Is it really that important to make your duty weapon your EDC?"

I didn't vote in the poll because "It depends" wasn't among the available answers to choose from.

What it depends on is you. I don't have a problem carrying Glocks, SA (condition one) guns, or revolvers but I shoot a lot of different guns and I do it often enough that I can go from one to the other without any problems. If you are going to shoot different types of guns frequently enough to be proficient with more than one type then it won't matter for you.

If you are a beginner and you aren't oing to put in the time and dedication to become proficient with more than one gun then it is critical to always carry the same gun or same type of gun. If your agency issues a Glock 22 you could buy the Glock 23 for CC.

As far as the Sig goes, I have carried a PD issue P226, both in 9 and then 40, since 1988. My experience has taught me that we should have bought Glocks in the first place. I was a firearms instructor for 25 years and when we did the transition training from revolvers to SA/DA Sigs we learned a lot. It took years for some of our officers to be able to avoid firing 2 or 3 rounds when they meant to only fire one. That 4 pound SA trigger right after that 12 pound DA trigger was a lot to overcome, especially for those that weren't "gun people".

I prefer a 9 to a 40 but if your agency is issueing 40s then I'd say just go with the flow. If you get another Glock (I'd get both a 22 and a 23 just to have a spare) you'll be able to use the same mags for spares and you'll only have to keep one type of ammo on hand.

 

[g_one]

Just a note for the few posts I've seen regarding the hanging pinky of the G26/27, I feel like the 27 is much more concealable than the 23 for my body shape, and although it was never a problem, the hanging pinky did bug me at first. I highly recommend the GAP floor plate extensions for the 27 - they don't add any length to the grip so they're just as concealable, but you'd be surprised how much of a difference that tiny bit of ring finger support makes. Now, between the already-proven Glock reduced recoil (that dual recoil spring was a huge improvement on their part) and those GAP magazine plates, the G27 is a joy to shoot.

 

[Jenrick]

I've variously carried on duty a G22, G34, HK USP 45 and 9mm, HK P7M8, Beretta 92 FS, Sig P226 DAK and TDA/SA in both 9mm and .40 S&W, and a S&W M&P in .40 S&W. I've also carried all of the above as my off duty carry. I don't see a need to carry the same gun off duty as you do on duty, or even the same type/of action as your duty pistol. If you train and shoot enough, there's nothing wrong with carrying a striker fired pistol on duty and a TDA/SA (like a Sig) off duty. I've done it plenty of times, and have never had the least fear I'd run into issues. Then again I shot enough, that I feel comfortable with pretty much whatever you stick in my hands to shoot.

If you can, carry what you want to carry off duty, but there is nothing wrong with carrying your full size duty pistol off duty either. I personally carry the highest capacity pistol I can off duty with a tac-light, just like I do at work. Currently I carry a HK USP 9mm (18 rounds a mag with the jet funnel installed) with a TLR-1 mounted on it, both on and off duty. Takes a little bit of work to dress around it, but it's not a problem once you get used to it.

-Jenrick

 

[Powderman]

Oh Yeh, I will get me large steel-framed SIX shot revolver to carry right after I start walking with a crutch when I do not have to.

Uh huh. Tell that to someone who's even half as proficient as Jerry Miculek.

 

[4thHorseman]

Unfortunately the gun I carry in Iraq is the gun I dispise the most, the Glock.

 

[Bobson]

Unfortunately the gun I carry in Iraq is the gun I dispise the most, the Glock.

Interesting. Who are you with?

 

[4thHorseman]

Thanks for asking Bobson, I was orginially with Blackwater they lost the contract and Dyn got it. Glock 19's. Where were you at when you here in Iraq? Heck, we might of been on the same COB.

 

[Bobson]

I was there from Jan 13 - May 17th 2006. Spent my 21st birthday in Qatar on my way home lol. But I was inside the wire of Balad ABS the whole time - Air Force dental.

I always thought you security folks were allowed to carry whatever weapon(s) you wanted. Must have just been a common misconception? Lol

Thanks for your work though, man. Be safe out there.

 

[4thHorseman]

I got here in 2008. Spent six months in Baghdad, then 2 years in Tallill (COB Adder) then I am in Basara now. I have been to Balad (just passing through) and it is real gem too.
We always had to carry Glocks. I do not know of any contractor which could carry their own weapons. I am not saying they don't, I am just saying I don't know of any. Usually it is against DOS and DOD policy because of many reasons. One reason is accountability. They do not want weapons falling into the wrong hands. Every weapon is accounted for all the time. Armorer's are qualified on certain weapons with respective schools.
There is probably a parts issue also. If someone has their own weapons, gun parts are impossible to get because of ITAR regulations. Gun parts cannot be shipped to Iraq through normal channels, mail, Fed Ex or UPS because of ITAR regulations.
Ammunition is a great problem also. If you had anything but a 9mm, I would not even know where you could get ammo for it. You cannot get it into country by most means. It is a long ordeal to go through for even the correct channels.
Reliability issues are be an issue because if some personal weapons, they may have unreliable weapons. That would not only compromise the security and safety of the person carry the weapon but also the people the weapon is suppose to protect. Now if the gun does not function properly, you can just take it to the armorer and he fixes it and puts new parts in it.
The rules actually state we are to qualify on "Glocks 9mm” along with M-4's.
There are many problems that I have not mentioned, but these are some of the issues with personal weapons in a war zone.

 

[Bobson]

Makes sense man. Guess I never gave it much thought; just heard it and thought it 'sounded about right.' My mistake.

 

[David E]

Not to side track, but have you had or seen any problems with the Glock over there?

 

[Checkman]

Just remember that writers only make money when they write. As a result they sometimes turn out articles of questionable validity. Having said that I carry a Glock 19 on duty and either the Glock 26 or a S&W Model 49 Bodyguard as my off-duty piece. Never had any trouble qualifiying with either the G26 or the Model 49.