What do you consider the "common service calibers"?

[Skribs]

Most caliber war threads usually argue between two or all three of 9, 40, and 45. Some posters I've seen have mentioned a large number of "service calibers". One of my coworkers considers the .40 S&W to be a "proprietary" round that is not a standard caliber. So I'm wondering - what do others consider to be the standard service calibers for handguns. This can include autoloader and revolver rounds, or if you only consider one, then state that.

You can apply your own definition to "service caliber", whether it be a common one for self defense, or specifically a police force caliber. The question is - when you think of "service caliber" for handgun, what comes to mind?

 

[mavracer]

Service in this case, at least IMO, means LEO and military. For a discussion of common service calibers I'd include all calibers in common use. 9mm, 40 and 45 would lead the way. 357 sig would probably get honorable mention and 38 and 380 are the most common backup calibers in service.

 

[JohnBiltz]

I'd put .38 and .357 Mag in there as well. For a lot of years that was what the police carried.

 

[sirsloop]

.38spl, 9mm, 40S&W, .45ACP

I dont think .357/.44Magnum as standard.

 

[NG VI]

.38 Special, 9mm, .357 Magnum, .357 Sig, .40 S&W, 10mm depending on the loading, .45 ACP, and .45 GAP.

It's more about size/capability of the cartridge than anything else. If it isn't capable of penetrating about 12" while delivering useful expansion, and can do so without requiring an unduly large weapon platform or an unacceptably high amount of recoil in the process, it shouldn't be considered a proper service caliber.

Some people will use whether it's ever been issued as their guideline. That includes a gigantic amount of obsolete or outright poor choices for a defense pistol. I stick with the practical idea of a service caliber, what is expected from a service pistol or revolver in today's world, with today's standards for performance.

.32 ACP or .455 Webley or even 9mm Makarov don't quite make the cut for me.

.357 Sig and .45 GAP most certainly make the cut, regardless of how many or few agencies actually issue them.

9mm and .40 S&W (especially) are the embodiment of the service pistol caliber to me.

 

[Byrd666]

.38, .45, .357 Mag. Followed by .223, 9mm, .380. Then .40 and .38 Super.

Just first "Service" calibers thought of.

Not right, or wrong

 

[Weevil]

Well to me a "service" caliber is one that actually saw service with the military or police in the USA. By service I mean on the hip carried while on duty not deep cover or concealed carry or presentation arms.

For revolvers that would be .38 spl, .357 magnum, .41 mag and .44 spl.

Pistols would be 9mm, .40 S&W, .357 sig, .45acp, and 10mm.


It is debateable that .41 mag, .44 spl, and 10mm were "common" but they did see "service" with numerous police departments in their heyday.

 

[Don357]

Boy is this a "loaded" question. It really depends on where you are. It could be anything from 7.62X25, 9mm Makarov, .380, 9mm, .38spl, .357mag, .357Sig, .40 S&W, .45acp, and I think President's detail, used to use the 10mm, in sub-machineguns and hand guns.

 

[Skribs]

I'll admit, I am thinking mainly from a US perspective. Byrd, interesting you used .223, since I specifically specified pistols only. Although there technically are .223 pistols, I'm not sure I've heard of them being used.

I'm surprised nobody mentioned the 5.7 yet, used by secret service. Whether or not you like it, its used by them.

When I think "service caliber", I'm not thinking CCW, I'm like Weevil - I usually think of a round that's seen service in USA police, military, or government in recent times. That excludes autoloaders, and pretty much leaves me thinking 9x19, .40 S&W, 357SIG, .45 ACP, and 5.7x28mm. Had I not posted this thread, I wouldn't have been thinking about .45 GAP or 10mm (just kinda forgot GAP, wasn't sure if 10mm was used).

It's interesting seeing what different people think.

 

[JohnKSa]

Without reading the other responses, here's my list:

.38Spl, 9mm, .357SIG, .40S&W, .45ACP, .357Mag. You could throw in 10mm as well if you wanted the list to be a little longer--and maybe even .45GAP.

 

[Bobson]

To me, the phrase service caliber/s limits things to use by law enforcement and military. If I had to list the "common" service calibers, I'd say 9mm and .40S&W. That's it.

To be a "common service caliber," I'd say a given caliber must be in current use by the military's standard infantry, and/or I must personally know of at least two different police/sheriff departments anywhere in America who issue a sidearm in said caliber.

Even .45 ACP doesn't qualify as a "common service caliber" in America by the above definition.

Why is "common" based on a seemingly random matter of my personal knowledge? Why not? This is an opinion-based thread, and I've personally researched a few dozen police and sheriff departments in probably ten different states over the last few years. Without referring back to any information, and going off what I recall, .40S&W absolutely stands out as the #1 issued caliber among law enforcement in America today.

 

[skt239]

In the US, I'd say .9mm, .40, .45 are the main ones.

 

[2wheels]

To me, the phrase service caliber/s limits things to use by law enforcement and military. If I had to list the "common" service calibers, I'd say 9mm and .40S&W. That's it.

To be a "common service caliber," I'd say a given caliber must be in current use by the military's standard infantry, and/or I must personally know of at least two different police/sheriff departments anywhere in America who issue a sidearm in said caliber.

Even .45 ACP doesn't qualify as a "common service caliber" in America by the above definition.

Why is "common" based on a seemingly random matter of my personal knowledge? Why not? This is an opinion-based thread, and I've personally researched a few dozen police and sheriff departments in probably ten different states over the last few years. Without referring back to any information, and going off what I recall, .40S&W absolutely stands out as the #1 issued caliber among law enforcement in America today.

I think it's safe to say that even if you haven't heard of them more than two agencies in the US carry .45ACP chambered handguns. As well as .357SIG and heck, probably even .45GAP!

 

[threoh8]

One of my coworkers considers the .40 S&W to be a "proprietary" round that is not a standard caliber.

If his objection is the "S&W" part of the name, remind him/her that many of the cartridges mentioned have commercial names as part of of the original nomenclature.

.45 Colt
.45 Automatic Colt's Pistol
.38 S&W Special
.357 Smith and Wesson Magnum
9mm Parabellum (DWM motto)

Few if any free-world service pistol cartridges were developed purely by government.

 

[Skribs]

I did. He's been shooting longer than me, and he reloads, so he's right. You know the type.

Bobson, the Marines just ordered a ton of 1911 rail guns, so .45 is in use by the military.

 

[Bobson]

I think it's safe to say that even if you haven't heard of them more than two agencies in the US carry .45ACP chambered handguns. As well as .357SIG and heck, probably even .45GAP!

I agree I was just being goofy.

And yeah Skribs, I forgot about that. Good call.

 

[tipoc]

From the OP...

So I'm wondering - what do others consider to be the standard service calibers for handguns.

Why is "common" based on a seemingly random matter of my personal knowledge? Why not? This is an opinion-based thread, and I've personally researched a few dozen police and sheriff departments in probably ten different states over the last few years. Without referring back to any information, and going off what I recall, .40S&W absolutely stands out as the #1 issued caliber among law enforcement in America today.

It's interesting to see what folks are listing and when and how they place a cut off. It's both by age of the individuals and personal experience it seems. And also by how much studying one has done.

Some folks mention the 45GAP, an oddball round that I'm not sure is used by more than a handful of law enforcement agencies, if that many and is only chambered in Glocks that I know of.

A service caliber round in handguns is a round that has been issued for duty carry (not for training or trials) by a law enforcement agency or the military on a widespread scale. It was issued "for service" meaning as a primary carry round in a sidearm. This means it is not so much a matter of "opinion" but is a matter of research and deciding what the cut off dates will be.

The U.S. military used to issue the Colt M1903 and M1908 pistols in .32acp and .380acp to officers for several decades. So technically those rounds could be considered service calibers at least at that time. In Europe and Japan those rounds were most definitely service calibers. But not now. That some cops may carry them as backup does not count.

The 22 L.R. has been widely used for training in the military (and sometimes survival guns for pilots) and some police depts. But that is for training and it is not and never has been a service caliber because it was not a primary carry round.

The 45acp is still issued in the military (on a small scale) and is still used in law enforcement across the U.S. Less than the 40S&W and the 9mm but it is still authorized for carry. So it remains a service caliber.

45 Colt was a service caliber and distributed widely and can still be considered one depending on the dates set of the discussion.
The 44 Mag and 44 Spl. may have have been issued here and there to individuals but never saw widespread issue in the military or law enforcement so have never been service calibers.
The .357 Magnum did see widespread issue and remains a service caliber.
The .38 Spl. remains a service caliber.
The 38 long Colt and the 38 S&W were at one time service calibers but have not been used for about a century as such.
The 38 Super saw some service but was not widely distributed enough to get the nod, at least not in the U.S.

Anyways, some thoughts.

tipoc

 

[brickeyee]

"Service" to/by whom?

 

[FMF Doc]

If you are old school then it's .38SPL/.357mag
Traditionally, it's 9mm, .40S&W, and .45ACP

In reality, there are very few departments carrying 9mm or .45ACP as compared to .40S&W. These days, the .357sig is gaining A LOT of popularity.

 

[foghornl]

For "Service Pistol" 9MM, .40 .45 ACP

"Service Revolver" .38Spl, .357Mag, .45Colt

 

[Skribs]

Tipoc, a few other guns are/were chambered in .45 GAP. I think its discontinued, but the Springfield XD had a .45 GAP model.

It's interesting you bring up age. There are a lot of calibers that *were* common service calibers but aren't now. How many police departments issue .38 spc or .357 magnum anymore? One would be hardpressed to argue that they never were a service caliber, but one can argue whether or not you can consider them such in the age of the autoloaders.

Brickeye, that's part of the open endedness of the question. What do you consider "service caliber". Of course, you could have many different answers, but what's the first one you think of.

 

[tipoc]

"Service" to/by whom?

That would be the military and/or law enforcement, past and present, domestic and foreign. That's the common and well used definition. They are intended for use against humans.

IMHO once a round has been on the list it don't come off. It remains a service caliber class round even if not currently used by the service or leos. Case being the .357 Magnum.

I also think that a round has to see some widespread use to qualify. The 41 Magnum was adopted by a few police depts. but lasted only a few years and was quickly replaced. Ya can say it had a brief life as a service caliber, same as the 10mm did. Adopted by a few but quickly passed over. They were a bit too powerful for service class handgun rounds.

Which is another aspect of it, seems to me. They are not loaded for hunting use. Doesn't mean you can't hunt with them. Does mean that a wide variety of folks can shoot well with them, or could anyway.

tipoc

 

[dmazur]

My wife accuses me of being older than my years.

She says someone my age shouldn't like Big Band music, as that was "before my time". (I played sax in an informal dance band when I was 17, and most of the guys were 50 or so...probably a bad influence.)

And I learned about guns from a WWII vet.

So, it shouldn't be surprising that, when I read "service caliber", I think of .45 ACP or .30-06 Springfield.

I'm completely aware of the broader definition of the term, but I can't help thinking of the smaller caliber rounds as an afterthought. As in, "That's right. They abandoned the 1911 and went with something smaller. Probably can't remember the Moros."

But that's just an old codger's view...

 

[PabloJ]

Most caliber war threads usually argue between two or all three of 9, 40, and 45. Some posters I've seen have mentioned a large number of "service calibers". One of my coworkers considers the .40 S&W to be a "proprietary" round that is not a standard caliber. So I'm wondering - what do others consider to be the standard service calibers for handguns. This can include autoloader and revolver rounds, or if you only consider one, then state that.

You can apply your own definition to "service caliber", whether it be a common one for self defense, or specifically a police force caliber. The question is - when you think of "service caliber" for handgun, what comes to mind?

This is non-event, but West Virginia Natural Resources Police adopting G21 SF is significant. I can think of no more dangerous job then standing between dumpster and black bear or Redneck poacher and "bag" of venison! It's comforting to know that WV DNR will carry better weapon then Marine Force Recon.

 

[303tom]

The .38/9mm..............The 9mm Kurz to the .357 Super Magnum & any of the other fifty cartridges between em............