Duty Gun Evolution

General Firearms Handguns - Semi Auto
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Duty Guns. Your side arm. The gun that rides on your hip, day in and day out. The gun that gets banged around on door frames and rained on. The gun your life and the life of others may depend on at worst possible time. The gun that takes your daily abuse and is expected to perform.

I am currently in the process of switching over to a M&P 45 from a Glock 22. Some may think this is a leap forward, others a leap back. While going through my guns and duty gear, I began thinking of the guns I carried on duty, how they were carried and what led me to change. This does not include BUG’s and off-duty carry.

Here is my Duty Gun Evolution.

Smith and Wesson 6906 9mm. This was a great gun. For a 3.5" barrel, it was extremely accurate. The only malfunctions this gun experienced was with filthy reloads. I carried this gun on and off duty for over 8 years and declined the opportunity to trade it for a issued Sigma (good choice), G17 and later a G23. The gun was carried in a Uncle Mike’s duty holster. Issued ammo was Remington 124 grain +P Golden Saber’s, and later Federal Tactical 135 grain +P’s.

Glock 17 9mm (Generation 2). After hiring on with a different department, I decided to succumb to the “plastic pistol” and give Glock a chance.

What can I say? It’s a Glock 9mm…boringly reliable. It was carried in a Safariland 6280 SLS holster. Issued ammo was (is) Federal Tactical.

I switched to the G22 for the following reasons;

-The perceived need for a large caliber. At the time, locally, we were experiencing a lot of shootings involving vehicles. I wanted something with better barrier penetration.

  • No light rails.
  • The G22 was the most commonly issued/carried sidearm in my state.

Glock 22 .40 (Generation 3). I have carried this gun for about 5 years, shot around 4,000 rounds through it and have yet to warm up to it. It has been carried/shot with a Glock light attached the majority of the time. Holsters used were a Safariland 6285 (until I broke it :eek:) and a Blade-Tech WRS holster. The gun has not had any major malfuctions. Ammo issued is Federal Tactical 180 grain. I often tell people the only reason I carry a G22 is because I carry a G27 for a back up. I like my G27.

The Glock Light is a terrible light, but it works. Honestly, I can’t believe it still works. The bezel has popped off after extended firing and I’ve super glued one of the wings on the paddles. Finding holsters is a pain too. On the plus side, it is made of the same material as the Glock frame and it is not too tight. It has ran side by side with G22’s with attached M3’s, TLR’s and X200’s and never malfunctioned. The batteries are stacked as opposed to side by side, which gives it a slim profile. It is the only light I will put on this gun.

The 6285’s demise can be read here; https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=16001

After breaking the UBL, I swore off the holster. The gun also wobbled in the holster and it drove me nuts. From the pic above you can see the abuse the holster had been through.

I’ve been using the Blade-Tech holster for about a year and a half. Initially, I really liked the WRS holster. The WRS release works, however, it has one critical flaw. The release requires an inward motion toward the body. If anything gets between the hoster and the belt line (coats and jackets), it prevents the inward motion, thus preventing the hood from releasing. Huge problem.

Swith & Wesson M&P 45, .45 ACP.

I have had my M&P 45 since 2008 (MPU0### serial number). After over 1,000 rounds fired, I am finally convinced that I do want to carry it on duty. The trigger had smoothed out and the gun is way more accurate than me.

The gun has Amierglo Bowie Tactical Operator amber/green night sights. It will be carried in a Safariland 6325 ALS holster with an X300. Duty ammo is Federal Tactical 230 grain.


I love the ALS system. The gun sits solid in the holster, unlike the 6285. No wobble.

I am really liking the Operator sights. This is a terrible picture, but you can see the contrast.

Sight picture with X300 activated.

If the M&P does not work out for me, I am going back to Glock 9mm’s with X300’s and calling it a day.

What is your duty gun evolution?

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3rd gen Smiths like the 6906 are highly underrated handguns, IMO.

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You talked a lot about why you swapped holsters, but not at all about why the switches in weapon.
Being new to the business (extremely,new, training starts Friday), I am curious why the switch from a 9mm to a .45?

I read as much as I could find and spoke with users of many different calibers and looked at the performance specs and decided to just start with a .45. Among .45s, nothing fit my hand quite like the 1911. So that’s what I’ll be carrying my first day. A tad light on mag capacity, but if it takes more than a shot or 2 at a range low enough to worry about reload time, I figure I’m probably screwed anyway.

I gotta say I like the look of that Blade holster. I’ll have t check it out. Definitely going to have to keep the concerns you have in mind, though.

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Without a bunch of comment on each one,my duty guns went like this.Bear in mind I’m old.
S&W Mod 19 4 inch
Colt Combat Gov’t
S&W Mod.39-2 . I don’t care what anybody says,I loved these guns(I had two) and never a minutes trouble with either.Still an all time favorite for me.
Colt Combat Commander( 1 year only)
S&W Mod 28 Highway Patrolman,4 inch. A tough tank.
S&W Mod 586. Custom tuned. Another all time favorite
S&W Mod.629.Custom tuned,thinned trigger,round butted by an excellant smith.hammer profiled like the Colt Python. Used Win. Silvertips and Black hills semi wadcutters.
Glocks weren’t around. Times have changed. I now run Glock 19’s and 17’s almost exclusively with no changes other than sights. Works for me. I’m really not even interested in anything else. The younger cops now have it made,with all the good choices available.

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Oscar, that is a great write up. My department issues you your handgun. So, for us you only get the choice of a Glock 22 or 23.

My first two sidearms were both 2nd Gen Glock 22s. They had heavier triggers installed in them. The trigger pull was set to 8 pounds. I hated the Glock because of the trigger pull. However, when we switched to the Gen 3 Glocks, we were issued them with the standard 5.5 pound triggers. I have since warmed up to the Glocks. I currently carry a Glock 23c. When they issue us handguns again, I will probably go back to the 22. Hopefully they will drop the compensated barrels when they buy the next batch of guns.

DocH,

That is an interesting assortment of issued guns that you have/had there. I love old S&W revolvers, especially the Model 19. When I started my career, my department just made the switch from revolvers to the Glock.

When you carried the 629, did you carry actual magnum loads in it? Or did you carry .44 Specials?

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For me it is no longer about caliber. I am perfectly fine with carrying a 9, 40 or 45. It is more a platform/system concern and the gun itself than caliber. I really didn’t switch from a 9 to a 45, but rather from a Glock 22 to a S&W M&P 45.

If you are new I highly recommend a Glock 17 or 19. Cheap to shoot, reliable and super easy to find equipment and parts for. After a few years, you will begin to realize what works for you and what your needs are. IMO, a 1911 is a poor choice for a first duty weapon.

Like I said, if I find out I don’t like the MP45 as a duty gun, I am going back to Glock 9’s.

Good luck.

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Love it! I am excited about having a S&W back in my holster.

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I wish we didn’t have to use the NY 8lb trigger! 5.5lbs would be much nicer I think.
Started with a Glock 17 Gen 2 i think. Switched to a Gen 3 Glock 22. Both worked flawlessly until I mounted a TLR-1 to the Gen 3 Glock 22. Switched the recoil and magazine springs, and it runs smooth again. I’m waiting for my Glock 27 to arrive. Thinking about trading in my Gen 3 Glock 22 for the Gen 4.

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started off with:
S&W m.10 still have it, still love it along w/a colt D.S.
S&W m.64 3" carried that along w/a S&W 640 in a palin clothes unit
Sig. 226 9mm w/the 640
Glock 19 2nd gen. w/the 640
Glock 19 2nd gen. w/640 ( was issued this g19)
Glock 19 3rd gen. w/glock 26 (still carry this combo today)

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woodandsteel,I gathered from your user name that you like the revos.:wink: Me too. I carried the customed 629 when I was with a Sheriff’s Dept.in an adjoining county. The Silvertips were magnums but unlike most of the Silvertip line they were slightly downloaded from full magnum. I believe most referred to them as a 3/4 magnum load. You could feel the smack in your hand but they were controllable in rapid fire. I fired that gun daily at a remote spot while on duty when I wasn’t busy and cleaned it on my off day to keep my hand in. I was involved in a lot of drug interdiction stops on the interstate at the time and wanted some punch. I was mostly engaged in backing up a certain trooper on those stops who gained an awesome reputation for his felony arrests. The Georgia State patrol was testing the S&W 645 for duty use at the time.
They eventually adopted the 4506 and the 5906 giving troopers a choice between the two. The 44 was a sweet revolver.I eventually ended up trading it for something I “thought” I needed ,and I still miss it to this day.:frowning:

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Thanks, Doc. I was curious about what kind of loads were used in .44s.

My passion for old S&W wheel guns, not to mention old battle rifles and the old .22’s I learned to shoot on, were part of the inspiration behind my screen name.

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I can understand that. But after having my hands on Glocks, I can’t bring myself to carry them. They don’t feel right to me. Not loaded, unloaded or while firing. I’m very uncomfortable with them. It’s even worse with the Springfield XDs and XDMs.

Then I picked up the 1911. It feels right. It doesn’t make me uncomfortable and, unlike a couple other .45s I picked up afterward (and all the .40s), it doesn’t feel like a toy.

I never even touched anything smaller than a .40. Statistics on the smaller calibers are bad and I always manage to wind up on the bad end of them even when they’re good.

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Oscar ,I think you made a great choice.I’ve shot quite a few M&P’s although I don’t own one. The M&P is the softest shooting .45 I’ve ever fired. I’m perfectly happy with Glock 9mm’s in my current civilian life. Some of that is economics 101,and the fact of utter reliabilty over the years,and I’m comfortable with the loads I carry.
However,if I were currently active on the streets,the M&P .45 would most likely be my first choice for a duty pistol,if I were given the option. Best of luck,sir.:slight_smile:

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NYPD? I understand if you can’t confirm or deny. :cool:

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Oscar,
yes just started my 26th year with them (i’m still havin to much fun to retire:D)

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Awesome! Congratulations, sick-o. :stuck_out_tongue: Lots of experience there.

I would love to hear from Buck, and what he’s carried over the years with that large West Coast agency he works for.

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First issued was a S&W 4006.
Sig 220 ( personal)
Sig 220R w/ x200B (personal)
And soon a Glock 21SF dept. issued. (New sheriff)

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I started out in 1987 with a stainless Ruger Security Six .357mag, I already had one, we issued S&W model 66s, and since I shot a bunch and could carry the heavier personally owned duty revolver I did.

BUG was first a Colt Cobra then a Detective Special. Off-duty was a Speed Six 2 3/4" in .357mag, or sometimes a Taurus PT99 9mm.

Then we transitioned to 9mms, and I carried a S&W 5906, then a 5903, then a 5903TSW.

BUGs were over that time a 6906, 3913, S&W 940, then a 640, then a 642, all but the 940 I kept and used during that time period.

Then we had the short bit with carrying GLock 22s, BUG was a G27.

Since then we went to the G17 for issue, BUG is either a G26 or S&W 642.

Off-duty is now a Glock 19.

IMHO the 3rd gen S&Ws were highly underrated guns.

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I started in 1999 with a Smith & Wesson 4006 with a bobbed hammer. It was the same hammer that comes on the 6906. Our chief at the time did not want us to be able to pull the hammer back (don’t know the reasoning). I also worked part time at the neighboring department and carried a generation 2 Glock 21. In 2002 we traded the 4006s for generation 3 Glock 23s. I left the both departments and went to another department carrying Glock 23s. In 2005 I started at my current department and we were issued either the Sig 226 or the 228 in 9mm. I chose the 226 because I believe that a duty gun should be full size. We switched over to the generation 3 Glock 22 in 2008. I have fired many rounds through this pistol with an M3 attached 90% of the time and have had no problems with it. I recently picked up a part time job at the neighboring department to my full time department and I carry my personal Glock 23 with an M3 and a Laser Max.
As you can see, I live in PA and the state is littered with small part time departments (over 1300) making it hard to get a full time slot unless you try for the big cities. The positive thing about working in small departments is that you learn all of the aspects of police work. We work the road, handle our own cases and follow up and make the arrests. No passing it over to detectives because we don’t have any. I have done my own criminal cases, evidence collection and processing. It makes for a long day sometimes.
Out of all the duty guns I carried, I liked the Glock 21 best. Second was the Smith 4006. Aside from the heavy weight, that gun just shot great!

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Started with a Gen 2 Glock 17.

Switched departments and was issued a Gen 2 23, then we traded those for different Gen 2 23’s with night sights and our patch on the slide and then a couple of years ago we traded those for Gen 22’s. Which is what I carry now.