question for the leos out thare

[bigghk702]

ok so after a while of trying it looks like i will be getting on to an academy with a local pd. the problem or maybe not is this. the pd issues ether the usp fullsize in 9mm 40 or 45 awsome right? or glocks in the same calibers, but i was told by my recruiting officer that the usp45 is by far the most requsted sidearm so i should not count on it being thare when i get to choose one. the 45 would be my first pick as i have a usp45 and LOVE it, also i shoot 45cal the most by far and am vary comfortable with it. so my question is this, should i stick with the 45 and get a g21 eeek! if the usp is not available or should i get the usp in 40 or even 9mm. i know caliber is a vary personal subject but would any of the leos out thare feel "outgunned" if you had to carry a smaller caliber then what you could?

[Wild_Bill]

You are not "outgunned" in any caliber. I have carried .38,.357, 9mm, .40, and .45 in my police career. I find it odd that a dept. would issue two different makes like that. Glock and HK. Usually a PD has one "weapon" mode, but the different variants as Glock 22 and 23. If you haven't held or even shot a Glock 21 then you might want to try one before settling on it. Also make sure you can grip it unless it's a Glock 21SF. Also don't worry about the weapon, but finishing the academy first. Then you can join the big LEO debate of which weapon is best.

Wild Bill

[snakyjake]

You might want to consider the USP 9mm has 3 more rounds than the USP 45, and 2 more rounds than the USP 40. The extra rounds can serve advantages in certain types of scenarios: multiple bad guys, missed shots, multiple hits.

It would be interesting statistics for how many LEO's go through 12+ rounds? Maybe if you work in a gang territory.

The other positive about the 9mm is it will be a lot cheaper to practice, and therefore you'll probably practice a lot more.

Jake

[P7M8]

Since they authorize the USP45 why not see if you can carry your own? I had a partner that carried his own "Italian" Stainless Beretta in uniform opposed to the blued "USA" version. While you would be the one to suffer the loss if it got damaged at least you would be carrying what you want.

[Dump1567]

When I first got hired, we carried .38 spl. with a total of 18 rounds. Now, some of the nines carry that with 1 loaded mag.

Will they let you carry your own personal USP .45?

If your comfortable with the USP platform, I would go with the .40. Good compromise between capacity and bullet size.

You may want to shoot all that's available and see what you like best.

[N6ATF]

Kudos to a police department having GOTG (Guns Other Than Glocks). Regulations may change in the year, year and a half it will take to get to probationary status and get assigned a Field Training Officer (at least, that's how most agencies do it).

Don't be afraid to ask stupid questions... like
Will the gun I practice with on the academy range be the one I will take to the field?

Also, regardless of what the Recruiting Officer said, when it comes time to be issued a weapon (depending on the answer to the question), request the USP .45F first. If they say they're all out, interject that you own a USP .45F and ask for the paperwork to make that your training and/or duty weapon.

If they say regs don't allow personally owned weapons, then by that time you should have tried out first the USP 40, 9, then Glock 21 and the other Glock calibers in descending caliber (I only know 21=.45ACP personally) so you can have a rank of which alternatives are best to worst.

[KurtP2k]

Take the 9mm USP if you cant get the .45. I carry a 40cal on duty and would rather have the 9. higher calibers/larger grain weight make a big difference when you need to penetrate a solid barrier or windshield glass, but little difference on target. (assuming expanding ammo for each.)

The last two shootings my department had, the officers reloaded. Last 'suspect' was hit 14times with a .40 and still breathing at the end of it. Most gun-battles involving police, the officer is shooting with one hand.

Take the USP 9mm, get a jet funnel and 3 18rnd mags, load it down with some 124gr golden sabers or gold dots from doubletapammo.com and you are good to go.

[bigghk702]

Since they authorize the USP45 why not see if you can carry your own? I had a partner that carried his own "Italian" Stainless Beretta in uniform opposed to the blued "USA" version. While you would be the one to suffer the loss if it got damaged at least you would be carrying what you want.

i asked just that and was told the chief did not want that from any officer, let alone a recruit. i also should say that i have a usp compact in 9mm and do like it but i am a lot more comfortable with my uspf 45. i should also say that when i said outgunned i ment would you feel any less safe carrying a caliber that is smaller then what you could. anyway all vary good replys thanks alot everybody and i hope to hear more.

[cmdrdredd]

i asked just that and was told the chief did not want that from any officer, let alone a recruit. i also should say that i have a usp compact in 9mm and do like it but i am a lot more comfortable with my uspf 45. i should also say that when i said outgunned i ment would you feel any less safe carrying a caliber that is smaller then what you could. anyway all vary good replys thanks alot everybody and i hope to hear more.

I think that more often than not there is an aspect of fear among would be criminals or whatever you want to call them, when an officer un-holsters his weapon regardless of caliber.

The old saying goes, the bad guy doesn't care if it was a .45 or a 9mm it still hurts.

[snakyjake]

i should also say that when i said outgunned i ment would you feel any less safe carrying a caliber that is smaller then what you could. anyway all vary good replys thanks alot everybody and i hope to hear more.

"Feeling" is very subjective. I wouldn't feel very safe with any pistol against multiple bad guys, some drugged out lunatic, someone seriously determined, or someone with a rifle. My only hope is shot placement.

Objectively, I can't find any evidence that supports any caliber mentioned over the other.

It does seem like there exists multiple calibers for reasons that have nothing to do with disabling a bad person. For example: penetrating doors, car windows, magazine capacity, recoil, costs, pistol size, grip size, etc. Also, some new calibers were developed before the time of the technological advances in existing calibers.

Whatever you get for your duty pistol is what I would carry off duty. I think switching back and forth could be a disadvantage.

Jake

[GHEN]

I love new guys :-)

[2nd2none]

I carried the G17 for 7.5 years and did not like the 9mm, yes it has it's advantages of higher cap mags and softer recoil for faster follow up shots, but the bigger calibers has advantages too. Bigger calibers generally have better ballistics(all subjective thou). I now carry the G37 which I like it a lot more caliber wise but it sucks because it only holds 10 in the mag. I don't have a choice on what to carry. This choice you have is really personal preference. I personally would not carry a 9mm by choice for on duty use. I personally feel better with a .45 than a 9mm, the .40 is also a great compromise for power and capacity. Carry what you feel comfortable with.
Me personally would pick in this order,USP45,USP40,G21,G22. I find that I shoot the HK's far more accurately than Glocks. It really is personal preference and your comfort level with what you feel the best with. And remember the best round to carry is the ones that you can get on target accurately! Shot placement is most important factor.

I think what you should be concerned about right now is getting on the job and worry about the pistols when you get to that point. Unforeseen things do happen...Good luck with the job and your decision.
Oh and you really don't want to start asking a whole bunch of silly questions, you'll only annoy them. And a little more advice don't ask the chief any questions if possible ask the officers. Remember to use the chain of command even thou you are not on the job yet.

[KILO1-1]

if you cant grab the USP45 then I would go for the USP9.