Best duty sidearm?

Glock 22

Super reliable
40 S&W will stop just about anybody
Holds 15 rounds
No brainer safety

I own one and it has never malfunctioned. I think that is pretty impressive.
 
Initially, while I think it is nice for an agency to supply a firearm, I do not think that it should require everyone to use a particular firearm. Different things work for different people.

I like my Beretta 96D DAO. The trigger pull is smoother and lighter than the DA pull on the comparable 92/96 F&G models. I shoot it better than Glocks because it fits my hand better. I like the extra distance and weight of the trigger pull for holding people at gunpoint and for chasing someone after the gun is drawn rather than the 5-1/2 pound Glock trigger. The NY and NY+ pulls on Glocks are not equivalents to a true DA pull. I find that accuracy goes way down for me when I try the NY triggers because the pull is, essentially, a stiff single action pull after some take up, rather than a smooth, constant pull. I also prefer the Beretta in winter while wearing heavy gloves, and I worry less about an AD when inserting a gloved finger in the trigger guard. I also worried more about my holster thumb snap (over the top kind) finding its way into the Glock trigger guard when reholstering. With the Beretta, there would be more felt resistance before discharge, and I also can place my thumb over the hammer for any additional felt index, while keeping my eyes downrange.

The DAO eliminates the transition issue for the traditional DA/SA auto, or the necessity to decock after firing.

Capacity on "high caps," 11, splits the difference between traditional .45 auto and the the Glocks.

YMMV. Good luck with your decision.
 
Glock hands down, the reason, it is simple it has "KISS" written all over it. Most cops are NOT gun people about 2 % of them are. There are many women in LE today and non gun personnel, so you must work around your non gun people. I found that to many do-dads on a gun and they forget very quickly no matter how many time they are told. I choose Glock because it has no magazine disconnect, no de-cocking levers to play with and a constant trigger pull. As for caliber most officers I found shoot the 9mm the best and many have a hard time when moved up to the forty. The 9mm does work regardless of the nonsense we read about.
I would start with the nine and work from there. Hits are what count anyway. Oh ya, I forgot magazine capacity because you can't have enough ammo when in a gun fight. Lessons I learned in simunitions gunfighting. A good triple retention holster to go along with the gun. I find officers practice more when the gun they shoot is less threatening because of recoil. Practice is the key to accurate shot placement.
 
I've had to fight to keep my weapon a couple times (backup too far to do me any good, single car). I haven't seen the PERFECT weapon yet, but I like the features of the HK USP. External safeties are great, moderately high-cap (12+1 in 45acp), and awesomely reliable.

'Point-and-click' guns like the Glock are great in competitions, but an external safety can give you enough of an edge to survive a kissing-distance encounter. A while back, a test was done on weapon retention, and the external safety on the 1911 was most successful in providing a few extra crucial seconds for the officer to act over the revolvers and Glock-style DA semis.

As to weapon retention, I wouldn't go over a lvl II like the Safariland SLS. Remember that the harder the gun is to get out for the bad guy, the slower it is for the good guy to draw when he's in a speed crunch. Weapon retention relies more on the training of the officer than the gear.

I DO like the magazine-drop disconnect. 'shooting while reloading' doesn't hold water, 'cause no-one is going to do a tactical reload while a bad-guy is charging, and a reload shouldn't take more than a second. It CAN mean life or death in a close encounter. Dropping the magazine can be QUITE an asset when wrestling over your weapon. Drop the mag, go for the backup. Been there, did than, got the conviction. Didn't want to trade in the 4043 for a Sigma.
 
Depends on what you think best is. But most people seem to agree on glocks when that question is asked at least over 70% of them do. As far as caliber goes thats up to arguement as well most think the 40 the best, others the 45 or 9mm I like the 357 sig the best myself but I can live with a 40,45 or a 9mm with +p+ loads. I can not live with a 9mm with standard loads or ack 147 grain widow makers.
PAT
 
Lets list the disadvantages of the various designs.

1. Glocks, they have none. No actually the only problem is you need to watch the trigger spring and repace it every so often and if you have a 40 you have to be carefull on reloading for it. Also lead is a no no. If you shoot factory ammo and jacket bullets it is not a problem.

2 Sigs Frames crack and the slide is top heavy makeing the muzzle flip more. The trigger reset in SA is long compared to some other guns.

3. Beretta's Fragile parts break more often than not on 40sw guns. You should replace the trigger spring like the boarder patrol has done for sure. Other wise a very reliable gun just not a durable one.

4. HK's they also have a top heavy slide like sigs and they seem to break firing pins.

5. Smith Auto's they tend not the me as reliable or as durable as the they should be. The state troopers up here are testing glocks now due to poor performance of thier current smith 4006's in harsh conditions.

Caliber wise.

1. 9mm easy to shoot well but less stopping power and tacticle penitration compared to other rounds. While the 9mm is available everywhere the good loads for it are not like +p+ 127 grain ranger ammo.

2. 357 sig loud and has more recoil than the 9mm and its hard to get in some areas. It is powerfull with great accuracy and excellent feed reliability.

3. 40 sw good power full round that many people like. Only disadvantage is less than match grade accuracy in most pistols.

4. 45 acp. Good stopping power with mild to moderate recoil. Disadvantages is it needs a big gun to house it or you give up a lot of rounds with a single stack mag.

5. 10mm ammo is almost impossible to get and when you find it its loaded to 40sw levels half the time. It does offer the most power you can get in a service pistol with out going to a wildcat round.

PAT
 
Sig-Sauer classic "P" series,

which would include the P220, P225, P226,
P228, P229, P230, P232, and P245. Yes, some
old timer Chief type's still prefer "a small
automatic" in .380 caliber. My personal choice
is, and has always been the P220 in .45ACP.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, Life Member N.R.A.
 
I'm a Glock fan and own two, both the 22 and the 35. I'm more impressed with the 35 with its lighter trigger and is an equal in length to the full size 1911_A1. I also own a Beretta 96D which I don't shoot much because of the safety even though it is a nice handling weapon.

Some departments are going to the Glock 35 from what I understand. What I carry daily for CCW is the Glock 22. It is simply a matter of taste and what feels good to you to handle.
 
BHP or CZ-75

I would select a Browning Hi-Power or CZ-75 as a duty sidearm. The HK USP is a nice choice also.
 
I guess the problem with one answer is the number of variables- Skill level of users, maintenance regimes, even weather in extreme cases etc ...

FWIW, Glock 17, Sig P226, beretta 92FS are probably more than adequate for most scenarios...


Oops, forgot to mention BHP, CZ-75 ...
 
I will cast a vote for Glock for the same reason I have always gone back to them after carrying other makes on duty. To make it short and to the point, every officer should have a primary and a back up gun, PERIOD. The fact that I can carry an ankle gun (G26, G27, G33) that is as accurate as my primary (G17, G22, G31) AND will work with the 17/15 round primary mags if I get into a crunch just makes me feel MUCH better.

Carrying a SIG P220 on my belt and a baby Glock on my ankle left me with 10/11 rounds if I lost the primary UNLESS I carried back up mags for the ankle gun. Anyone in LE knows how much crap we already have to carry without adding extra mags for the BUG!:(

With a G22 on my belt and a G27 on my ankle I now have 41 rounds of 40S&W at my disposal even if the mag in the primary is lost! :cool: Saves duty belt real estate and just plain makes sense.

I suspect that the matching BUG factor is one of the main reasons that SO many departments go with Glock as their issue duty pistol. Well, that and the price Glock gives to LE. :D

R6
 
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