Cops and Revolvers

K

kraigwy

New member
I got a pleasant surprise yesterday. My neighbor is a deputy sheriff. He contacted me about revolver training.

He just picked up a Model 66 and wanted some training so he could qualify with it.

I didn't know (and really didn't check) the county would let officers choose their own weapons. Turns out they don't issue a service pistol/revolver, so figure if you can qualify with it, you can carry it.

Not only will I get him up to speed, I think I have a recruit for the local ICORE club, get him shooting revolver competition.

He also is considering going to a Model 94 Marlin 38/357 as a patrol rifle. Not a bad idea for his situation and the way he works.

I've always said, real cops carry revolvers.
 
I qualified with a 4 inch 66-4 and a 2.5 inch 66-2 last December for on and off duty.

Revolvers worked well for my ancestors and are working well for me. Good luck to the deputy! The 66 is a fine duty gun. Regards 18DAI
 
I started my Municipal LE career with a revolver in the 70's and quite frankly would be happy carrying one today if issued. Alas they give me a SIG 229 DAK and I am limited to packing my Model 19 Combat Magnum off duty on occasion and for various ICORE and IDPA matches.
 
Hello kraigwy,,, I have a question,,,,,

He also is considering going to a Model 94 Marlin 38/357 as a patrol rifle.
Not a bad idea for his situation and the way he works.
Click to expand...

I'm just curious is all,,,
What about his situation lends itself to a lever gun?

Aarond

.
 
What about his situation lends itself to a lever gun?
Click to expand...

Carrys well on a horse, uses the same ammo as his duty revolver, plenty accurate with in the range LE would be called on for a rifle. < 100 yards.

Excellent choise for putting down injured animals.

Convinent moving in and out of his truck.

We're not talking about a LE Counter Sniper Rifle, but a patrol rifle.
 
Interesting. I wonder how old is the guy, and what is his shooting experience? Something is making him not follow the crowd and instead chose something pretty old school. I'm mostly curious because I have been carrying a j frame lately after carrying Glocks for a couple years, for my own reasons. I don't know if real cops only carry revolvers, but I would love to hear their opinion for why they still cary one.
 
I wonder how old is the guy, and what is his shooting experience?
Click to expand...

He's a retired Marine. Grew up on a ranch in South Dakota, and has a small hobby range now, few cows and his wife is training sheep herding dogs.
 
Nice, retired Marine, got the wife, dogs, couple cows, and wants a revolver over whatever else. I like this guy!
 
I first was issued a Model 19 Blue Smith as a patrolman, then we upgraded to the Model 66.

The department used .38 solid lead round nosed bullets until 1975 when it upgraded to the 125 Grain Semi Jacketed Hollow Points.

I still remember being issued the Magnum ammo for the .357 we carried. Everybody was buzzing about it... caused quite a stir back then.

The press accused us of being "loaded for Bear" and inferred we were a danger to the community with these "deadly bullets".

I own a Model 66-5 even today. It just feels right....:p

Don't get me wrong... I also have the other good stuff as well....:D
 
Years ago my father inlaw was a border patrol agent.He said he carried a Colt SA 45 and a Winchester 30-30. He said that's all he would trust with all the dirt and dust in West Texas where he patroled.Later he was a treasury agent at Los Alimitos racetrack in CA. and carried a Colt Detective Special.I don't think he ever owned a automatic.At least as long as I new him he did'nt.
 
Though I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Ruger guy, I have a fondness for certain S&W creations; 3rd gen autos, and also my first issued sidearm from early in my LE career: The model 65. These days, when on my own time, I usually tote a P-90 [Ruger, that is..not the FN!]. However, when the mood strikes me, I will often go back to my 4" GP-100. There's just something about a revolver that feels right. As Clint Smith said, "Wheel guns are real guns!"
 
Just as a "thank you for your service" bring along a few speed loaders for his revolver. Let him try them and at the end of the training give them to him. Tell him they are to keep him safe when the chips are down. It never hurts to spread good will especially with law enforcement.
 
Commendable.

This is a perfect instance of choosing the right tool for the job, rather than getting carried away with having the most firepower in the county.

It sounds like this guy patrols a rural area. He's not going to be getting into the kind of situation where he has to shoot three dozen bad guys armed with RPGs and AK-47s.

He WILL, however, likely have to put down larger animals.

A small-frame magnum revolver and lever-gun sound like the perfect combination for the terrain.
 
First Duty Weapon I was issued as a Sheriff's Deputy in 1985 was a S & W Model 65 with a 4 inch BBL... that gun was a tack Driver back then we Qualified at 50 yards.... Carried her for 4 or 5 years then the Glock Craze hit and I was Issued a Glock Model 17 in 9MM.... then a Glock Model 23 in .40 S & W.... Patrol long guns started out with Remington 870's then went to Benelli's and either a H & K UMP .40 submachine gun or a Colt M4 Assault Rifle 5.56..... I was the head Armorer and Firearms Instructor so I could carry what ever I wanted........ through over 25 years of service the Model 65 was my favorite handgun, may not of been the best for the job but it was my favorite....
 
Most Cops don't know squat about guns, a few do. Most think that having a gun that will throw a bunch of bullets down range is a good thing, a few can really shoot well. Also most Cops shoot once a year to qualify and that's it, some shoot all the time.
He's not going to be getting into the kind of situation where he has to shoot three dozen bad guys armed with RPGs and AK-47s.
Click to expand...
I'll guarantee you that any Cop that runs up against this kinda deal is going to either backup and call for help or die. We are Cops not Marine Recon. We are very lightly armed and not trained for Military type combat. Yeah, I know, lot's of Cops who are Ex-Military with tons of training but as Cops we don't get Air Support, Grenades, Full-Auto Weapons or Artillery. Luckily 'Die Hard' was just a movie.
 
any Cop that runs up against this kinda deal is going to either backup and call for help
Click to expand...

Don't know where you live but in this county, back up just might be an hour away, assuming the roads are clear.

You don't have to be Tacticool to do your job and survive.

Don't need belt fed glocks if you know how to handle your revolver.
 
I carried revolvers for the first 16 or so years of my LEO career. We transitioned to the Smith Model 1076 in 10mm and that was the pistol given to me when I retired. I'll never part with it but I still hate that gun. I asked the chief to let me continue to carry my revolver if I paid for the ammo for quals and to carry. The answer was "NO!!!!!" I have, and shoot, all the revolvers I was issued. We could purchase them when the department transitioned to something new.

Colt Trooper
Colt Trooper MKIII
Colt Detective Special
Smith Model 66 , 2 1/2" and 4"

I have carried a Colt 1911 mostly since I retired 12 years ago but recurring back problems have dictated something small and light. I carry a Colt Agent revolver daily. It's hard to get away from wheel guns for me.
 
I ran across a Rossi Model 92 in .38/.357 with a 16 inch barrel at a local store the other day and really liked how handy it was. I've been trying to convince myself that I need it.
 
I ran across a Rossi Model 92 in .38/.357 with a 16 inch barrel at a local store the other day and really liked how handy it was. I've been trying to convince myself that I need it.
Click to expand...

I don't seem to have a problem convincing myself that I "need" a firearm. :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top