Security Guard/ Police Officer Handgun

My recommendations for a duty weapon that I had to bet my life on in .40:

M&P40 Pro
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I don't believe the M&P40 has ever been offered with the "Pro Series" upgrades and the thumb safety on the same gun.

AFAIK all of the M&P "Pro Series" M&P40 (and M&P9) models have been built one way: no thumb safety, no mag disconnect, no internal lock, standard capacity mags.
 
^^^I just checked and I stand corrected. You are correct sir. I just never buy a gun with a safety if I can avoid it... Thanks.
 
The best safety money can buy and the one anyone should posses is the one between you ears which is the one safety switch on the exterior of the gun
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This is a fine sentiment, if only it always true.
The problem with the Mk-I Organic Safety System is that it is prone to failures from multiple sources. Adrenaline, fatigue, distraction, anger, impatience, etc.

Most of us have seen the video of the dreadlock-wearing DEA agent shooting himself in the foot with a Glock. And that was a low-stress incident. Around these parts, a local officer was going off duty, changing in the locker room while telling a rookie why he chose the Glock to wear in his S.O.B.* holster. As a lefty, there was no safety to worry about "bumping off" in contact with his body and *Boom*! He sent a .40 Caliber JHP out the bottom of the holster through his right buttock (that's beyew-tock for you Ensign Pulver fans) into the locker room floor. Why did that happen? The end of a 10-hour shift for an officer who began the day badly fatigued because he and his wife had a new baby at home. Plus his day included several adrenaline rush moments that added to the fatigue. Just a momentary lapse of situational awareness and a misplaced finger nearly ended an 8 year career.

If the police departments are getting rid of them, does that mean that there is a problem or are they just improving to a better weapon?
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Usually used police guns are "traded in" to the supplier of new guns for credit to help purchase newer, more ergonomically designed or improved guns. For example, an agency might trade in S&W 4006's to Sig for new pistols, reducing the cost of the Sigs. Sig, in turn, sells off the guns to distributors to offset some of the "discount" they gave to the police agency. Marginal guns, when inspected are turned into spare parts. S&W refurbishes trade-ins and sells them to distributors.

Most police guns are "lightly" fired. Figure 200-250 rounds/year for many agencies up to 1000 round/year for qualification.

*S.O.B. = small of the back style holster
 
FWIW During my time as a Police officer in the early- mid 90's I carried a personally owned S&W Model 4006 .40cal autoloader as a duty weapon. With the SS finish I found it to be resistant to the harsh conditions it was subjected to. The one addition I made to it was a Pachmayr slip-on grip. It came with two 11 round mags. and was accurate enough that qualification was never a problem.

If you can find a used one at a decent price ( they aren't in production anymore ) I suggest you take a close look at it.

I still own and carry mine for SD without hesitation.
 
The Springfield XD guns have a grip safety (similar to a 1911) for a little extra peace of mind. I can't comment on their quality/reliability though.
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Outstanding on both accounts. They will take a beating and keep on ticking
 
I also don't understand what the OP means in regard to the recoil spring assembly. If it is malfunctioning, buy a new one for $8.

As far as organic safety failures go, no firearm is idiot proof -- whether it has an external lever safety or not. If you are set on having an external safety, I think the M&P is your best bet in the "reasonable" price range and is a pistol that has seen quite a bit of law-enforcement use. You could also go up to the H&K.

I have undergone quite a bit of training this year with what I would classify as "hard use" users. The overwhelming majority of pistols I see are Glocks and the overwhelming majority of those are Glock 19s. M&Ps make up maybe a fifth of the users and there will usually be one guy with a sig and one guy with an HK.

There are reasons for that -- Glocks are extremely durable, reliable pistols. While the trigger pull is ugly, gaining proficiency with the pistol is easier for most people who are willing to put in the round count than other designs (DA/SA). Glock magazines, parts and holsters are widely available at affordable prices as a consequence of the pistol's popularity.

From what I have seen in my classes, the M&P is noticeably more accurate at longer ranges. I don't know if that is a function of the sights (which I think are better, stock) or what. I will also say I haven't come across anyone who didn't have the full APEX kit in his M&P, which you don't have to worry about with a Glock -- though Glock owners sure do love to booger with their triggers.
 
Springfield XD-M .40 hands down.

Glock is a good choice. I actually would prefer no "external" safety. That is why I carry a revolver.:cool:
 
2BQ945
<SNIP>I have been looking at a Glock 22 40.cal pistol. But I have noticed some "not so safe" problems with the gun.
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Ask yourself this...

What is the difference between a traditional DA revolver and a Glock 22 in terms of technical safety? Both requires a pull of the trigger to go bang. I don't think anyone familiar with handguns will tell you that a modern DA revolver is un-safe by design.
 
The S&W M&P has been a standard, in use by some of the most professional people in the protection business over the years.
barney-fife-1.jpg
[/IMG] Oh, wait a minute. The NEW M&P is an auto now.....................
 
Hmmmm?...

I have doubts about the member's back-story & firearm requirements but in general, for sworn LE duty or licensed/armed security work, I'd check these pistols;
the Beretta PX4 C format 9x19mm with 3 dot Trijicon sights. The SIG-Sauer P229R/P226R DAK format with night sights in .357sig or .40, the Walther PPQ .40, the HK P2000 LEM with night sights in .357sig or .40S&W, the S&W Military and Police full size with safety, night sights(no mag safety) in .357sig or .40, the S&W SD40 .40.
A simple, hammer fired DA only system like a DAK or LEM would be best for LE service. A pistol with a frame mounted ambi safety & a 1913 rail are good choices too.
Depending on your budget & how/where you'd carry the pistol, you have a few decent choices.
Clyde
 
Sharpdressed Man said:
The S&W M&P has been a standard, in use by some of the most professional people in the protection business over the years
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Maybe so, but Deputy Fife carried a Colt Official Police .38 Special.

"There once was a deputy called Fife,
Who carried a gun and a knife.
The gun was all dusty,
And his knife was all rusty,
Because he never caught a crook in his life."
 
I would never tell nobody not to get the Glock, but I favor the good old USA gun's, S&W M&P, or an XD. XD first.

All three gun's, I shoot very well.
 
If the police departments are getting rid of them, does that mean that there is a problem or are they just improving to a better weapon?
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Since you live in Escondido there is a Shooting in Oceanside called Iron Sights. This is the range I do to. They have a variety of semi-autos you can rent and get a good idea of what you like. I was just there Thursday and I saw some Sig Sauer that look like they were police trade. Check it out.
Howard
 
Well, according to IMFDB, it was a Colt, but I could swear I have seen a S&W on occasion; maybe it was when it was called Mayberry, RFD................
 
I've been qualified on the HK P-7, BHP, HK USP, and Glock 22/23 as my agency's issue weapons, past and present. I carry personaly-owned though, and those have been Colt and Kimber 1911s and now XD/XDm.

Of those, the Glocks and two of the XDs have been forties. The XDm 3.8 40 compact is my duty gun, and an XD40 subcompact is for off-duty, a XD9 subcompact lives in my truck, and a XD45 compact does home protection duty.

You really can't go wrong with a Glock; indestrucable, cop-proof, simple to operate, easy to armor, easy to train on. A vast majority of LE agencies either issue or approve it. It's only taken four generations to perfect.

That being said I prefer my XDs because of the grip angle and trigger.

Made in Croatia? some people ask. Yes, to very exacting standards of a foremost American gun manufacturer. They're not trying to hide it either with the "made in Croatia" roll mark. Gun rags have put the XD through the torture tests even more extreme than the famous Glock test. Comes through with flying colors.
 
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