Texas Highway Patrol guns?

About 10 years ago I had a chance to talk with one of the trooper who was on the team or group that decided the change over from 45ACP, usually in Sig 220s, to the 357SIG. From what he told me, many troopers, after going to the 45ACP, were disappointed in its effect on bad guys and its ability to punch through car doors and windshields. He said that troopers knew the 45ACP was potent, but “just didn’t have the drop them right now effect” the old 357 Magnum revolver had, plus (I assume) because of the 357 Mag’s smaller diameter and greater velocity than the 45ACP, it penetrated car doors, etc. better. From what I could gather, our conversation took place short after the DPS switched over to the 357SIG or was just about to. This trooper had apparently tested the round quite a bit during its evaluation and was well pleased with it. I was born in Texas in about the middle of the last century and over the years have run across about a dozen or so Texas Rangers. Every one I ever saw, was carrying a 1911.

I can certainly understand the 357SIG's reliabilty in chambering, because it is a bottle neck shaped cartridge, and its power level should certainly ensure enough force to cycle the slide. I tried a 357SIG barrel in my Glock 40 and it was real nice, but back then the ammo was expensive. It did seem to me that the recoil and report was more than the 40 out of the same gun - especiallty the report (noise)
 
Tex. That was true. From what I here, they have recieved better results with the 357 as far as "stopping" power. Another reason was the Troops had a choice in the 45 and the 9mm. Some went with the 45 for the stopping power and some went with the 9mm for the increase in the number of rounds. The 9mm was easier to handle for some. The problem with that was, nothing was interchangeable. If you got into a shootout and you had a 45 and your partner had a 9mm, it was kind of hard to switch out mags if needed. You would need both 9mm and 45 rounds in all the cars if they were shared and if you had to reload mags in a critical incident, you had to check what you were grabbing first. Anyway, that was pretty much the big reason for the switch over to the 357 sig. Everyone would have the same caliber.
 
Tennessee state troopers carry the same, he(the one i see at work on a regular basis) says "its one of the few that go through car doors and still have some decent power.Not sure about penetration in windshields though"
 
The only Texas state trooper I ever dealt with (hit and run witness) was at my kitchen table to escape the summer heat. He noticed my Mini-14 owners manuel on the table and related a good story.
He had pursued 3 subjects to a rural house, they ran inside. Help was 30 minutes plus away and night was falling. He went to his trunk, got out his Mini and fired 2 shots into the air. Three subjects, hands in the air came out of the house. Had all the help he needed.
 
The only Texas state trooper I ever dealt with (hit and run witness) was at my kitchen table to escape the summer heat. He noticed my Mini-14 owners manuel on the table and related a good story.
He had pursued 3 subjects to a rural house, they ran inside. Help was 30 minutes plus away and night was falling. He went to his trunk, got out his Mini and fired 2 shots into the air. Three subjects, hands in the air came out of the house. Had all the help he needed.
Click to expand...

He made a wise move that Trooper!
 
We are issued Sig 226 in the 357 Sig. Like he said, some with smaller hands are issued the 229 and we even had a couple that were issued the 239.

I have a P226 that I bought for my wife and the grip is too large for her. Is there really that big a difference between the P229 and P226 grip.
 
P226 vs P229

BTT

We are issued Sig 226 in the 357 Sig. Like he said, some with smaller hands are issued the 229 and we even had a couple that were issued the 239.

I have a P226 that I bought for my wife and the grip is too large for her. Is there really that big a difference between the P229 and P226 grip.

Thanks
Jim
 
Tennessee state troopers carry the same, he(the one i see at work on a regular basis) says "its one of the few that go through car doors and still have some decent power.Not sure about penetration in windshields though"
Click to expand...

Tennessee HP use Glock 31s, correct?
 
I have a P226 that I bought for my wife and the grip is too large for her. Is there really that big a difference between the P229 and P226 grip.
Click to expand...
I have both and actually find the P226's grip fits my hand slightly better. Its slightly smaller, or seems so, especially in girth than my P229's.

Both guns are basically the same size, the P229 just a tad shorter, but its slide is also somewhat heavier/thicker than the P226's, which gives it a more bulky look when you sight down them.

If your looking at one or the other, it would pay to look at both together and compare them side by side. You'll be surprised that they are so alike, but also so different.
 
Thanks for the reply. I think I will have to take my P226 and compare it t0 a
P229. May even have to check out a p239.
Thanks again
Jim
 
The P239 (I have one of them too. :) ) is a good bit smaller in the grip (but not really in size over all) than either the P226 or P229. Then again, its a single stack while the other two are double stacks.

The P239 is a nice gun, but a little heavy for its size. If you look at one, it will probably have a top heavy feel when empty. This goes away when you load it.
 
Not real important,

But one more update in case anyone ever see's the thread in a search ;)

Phillip's County, Montana Sheriff's Department issue Glock (I THINK .40's), however you can carry what you're comfortable with.

Talked with one guy was carrying a 1911 stainless. Didn't have a chance to ask if there was specific requirements (Semi-auto,etc.), but it didn't sound like alot.
 
I made a comment about what the Texas Rangers carried recently, and wanting to be correct, I called the Rangers. I got a call back from a fellow who said he was a training officer and he said that the Texas Rangers were issued the same handgun as the rest of the DPS, either the Sig 226 or 229 in .357 Sig. He also said that the Rangers were also allowed to carry any backup firearm they wanted, and that this was usually a 1911 .45 ACP. I chuckled a bit and asked if this backup firearm wasn't occasionally ornate and one worn openly in custom leather?:D He chuckled back and said that he wouldn't be surprised if the Sig wasn't occasionally riding in a lock box in the trunk of their car.:D

You gotta love the Texas Rangers! :cool::cool:
 
A few years back I had a neighbor that was a Sgt with DPS the sig certified armorer for the North Texas area until he retired. He told me that the p226 357sig was issued to the uniformed officers and the p229 for the undercover, supervisors and various other special units. DPS administration wanted all of the employees to have access to guns chambered in the same round. He also said that all state employed peace officers were issued the sig 226 or 229 chambered in 357sig. I know TABC, gamewardens, and state apprehension specialists were, but not sure about the state university police. I know since then some of the state agencies have switched over to GLOCKS like the investigators for the Attorney Generals Office.
 
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