This is a great post and it takes me back to 1985 when I started at the PD. I was issued a Smith & Wesson model 686 and 18 rounds of Winchester silver tips in a .38 + P. I think that 4 inch revolver was and is one of the best revolvers ever made by any gun manufacturer. Yes I admit to being a bit biased. Just my thoughts from Montana. Be safe all.
What if Military and LE still used revolvers?
- Thread starter mellow_c
- Start date
IF the military, LE or American civilian market showed any interest in a switch to revolvers we would quickly see the technology and design principles of the Ruger LCR, S&W Bodyguard, Taurus 605PLY applied to duty size weaponry.
The potential is there, but for now the $ are not.
The potential is there, but for now the $ are not.
Hey...great question....and one that's been hashed over endlessly by the military and literally hundreds of LE agencies.
I had a cpl tours in Vietnam as an Air Force pilot and carried an issue S&W M15 until I could get a 1911 from the Army; on my first tour, as a forward air controller flying L-19's from a dirt strip, I lived in a Special Forces camp just below the Cambodian border. I spent a hellofa lot of nights in slit trenches, listening to the VC attempting to worm their way through our wire.
For that kind of duty, let alone slogging through swamps or desert sands, I'd pick a gov't issue 1911 every time. Loose enough to ensure good reliability with hard ball rounds, and enough punch to do a number at 3 feet to 30 foot threats... and make it a .45... a 9mm is just not enough when you absolutely need it at bad breath distance...if the "small hands" crowd doesn't like it, spend some training dollars to teach them. A pistol is for close in work, where you aren't carrying a rifle, can't find a rifle, or the long gun won't fit....
For LE use, I have no problem with a revolver, but then I"ve never had to use one in an LE capacity. Slower to reload, but inherently simpler...a revolver has very good characteristics when the adrenalin is flowing. And if it's a Smith M15, tell them to get a pair of stocks on the dam thing that allow you to shoot it twice without losing control...a grip filler is a good idea, or better yet a pair of Pachmeyers.
For the two years I was in Vietnam, I was never out of reach of a good handgun. Shower points, the CO's damned briefings every other week, the PX...it was always on my hip or in a shoulder rig. And come to think of it, that's been my policy ever since where legal.
Best Regards, Rod
I had a cpl tours in Vietnam as an Air Force pilot and carried an issue S&W M15 until I could get a 1911 from the Army; on my first tour, as a forward air controller flying L-19's from a dirt strip, I lived in a Special Forces camp just below the Cambodian border. I spent a hellofa lot of nights in slit trenches, listening to the VC attempting to worm their way through our wire.
For that kind of duty, let alone slogging through swamps or desert sands, I'd pick a gov't issue 1911 every time. Loose enough to ensure good reliability with hard ball rounds, and enough punch to do a number at 3 feet to 30 foot threats... and make it a .45... a 9mm is just not enough when you absolutely need it at bad breath distance...if the "small hands" crowd doesn't like it, spend some training dollars to teach them. A pistol is for close in work, where you aren't carrying a rifle, can't find a rifle, or the long gun won't fit....
For LE use, I have no problem with a revolver, but then I"ve never had to use one in an LE capacity. Slower to reload, but inherently simpler...a revolver has very good characteristics when the adrenalin is flowing. And if it's a Smith M15, tell them to get a pair of stocks on the dam thing that allow you to shoot it twice without losing control...a grip filler is a good idea, or better yet a pair of Pachmeyers.
For the two years I was in Vietnam, I was never out of reach of a good handgun. Shower points, the CO's damned briefings every other week, the PX...it was always on my hip or in a shoulder rig. And come to think of it, that's been my policy ever since where legal.
Best Regards, Rod
I'm not military or LEO but the M&P R8 seems like it was made just for this. If that is too heavy, then I would pick the 8 round 327 Night Guard.
Since the primary arm is the rifle, any sidearm must be light. If I was in a combat situation, I would rather carry more rifle ammo and not be loaded down with a heavy sidearm.
Since the primary arm is the rifle, any sidearm must be light. If I was in a combat situation, I would rather carry more rifle ammo and not be loaded down with a heavy sidearm.
If the military was still using revolvers they would use the same weapons they had been using. The S&W Model 10 and the Ruger equivalent in .38 special. The handgun in military operations is more or less a feel good thing and is not really a factor. The last hand gun I carried in the military was a Model 10, if the balloon had gone up I would have thrown it away and grabbed the first rifle I could find.
griffin12aaa
New member
I would say the gp100 because the 686 has an internal lock that can make such a fine revolver useless. The python would be to expensive.