Why do police departments issue compact guns so often?

S

SPUSCG

New member
Ive seen some that isse a g19 over g17, a p229 over p226 and usp compacts over full sized hk guns. Im wondering, why? LE work requires open carry of a gun and concealability is not a factor. Id think a full sized would be easier to shoot well if needed. Anyone have an idea?
 
It has to do primarily with the comfort of the officer...

Less weight on an already heavy duty belt but the main point that they can sit comfortably in the car where the bigger handgun sticks down past the thighs when seated and the barrels presses into the seat forcing the belt up...
 
The department I worked for included Glock 19's as one of the authorized service pistols. It's become by far the most popular of the three semi-auto pistols allowed. So you ask why the Glock 19 as opposed to the Glock 17? Whats the difference?... an extra round or two?... At least 25% of the department workes in civilian clothes. The Glock 19 transitions perfectly between uniform and plain clothes. Although it's called a compact... it's more the size of a service pistol. There is little or no weight consideration.

One must keep in mind that although the service pistol is a most prominent piece police equipment... It's also probably the least used. Most Officers would be better served by a heavier pen, than a heavier firearm.

Nothing wrong with a full sized pistol but the Glock 19 also eliminates for some the need for a second off duty firearm. Keep in mind that police officers of today in my opinion are arent as "GUN SAVY" as they may have been in the past. Sadly for some the gun is just another PITA piece of equipment.

Bigger isnt always better. Sometimes you just need the right fit. The Glock 19 fits well. 20,000 + members of the NYPD cant all be wrong. ( numbers are estimated)

Glenn D.
 
Another reason

Many officers carry concealed and also several will carry a back-up in an ankle rig. The Department will have a policy concerning the carry of dept issued weapons. If they require a dept issue weapon only then they will usually furnish the smaller weapon.

Regardless, open carry of a full size weapon, as well as concealed carry, is rough on clothing and car seats.

Smaller weapons have a lesser impact on clothing and seat covers.
 
In Dona Anna County, New Mexico I did see a couple of Glock 19s in the holsters of a couple of female officers. I'd say a compact auto allows for hand fit in smaller people.
 
Consider all the equipment on the "Bat Belt"
Consider how much that weighs.

Any chance to reduce that weight is welcomed!
 
Local SO issues 22s and 23s the ones that are issued 23s are also issued the 22 mags to go with them. I would guess so that any officer can use any other officers magazines. It seems like it kinda defeates the purpose of the smaller gun though.:confused:
 
Yeah, backaches from all that junk on the belt are getting to be an epidemic.

I think they're going to have to find ways to spread it out. Carry some items strapped to the upper arms, upper legs, etc.

Lopsided weight at the belt can be a huge problem too.
 
One of the local LEOS stopped in at my store and I asked him what he carried....always do. I was stoopified ;) by the amount of equipment he had on. Every inch of his gun belt was covered, as was his vest. A mall ninjas dream:D

Beentown
 
I work in a county jail and we carry all the same gear as patrol officers minus only the weapon and mags. My duty belt with Taser X26 w/spare cartridges, 4 oz. can of chemical, 2 pairs of handcuffs, gloves, CPR mask, radio, flashlight and keys weighs in at over 20 lbs. Now figure in probably close to 10 more pounds for weapon, 2 spare mags (standard, some carry more in cargo pockets) and holsters for both and your looking at 30ish pounds of gear and that's not includng body armor.
 
Another possibility is liability. Many years ago a good number of agencies would issue an on duty sidearm and allow the officer to carry a different gun off duty under certain conditions (had to be certain caliber, certain ammo, had to qualify with it). Some agencies even issued an off duty gun. The smaller duty weapon today stems from an idea that the "duty" weapon will be carried off duty more often and as such the department can have more "control" over the officer when off duty. One weapon = less cost, more control = less liability.
 
My friend had a cop come into his shop carring a 4506 in the holster, a taser left side, a revolver uner one arm in a shoulder holster and a glock in another shoulder holster. He said he almost laughed seeing this guy decked out like that.
 
We have a couple officers who carry multiple BUG's. Usually not in shoulder holsters though. Usually they are attached to the straps on their body armor or in a pocket holster in a cargo pocket or sometimes in an ankle holster. Although ankle holsters don't work too very well with taller boots, unless you have one that's made for it that is.

It's funny to watch those officers take off all their firearms when they come in the jail. It always reminds me of Tackleberry from Police Academy.
 
i've noticed the g17 is unnecessarily larger than the g19 for holding only 2 more rounds. i mean, as far as LE is concerned. the g19 is easier to conceal, and fits smaller hands better (like mine!)

besides, with a +2 floorplate the g19 holds 17 rounds too.



for target and competition shooters, the longer barrel is the way to go. :)
 
Versatility for on and off duty carry. Also more user friendly for people with large hands. It appears that it's easier for big hands to shoot a smaller pistol, maybe modified with a hogue rap around or bigger grip inserts, than it is for smaller hands to adapt to a larger weapon.

Smaller female officers had a heck of a time when our Agency issued Beretta 96D. Those things have a huge grip and they made a model with a shorter trigger for smaller hands that was just garbage. We went to the HK P2000 and there have been far fewer problems. HK makes a great weapon!

It shoots more accurately and it's way easier to conceal!
 
You might recall that the 1911 was considered to be on the large size when it was first issued. I must have exceptionally long fingers myself, because my fingers easily encircle the grip. But I don't consider my hands to be large. Old army manual photos illustrate a soldier gripping a .45 automatic and clearly that man had short fingers. So the trigger was changed and additional cuts were made to the frame to allow for shorter fingers.

But the Glock model 17 and model 19 have the same thickness of grip, do they not, one just being a little longer? The compact Beretta, rare though it is, has just the same size grip, only shorter.

As a matter of fact, I am struck that when I compare autos I have owned and still own, the grips all seem to come in at just the same size for most of them whatever the caliber. My Walther P5 has virtually the same size grip as my CZ-82. Of course I'm using the same hands all the time.

I once had a S&W Model 39 (no dash), which by the way, came with the box and all the original tags. It had been purchased at a store in Tysons Corner Mall here in Northern Virginia. I always thought that was interesting. But anyway, the Model 39 was supposed to be a relatively compact pistol and was at least flat but it seemed to have the largest, most hand-filling grip of just about any automatic I've ever owned. Just a curious quality. Nice gun though. Beautiful finish.
 
Borch said:
I work in a county jail and we carry all the same gear as patrol officers minus only the weapon and mags. My duty belt with Taser X26 w/spare cartridges, 4 oz. can of chemical, 2 pairs of handcuffs, gloves, CPR mask, radio, flashlight and keys weighs in at over 20 lbs. Now figure in probably close to 10 more pounds for weapon, 2 spare mags (standard, some carry more in cargo pockets) and holsters for both and your looking at 30ish pounds of gear and that's not includng body armor.
Click to expand...

That seems a little high... how many keys are you carrying? I can't imagine that stuff weighs more than 10 pounds, unless you're carrying a giant lug of a radio and a lead-lined D-cell maglight.

Even a full-on loaded 1911 with two spare mags and a holster and mag pouch only weighs about 5 pounds, not 10.

Even then that's not a whole ton.

In the field my armor (with plates) weighs 33 pounds, my helmet is about 5, 800 rounds of belted 5.56 is about 22 pounds, my SAW is about 17 pounds unloaded, plus a gallon of water, 8 pounds, an iCOM and IFAK and other crap that probably weighs another two pounds all told, and I can still function. Not a lot of fun, but I can function with almost 100 pounds of crap on.
 
Carry one for a few years and you will know the answer. They heavier and bulkier they are the more uncomfortable they get, especially when getting in and out of a vehicle a lot.
 
It's really not all that bad. I wore a duty belt with the mandatory equipment for may years... as my time in the job grew longer, the more stuff I took off my belt. Till right before I retiered I got it right... Handgun, one set of cuffs, spare ammo, thats it. I did have to put it all back for uniform inspection... but that was only once a year.
 
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