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What sidearm is most common among Police?
- Thread starter JJ45
- Start date
Jim Watson
New member
PD here disallowed the previous assortment and now allows only Glock 17 and 19.
Ten years ago it would have been Glock 22's. Today it would be Glock 17's. At one time those 2 made up about 2/3 of all LE handguns.
The only other 2 major players are the Sig 320 and Smith M&P. I can't recall seeing anything else in a large department since they moved away from revolvers. I used to see some Beretta 92's, Sig 226's, and Smith 5900 series pistols, but that has been a while.
The only other 2 major players are the Sig 320 and Smith M&P. I can't recall seeing anything else in a large department since they moved away from revolvers. I used to see some Beretta 92's, Sig 226's, and Smith 5900 series pistols, but that has been a while.
DubC-Hicks
New member
Unfortunately my Sheriff's Office admin is stuck in the stone age, so we haven't updated since 08. We're stuck with the XD-45 Tactical until I can convince them otherwise. And the local city agencies follow our lead.
Out of the 8 counties surrounding us, 6 issue Glocks (mixed between 17s and 22s), one issues the M&P 2.0 9mm, and the last issues the XDm Elite OSP 9mm. Michigan State Police issues Glock 17s and 26s.
Being a firearms instructor and member of some specialty teams, I go to a lot of trainings where I get a chance to interact with a lot of people from other agencies statewide. Glocks are still the most common, by far.
Out of the 8 counties surrounding us, 6 issue Glocks (mixed between 17s and 22s), one issues the M&P 2.0 9mm, and the last issues the XDm Elite OSP 9mm. Michigan State Police issues Glock 17s and 26s.
Being a firearms instructor and member of some specialty teams, I go to a lot of trainings where I get a chance to interact with a lot of people from other agencies statewide. Glocks are still the most common, by far.
It's Glock on the belts in my area, too.
Why? Not privy to the decision making, but Glock has a history of being very price competitive for LEAs. Reminds me of a time when an astronaut was asked what he was thinking right before liftoff. He replied, "I'm thinking, this thing was built by the lowest bidder."
Why? Not privy to the decision making, but Glock has a history of being very price competitive for LEAs. Reminds me of a time when an astronaut was asked what he was thinking right before liftoff. He replied, "I'm thinking, this thing was built by the lowest bidder."
101combatvet
New member
It's Glock; departments get a nice price break on them.
Spats McGee
Administrator
Around here, Glocks. A few agencies carry Sigs or M&Ps, but Glocks make up an overwhelming majority of the pistols carried by LE. The only real question is which model. If I had to guess, mostly 17s with a few 21s thrown in for uniformed officers. Detectives and plainclothes may get to carry something smaller.
DubC-Hicks said:Unfortunately my Sheriff's Office admin is stuck in the stone age, so we haven't updated since 08. We're stuck with the XD-45 Tactical until I can convince them otherwise. And the local city agencies follow our lead.
That seems like an awesome choice. I’d love to be issued that. I just find the trigger, caliber, capacity and grip safety excellent. Do you guys carry a light attached?
I’m interested…what don’t you like about it. You surely have more experience than I do.
I still see Glocks more than anything else. Some M&Ps. I know of a few PDs that switched to P320, one of them is going back to Glocks.At one time I would have said Glock, but I'd be curious where the SIG P320 now ranks.
DubC-Hicks
New member
I’m interested…what don’t you like about it. You surely have more experience than I do.
I'm not a fan of 45 ACP for duty, I'm a 9mm fan. For capacity, recoil, grip size, and ammo cost reasons. We can qualify the department on 9mm for around half the cost of 45, and smaller stature officers don't like the 45 grip and full 5" slide.
I'm also not a fan of the original XD line overall. The gun itself doesn't instill much confidence for me, as I've had issues with other personally owned XD/XDm's. But to be fair, I've had no issues with my issued gun. The XD grip texture and trigger also leave a lot to be desired, for me at least.
And yeah, we're issued TLR-1 HLs with them.
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I still see Glocks more than anything else. Some M&Ps. I know of a few PDs that switched to P320, one of them is going back to Glocks.
I think it also depends on the region. In my area there are a lot of P320s, but we’ve heard from other people that in their state it’s not prevalent at all. I’m mainly curious if there is a breakdown somewhere that’s not anecdotal, but at the same time those are likely press pieces from the manufacturers themselves and not exactly unbiased. I think Glock is still at the top, I was more trying to imply I think their dominance isn’t as widespread as it once was.
I was more trying to imply I think their dominance isn’t as widespread as it once was.
I agree. I know Glock has some numbers and I saw some breakdown of how they got their "70%" that they claimed at in about 2010. It was total departments in the US according to the DOJ as the denominator. The numerator was the number of departments that allowed, specified or bought Glocks. So it was never 70% of officers, but maybe 60ish percent.
In 2018, they claimed 65%. I'd be surprised if it is much over 50% total today, but yes, I do think it is regional to some degree. The Sheriff's Dept. of the county I live in "authorizes" several pistols, including Glock. But there are still some that carry 1911s and Revolvers that don't make the list, but they were grandfathered in.
I just worked SHOT on the live fire range. I had a bunch of LVPD come through and some who worked to make sure the guns did not walk off. There was a variety.
44caliberkid
New member
I mainly just see Glocks, if it’s something different then usually an M&P.
Can you describe the issues you had with the XD?....ThanksI'm not a fan of 45 ACP for duty, I'm a 9mm fan. For capacity, recoil, grip size, and ammo cost reasons. We can qualify the department on 9mm for around half the cost of 45, and smaller stature officers don't like the 45 grip and full 5" slide.
I'm also not a fan of the original XD line overall. The gun itself doesn't instill much confidence for me, as I've had issues with other personally owned XD/XDm's. But to be fair, I've had no issues with my issued gun. The XD grip texture and trigger also leave a lot to be desired, for me at least.
And yeah, we're issued TLR-1 HLs with them.
DubC-Hicks
New member
Can you describe the issues you had with the XD?....Thanks
The first XD-9 I bought used, with seemingly not very many rounds through it. Within just a few hundred rounds, the striker retainer pin broke. No idea how much it had been dry fired in its life but it didn't have many rounds through it. Then I bought a new XD Mod 2 9mm full size, which has been flawless. Then bought an XDm 9mm full size, which was plagued with fail to feeds and fail to ejects. Traded it to our department Springfield armorer, who replaced some parts and got it running. And just recently ended up with an XDm Elite OSP 9mm that I've put approx 1000 rounds through and actually like a lot. But still have a bad taste in my mouth of Springfield XD guns.
Post 6 and above,
Thanks for the info. Prior to you, I wasn't actually aware of any organization which actually prescribed or issued any XD series firearm. Apparently, Michigan has a few departments, which I'll make a mental note for my own knowledge.
I was mainly issued Glock through my career.
Calif. Highway Patrol I hear issues an S&W M&P model (.40 I think);
Nevada Highway patrol is issuing some model of SIG P320.
Local agencies I've mainly seen Glock, but some allow personally-owned pistols of various makes, models, and calibers which can become almost impossible to keep track of in my mind, if I can even find out what.
Of course, as most have heard, FBI has been issuing Glocks, but probably still allows some variety of personally-owned handguns.
Customs & Border Protection went with GlockT (with three models being decided upon by its management for issuance, not particularly an individual's choice of which model).
The military, which might include its police functions, too, are SIG M17 or M18, but depending on exact job or designation, probably deviate (whether SEAL, NCIS, OSI, etc.)
USCoastGuard went with Glock. I don't know how large number-wise they are and don't quite understand whether the OP (or I, for that matter) considers them "police" or something else.
Until with Post 6, and the XD, I'm also unaware of any departments using HK or Walther, but I suspect somebody out there will know of at least one in all the USA.
In the mid-2010s, I was also told by a Glock representative of the 65% to 80% estimates for Glock & LE, but this was before the LE adopting the, then, newly designed SIG P320 models, which I can only suspect has eroded some of the Glock LE usage percentages.
Thanks for the info. Prior to you, I wasn't actually aware of any organization which actually prescribed or issued any XD series firearm. Apparently, Michigan has a few departments, which I'll make a mental note for my own knowledge.
I was mainly issued Glock through my career.
Calif. Highway Patrol I hear issues an S&W M&P model (.40 I think);
Nevada Highway patrol is issuing some model of SIG P320.
Local agencies I've mainly seen Glock, but some allow personally-owned pistols of various makes, models, and calibers which can become almost impossible to keep track of in my mind, if I can even find out what.
Of course, as most have heard, FBI has been issuing Glocks, but probably still allows some variety of personally-owned handguns.
Customs & Border Protection went with GlockT (with three models being decided upon by its management for issuance, not particularly an individual's choice of which model).
The military, which might include its police functions, too, are SIG M17 or M18, but depending on exact job or designation, probably deviate (whether SEAL, NCIS, OSI, etc.)
USCoastGuard went with Glock. I don't know how large number-wise they are and don't quite understand whether the OP (or I, for that matter) considers them "police" or something else.
Until with Post 6, and the XD, I'm also unaware of any departments using HK or Walther, but I suspect somebody out there will know of at least one in all the USA.
In the mid-2010s, I was also told by a Glock representative of the 65% to 80% estimates for Glock & LE, but this was before the LE adopting the, then, newly designed SIG P320 models, which I can only suspect has eroded some of the Glock LE usage percentages.
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DubC-Hicks
New member
Until with Post 6, and the XD, I'm also unaware of any departments using HK or Walther, but I suspect somebody out there will know of at least one in all the USA.
One nearby richy small city currently issues VP9s. Prior to that, they had USP40s. I'm not aware of any with Walthers at this point though.