Revolvers?

**keith720** · 08-24-10, 07:02 PM

Just out of curiosity's sake, are there any departments out there that still issue revolvers as their duty weapons?

**gopherpuckfan** · 08-24-10, 08:01 PM

None that I know of in MN where it's the issued weapon. There are still a couple of old salt dogs with Minneapolis PD that carry them.

**Cidp24** · 08-24-10, 09:00 PM

None I know of but I tell you this: I would take my S&W 686 back in a heartbeat if they would let me carry it.

**MacLean** · 08-24-10, 09:30 PM

Seattle and KCSO have at least one guy still carrying a revolver, but I know of no agency that still issues them.

**Trojan 42** · 08-25-10, 04:44 AM

Originally Posted by Cidp24

None I know of but I tell you this: I would take my S&W 686 back in a heartbeat if they would let me carry it.

What? Not enough bullets and too slow to reload, Jed.

**pgg** · 08-25-10, 05:18 AM

the California Department of Corrections still issues them. The local SO here issued them up until 2004 or so. Though most deputies carried a personal semi auto then.

**Cidp24** · 08-25-10, 08:59 AM

Originally Posted by Trojan 42

What? Not enough bullets and too slow to reload, Jed.

It was dependable, I was extremely accurate with it, could reload it pretty quick, and I like the .357. I guess it's just the gun I learned on and was most comfortable with.

**Trojan 42** · 08-25-10, 11:29 AM

Bet you couldn't reload in the dark as fast as a semi. And anyway, I thought you learnt on a flintlock out in the woods!

**MacLean** · 08-25-10, 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by Trojan 42

Bet you couldn't reload in the dark as fast as a semi. And anyway, I thought you learnt on a flintlock out in the woods!

The last time an American shooter needed more than six bullets, he was doing it wrong.

**121Traffic** · 08-25-10, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by Trojan 42

Bet you couldn't reload in the dark as fast as a semi. And anyway, I thought you learnt on a flintlock out in the woods!

Four guys at the SO in the county I work in still carry em. And one of them is surgical with it. He can reload from a speedloader quicker than most cops that are in the "very proficient" category of semi-auto shooting. As in, be loaded and back firing on target just as the semi-auto guy is releasing the slide.

**MacLean** · 08-25-10, 11:57 PM

Anyone who has issues with revolvers needs to watch Jerry.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giSaNiQ-Wb4]YouTube - jerry miculek[/ame]

**Trojan 42** · 08-26-10, 04:16 AM

Originally Posted by MacLean

The last time an American shooter needed more than six bullets, he was doing it wrong.

You think? I've seen enough videos on here showing more than six being fired.

To use a speed loader you need to be able to see to align the rounds (even if briefly just as your Jerry does) and you can't do that in the dark. Just reloading by feel is far far quicker with a semi.

If revolvers are so great why doesn't everyone carry them?

I used to target shoot revolvers competitively, but I'd not like to carry one into a confrontation.

**ChesCopPodz** · 08-26-10, 10:29 AM

Quite a few documented cases where a semi-auto goes out of battery or jams and gets the cop killed. I've not read, heard of, or been told of a similar situation with a revolver, and I study officer lethal force encounters. Modern .45 revolvers with moon clips can be reloaded as fast or faster than autos.

We have one guy left (out of 600+) who carries a wheel gun on his duty belt. I'd switch in a heartbeat if they'd let me.

In the entire documented history of the NYPD concerning shootings (since roughly 1901), there have been absolutely 0 (that's right, zero, none, zip) incidents of an issued revolver jamming during a shooting incident. Can't say the same for autos.

And even nowadays, revolvers can do things autos can't

Six for sure

**Cidp24** · 08-26-10, 11:02 AM

IMHO, officers fire more now days because they have more rounds available to fire. Like Mac said, if you place the shots right, you don't need as many. And yes, using speedloaders I could load in the dark very fast with no problems. I used to practice it with my eyes closed. We also ran a stress course with instructors dumping empty brass on your open cylinder while you were trying to reload and sometimes they would make you dump your speedloader and load the rounds indiviually. Practice is the key.

I will concede that 13 extra rounds might be comforting, but I would rather have the weapon that is dependable and I am more accurate with.

**Trojan 42** · 08-26-10, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by ChesCopPodz

Quite a few documented cases where a semi-auto goes out of battery or jams and gets the cop killed. I've not read, heard of, or been told of a similar situation with a revolver, and I study officer lethal force encounters.

Well I remember a US incident where the officers were taught to place their empty brass in their pocket during reloads, until an officer was killed while reloading empties back into his weapon. (don't ask for exact details as I no longer work so have no access to the paper work. We used that incident as a teaching aid, when revolvers were the duty weapons).

As for the accuracy bit, I found it tends to seem more important to shoot back. Lots.

Each to their own. I did often carry a S&W revolver as a back up to my Browning, but that was discouraged when we switched to Glocks. When I say discouraged, I mean the Boss said NO.

**MacLean** · 08-26-10, 12:20 PM

Originally Posted by Trojan 42

Well I remember a US incident where the officers were taught to place their empty brass in their pocket during reloads, until an officer was killed while reloading empties back into his weapon. (don't ask for exact details as I no longer work so have no access to the paper work. We used that incident as a teaching aid, when revolvers were the duty weapons).

As for the accuracy bit, I found it tends to seem more important to shoot back. Lots.

Each to their own. I did often carry a S&W revolver as a back up to my Browning, but that was discouraged when we switched to Glocks. When I say discouraged, I mean the Boss said NO.

The incident was called Newhall, and it was certainly a training failure. It changed a lot of things, including the advent of high risk stops.

I'm not anti pistol by any means, less manipulation during an extended fight is always a good thing, and modern pistols are quite reliable.

I started on a wheelgun at age 7, and by 15 I could reload it in the dark very, very fast. Aligning the speedloader is muscle memory, just like aligning a magazine without looking at it.

I would NEVER discount a professional armed with a revolver any more than I would discount a professional armed with a rifle.

As for seeing videos of Americans firing more than six, you are sure right. You'll never hear me make excuses for training failures.

**keith720** · 08-26-10, 03:28 PM

I carry a Glock 22 now, and if I had my choice, I'd gladly carry a my Model 28 .357. When I started, we had Model 15s, and moved up from there. I never felt underarmed with a revolver. I can't help but notice that there is a definate difference in the way us "old dogs" fire during training exercises. I learned to fire and evaluate the threat. I knew I had 6 rounds and made sure I used them wisely. Now, it seems, that a lot of officers point and fire until they run dry. I do have to admit that having 46 rounds is a bit more comforting than 18!

**pgg** · 08-26-10, 07:50 PM

My original Chief carried a Ruger Security Six. He had 4 speed loaders across his front for it. The time he killed a guy on duty though he used a 1903 springfield

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