LEO gun opinions

[Scotto]

My friend is Community Service Officer and should be going into the academy soon. She asked me what kind of gun she should get. Not being a LEO of any kind I replied - ask the people you work with. I said that they carry what they carry for a reason....
Then I thought what if they all carry the same thing because thats what other people carry. I assumed that most had either a glock or a sig, and she confirmed.
so for a female what should she get? I suggested she get an HK because that is what I like.
any suggestions on makes and calibers??

[hitnrun]

I think that by now, 2006, every agency in the state of CA issues a duty weapon. You may be able to substitue it for something else off an approved list, but she should get trained on a department issued weapon before anything. If she gets into a shooting with a non department issued/approved firearm, the liability to her and the department could be overwhelming.

She really needs to ask someone on the department, as they would have all gotten there firearms from the same place!

[metalhead357]

I think that by now, 2006, every agency in the state of CA issues a duty weapon.

Not all of them....
Further up north there are still some that allow the officer to choose from approved-for use weapons, and some depts still make the officers buy thier own (there is an allowance according to some, last I heard about THAT issue was 1998 and was at $400...I'm sure its gone up).

For those that do POST on thier own...they cant oft use the range weapons but most simply prefer to buy & train with thier own. Likewise backup weapons and 'off-duty' weapons are sometimes at the officers discretion. Dont know about Bay Area or Southward but that's what the peeps I knew & know last told me.

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I'd tell your friend, same thing I tell everyone...go to a range that rents guns and start shooting some of thiers until you (her in this case) finds one that fits the hand, the call to duty and the pocketbook....but dont skimp on the pocketbook because it DOES ultimately come down to ' can I trust my life with this weapon?' because that may someday unfortunately be the case.......

Some like S&W but I dont particulary care for most of the new models nor thier one-time in league with Clinton crap. But I mean, take your pick, Taurus, Berretta, Glock, USP, sig........... all pretty good guns. I know I'll catch flack, but if your friend starts looking at Kel Tecs....pull her outta the store!!!!!!!!! Every one I've personally shot through friends' pieces over 10+ years has been absolute crap & the only thing I would trust it to do reliably is NOT WORK when I needed it most

Ruger? Yeah, it'll work, but Big Guns for most women's hands & I think she can 'do better'....but her cash and ultimately her life to be put on the line with it....help her choose wisely