Why can't there be a standard?

[locosway]

In the U.S., depending on the department, you'll find any number of handguns and calibers. What strikes me as odd is that Glock seems to be used almost exclusively by LE throughout the U.S., but if you move up to higher level agencies, they tend to not use the Glock so much. Is there a reason for this? Is the Glock only good in their eyes as long as it's cheaper than the others?

I've never had an issue with any of my Glocks, and I really like them. I'm just wondering if I drank too much kool-aid and overlooked some of the nicer (looking) firearms in life.

[Will Goes Boing]

The glock IS actually pretty standard in terms of it being the standard issued gun for most LE agencies. I know that I love my 1911, but I wouldn't depend my life on it if I were to get into a gunfight. I just recently bought a brand new Kimber and I already had the mag release malfunction on me after just 30 rounds. My glock 22 has well over 10000 rounds through it and I haven't had a single malfunction yet *knocks on wood*.

[SanPedroShooter]

I wonder if its a "buy in bulk deal"? I have a cousin in the FBI, he got a glock 22 right out of the box in the academy. He recently switched to a baby glock for edc, still in .40 not sure what model.. 30 something.
and locosway, every moring you and I are up before five, why are you up so early?

[locosway]

I work nights on the weekends, so I'm usually up all night with nothing to do during the week and sometimes on the weekends when it's slow.

Now that I have a decent job again, it's back to amassing my cache!

[halifax]

"Why can't there be a standard?"

Why does there need to be a standard?

[locosway]

Why does there need to be a standard?

You would think that government agencies would standardize one a firearm or caliber. I know a lot issue the Glock line, but once you move into more specialized departments they move to other makes.

I don't want the public to settle on a standard, it just seems weird that even inside a department you'll have the guys on the street carry Glocks, and then the SWAT people might carry 1911's, Sigs, Glocks, or w/e. I understand they probably have a choice where the guy on the street might not, but it seems odd to just not use the same make model and caliber for all officers.

[halifax]

[Mickael81]

I love my Glock 22. Just got rid of my Ruger SR9 and im replacing it with a Glock 17. At my work everyone carries an AR15 and a Glock 22. I get the same discount law enforcement agencies get and i can get a Glock for $480 out the door. Maybe the generous discounts that Glock gives is a big factor in its vast use within the law enforcement community.

I would love to get a Sig P226 but out the door the pistol will cost me almost a grand and to be honest in my experience they don't shoot that much better than a Glock.

A glock is like an AK of pistols for its dependability and also like an AR for its large market for after market parts. SF, SWAT, and other high speed unit have a larger budget to work with so they can afford to be a little different to stand out some more.

[NapaCountyShooter]

Every agency has their own standards. Some want a DA/SA gun, some don't like the fact that you have to pull the trigger to disassemble.(Elementary firearm safety, but there have been ND's) Plus, most agencies do their own independant testing. If another firearm shines more than the Glock, or the price break is bigger on another gun that meets their standards, they're going to take that one instead.

[rojocorsa]

M&P seems like another good choice too...

[dieselpower]

Our .Gov has figured out several things when it comes to standard issue things.

1) When you must equip a large group of people, its best to pick a school of thought and run with it. Everyone gets the same thing and then everyone is at the same skill level where equipment is concerned.

2) Always pointing at one school of thought limits diversity, you never want to put all your eggs into one basket, when a group is not the norm, there is no reason to limit them.

For 99% of the LEA out there this is the dogma. In some way or form, they need to limit and allow gear selection based on a school of thought. It can be legal, economical or tactical. None of them would limit the "non-normal" officer.

FBI, CIA, Treasury, HLS all have schools of thought in relation to the field agent, but they do not limit them.

You could be handed a 1911, or handed a Sig...the guy next to you could carrying a Glock.....with permission.

[locosway]

And that makes sense, I'm just wondering why a department would issue a weapon that's twice as expensive as a Glock when a Glock would work just fine. It only seems that higher trained or more specialized departments issue firearms that are not Glocks.

[Boltz]

And that makes sense, I'm just wondering why a department would issue a weapon that's twice as expensive as a Glock when a Glock would work just fine. It only seems that higher trained or more specialized departments issue firearms that are not Glocks.

Hey you can't be elite if you use what Joe Schmo is using

[Big D]

Our .Gov has figured out several things when it comes to standard issue things.

1) When you must equip a large group of people, its best to pick a school of thought and run with it. Everyone gets the same thing and then everyone is at the same skill level where equipment is concerned.

2) Always pointing at one school of thought limits diversity, you never want to put all your eggs into one basket, when a group is not the norm, there is no reason to limit them.

For 99% of the LEA out there this is the dogma. In some way or form, they need to limit and allow gear selection based on a school of thought. It can be legal, economical or tactical. None of them would limit the "non-normal" officer.

FBI, CIA, Treasury, HLS all have schools of thought in relation to the field agent, but they do not limit them.

You could be handed a 1911, or handed a Sig...the guy next to you could carrying a Glock.....with permission.

What is HLS?

[mdhpper]

Homeland Security?