Dept policy on ammo

[bill104]

I was just wondering what some of the agency's policies were concerning the ammo you use, I was under the impression most depts. require a certain type of ammo to be used, which I would think means you need to qualify and practice with said approved ammo, does anyone know of a dept allowing or mandating the use of reloaded ammo for duty work.

[SoCalDep]

Our dept. pretty much forbids reloads for dept. guns. Reloads are not allowed on dept. ranges. Duty ammo is Winchester Ranger for autos and Speer Gold Dot or Win 110gr +P+ but qual/practice ammo is Winclean. I don't know of any depts. that even allow, let alone mandate reloads for duty use.

[freakshow10mm]

You will mostly find departments using new big name factory for their duty ammunition and about a 50/50 split for factory reloads for training. I load .223 duty loads for a local department here and it's using OF military brass. They have no problem with it.

[bill104]

See That's sort of what I was thinking, as I reload my own ammo and have never had any problems with my stuff, but would still never allow anyone else to use my reloads or my recipes, for my own peace of mind, and fear of law suits if something was to go wrong, I find it hard to believe any dept or company involved in the protection of others would even consider using anything other then factory, I can't even imagine the bond someone would require to do such a thing, I'll be interested to hear form other depts. on this subject.

[yzErnie]

No reloads for duty or dept qualification use.

[Ron-Solo]

LASD forbids any reloads at our ranges or to be used in Dept guns.

[Jonathan Doe]

LASD forbids any reloads at our ranges or to be used in Dept guns.

Also, discourages using the reloads in personal guns. There were couple of incidents when the deputies' personal guns were "blown up" using reloads.

[eltee]

I used to be the guy who specified and authorized purchase orders for the ammo my unit used. I encouraged everyone to stick with issued ammo for duty, secondary and off duty guns as one way to minimize legal problems if they actually shot someone. Yes, I ended up ordering 380, 9, 38, 357,
45 and 40. We went through Treasury Loads, +p, +P+, SXT, Ranger, Black Talon, Silver Tip, Zombie/Vampire Destructo Loads, etc. over the years. I still encourage folks to stick to issued ammo (I think MOST departments issue decent ammo) whenever possible, or get the identical make and type of ammo. IMHO, it is alot more defensible, esp. if the county/city/dept. attorney is going to defend you.

[Jonathan Doe]

Here is what I have heard in the past.

Each department has specific policy on authorized ammo. If an LEO uses unauthorized ammo, which is not uncommon, he will be out of policy. However, it is very low on prioity in the investigation. Many times it may be swept under the rug. But, if the department does not like you for some reason, it will come back and haunt you. I was told the type of ammo used by the LEO or the suspect was never an issue in a court.

Using unauthorized firearm is a totally different issue. I have seen people get a few days off maybe 20 years ago. But, I think you can be fired for it now.

[Uriah02]

My roomate is a LEO, he can only use dept ammo in both his duty weapon and off-duty weapon.

[alex00]

If I carry it at work, the department provides the ammo. There are different brands depending on the caliber of the gun. If I carry another gun off duty besides my duty or BUG, I provide the ammo.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

My former agency's policy as of the time I retired:

Department supplied ammo in duty guns only, no reloaded ammo allowed for duty use. No personal ammo in duty weapons. Department provides ammunition in .40, .45, 9MM, 9MM +P, limited supply of .380 and .38+P+ ( .38+P+ was duty ammo when dept. still issued revolvers).

Department supplies ammo for range quals. Most of the time duty ammo supplied for the purpose, on occasion dept. supplied reloads (from Load-X) or Winclean when sufficient supply of duty ammo not available. No personal ammo for range quals except for off-duty weapons as described below.

Department supplied ammo for off-duty weapons as above, off-duty weapons required to be approved by a rangemaster. If an approved off-duty weapon was chambered in a caliber other than those supplied by the department (I never approved one and didn't know anyone else who did), the individual deputy would be required to furnish their own ammo.

[1911su16b870]

My dept's range master says only dept issued practice and HP ammo in our duty guns, nothing else. All Winchester Products.

[bill104]

Thanks for all your input Guys.

[AvyDriver]

My agency hands me all the ammo I want for my duty weapon. Then again we shoot alot more then most departments and agencies as well. 3 years ago I was issued a new SIG229 and today I shot the 44k round through it. Thank god I dont have to buy my own ammo, Id be broke.