HEY GUYS! The LAPD is switching from revolvers! Read all about it!

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boomerang

boomerang

Lifer
Jun 19, 2000
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Double the firepower! That will make the bad guys think twice! Back in 1986 that is which is the date of the article.
 
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OccamsToothbrush

Golden Member
Aug 21, 2005
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rh71 said:
What is this, 1997?

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Yeah, well, a semi-automatic is not any more effective against good body armor than a revolver is. 10 shots that bounce off instead of 6 shots that bounce off is not a big step up.

That being said, I can't believe the LAPD was still carrying revolvers. Christ, given the gang activity in parts of that city they should carry assault rifles and RPGs as standard issue. Even with the new pistols they're still way outgunned.
 
clamum

clamum

Lifer
Feb 13, 2003
26,256
406
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I wonder why so many cops used revolvers so late into the century.

There were plenty of reliable auto loaders in the time they were using revolvers. Heck the 1911 was in service in... 1911. I'd rather have a magazine fed 1911, even though it only held a round more than the revolver, considering reloads would be way faster.

Besides the 1911, you had semi autos by Smith and Wesson, like the model 39 which was even developed for the military in the 50s (and had one more round than the 1911). I'm sure there was others besides the Smiths.

Just seems odd to me. I'm guessing it was due to unwillingness to change and a belief that semi autos were unreliable?
 
kage69

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
31,335
47,559
136
clamum said:
I wonder why so many cops used revolvers so late into the century.

There were plenty of reliable auto loaders in the time they were using revolvers. Heck the 1911 was in service in... 1911. I'd rather have a magazine fed 1911, even though it only held a round more than the revolver, considering reloads would be way faster.

Besides the 1911, you had semi autos by Smith and Wesson, like the model 39 which was even developed for the military in the 50s (and had one more round than the 1911). I'm sure there was others besides the Smiths.

Just seems odd to me. I'm guessing it was due to unwillingness to change and a belief that semi autos were unreliable?
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Variety of reasons, with some geographic thrown in. Lot of parts in the 1911, relatively complex. Revolvers have been reliable along time now, and with moon clips and speed loaders reloads are on par with mags with training. I know in Maine a lot of cops were loathe to give up the .357mag. It's nice having a round that handles things bigger than people if the need arises. Being able to chamber it with the .38 loads you had for a back up J frame was practical. The 9mm enjoys a good reputation now thanks to modern bullet design and better powder, but that wasn't always the case. I think people could see semi-auto was the way of the future, but they were reluctant to leave their tried and true problem solvers for small rounds. Enter 10mm/.40S&W, .357SIG, and .45GAP development.
 
highland145

highland145

Lifer
Oct 12, 2009
43,973
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kage69 said:
Variety of reasons, with some geographic thrown in. Lot of parts in the 1911, relatively complex. Revolvers have been reliable along time now, and with moon clips and speed loaders reloads are on par with mags with training. I know in Maine a lot of cops were loathe to give up the .357mag. It's nice having a round that handles things bigger than people if the need arises. Being able to chamber it with the .38 loads you had for a back up J frame was practical. The 9mm enjoys a good reputation now thanks to modern bullet design and better powder, but that wasn't always the case. I think people could see semi-auto was the way of the future, but they were reluctant to leave their tried and true problem solvers for small rounds. Enter 10mm/.40S&W, .357SIG, and .45GAP development.
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Just entered my remembrance...something like 75-80% don't go down with 1 shot like the movies. I can see wanting a .357 or .45.

FBI switched back to the 9. Bro in law was happy with more rounds.
 
kage69

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
31,335
47,559
136
gill77 said:
Jerry Miculek carries a J-frame. Pretty sure it works well for him. Not my thing though.

Love the gun you're with. Make the hit.
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Still a fan here too. I've never been able to not like the J-frame, even with a cylinder it is somehow more comfortable to wear concealed than some semis. And that brings up another point, wearing concealed (especially ankle holsters) your piece accumulates all kinds of fuzz and hair fibers from your clothing and person over time. Revolvers ignore that, while enough of it might make a small semi with tight tolerances not go bang.

If you're out of freedom seeds and the dance ain't over, steel heavy revolvers tend to make better percussion instruments than tactical tupperware. Just saying.
 
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brianmanahan

brianmanahan

Lifer
Sep 2, 2006
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we start carrying semi-automatics, they buy automatics

we start wearing kevlar, they buy armor-piercing rounds
 
kage69

kage69

Lifer
Jul 17, 2003
31,335
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highland145 said:
Just entered my remembrance...something like 75-80% don't go down with 1 shot like the movies. I can see wanting a .357 or .45.

FBI switched back to the 9. Bro in law was happy with more rounds.
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Yeah that 10mm did not go over well with smaller framed agents and females. I feel weird critiquing 10mm recoil because I'm a .500 owner, that and all the 10s I've ever tried belonged to other people so my experience is limited. 9mm will suffice, maybe forever if default velocities end up being in the 2,000fps neighborhood. That seems to be the threshold for most kevlar armor IIRC. Then again there are some interesting bullet designs out there, Lehigh, Spartan come to mind. Expensive though, perhaps prohibitively for widescale adoption. They can do plate and clear target completely.

I don't really care about .40S&W. High pressure load for not a lot of difference from 9mm? Why not just use 9mm and take it easy on the gun while saving money? 10mm is still interesting to me, considering have it replace the horse pistol for bear country.

edit: I cant type today
 
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gill77

gill77

Senior member
Aug 3, 2006
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highland145 said:
Just entered my remembrance...something like 75-80% don't go down with 1 shot like the movies. I can see wanting a .357 or .45.

FBI switched back to the 9. Bro in law was happy with more rounds.
Click to expand...

That's what probably gave rise to the belief that all handguns are under-powered.

Two to the body, one to the head addresses this as well as the body armor issue.
 
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gill77

gill77

Senior member
Aug 3, 2006
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kage69 said:
Yeah that 10mm did not go over well with smaller framed agents and females. I feel weird critiquing 10mm recoil because I'm a .500 owner, that and all the 10s I've ever tried belonged to other people so my experience is limited. 9mm will suffice until armor advances require default ammo velocities to exceed 2,000fps. That seems to be the threshold for most kevlar armor IIRC. Then again there are some interesting bullet designs out there, Lehigh comes to mind. Expensive though, perhaps prohibitively for widescale adoption.

I don't really care about .40S&W. High pressure load for not a lot of difference from 9mm? Why not just use 9mm and take it easy on the gun while saving money? 10mm is still interesting to me, considering have it replace the horse pistol for bear country.
Click to expand...

How does that .500 ride on your ankle? :wink:
 
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