List of state-by-state 'issue caliber' to the State Police.....

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

My Google-Fu is weak today and is further hampered by a strict firewall.

I want to see a list of current standard issue calibers to each state's State Police. I ask caliber because a Sig P226 can be had in 9mm, .40S&W, & .357SIG for example.

I'm curious to know how many have switched away from 9mm.....and what they've ended up with.

I know that many states allow their Troopers to carry alternate firearms...but I'm just looking for the 'what is issued' list.

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!


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[NikeBauer21]

My Google-Fu is weak today and is further hampered by a strict firewall.

I want to see a list of current standard issue calibers to each state's State Police. I ask caliber because a Sig P226 can be had in 9mm, .40S&W, & .357SIG for example.

I'm curious to know how many have switched away from 9mm.....and what they've ended up with.

I know that many states allow their Troopers to carry alternate firearms...but I'm just looking for the 'what is issued' list.

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!


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I am curious as well. I know there have been MANY in recent years that have upgraded from the 9mm... Pumping an attacking crackhead with 9mm isn't going to deter him too much... I know a cop that said he pumped a full clip into one, and he just kept coming at him.

[tommy610]

See this thread.

[tommy610]

You could also peruse this forum, and see what is being discussed.

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

See this thread.

Thanks.....but that thread talks about departments & municipalities in PA.

I'm looking standard issue for each state police.

We've got a ton of really knowledgeable people here on PAFOA (and many more with GOOD internet access!) - someone knows where that info is!

Thanks!

[max384]

Here is a link that should help you out:

Bureau of Justice Statistics
Law Enforcement Management
and Administrative Statistics, 2000:
Data for Individual State and Local
Agencies with 100 or More Officers

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/lemas00.pdf

It's a PDF file that is about 2.5 Mb, so if you have dial-up, it may take awhile. It is almost 300 pages long. To save you time, what you're looking for is a little over halfway down. It's in table 15A. It doesn't necessarily tell which caliber is issued, but it does break down what calibers are authorized as primary, which are authorized as secondary, and which calibers the department will authorize a cash allowance for. I hope this helps

The survey was done in 2000, and the paper was compiled and published March 2004, so it is a little outdated.

[panther76]

I am curious as well. I know there have been MANY in recent years that have upgraded from the 9mm... Pumping an attacking crackhead with 9mm isn't going to deter him too much... I know a cop that said he pumped a full clip into one, and he just kept coming at him.

It is not a "clip"; you mean magazine.

Ammunition choice matters more than caliber if you are comparing performance between 9X19, 40S&W, and .357 Sig. There is a HUGE difference between M882 ball and something like 147gr Federal HSTs. Ammo tech has evolved a lot in the last fifteen to twenty years.

Which brings up another issue-- LE agencies have widely varying regulations about what type of ammo they authorize or issue. If an agency has standards similar to the military and carried FMJ, yeah, I'd rather have a 180 or 200 gr. bullet. But most LE agencies now use HPs of some sort.

Furthermore, I'd say that one shouldn't base a decision about a firearm for self-defense purely on what any LE agency or the military uses. They are large government organizations that buy their gear from the "lowest bidder". They often have long laundry lists of different technical requirements that govern procurement, which may not be relevant to a civilian shooter.

The only right answer about the old caliber debate, IMHO, is the NRA recommendation you should carry the biggest caliber that you can comfortably shoot accurately. Same thing goes for choosing the gun itself. You have to find the right gun for you, in the right caliber for you. It doesn't really matter what the Texas Rangers or the Navy SEALS or anyone else carries. Just my two cents.

[Gary in Pennsylvania]

Furthermore, I'd say that one shouldn't base a decision about a firearm for self-defense purely on what any LE agency or the military uses. They are large government organizations that buy their gear from the "lowest bidder". They often have long laundry lists of different technical requirements that govern procurement, which may not be relevant to a civilian shooter.

The only right answer about the old caliber debate, IMHO, is the NRA recommendation you should carry the biggest caliber that you can comfortably shoot accurately. Same thing goes for choosing the gun itself. You have to find the right gun for you, in the right caliber for you. It doesn't really matter what the Texas Rangers or the Navy SEALS or anyone else carries. Just my two cents.

Uhhhhhh........ok.

That's cool and all......but.....



Do you know the list of state-by-state 'issue caliber' to the State Police?


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[max384]

Uhhhhhh........ok.

That's cool and all......but.....



Do you know the list of state-by-state 'issue caliber' to the State Police?


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See my previous post.

[tommy610]

Here is a link that should help you out:

Bureau of Justice Statistics
Law Enforcement Management
and Administrative Statistics, 2000:
Data for Individual State and Local
Agencies with 100 or More Officers

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/pdf/lemas00.pdf

It's a PDF file that is about 2.5 Mb, so if you have dial-up, it may take awhile. It is almost 300 pages long. To save you time, what you're looking for is a little over halfway down. It's in table 15A. It doesn't necessarily tell which caliber is issued, but it does break down what calibers are authorized as primary, which are authorized as secondary, and which calibers the department will authorize a cash allowance for. I hope this helps

The survey was done in 2000, and the paper was compiled and published March 2004, so it is a little outdated.

Nice find, Max. Rep coming your way. Interesting, they notate "Revolver" without specifying caliber. Probably, for most, you can presume that to be .38, since it's usually specified as a BUG.