The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has made it official - they are looking to replace their current sidearms with a new handgun chambered in 9mm. On October 7, 2015, the FBI has submitted a Request For Proposals (RFP) to firearm manufacturers to fulfill an order providing FBI agents a new sidearm. There are over 10,000 FBI agents worldwide, and this contract is … [Read more...]
Ruger LC380 Review
The Ruger LC380 (Light Carry) handgun is chambered in .380ACP and is made for deep concealment or pocket carry, as is its predecessor, the Ruger LC9 in 9x19mm (introduced in 2011). A side-by-side comparison shows the two, the LC9 and the LC380, to be identical. From the accompanying insert to the owner’s manual: “...the Ruger LC380 has the same basic operational characteristics … [Read more...]
FNS-40 Pistols Adopted by Baltimore County
FNH USA announced the Baltimore County (MD) Police Department adopted the FNS-40 LS pistol as the agency's new duty firearm. The FNS-40 LS is a polymer-framed, striker-fired semiautomatic pistol. The FNS guns are double action and normally have a manual safety. However, the FNS-40 LS does not have a manual safety. It is not known if this was a special build … [Read more...]
LASD Adopts M&P 9
Smith & Wesson released a press release this morning saying the company entered a contract with the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department to provide the agency with M&P 9 pistols for the next five years. These will replace non-Smith & Wesson handguns, which I believe are the Beretta 92 FS pistols. A member of the Smith & Wesson Forum (not affiliated with the … [Read more...]
Walther PPQ M2 Review: Excellent Handgun On- or Off-Duty
If the new polymer frame Walther PPQ M2 (Police Pistol Quick Defense) looks familiar, it should. Its form, fit, function and finish is an outgrowth from the Walther P99. The PPQ M2 differs from the modern PP in trigger function in that, after the chamber is loaded, it has a “constant trigger pull” (Walther’s terminology). Translated, this means its striker is fully cocked. … [Read more...]
Micro-Nines: The Snubs of the 21st Century
Today, even the term “snub” may be unfamiliar to 21st century warriors. For those who came in late, it might be best described as a small or medium frame revolver with a short (two inch to 2 1/2 inch) barrel. A quarter of a century ago, “automania” took hold and cops everywhere were trading off their traditional revolvers for a self-loading pistol. In a few short years, the … [Read more...]
FN Special Police Rifle Review: Ready for Duty
Law enforcement agencies looking to equip their police snipers have an advantage these days. With the advent of contemporary police sniper training and a focus on better equipment, there is considerable competition coming forward from the factories to outfit the law enforcement professional. I recently evaluated the FN Special Police Rifle (SPR). My initial impression out of … [Read more...]
LAPD Adopts Ruger, S&W .380 Pistols
In early March 2011, the following unsubstantiated information, purported to be from the Los Angeles Police Department, began circulating around several Internet forums. A call to Smith & Wesson confirmed that the content is true. … [Read more...]
Smith and Wesson M&P Pistols Adopted by More Departments
Smith and Wesson has always been a mainstay in the police sidearm market. Smith and Wesson's latest pistol series, the Military and Police (M&P), has become wildly popular with officers and citizens alike. To date, more than 330 police departments have issued the M&P pistol as the standard handgun in 9mm, .40 S&W, or .45 ACP. The newest department to adopt the … [Read more...]
Police Officers Should Carry Guns Off-Duty
I have talked about this before: every police officer should carry at least one firearm off-duty. There are many specific reasons for carrying a handgun when you are not on the job, but they all boil down to one reason: you may need it. There have been plenty of instances where armed, off-duty officers were able to take action to stop a violent crime and defend themselves … [Read more...]