Service handgun recommendations

[CharlesAFerg]

Glock 17 or 19, generation doesn't really matter after gen 3. Cheap, reliable, and importantly holster availability is great. MOS doesn't matter if you don't care about a dot. I don't know what your handgun experience level is, but if you're not at an advanced enough level to feel comfortable manipulating, shooting, and moving you will be (and should be) spending much more on ammo and professional training than whatever firearm you choose. I shouldn't even have to emphasize how much more important proficiency is, especially for a job like that.

Regarding holsters, the Safariland 6000 series without question. Make sure you have the proper drop for you, with at least one level of locking retention.

Good luck!

 

[titsonritz]

Is that the big mailbox one?

Yes, and their just about a perfect fit on the Glock square'ish slide.

 

[1775usmc]

Yes, and their just about a perfect fit on the Glock square'ish slide.

I'd argue the best duty optic. Great for concealed carry as well.

 

[titsonritz]

I'd argue the best duty optic. Great for concealed carry as well.

Hard to beat for sure

 

[Valencia_ryan]

Get a blue label glock

 

[CharlesAFerg]

Get a blue label glock

In case OP doesn't know, this is the line from their blue label program re qualifications:

Blue Label Program

Eligible participants may purchase two pistols per calendar year and may order from a participating GLOCK Law Enforcement Distributor, Sub-Distributor, or directly from GLOCK, Inc. Purchases from Law Enforcement Distributors with a retail location or Sub-Distributor purchases can be done...

us.glock.com

• Nationally recognized Security Company – Officer Purchase for fulltime armed guards with Picture ID. Examples: Loomis, Garda, and GS4. State licenses, registrations, private investigators are not approved. The ID must indicate a position held and armed status. If not, please supply a letter on department letterhead signed by a chief or supervisor can be used along with a picture ID of the purchaser.

 

[1775usmc]

P320

Please don't.

 

[TTSX]

Please don't.

You ain't got a hair on your nuts if you don't appendix a chambered pre "fix" P320. It's good enough for .mil, it's good enough for Paul Blart.

 

[Koda]

P320 service gun shoots the bad guys for you...

 

[1775usmc]

P320 service gun shoots the bad guys for you...

Yea. If you're the bad guy…..

 

[andywylde]

At the risk of offending all the Glock lovers out there, at least for me I think there are better options. Everyone is different, has different body/draw mechanics, different hand sizes and shapes, and different needs as far as carry/use. I buy on average a pistol a month, so I have quite a few, I like them all but I have definite favorites. I have a couple Glocks, both LE surplus, and they are fine guns, but I pretty much never carry or shoot them. Nothing wrong with them, i just don't like them as well as some of my other options. I have friends that love theirs, mostly they all carried them for the military and/or law enforcement and nothing else feels right to them. I agree with the above post that you need to see what works for YOU. As far as Glocks, I would stick with the latest 2 generations if you get one. If you want the same as the local LE, it is almost for sure going to be a Glock.

Personally in the lower price point 9mm, which is what I think we are largely talking about here I am very partial to the H&K VP9s. I have several (different colors, optics, barrels, etc. I have managed to find some of them on sale for sub $500 brand new including the black one that I carry mostly. The grip adjusters that come with it seem like they wouldn't be effective, but I have found that they are actually quite useful in getting the gun to fit tightly into your hand as well as making sure it is pointed correctly with your personal grip. The Sig P365 is also another good option for many people and is reasonably low cost, reliable and has a great feel and is actually quite similar. I recently picked up a Kimber and it is OK, in fact I am carrying it today, but I was not blown away by it either like I used to be with the Kimbers. It is a single stack, so its slimmer for concealed carry and looks good though.

But my favorite, and one I don't see mentioned here in a sub $1000 9mm pistol I have bought in the past year is my Canik TTI combat. It is a little more for one than the others listed but it is so smooth and fits so well in my hand it is impossible not to like. Everyone that handles it is impressed with how smooth the action is, how effective the compensator is and the general fit and finish. 18+1 rounds for states that allow it or LE use too. I don't know if the Armed Guard card lets you use the high cap mags, but 10 round are available for OR use. These pistols were were hard to find for a while, and people were pirating them on GB and such, but they are filtering back into the dealers now, and you can get one at list price or below if you look around.

Honestly best thing it to go to your local dealer, and at the very least hold one in your hand and see how it feels. Better yet is to find a friend or range who will let you shoot a few and see what you think. I have had guns I really liked right up to the point of actually shooting them, then been disappointed. Since one of the original criteria here was inexpensive, I will leave it at that, but there are some crazy good new pistols out there that rival the custom made pistols from just a few years ago at (what seems to me) to be a pretty reasonable price.