The Handguns the PROS use

[C hawk Glock]

at the prison i worked at all of our guns were Rugers, guess we wasn't pros

I am so so sorry....

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[claude clay]

someone who carries a gun cause they feel that they are better in life to have it than to need it and not have it;

that individual who has practiced with that tool, and understands that the greatest abilities lie in being able to think,
again--having may be better than wanting but the gun may not always be the best tool for every sitauation.

the pro will be effective in the use of his gun if the resolution of that event requires its use.

which make and model is rather moot

[Secret Spuk]

A professional will carry what he issued, what he's ordered, what he can afford or what ever is handy. A professional will believe that his skill set is in him... not his gun.

[GunGeezer]

I'm not a pro, never was a pro and never played one on TV. The gun i carry is the one I have proven to my satisfaction, will go bang each and every time I pull the trigger. If it fails to fire, fails to feed or fails to eject even once while practicing at the range and I am absolutely certain it was not a result of faulty ammunition, limp wristing or other human error, it goes to live in my safe or is traded for something else. 99% isn't good enough! So far my S&W 342 Ti. .38 snubbie and my Kel-Tec P3AT are 100%.

[Brady]

Our local Sheriff's Dept. & City Police switched a couple years ago from Glock 22 40S&W to 21's 45ACP

[tacman605]

Wow this is getting good. By definition I guess I fit in the category as a pro. When home I carry a variety of weapons and can shoot and teach with anything over here it is a Glock 19 dominated world.

Old Grunt not speaking for Police Departments in the states as they are often told what to carry but as far as over here you are pretty much spot on.

The majority, 98%, of all handguns used here by contractors and the three letter agencies are Glock 19's. A spattering of SIG's and Beretta 92's. I have seen a total of two 1911 weapons in the hands of SF units and I have worked in the sandboxes for over 6 years now they simply carried the Beretta's or Glocks for their own reasons namely more rounds in the gun. So this does not turn into a caliber war the 9mm was/is not considered being undergunned. If you shoot your adversary in the face he tends not to want to be around you anymore no matter what the caliber.

As has been stated a handgun is a secondary weapons system in most cases here so they simply stick to what works and the Glocks simply work with little or no upkeep. Each contract is different some issue Glocks, Beretta, SIG's, BHP and even some CZ 75's and CZ-99's, 1911 weapons are not issued mainly due to the availability of ammunition and the limited magazine capacity. I am not saying they are not here and used for special applications it is simply the everyday sidearm is something else.

[Bark'n]

WaHOO !

I've got some Colts,
some Glocks,
and some Sigs...

does that make a professional pro or a triple pro?

A triple pro, of course.

[10thmtn]

Be careful of the implications of being a "pro."

[Guest1]

Enough said,thanks azchevy.

My take is that what works for the pros may not always work for you. Certain pros have rifles or carbines as primary weapons. Almost all have radio contact and backup. Some have close air support. Others small unit support. Others partners or backup units on the area. So when choosing a defensive handgun you should take reliability into consideration but also note that what works for the pros may not work for you. So don't choose based on what the pros use. Formulate your criteria and choose for you.

[xXxplosive]

+1 for the Colt Government Model 1911.............

[Sturmruger]

I actually shoot better then about 80% of the the cops I have shot with. I am not a pro just a guy that goes to the range 2-3 time per week. I also use to shoot a lot of USPSA matches. At my peak I was shooting about 1500 rounds per month. I shoot XDs better then anything, I am no pro but an above average shooter.

[Stubborn]

A professional will carry what he issued, what he's ordered, what he can afford or what ever is handy. A professional will believe that his skill set is in him... not his gun.

Them's wise words pilgrim.

Personally, I'm not concerned with what the "Pro's" use or carry.
A handgun is only to get me out of a bad situation, or to buy me enough time to get to a real weapon.

Just my $.02

[redbeardsong]

Historically, yes, those three guns have been used in a lot of agencies. But to infer that only those guns are "profesh'nul enuf" is faulty logic. What about the Beretta M9A1? Gen 3 smiths? Those were used in high numbers before Glock offered sweetheart trades to agencies, and S&W is doing the same thing right back again now.

In the last few weeks I've seen a whole lot of LEO's buy Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380's and M&P'S (as their personal weapons). There are a lot of agencies using M&P's (Atlanta PD is one). I also know a police chief who carries a Ruger LCR as his sidearm.

[C hawk Glock]

Historically, yes, those three guns have been used in a lot of agencies. But to infer that only those guns are "profesh'nul enuf" is faulty logic. What about the Beretta M9A1? Gen 3 smiths? Those were used in high numbers before Glock offered sweetheart trades to agencies, and S&W is doing the same thing right back again now.

In the last few weeks I've seen a whole lot of LEO's buy Smith and Wesson Bodyguard .380's and M&P'S (as their personal weapons). There are a lot of agencies using M&P's (Atlanta PD is one). I also know a police chief who carries a Ruger LCR as his sidearm.

If you are counting LEO's as a big part of "The Pros" then it comes down to a two gun race these days,:Glock and M&P. By the way don't think Glock quite giving their guns away, they "Perfected" the practice and they know M&P is nipping on their heels.

[denver]

Guess I read Op wrong. I thought the thread would be about "professional shooters". My first thought was of Jerry Michulak. I think he could out shoot me with a H&R single shot with me carring a full custom Kimber. He shoots for who ever pays the best. Same with someone like Rod Latham. That being said there is not any body shooting for HiPoint. Some good points from previous posters. Good thread.