What handgun did you start your career with?

November 04, 2025, 08:55 PM

357fuzz

My first was the nightmare called the S&W Sigma in 40s&w. What a pile. Didn't have those long.

We then went w/ Gen3 G22’s then Gen4 G22’s and currently Gen5 G17 MOS.

Invest people also got the Gen3 G27’s and now are issued G43X MOS.

November 04, 2025, 09:02 PM

92fstech

Pre-rail legacy P229 in .40 S&W in a Safariland SS III.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Any comments made by this poster are my own and do not reflect the views or opinions of my employer.

November 04, 2025, 09:31 PM

MikeinNC

1988 USCG-1911
1990 USCG- M9
1999 left active duty & became a cop-SigP226 9mm

2003 the PD went to P226 in 357Sig
2004 the CG went to the SigP229DAK in 40
2011 retired from the CG-they were going to the G19
2017 retired the PD was transiting to the P226 in 9mm (ammo costs)

“You may beat me, but you will never win.” sigmonkey-2020

“ in my opinion, anything that we can do to trigger a potential aneurysm in a leftist is a good thing and worth doing” nhtagmember 2025

November 04, 2025, 10:16 PM

inspcalahan

It was either take the issued Ruger P89 or purchase your own off of an approved list.

Went with the two tone Sig P226 in 1994.

November 04, 2025, 10:21 PM

jothomay

Railless P226. After 3 different iterations(no rail, rail, and DAK), 320, and now moving to the Walther PDP, I miss the smooth and almost elegant lines of the original.

November 04, 2025, 10:59 PM

0658

USAF 1965. S&W Model 10. 38 cal.
First Issue State Troopers 1969 S&W Model 19 (still have it).
Federal S&W Model 13, Sig 225, 228, 229

November 05, 2025, 01:32 AM

Sgt 127

1984. Our department required that we carry a revolver the first two years. My academy firearms section was taught by a first line descendant of Col Jeff Cooper and original instructor at Gunsite. He told me to bring a 1911. At my department, all the cool kids and SWAT carried 1911’s. Since I went through the academy with a 1911, the firearms Sergeant (also a 1911 fan) waived the requirement and, I started with a 1911. After a few years, I had Wilson build a Master Grade 130 that I carried for another 17 years until we went to issued Glock 35’s and, 10 years later, replaced them with Glock 22’s.

I retired. Worked 4 more years at a university PD and…carried the Wilson 1911. I started, and ended, my LE career with a 1911.

Worked out beautifully.

November 05, 2025, 05:23 AM

DaBigBR

Started 2003.

Issued a Glock 19 Gen 2 with plastic sights. This was a "crime gun" that was purchased from a large city PD that sold guns from their evidence room for small agencies for $1 or something to that effect. We had a bunch of those 19s.

I ended up switching to .40 in 2006 and went through a whole bunch of different guns for a few years (9mm, .40, and .45). I was fortunate enough to be able to buy that Glock 19 from the PD in 2010 or 2011 for $300 and still have it.

November 05, 2025, 05:44 AM

Sr_Bull

First LEO job was a Glock Gen2 Model 22. In a Safariland 295 break front holster.

Then they issued Gen3 Model 22's to the TAC guys so they could put a WML on their pistol. But the rest of patrol was told nope, not for you, you're not a cool guy. How times have changed!

November 05, 2025, 05:55 AM

savoy6

I went through the basic police academy in Ohio in the late 1970s, and used my personally owned S&W Model 66. We shot the PPC course using .38 wadcutters and dump pouches, although I did have HKS speedloaders. In 1978, I got my first LE job at a rural Sheriff's department. We were issued a S&W Model 13, 158 gr. .357 ammo, along with dump pouches and Don Hume clarino leather gear. We were not allowed to change stocks on the gun. In 1980, I started at the PD where I would eventually retire 33 years later. A bit more progressive, we had Safariland speedloaders and Safariland buckleless leather gear. Eventually we would switch to the Bianchi "Judge" front break holster. About 10 years later, we finally got autoloaders, the SIG P220 .45.

November 05, 2025, 05:57 AM

Lt CHEG

My first PD:
S&W 4583 TSW

Then I went to ATF and was issued:
SIG P229 (no rail) and S&W 640, then
Glock 22 gen 4 and Glock 27 gen 4, then
Glock 19 gen 5 and allowance for personally owned backup/ off duty - Glock 43x and Glock 26

Then in CA:
SIG P320 (issued) and personally owned SIG P365

Part time gig I’m starting:
SIG P320

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

November 05, 2025, 06:24 AM

Alyron

Went to Police Academy in 1990-91 with a S&W 66.
When I started on the road in 91 I immediately went to a Sig P228 for about 6 years.
Very short stint with G22 (hated the .40)
Went to Gen 3 G34. Carried till my retirement at that agency in 2013.
At my current agency started with Gen 4 G17, then updated to Gen 5 G17.
Switched to P320 XFive DH3 with a Delta Point Pro a couple years ago.
All guns were personally owned.
Waiting to receive an issued G45 W COA that we are supposed to be issued agency wide.

November 05, 2025, 06:36 AM

cigardad

1979. S&W Mod 15-3. 110 gr. Winchester +P+.

November 05, 2025, 06:59 AM

vsp39o2

It was in 1993. Personal purchase SW M-19.
Followed that with a personal purchase P226.

Only after buying all the brown basketweave leather to go with the
abovementioned 226, the sheriff issued Beretta 96's and all new leather
to everyone. I kept that 226, still sits pristine in the safe.

Went to department number two and was issued a Beretta 92 and all the leather
accouterments to carry it.

Then, I came to my current Agency (1997) and went through a couple 229's until finally settling for the current issue P320 compact AND issued P365x.

I usually carry the 365.

November 05, 2025, 08:16 AM

Sigmund

4-inch 38 (Colt? S&W?) with ball ammo in 1983 as a temp Army civilian guard at an ammo depot in upstate NY. Did that for a year and then got a permanent Mon-Fri job.

Fast forward to 2004, I began as a reserve deputy here in IA and was issued a Sig 229/40 DA/SA.

November 05, 2025, 08:23 AM

MRBTX

Very well worn model 66 4", with dept issued 125 +p Silvertips. A G22 after that for 20+ yrs. Next was dept issued S/W mp40, ended with dept issued mp9.