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Posted by: Southside

I need to purchase a firearm on my own where I am a self sponsor........The department uses .45 cal. What is the best or should I ask most popular .45 among police in MA.? Also any opinions on SIG P220?

Thank you

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Posted by: mopar6972

I like the SIG P220, cant go wrong with that!

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Posted by: JohnBarleycorn

They advertise the P220 as the most accurate .45 out of the box. I would tend to agree. Just qualified last week with mine, certainly more accurate than the Glocks.

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Posted by: PearlOnyx

I carry the Sig P229 both as my duty and my personal weapon. Basically the 40 Cal model of the P220. I love the thing. It's very ergonomic and a very smooth shot. A big change from the S & W 5943. What a piece of garbage.

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Posted by: Gil

On the same line, what other dept's are using 45's?

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Posted by: tigerwoody

Yes, go with the SigP220 and throw a set of night sights on it...you can't go wrong with that setup. I shoot very tight groups with that at 25yards. The only other .45 accurate out of the box would be a kimber 1911, but good luck finding one of those in this state.

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Posted by: MatchStick

I currently carry a 14 year old sig 220 with nught sights. The only complaint I have is that there are only two factory magazines made for it (7 round or 8 round). My dept. just got Glock 22c (compensated .40 cal). We dropped in caliber, but increased overall rounds carried. Also, the weight and size are slightl decreased even though the rounds are nearly doubled.

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Posted by: dh18

compensated? i thought compensated pistols were shunned by PD's due to the fear of flash during low-light engagements...

along Gil's question, i'd love to see a list showing what dept's across the state carry, make, caliber, etc... much like the non-civil service list.

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Posted by: jel

I agree with what has been said about the Sig, I have owned and carried a Sig 226 off duty for five years now and have no problems, and also carry the Sig 229 while on duty. They are very reliable.

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Posted by: mazz

Go with the Sig.

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Posted by: MiamiVice

here's a few I can think of:

Southborough- Glock 23
Framingham- Sig 226
Natick- S&W .40 (4016 or something)
Holliston- Glock 21
Dover- Berretta 96
Westborough- Glock 22
Newton- S&W 5906
Hopkinton- S&W Sigma .40
MSP- Sig 226
Westford- S&W .45
Douglas- Sig 220
Hubbardston- sig 220
Boston- Glock 23
NEU- glock 23
UMASS- S&W 5906


thats all I can think of

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Posted by: JohnBarleycorn

Hogue also makes a great REPLACEMENT grip for $21. I didnt like the toy feeling of the factory grips so I swapped the Hogue grip in. I loved it, and the dept firearms instructor liked it so much he's looking into retro-whatevering the rest of the armory.

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Posted by: Harley387

The only problem with the .45's and the academy, is the limited magazine capacity. Two of the guys I went with had dept. issue .45's and they only held 7 rounds. Most of the shooting involves shooting groups of ten. This just means you have to keep reloading. You can do it, but it seems like a big pain in the @ss.

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Posted by: Killjoy

The Sig 220 is an outstanding gun, can't go wrong with it. I'm MSP and would trade in my Sig 226 in 40 caliber for a Sig 220 in .45 in a second. Then again I'm a huge fan of the .45 (especiall 1911-style) and own three I carry off duty (a Springfield Armory, a Colt Officer's Model, and a Kimber Compact). You should probably test fire it before you buy.

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Posted by: ecpd402

I like the Beretta 9m

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Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecpd402 I like the Beretta 9m

That's cool however.........................he's asking about
.45 ACP

So to get back to focus, I 'd have to say Sig 220 or maybe the Glock 21 (big though)

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Posted by: Joe B

I currently own a Glock 21, I used to own a 220. I believe the G21 to be a far superior weapon. The 220 was okay, but the trigger pull sucked. The Glock 21 also holds 13 rounds in the mag. The only draw back to the G21 is as MPD61 said, it is a large handgun, so if you've got small hands you're sh!t out of luck.

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Posted by: EOD1

Thats a tough call between a sig P220 and a Glock. i am actually having that debate myself. i think i am going to go with a SIG. H & K are also pretty amazing.

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Posted by: EOD1

"SIG DAY" AT FOUR SEASONS AND MASS. RIFLE ASSOCIATION ON SATURDAY MARCH 27th
Meet the SIGARMS rep at Mass. Rifle Association and "TRY BEFORE YOU BUY".
check out this-see if you like the sig.

SIG handguns, including the new GSR .45 (which will not be MA compliant until the 2nd half of 2004) will be available for testing from 9am - 1pm.

After you try out the various models you can buy them at Four Seasons.

In addition to our low prices, you will receive a FREE extra 3rd magazine when you buy or order your Mass. compliant SIG pistol on this day.

For details please go to our NEWS & EVENTS page to read the Mass. Rifle flyer.

We look forward to seeing you!

http://www.fsguns.com/fsg_new_hg.htm

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Posted by: Muggsy09

I have a Glock and a Smith 45 I like the Glock better than the Smith.I seem to shoot better with the Glock. I've never shot a Sig 45 but my friend has one and he loves it. It I had to choose one...I go with Glock all the way.

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Posted by: dcs2244

SIG DAY!

Cool! Tried the link, but URL not found.

When, where and how much?

I have P226 9mm and 0.40 cal, and P220 0.45 cal. I prefer the 1911 for concealment...it's thinner.

45 ACP...why would you need another calibre?

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Posted by: patroldan81

I'm kind of partial to my Glock 21. One in the tube with 13 on deck. If you suck enough that those don't work, it is big enough to double as an impact weapon

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Posted by: Irish Wampanoag

go with the Sig 220!

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Posted by: Bigape9

Try the HK USP in 45 cant go wrong with the HK

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Posted by: Killjoy

You children can debate .45 Glock, Sig and H&K all day and night, but when the crying is done nothing, and I mean NOTHING beats the 1911; you don't see Navy SEALS, Delta or FBI HRT using anything else.

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Posted by: mpd61

Quote:

Originally Posted by Killjoy275 You children can debate .45 Glock, Sig and H&K all day and night, but when the crying is done nothing, and I mean NOTHING beats the 1911; you don't see Navy SEALS, Delta or FBI HRT using anything else.

Speaking of FBI, I still get shivers when I read the Miami Shootout report!
9mm and .357 won't do it against rifles/shotguns. That's why I advocate patrol carbines nowadays

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Posted by: csauce30

Quote:

You children can debate .45 Glock, Sig and H&K all day and night, but when the crying is done nothing, and I mean NOTHING beats the 1911; you don't see Navy SEALS, Delta or FBI HRT using anything else.

Im not trying to be a jerk but I thought the SEALS carried SIG these days. I found the article below that isnt relevant to the discussion, but it confirms what I thought. Not that it couldnt be an error but...

About 3/4 through the article below you will see :

* Sig Arms provides the official sidearm for the U.S. Navy SEALS.



GOA Denounces NAACP Lawsuit
-- Says such suits could impact future military operations like Operation Iraqi Freedom
For Immediate Release
April 08, 2003
Contact: Ellie McDaniel
703-321-8585

(Springfield, VA) -- Gun Owners of America today denounced the anti-gun lawsuit being currently argued by the NAACP in federal court. The suit is one of several that have been launched by anti-gun mayors and organizations around the country -- all of which could bankrupt gun makers who must dole out thousands upon thousands of dollars in their own defense.

"With the U.S. troops currently fighting hostile enemies in Iraq, the NAACP is helping to cripple the very industry that supplies our men with their weapons," said Erich Pratt, Director of Communications for GOA.

More than 30 lawsuits have been launched against gun manufacturers and dealers. Even though none of these suits have proved to be ultimately successful, one gun maker -- Navegar -- has already been forced into bankruptcy.

"The president of the NAACP has described his suit as part of an effort to 'break the backs' of those in the gun industry," Pratt said. "These lawsuits are nothing but judicial terrorism."

"Gun makers and dealers are selling a legal product which is constitutionally protected. They should not be punished for helping law-abiding citizens have the means to defend themselves."

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has documented the patriotic service that many of the gun makers, who are named in the NAACP suit, have offered to our country:

* Colt has provided firearms to the U.S. military since 1846 and is the only supplier of the M-16 rifle.

* Smith & Wesson is one of the largest producers of law-enforcement firearms and has produced firearms for the U.S. military since the Civil War.

* Browning is credited with giving the U.S. and its allies firearms superiority throughout the two world wars, as well as the Korean War.

* Sturm, Ruger & Company donated rifles to the New York City Police Department in the days following September 11, 2001, for the protection of the people of the city.

* Glock provides sidearms for much of the U.S. military and to over 65% of the law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

* Taurus has volunteered to donate handguns to the first 2,000 pilots who complete their training to carry firearms in the cockpits of commercial airlines.

* Sig Arms provides the official sidearm for the U.S. Navy SEALS.

"The NAACP lawsuit is not only completely frivolous, it could ultimately prove harmful to our country," Pratt said. "Our military depends upon these gun makers, as do millions of law-abiding Americans who use these quality firearms for their own self-protection."

NOTE: The NAACP case began on March 24 in the federal court for the Eastern District of New York. The presiding judge is U.S. District Judge Jack B. Weinstein.

-- GOA --

Erich Pratt is Director of Communications for Gun Owners of America, a national gun lobby with over 300,000 members located at 8001 Forbes Place, Springfield, VA 22151.

Either Erich Pratt or another GOA spokesman is available for press interviews.

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Posted by: Killjoy

The article says that Sig provides the "official" sidearm to the Navy SEALS, when in fact many companies provide pistols to the SEALS. In the military there is an "official" issue and a "substitute standard" issue. Probably what the article refers to is that about 14 years ago the SEAL Teams began issuing the Sig P226 in 9mm as their standard sidearm as they preferred it to the Beretta 92. But with the increase of the number of companies that make very high-quality 1911-style (including Wilson Combat, Les Baer, and Kimber), most, if not all, operators (who have a lot more leeway to choose what they want) have choosen a 1911 as their sidearm of choice. In looking at pictures of SEAL teams in Afganistan, I noticed that all of the SEALS carried 1911 style pistols. They choose it because of the superior ergonomics, relability and accuracy of the 1911 pistol, not to mention the knock-down power of the .45 ACP cartridge.

If it were my choice I would happily carry the 1911 as my duty weapon, but the powers that be have decreed it too "dangerous" for most officers to carry (because you would have to carry it cocked-and-locked). The Sig 220 is also an excellent weapon that is reliable and accurate. As far Glock goes, I have always found their reliability to be outstanding, but their accuracy I've thought was only mediocre, and ergonomics leave a lot to be desired (I've always thought them to be a bit too "chunky") By the way, I read a recent article about a Georgia department that had a couple of their Glock 21 pistols blow up on them....I'm not sure if it was operator error (using exposed lead ammo) or some other factor.

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Posted by: Killjoy

Here's the link to those blown-up Glock 21's http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/local/8180020.htm

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