10mm Auto: (Un)fairly ignored?

[MT2008]

The 10mm may have practical uses, but law enforcement and military are not among them. I don't fault the FBI for backtracking on it. It has nothing to do with the feds being "girly" men; it's because 10mm is a fairly difficult cartridge to shoot.

Originally Posted by Yournamehere

As far as Beretta 92s/96s being popular police guns, just because you don't see them carried by your local police, doesn't mean that the dozens, or hundreds of police organizations across the U.S. Don't. I talked to a few cops who carry Beretta 96s.

The Beretta 92/96 series is definitely not a popular police gun. It may have been popular 15-20 years ago (I'm old enough to remember when our State Troopers and Highway Patrol used to carry them), but not anymore. Today, it's considered an outdated design by most law enforcement agencies, even though it's still the "default" pistol of cops and bad guys in Hollywood.

Right now, Glocks account for 65% of the U.S. law enforcement market, while SIG-Sauers account for about 30%. S&W, Beretta, and H&K are all fighting over the remaining 5% or so. That's not my opinion; it's fact. So statistically, Berettas can't really be "popular".

[Excalibur]

Around my area, I've encountered several cops from the surrounding townships since I live in North West Indiana. Most of the guns I see are mainly Glocks, Sigs, and a few S&W 4505s. There was one detective with a USP. A few in East Chicago have Beretta 96s, but just a few because they are being phased out for Glocks and SIGs. My hometown police department uses SIG P229s

[ManiacallyChallenged]

Hm, I've always wanted to go backpacking in Alaska, perhaps a 10mm would be a good anti-bear-piece.

Capacity beats a .357 wheel gun.

[Yournamehere]

Originally Posted by MT2008

Right now, Glocks account for 65% of the U.S. law enforcement market, while SIG-Sauers account for about 30%. S&W, Beretta, and H&K are all fighting over the remaining 5% or so. That's not my opinion; it's fact. So statistically, Berettas can't really be "popular".

That's a pretty powerful statistic. I don't doubt it entirely but where did you acquire that information?

Also, average 10mm loads can equal average to high powered .357 Magnum loads. I consider them more or less equal in power.

I'm also not a hunter nor do I understand what is effective or not against whatever game, but I don't think 10mm is adequate for killing bears.

[Excalibur]

A pistol is not really your primary weapon in hunting. That's what shotguns and rifles are for, but merely a backup weapon. A bear comes running towards you, you might be able to get one shot off your rifle, if it's a bolt action before it is in your face. Rather than running, you best draw your sidearm and empty it as fast as you can pull the trigger. The shear amount of lead coming into the bear, especially at close range, would put it down. Contrary to what some might say that a little pistol would have no effect on a bear, it's just fur and skin. A bear doesn't have plated armor. Bullets of most typical caliber in handguns will hurt and kill bears if they are in the effective range. They'd at least stop charging, because you are giving them pain.

[MT2008]

Originally Posted by Yournamehere

That's a pretty powerful statistic. I don't doubt it entirely but where did you acquire that information?

The manufacturers' own web sites, and I'm pretty sure it's well-known. Every gun site I've ever looked at seems to agree that Glock's share of the market is about 2/3rds (give or take 1%). SIG-Sauer may seem a bit harder to believe, but it's not so far-fetched when you consider that almost every State or Federal law enforcement agency in this country issues either the P226R or P229R these days (with the notable exception of the FBI, of course, who ironically used to issue SIGs in the early-/mid-1990s).

I'm not sure what share of the LE market Beretta used to control. But I doubt it's ever been as big as Hollywood would have us believe. I remember that in the 1990s, the LE market was in a flux between Glock, Beretta, SIG, and S&W, but even then, Glock still had the majority of LE contracts by the early-90s, which left SIG, Beretta, and S&W competing for the rest. And basically, it seems like SIG has won out...for good reason.

[k9870]

for good reason

Cant beat A metal (solid feeling) confortable gripped , DA/SA, Night Sighted ultra reliable pistol. SIG kicks ass, has the guns I want (although making more stainless models, especially without the thick wood grips) would be nice.

[ManiacallyChallenged]

Reading that post, I could have sworn you were being posessed by our resident Smith nut.

[k9870]

Im a SIG nut, Id love a p220 stainless.

[S&Wshooter]

well k9870, since you have been accused of acting like me, you get the "badass of the week" award


Yes, that is Christopher effin' Walken immortalized in trophy form