Police Officer Preparation & Law Enforcement Resource - Archive

I have a .45 pistol that is a Glock but that says "Taurus" on it.

Everything I've been reading online is that Taurus is NOT a Glock, but a seperate brand. I was under the impression that my gun is a Glock. Is that not correct?

My employer is allowing us to now carry Glock 17 or Glock 21's. I'm guessing that this is not what I have?

Sorry for a post that sounds, probably to many, kind of stupid. I'm not a "gun person." I know how to safely handle them, shoot them, and keep them in my posession - and that's about all I know.

Got a picture?

This is a glock. They all look JUST like this, except grips may be 2 or 3 fingers, may or may not have finger grooves, and there may or may not be slots under the front of the barrell to slide on a light (called rails).

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lcLisVjSkHM/Tw1q0htKJXI/AAAAAAAAuV4/t0jg_Wfq4EA/s1600/glock_17_19_26.jpg

I'm lost here. If it says Taurus on it, how do you think it's a Glock?

I'm lost here. If it says Taurus on it, how do you think it's a Glock?

This is an important question/answer that we need before we can continue...

When I was a kid, I thought my Ford was a Ferrari sometimes.....

G 35, it looks like the last one pictured, but it's definately a Taurus.

Black, I wasn't clear originially that a Taurus wasn't a model made by Glock. I'm clear now that they are definately two different guns.

Like I said, I know next to nothing about guns - other than how to safely handle them and shoot them. As far as models, velocities, the "best" guns, etc. I'm at a loss. For me, a gun is sort of like pepper spray is to most people; I have it, know how to use it, but that's about it - couldn't tell you detailed specs of it, etc.

RetDet, tried to rep you but I have to spread it around ...

OK, so, now that I've cleared it up - and thanks to all of you who helped - I need to buy a Glock 21. Does anyone know where to get the best price on one? Is this even the best be for an LE weapon? We can also get Sig Sauer .45s ...

(yes, I work for an LE agency and carry a gun. I don't meet all the requirements to be "verified", primarily because I don't believe I perform "equivalent duties" to regular LEO's, and although I have arrest powers, they are a bit more limited in scope than "regular" officers.)

Due to you knowing literally nothing about firearms, I highly suggest you stick with a Glock. They require next to no maintenance. Sigs require a little more TLC, because they need to be appropriately and decently lubricated and are a little more finicky when they get dirty.

Don't feel too bad. Many cops know almost as little about guns as you do. Just because they carry them, a lot of cops just aren't gun guys.

The debate about which gun and caliber that is best for LE will persist as long as the Earth revolves around the sun. There is no answer.

I think I see what you meant now. You thought the make was a Glock and the model was a Taurus correct?

All Glock models use a number with an additional letter combo. For example there is a Glock 21 and a Glock 21SF, the "SF" stands for slim frame. Same with Sigs (P226, P229, etc.) and really most manufacturers for the most part with some exceptions. I've never shot a Sig but I have heard they are pricy and a pain to disassemble for cleaning. I can disassemble a Glock in seconds, literally.

As for where to get them we have a place here in Pittsburgh that sells Glocks pretty cheap with the LE discount but I'm not sure you would qualify and I don't think you are from PA lol.

P.S. I am not a gun nut by any means but you pick up some things over the years...

I carry a SIG P226R and it is a great gun. I can disassemble it seconds and it is very solid.

I like Glocks to shoot and to carry, but I HATE, HATE, HATE the fact that you have to pull the trigger to disassemble them. After decades and decades of drilling into every shooter's head that you never put your finger on the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot, I detest that we are now teaching a generation of shooters to:
1. Treat ALL guns as loaded (unless you have a Glock, then unload it and pull the trigger to disassemble it)
2. NEVER put your finger on the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot (unless you have a Glock, because you have to pull the trigger to disassemble)


That's my anti-Glock rant of the day. I really wish they had engineered the gun so you could disassemble it without pulling the trigger. If they had it would be an awesome gun all around.

I think I see what you meant now. You thought the make was a Glock and the model was a Taurus correct?

All Glock models use a number with an additional letter combo. For example there is a Glock 21 and a Glock 21SF, the "SF" stands for slim frame. Same with Sigs (P226, P229, etc.) and really most manufacturers for the most part with some exceptions. I've never shot a Sig but I have heard they are pricy and a pain to disassemble for cleaning. I can disassemble a Glock in seconds, literally.

As for where to get them we have a place here in Pittsburgh that sells Glocks pretty cheap with the LE discount but I'm not sure you would qualify and I don't think you are from PA lol.

P.S. I am not a gun nut by any means but you pick up some things over the years...

G-35, thanks for the advice.

Blackgoat, yes your first sentence is correct. Could you PM me with the info on the Pittsburgh place? I could ask whether I would qualify - I have a badge and creds, and the fact that it would be used as a duty weapon for an LE agency makes me think I might get them to give me the discount, although being from Ohio, maybe not ...

mobrien, I'm guessing you are a range officer? What you say makes a lot of sense ... I guess if you use a Glock it's just one more thing to wrap your mind around. Luckily, my dad taught me from an early age the same way that RetDetSgt's dad did, which he mentioned in the accidental discharge post ... I'm not exactly paranoid of guns, but believe me, I don't see an accidental discharge in my future ... I check, then re-check, and then check again if I'm going to be pulling the trigger and the gun isn't aimed at something I intend to shoot.

I carry a SIG P226R and it is a great gun. I can disassemble it seconds and it is very solid.

I like Glocks to shoot and to carry, but I HATE, HATE, HATE the fact that you have to pull the trigger to disassemble them. After decades and decades of drilling into every shooter's head that you never put your finger on the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot, I detest that we are now teaching a generation of shooters to:
1. Treat ALL guns as loaded (unless you have a Glock, then unload it and pull the trigger to disassemble it)
2. NEVER put your finger on the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot (unless you have a Glock, because you have to pull the trigger to disassemble)


That's my anti-Glock rant of the day. I really wish they had engineered the gun so you could disassemble it without pulling the trigger. If they had it would be an awesome gun all around.

I definitely see what you are saying but I always drop the mag, rack the slide about ten times, then point in a safe direction and pull it. To me it's just about impossible for a round to still be in the chamber after that many slide racks but you never know. I also look in there as well. I maybe a little overkill lol.




Blackgoat, yes your first sentence is correct. Could you PM me with the info on the Pittsburgh place? I could ask whether I would qualify - I have a badge and creds, and the fact that it would be used as a duty weapon for an LE agency makes me think I might get them to give me the discount, although being from Ohio, maybe not ...


PM sent

I like Glocks to shoot and to carry, but I HATE, HATE, HATE the fact that you have to pull the trigger to disassemble them. After decades and decades of drilling into every shooter's head that you never put your finger on the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot, I detest that we are now teaching a generation of shooters to:
1. Treat ALL guns as loaded (unless you have a Glock, then unload it and pull the trigger to disassemble it)
2. NEVER put your finger on the trigger until your sights are on target and you are ready to shoot (unless you have a Glock, because you have to pull the trigger to disassemble)


That's my anti-Glock rant of the day. I really wish they had engineered the gun so you could disassemble it without pulling the trigger. If they had it would be an awesome gun all around.

So you've never taught any of your trainees how to do a function check of their weapon after disassembly, cleaning, and reassembly? Have to pull the trigger multiple times for those...