In the United States, police officers are trained and tasked with maintaining order in our communities. This work comes with a certain amount of risk, which requires protection. Police must carry a firearm for their protection and sometimes for our protection, too.

Certain types of guns have made it to the forefront through training, test of time, and preference. 24/7 Wall Street has reviewed the makers and types of firearms used nationwide to determine those used most often. Knowing the factors they consider helps them understand why they choose the ones they do. Capacity, accuracy, and cost are common and important aspects to consider when choosing a weapon, and this is no different for any American police department. Pistols seem the most prevalent, followed by shotguns and handguns used for backups.

Certain manufacturers have found their way to repeated use both for the common person and for officers of the law. Glock, established in the US in 1988, and Sig Sauer, who have been selling weapons since 1976, make the list most often. Most of these manufacturers have reached the top of the list in American sales. Positive feedback on these specific makers includes their magazine capacity, accuracy, weight, trigger pull, and safety features.

Why Are We Covering This?

According to the FBI, the United States has over 18,000 police departments. The vast majority of these departments’ officers are armed with a handgun. Like many other public institutions, police in the United States and around the world are a major client of the firearm manufacturing industry, a $10 billion a year sector. Providing a profile of the most commonly used weapons helps paint a picture of some of the gun manufacturers benefitting most from American taxpayer dollars.

Let’s learn more about the most popular guns used in American law enforcement today, in no particular order:

Smith & Wesson M&P 40

The Smith & Wesson M&P 40 is a semi-automatic pistol with a 0.40 chambering. The base price for this gun model is $500. The San Antonio Police Department uses this weapon.

FN 509 MRD-LE

The FN 509 MRD-LE is a semi-automatic pistol with a 9mm chambering. Its base price is $830, and the Los Angeles Police Department frequently uses it.

Walther PPQ (replaced by the PDP)

The Walther PPQ (replaced by the PDP) is another semi-automatic pistol with a 9mm chambering. Its base price is slightly lower than the above FN model, at an estimated $700. The Brevard County Sheriff’s Office uses this model.

Sig Sauer P365

The Sig Sauer P365 semi-automatic pistol has two chamberings available: 9mm and .380 Automatic. The Indiana State Police Department uses this weapon, and the cost starts at an estimated $640 apiece.

Glock 43

The next semi-automatic on our list is the Glock 43. This weapon has a 9mm chambering and starts at an estimated $450. Asheville, North Carolina’s police department, chose this weapon more often than others.

Sig Sauer P229

A Sig Sauer P229 makes the top of the list for the United States Secret Service and the Memphis Police Department. This model is available with a 9mm chambering and starts at $1,400 a pop.

Glock 21

A Glock 21 is another semi-automatic pistol frequently in use, notably on the Phoenix and Lawton, OK Police Department force. It boasts a .45 chambering and has an estimated base price of $550.

Remington 870

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