# What is the standard-issue sidearm of the FBI?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-standard-issue-sidearm-of-the-fbi/368533>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 13, 2006, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-standard-issue-sidearm-of-the-fbi/368533 "2006-08-13T08:51:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-standard-issue-sidearm-of-the-fbi/368533/1 "2006-08-13T08:51:13Z")

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Title says it. I was also curious, if anyone knows, what handguns are on the approved carry list?

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**Author:** ![Eleusis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Eleusis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eleusis)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-standard-issue-sidearm-of-the-fbi/368533/2 "2006-08-13T09:05:36Z")

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Pretty sure my $140 Hi Point® 9mm Luger wouldn’t cut it… but it works for me.

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-standard-issue-sidearm-of-the-fbi/368533/3 "2006-08-13T09:10:13Z")

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The agents I’ve dealt with had Glock 22 .40 cal., however I believe there is a “list” of other sidearms they can carry. That’s not unusual. Many departments )including the one I’m on) allow officers to carry a different weapon than the issue.

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**Author:** ![CynicalGabe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@CynicalGabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CynicalGabe)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-standard-issue-sidearm-of-the-fbi/368533/4 "2006-08-13T09:14:58Z")

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> [@pkbites](#):
>
> The agents I’ve dealt with had Glock 22 .40 cal., however I believe there is a “list” of other sidearms they can carry. That’s not unusual. Many departments )including the one I’m on) allow officers to carry a different weapon than the issue.

That’s what I’m asking about. I wanted to know what other handguns were approved for on and off-duty carry.

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**Author:** ![Lazlo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lazlo/32/9678_2.png) [@Lazlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lazlo)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-standard-issue-sidearm-of-the-fbi/368533/5 "2006-08-13T10:40:00Z")

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The [10 mm](http://www.totse.com/en/bad_ideas/guns_and_weapons/10mmpist.html) comes to mind.

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**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\
**Post date:** [August 13, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-standard-issue-sidearm-of-the-fbi/368533/6 "2006-08-13T12:49:45Z")

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I pulled this one off another board after doing a Google search for “FBI approved sidearms”:

> [@](#):
>
> Here is the current list.
> 
> Issue - G22
> 
> Approved for purchase and duty-G17,19,21,22,23,26,27 SIG 228,226,229 in .40
> 
> Longarms include- M-4, 870, MP-5/10mm and a few other more specialized
> 
> SWAT/HRT-Springfield 1911 customized
> 
> Some of the SIGs are left from earlier buys and the MP-5/10mm looks like it is being replaced gradually with the M-4.

Tripler  
References available upon request.