NRA - long range psitol

[joe]

UK police carried .357 magnum revolvers ??

Yes. Generally S&W model 13s and 19s. The RUC were routinely armed with Ruger Speed Sixes. In the 90s during the transition to semi the government wasn't so namby pamby and would allow the revolvers to be sold to civilians. I've just had a look at an October 1996 Gunmart that I still have, (some will remember the significance if the date) and York guns list model 19s at £165 and model 13s at £119. Holsters were a fiver and they came with 2 free speed loaders....

were they allowed to use .357 magnum ammo or only .38 spl?

[ordnance]

The RUC did have trouble getting handguns from our friends in America, they have changed their attitude somewhat after 9/11.

DESPITE a very public US ban on selling arms to the RUC at the start of the 1980s, the force was secretly continuing to receive American-made weapons, confidential files reveal. RUC had placed three orders for a total of 9,000 Ruger revolvers but that the Chief Constable subsequently decided that 6,000 would be sufficient.

[meles meles]

Ours is chambered in 6.5x55 Swe. Excellent out to 600 mards...

[Sim G]

were they allowed to use .357 magnum ammo or only .38 spl?

The issued ammo was 357 mag, 125gn JSP. A very capable cartridge in stopping a fight but a bit of a monster in a 2 3/4" barrel! Muzzle flash was considerable in low light and enclosed surrounding the blast destroyed hearing. The Anglo Irish agreement saw the duty ammo replaced with 38 spl 158gn LRN until the PSNI received their Glock 19s.

At least the Austrians weren't as petty when they supplied the Glocks unlike the Americans and the contracts for Ruger revolvers....