GGR 187 – Guns of the US Border Patrol

Welcome to Episode 187 of Gun Guy Radio! This is the podcast that shines a positive light on the firearms lifestyle. I’m Your host Ryan Michad and this is your weekly dose of positive firearms talk, without the politics.

This week, I’m joined by listener Shawn, an agent, firearms instructor, & field armorer for the U.S. Border Patrol, to discuss the various firearms that the Border Patrol utilizes!

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Thank you Shawn for coming on!

Main Topic: Guns of the United States Border Patrol

Background of the U.S. Border Patrol

• Idea from “Paul W.”, retired BPA who wrote letter that I heard on Handgun Radio episode 083.

Pistols:

• Trigger systems (DA/SA, DAO, LEM, striker system)
• After revolvers, time period of personally owned weapons on approved list (Glock 17, H&K USP Compact, Sig P226, etc.)
• Beretta 96D (DAO in .40 S&W)
• Personally owned H&K USP Compact (LEM in .40 S&W)
• Government owned H&K USP Compact (same as above)
• H&K P2000 (How does it compare to the USP or other service weapons used in LE work?  Glocks used in majority of LE in the US, Sig Classic line used in majority of Federal Service)  (Problems?  Trigger return spring, trigger bar detent spring (OAM salt water issues), hammer strut, sights, polymer frame).
• H&K P2000 SK (subcompact version of the P2000)
• Glock 23 (CBP OAM Marine agents only)  (Why do the Marine Agents use Glocks?)
• H&K P30 (limited testing and special ops use)
• Glock 17 (CBP old stock, competition use, special ops use)
• Other pistols as needed by mission at hand (Approved by Sector CPA or higher) (BORTAC, Multi-Agency Task Force, Foreign Operations, etc.)
• What is the future for Border Patrol handguns? (Time will tell but I have heard of rumors of a 9mm striker fired pistol being in our future, once our cache of P2000 pistols run dry.)

Submachine Guns:

• Old stock?  Thompson SMG from WWII
• H&K MP5 (different variants over the years, out of service now).
• H&K UMP (.40 S&W)  (Is it better or worse than the MP5?)
• What does the future hold?  (Short barrel, piston driven, AR pattern chambered in 5.56 mm NATO) (Not-confirmed but in testing, ammo and magazine compatibility with current patrol rifle)

“Patrol Service” Rifles:

• Guns of old, military surplus. (M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, Winchester lever actions)
• Ruger Mini-14
• Colt M16 (military surplus)
• Colt M4 (military surplus)
• Current issue Colt M4A1, select fire, new stock, modified by CBP for duty use.  5.56 mm NATO, 14.5” barrel, 1:7 twist. (minor modifications such as springs, sling adaptors, etc.) (Knight’s rail system, new stock, old stock, old plastic hand guards).
• What is to come?  (Similar as above but lighter, maybe 12.5” barrel, Magpul foregrips and stock?)

Shotguns:

• Old school (wikipedia “Anti-Bandit” semi auto?)  I have heard of the shortened, modified, Remington 1100 used by special teams in the olden days that were going up against bandits with AK-47 type rifles and other larger firepower employed by cartels and bandits.
• Remington 870 pump action, 14” barrel, 5-round magazine tube.  Standard BP shotgun used for many many years and one of my personal favorites.  Some have Surefire Weaponlights, slings, side saddles (issues with side saddles), and red dot/holographic sights.
• Some 870’s came from Scattergun Technologies with older Scattergun front and rear sight with tritium, most newer ones from Remington with Scattergun rear sight and XS front sight with standard dot and tritium.

Long-Range Rifles:

• John Garand M14 rifle (military surplus, still in service, “Designated Marksman Rifle” use (heavier firepower for greater threats seen along the southern border), the con of the M14 is it’s heavier weight, lower ammo capacity, etc.)
• Remington 700 and other precision bolt-action rifles used by special operations, SWAT-like teams (ours is called Bortac).  Chambered in .308 Win, .300 Win Mag, etc.
• FN SCAR 17 Heavy (used in special teams, OAM use on air support and marine support) (not in normal use with BP).

Competition use firearms:

• These are very rare in the service and usually are reserved for agents shooting on official pistol teams.  Guns I have seen in the past are S&W revolvers that have been worked on by some of the great names in PPC shooting.  The same can be said for semi-autos.  Springfield Armory Custom 1911’s, usually in 9mm, are out there along with old school models of S&W 5906 “PPC-9”, both 5” and 6” models.  This are special models, from the Performance Series line that are reserved for LEO competitions only.  Last I heard, S&W is no-longer making this PPC-9 pistols as well as the rest of the 3rd Generation line of handguns.

Less-Lethal/Other Firearms:

http://www.pepperball.com/launchers/carbine-sx/

• Pepperball Launcher is effective and it does hurt.  Ask about me experience getting exposure in training to use the system.
• Cross-contamination, “huffing dust”, hold your breath while running through the clouds.

http://www.fnherstal.com/index.php?id=368&productID=90&categorySelector=3

• FN 303 launcher is a pepperball gun on steroids!  If you are on the receiving end of this system, “you’re going to have a bad time”.
• I never had the chance to get certified in this system but I did work next to another agent who did.  They are versatile in that they can send OC powder and color marker down range at extended distance.  Much more power than a pepperball launcher but also much more dangerous.  More restrictive in deployment than pepperball.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taser

• Taser X26, standard police style taser system.  Older system than what is currently available from Taser.  The new ones are upgraded but function the same.  Taser is probably one of the better tools used in LE work today but they do have problems.
• Issues with the taser and failures in the field.

Pepperspray

• Standard police pepper spray, it sucks, no-one likes it.  “You will always get cross-contaminated when you use it in the field.  You or your partner.  ALWAYS.”
• I’ve been exposed in training twice.  Both times were bad.  I have used it once in the field.  It worked.  It also contaminated my partner who got it worse than I did.

Batons

• ASP collapsible batons
• Wooden riot batons

Join the Border Patrol or CBP

www.cbp.gov

www.usajobs.gov

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