Guns for Federal Agents, Volume II: US Federal Agencies

These volumes were intended to be a regular feature, a different agency each time, however research on this topic is a serious pain. The FBIs transition from revolvers to autoloaders – especially the troubles with the S&W 1076 – provide lots of insight into what was issued during each year of the 1990s. Quite frankly there isn’t anywhere near the level of reliable data on other federal agencies. Taking the US Marshals Service for example… it seems they issued Beretta M92 series pistols for some time, switched to Glock G17 and G19s and now issue Glock G22 and G23s. When these transitions happened is not readily available.
Considering how much time it took me to compile the first volume of this guide, I’ve decided to just repost two of my primary sources. Today’s post is one of my very favorite sources, Vortisch wrote the page specifically for Delta Green and his research seems to be very good. I was quite displeased to find that the site was no longer available, but luckily Internet Archive contained the relevant page.

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Copyright Hans-Christian Vortisch 2001

US FEDERAL AGENCIES
The inventories of the most important federal agencies in the USA. Many are listed in Delta Green.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
Standard handgun is the 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P228, adopted in 1988. It replaced the 9×33mmR (.357 Magnum) S&W Model 19 Combat Magnum revolver. On request, individual agents receive the 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P225, P226 or P239 instead. Issue backup guns are either the 9×29mmR (.38 Special) S&W Model 64 revolver (2″ barrel) or 9×17mm SIG-Sauer P230 pistol. Longarms include the 9×19mm H&K MP5SFA2 semi-automatic carbine, 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A2 Model 6520 semi-automatic carbine and 18.5×70mmR Remington Model 870 shotgun.

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) Special Response Teams (SRT)
These units use, apart from the guns available to normal agents, the 9×19mm H&K MP5A4 and MP5A5 burst-fire carbine (with 2-round burst limiter), 5.56×45mm H&K HK53A5 assault carbine (with 2-round burst limiter), 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A2 Model 6720 semi-automatic carbine and Remington Model 700 bolt-action sniper rifle.

Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
The firearms of the BIA agents vary according to the area they operate in, generally complying with the sidearms used by local native police. These include the 9×19mm Glock 17, 9×19mm Glock 19, 9×19mm S&W Model 5906, 9×19mm S&W Model 6906 or 11.43×23mm (.45 ACP) SIG-Sauer P220-1 pistol, 5.56×45mm Colt AR-15A2 semi-automatic rifle or 5.56×45mm Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle, and 18.5×70mmR Miroku-Browning BPS, 18.5×70mmR Mossberg Model 500 or Winchester Model 1300 pump-action shotgun.

Capitol Police
The Capitol Police adopted the 9×19mm S&W Model 5946 and 9×19mm S&W Model 6946 pistols in 1992, the former for uniformed agents, the latter for plain-clothes agents. In 2000, these were replaced by the 10×21mm (.40 S&W) Glock 22 and 23, respectively.

Capitol Police Crisis Reaction Team (CRT)
The CRT fields the following guns: 10×21mm (.40 S&W) Glock 22 pistol (replaced the 9×19mm FN-Browning HP Mk 2), 10×21mm (.40 S&W) H&K MP5/40A3 submachine gun (replaced the 9×19mm H&K MP5A3) and 5.56×45mm H&K G36E assault rifle.

Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Military Special Projects (MSP) Special Operations Group (SOG)
The elite assets of the ad hoc-assembled SOG teams can be provided with virtually any firearm commonly available. The one available photo shows them being armed with 5.56×45mm Colt M4A1 assault carbines (CAR-15A3 Model 927) and 40×46mmSR Colt M203A1 underbarrel grenade launchers.
The standard CIA weapons used to be the 9×19mm FN-Browning HP-35 pistol and 18.5×70mmR Winchester Model 1200 Defender pump-action shotgun, but these have certainly been replaced by more recent designs.
The CIA’s own Cessna U-27A (Model 208B Caravan I) Utility/Special Missions Aircraft can be used to deliver seven men by parachute.

Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) Mobile Security Division (MSD)
These agents carry 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P228 pistols, 9×19mm H&K MP5K-PDW submachine guns, 9×19mm H&K MP5A5N submachine guns, 5.56×45mm H&K HK53A5N assault carbines (main longarm), 7.62×51mm H&K G3K battle rifles and shotguns.

Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
The DEA initially issued various revolvers to its agents, however, from 1987, agents could field one of the following pistols: 9×19mm Beretta Model 92F, 9×19mm Glock 17, 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P226 or 9×19mm S&W Model 459. Between 1992 and 1998, the standard issue sidearm was the 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P228 pistol, replacing the earlier weapons. In late 1998, the 10×21mm (.40 S&W) Glock 22 and 23 pistols were adopted as new standard handguns. However, since 2000, after graduating from basic training, agents can replace the Glock with the 10×21mm (.40 S&W) H&K USP Compact, 10×21mm (.40 S&W) SIG-Sauer P226, 10×21mm (.40 S&W) SIG-Sauer P229 or 10×21mm (.40 S&W) SIG-Sauer SP2340, if they want – these are acquired through the agency. The H&K USP Compact seems to be the most popular. Other guns available include the 9×19mm Colt CAR-15 Model 633 submachine gun, 9×19mm Colt CAR-15 Model 635 submachine gun (at least 2,200 bought since 1988), 10×21mm (.40 S&W) H&K UMP submachine gun (3,000 replacing the CAR-15 weapons beginning in 2001), 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A2 Model 720 burst-fire carbine (M4), 5.56×45mm H&K HK53A5N assault carbine (main rifle calibre weapon), 5.56×45mm Colt AR-15A2 Model 645 burst-fire rifle (M16A2), 5.56×45mm Colt HBAR-15A2 Model 750 light machine gun, 7.62×51mm Saco M60 machine gun, 18.5×70mmR Remington Model 870P pump-action shotgun (with 14″ barrel) and 40×46mmSR Colt M79 grenade launcher. The heavy weapons are, of course, not normally used in the USA, but rather during drug war operations in South and Central America.
Helicopters include the Bell UH-1H Iroquois and the newer Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk, both with two door-mounted 7.62×51mm Saco M60D machine guns when used against drug smugglers.

Federal Sky Marshals
Issue sidearm is the 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P228 since 1992.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

The FBI issued 9×29mmR (.38 Special) Colt Official Police and 9×29mmR (.38 Special) S&W Model 13 Military & Police revolvers in the 1980s. Authorised privately-purchased weapons included the 9×33mmR (.357 Magnum) S&W Model 19 Combat Magnum revolver and 11.43×23mm (.45 ACP) SIG-Sauer P220-1 pistol. This situation was finally seen as no longer adequate, and some 1,500 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P226 and 1,000 9×19mm S&W Model 5946 pistols were purchased in 1988, which most field agents never got, however. In 1991, the Bureau received at least 9,500 copies of the 10×25mm S&W Model 1076, which was especially designed for the FBI (as seen in “Twin Peaks”). It was issued with four 9-round magazines, two 11-round magazines and one 15-round magazine per agent. However, the gun turned out to be a complete failure. All were returned to the factory. Thus, some 15,000 9×19mm SIG-Sauer pistols were purchased over the course of the 1990s, most of them P226s. In 1993, the more compact 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P228 was adopted. Agents with very small hands, especially women, could opt for the slimline 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P225. Since January 1998, all new agents are trained on the 10×21mm (.40 S&W) Glock 22 pistol, with the smaller 10×21mm (.40 S&W) Glock 23 for those who prefer it. The ultra-compact 10×21mm (.40 S&W) Glock 27 is authorised as concealed backup. Older agents continue to field their SIG-Sauer pistols, if they wish, and even new agents can switch to the 9×19mm guns if they qualify with them. Several small revolvers are authorised for undercover agents, including the 9×29mmR (.38 Special) S&W Model 10 Military & Police (with 2″ barrel), 9×29mmR (.38 Special) S&W Model 38 Bodyguard Airweight (with 2″ barrel), 9×29mmR (.38 Special) S&W Model 60 Chief’s Special Stainless (with 2″ barrel) and 9×33mmR (.357 Magnum) S&W Model 19 Combat Magnum (with 2.5″ barrel).

Since 1989, the FBI issued the 9×19mm H&K MP5SFA2 (and MP5SFA3) semi-automatic carbine to field agents. These are identical to the MP5A4 and MP5A5 submachine guns respectively, except for the fact that they are only capable of single shots. Beginning in 1994, they were replaced by the 10×25mm H&K MP5/10A2 submachine gun (offering single shots and 2-round bursts only). In rural areas, semi-automatic 5.56×45mm carbines and rifles such as the Colt CAR-15A2 Model 6520 are used. Only SWAT-qualified agents can field full-automatic weapons. The standard shotgun is the 18.5×70mmR SGT Tactical Response Model 90102 FBI, a modified Remington Model 870 with tactical light and spare rounds holder.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Regional SWAT
These agents are trained by the HRT, and similarly equipped. They used the 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P226 until 1998, when some 5,000 11.43×23mm (.45 ACP) Springfield Bureau Model pistols were purchased, a heavily customised Colt M1911A1-clone. They also have 9×19mm H&K MP5A2, MP5A3 and MP5SD3 submachine guns, 10×25mm H&K MP5/10A3 submachine guns (with 2-round burst setting), 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A2 Model 777 assault carbines (since about 1998), 5.56×45mm Colt AR-15A2 Model 645 burst-fire rifles (M16A2), 7.62×51mm H&K G3A3 battle rifles (especially for use in rural areas), 7.62×51mm Remington Model 700 bolt-action sniper rifles (M40A1 configuration with 10× scope), 12.7×99mm McMillan Model 87 bolt-action sniper rifles and 18.5×70mmR SGT Tactical Response Model 90102 FBI pump-action shotguns.
(The arsenals of many SACs often also contain less orthodox weapons, such as 11.43×23mm (.45 ACP) Auto-Ordnance M1928 Tommy Guns and 40×46mmSR Colt M79 grenade launchers. But these are not normally used.)
Vehicles in service include the Cadillac Cage Peacekeeper 4×4 armoured car, DDGMC LAV-APC Bison 8×8 armoured personnel carrier and the Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter.

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Hostage Rescue Team (HRT)
When the HRT was founded in 1983, it first used the 9×19mm FN-Browning HP Mk 2 pistol, which was later supplemented by the 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P226 pistol. In 1995, 250 11.43×23mm (.45 ACP) Les Baer SRP Bureau pistols built on a high-capacity Para-Ordnance frame were acquired. The HRT also uses the 9×19mm H&K MP5SD6 suppressed submachine gun, 10×25mm H&K MP5/10A3 submachine gun (adopted 1994), 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A2 Model 777 assault carbine, 5.56×45mm Colt AR-15A2 Model 645 burst-fire rifle (M16A2), 5.56×45mm H&K HK33A2 assault rifle, 7.62×51mm H&K PSG1 sniper rifles (with 6× scope), 7.62×51mm Remington Model 700 bolt-action sniper rifle (M40A1 configuration with 10× scope), 12.7×99mm Barrett Model 82A1 sniper rifle and 18.5×70mmR SGT Tactical Response Model 90102 FBI pump-action shotgun.

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
The issue sidearm since the early 1990s has been the 10×21mm (.40 S&W) Beretta Model 96D Brigadier. In 2000, the INS acquired at least 4,500 10×21mm (.40 S&W) H&K USP Compact pistols for its plain-clothes agents. The 5.7×28mm FN P90 personal defence weapon is also in service.

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Border Patrol
The issue sidearm since the early 1990s has been the 10×21mm (.40 S&W) Beretta Model 96D Brigadier with special 11-round magazine. Privately purchased 10×21mm (.40 S&W) H&K USP Compact or 10×21mm (.40 S&W) SIG-Sauer P229 pistols are authorised for plain-clothes agents or off-duty wear only. The standard longarms are the 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A3 Model 977 assault carbine and the 18.5×70mmR SGT Tactical Response Model 90121 Border Patrol pump-action shotgun, a modified Remington Model 870.
Vehicles include Chevrolet Tahoe 4×4 trucks, some AM General Hummer 4×4 trucks and MDHC MD 500E and MD Helicopters MD 600N helicopters.

Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC)
Guns include the 10×21mm (.40 S&W) Beretta Model 96D Brigadier pistol, 9×19mm H&K MP5A2 and MP5A3 submachine guns, 10×21mm (.40 S&W) H&K UMP submachine gun, 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A3 Model 977 assault carbine, 5.56×45mm H&K HK53A2 and HK53A3 assault carbines, 5.56×45mm Colt AR-15A1 Model 603 assault rifle (M16A1), 5.56×45mm H&K HK33A2 assault rifle, 7.62×51mm Springfield M1A semi-automatic rifle, 7.62×51mm Remington Model 700 bolt-action sniper rifle, 7.62×51mm Steyr SSG-PI bolt-action sniper rifle, 7.62×51mm Saco M60E3 machine gun, 18.5×70mmR SGT Tactical Response Model 90121 Border Patrol pump-action shotgun, 40×46mmSR Colt M79 grenade launcher and 40×46mmSR Colt M203 underbarrel grenade launcher (under AR-15A1).

Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
The CID agents carry 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P228 pistols.

NASA Special Operations Team (at the JFK Space Center)
Armed with 9×19mm Glock 17 pistols and 9×19mm H&K MP5A3 submachine guns.

US Customs Service Enforcement Branch Special Response Team (SRT)
The officers from the Enforcement Branch are issued the 10×21mm (.40 S&W) H&K USP Compact pistol, which replaced the 9×19mm S&W Model 6906 pistol. The 9×29mmR (.38 Special) S&W Model 60 Chief’s Special revolver is issued as backup weapon. They also pack 9×19mm H&K MP5A5 burst-fire carbines, 9×19mm H&K MP5SD6 suppressed burst-fire carbines, 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A2 Model 725B burst-fire carbines, 5.56×45mm Steyr AUG A1 burst-fire rifles, 7.62×51mm Remington Model 700 bolt-action sniper rifles (with 10× scope) and 18.5×70mmR Remington Model 870P pump-action shotguns.
(Note that none of the above weapons will fire full-automatic, all are restricted to single shots and 3-round bursts.)
Helicopters include the MBB-Kawasaki BK117B-1 and Sikorsky UH-60A Black Hawk.

US Department of Agriculture
Special agents carry the 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P228 pistol.

US Department of Energy Nuclear Security Patrol
These officers typically carry 9×19mm Glock 17 pistols and either a 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A2 Model 6530 semi-automatic carbine or 18.5×70mmR Remington Model 870P pump-action shotgun.

US Department of Energy Special Response Team (SRT)
All nuclear facilities in the USA have a SRT for emergencies. These have ordnance including the 9×33mmR (.357 Magnum) Colt Python revolver, 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P226 pistol, 9×19mm CAR-15 Model 633 submachine gun, 9×19mm CAR-15 Model 635 submachine gun, 9×19mm H&K MP5A3 submachine gun, 9×19mm H&K MP5SD3 sound-suppressed submachine gun, 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A2 assault carbine, 5.56×45mm Colt AR-15A2 assault rifle, 7.62×51mm Remington Model 700 bolt-action sniper rifle, 7.62×51mm H&K HK21E machine gun, 7.62×51mm Saco M60 machine gun, 18.5×70mmR Remington Model 870P pump-action shotgun and 40×46mmSR Colt M203 underbarrel grenade launcher (under AR-15A2).
Around nuclear facilities, the Cadillac Gage Peacekeeper 4×4 armoured car is used, while US Army-surplus Chenowth M1040 FAV 4×2 fast attack vehicles are employed for nuclear test site security.

US Marshals Service
The issue sidearm is the 9×19mm Glock 19.

US Marshals Service Special Operations Group (SOG)
The Deputy Marshals of SOG (formed 1971) pack 9×19mm Glock 19, 9×19mm Beretta Model 92F or 11.43×23mm (.45 ACP) S&W Model 645 pistols, 9×19mm Colt CAR-15 Model 635 submachine guns, 5.56×45mm Colt CAR-15A2 Model 723 assault carbines, 5.56×45mm Colt AR-15A2 Model 645 burst-fire rifles (M16A2), 7.62×51mm Remington Model 700 (M24) bolt-action sniper rifles (with 10× scope) and 18.5×70mmR Ithaca Model 37DS pump-action shotguns.

US National Park Service
Issue sidearm of the Park Rangers used to be the 9×19mm H&K P7M13 pistol, until it was superseded by the 10×21mm (.40 S&W) Glock 22 and 23 pistols in the late 1990s. Long-serving Rangers are permitted to field their old P7M13s until they wear out. Also carried is the 5.56×45mm Ruger Mini-14 semi-automatic rifle or a Colt AR-15A2 semi-automatic rifle. A pump-action shotgun is doubtless also in service.

US Secret Service
The standard sidearm of the special agents was the 9×29mmR (.38 Special) S&W Model 10 revolver, but this was replaced in 1992 by the 9×19mm SIG-Sauer P228 pistol. In 1999, it was in turn replaced by the 9×22mm (.357 SIG) SIG-Sauer P229 pistol.

US Secret Service Counter Assault Team (CAT)
The sidearm is the 9×22mm (.357 SIG) SIG-Sauer P229 pistol. The gun that protected the president used to be the 9×23mmSR (.38 Super Auto) SIG-Sauer P220, but this has long been replaced. Other weapons include the 9×19mm IMI Model 39 Uzi submachine gun (sometimes in attaché case), 9×19mm H&K MP5K submachine gun (sometimes in attaché case), 9×19mm H&K MP5A3 submachine gun, 5.56×45mm Colt AR-15A1 Model 603 assault rifle (M16A1), 7.62×51mm Remington Model 700 bolt-action sniper rifle (with 10× scope), 7.62×51mm Vaime SSR Mk 2 suppressed bolt-action sniper rifle, 12.7×99mm McMillan Model 87R bolt-action sniper rifle and 18.5×70mmR Remington Model 870P pump-action shotgun. The 5.7×28mm FN P90 personal defence weapon seems to have been adopted as well.