NCJ Number
208243
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 52 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2004 Pages: 62-64,66
Date Published
November 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
After identifying the requirements for ammunition in police SWAT tactical operations, this article recommends appropriate ammunition for SWAT snipers.
Abstract
For years, SWAT snipers who have used the 308 Winchester caliber have loaded with the 168-grain Match HPBT as the primary duty ammunition under the belief that long-range accuracy was the most important criterion for the load; however, in the typical police tactical scenario, after-barrier performance is the most important feature of the ammunition used. After-barrier performance requires a bullet design that has the most flight integrity after penetrating glass. The bullet must not break up, and it must stay on course. Further, the total penetration of the bullet must be limited in open-air shots that do not involve any barriers. Compared to these bullet requirements, long-range accuracy has less priority, because the average police sniper engagement distance is between 55 and 60 yards. According to comparison testing, the 180-grain Nosler Partition bullet had the least average dispersion (the least change in point of impact after penetrating glass), the least absolute dispersion, and the least fragmentation (the best weight retention); however, it is too costly for police use. Consequently, Federal Cartridge developed the Federal Tactical bullet from modifications of the 165-grain softpoint, which placed second in the comparison tests. This ammunition is available for the 308 Winchester, the 223 Remington, and a variety of handgun calibers.