NCJ Number
80883
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 29 Issue: 10 Dated: (October 1981) Pages: 24-38,40-43
Editor(s)
F G MacAloon
Date Published
1981
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Seven articles examine various aspects of firearms for police, including the characteristics of various types of handguns, accessories which improve the performance of a semiautomatic weapon, advantages and disadvantages of various locations for holsters, and results of tests of several types of police weapons.
Abstract
The characteristics of the Browning Double Action .45 weapon and its use by most of the officers of one police department are described. Accessories which improve the handling, performance, and appearance of the Ruger Mini-14 semiautomatic rifle are examined. These include the folding stock and the flash hider. The 9 mm ASP's advantages as a concealable, reliable weapon for off-duty and plainclothes use are explained. Problems involved in locating holsters on the officer's right hip are described, including the ease with which others can remove the handgun and the accumulation of dirt and moisture. Three other positions for a handgun are recommended: in a shoulder holster, in the jacket or coat pocket, and inside the waistband. Reasons why all these positions improve the officer's safety and reduce fear in the ordinary citizens encountered by the officer are listed. The Austrian Jetloader, a one-stroke, self-releasing unit for loading six rounds of ammunition quickly, is described. Several new handguns and ammunition offerings from Smith and Wesson are described and evaluated. Results of tests comparing four weapon types (handguns, shotguns, carbine/assault rifles, and submachine guns) are reported. The tests of two types of situations revealed that the shotgun had advantages in many situations and that any of the shoulder weapons were better than a handgun for average shots. In situations requiring a short weapon, an officer should use a short-barreled weapon with a stock, which can leave one arm free for climbing, crawling, or opening doors. Photographs are included.