NCJ Number
49397
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE COMPARATIVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF THE REVOLVER AND THE AUTOMATIC IN POLICE WORK ARE EXAMINED. THE REVOLVER IS FOUND PREFERABLE.
Abstract
JUST OVER 100 YEARS AGO, THERE WERE ONLY REVOLVING WEAPONS. IN 1877 COLT PRODUCED THE FIRST DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVER, AND IN 1889 DOUBLE-ACTION REVOLVERS WITH SIDE SWING-OUT CYLINDERS WERE DEVELOPED. BY THE 1890'S SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOLS WERE PRODUCED AND WERE SOON FOLLOWED BY A VARIETY OF AUTOMATIC WEAPONS. WHILE THE MILITARY AND THE POLICE IN OTHER COUNTRIES WERE QUICK TO ADOPT THE NEW AUTOMATIC WEAPONS, THE REVOLVER HAS GENERALLY BEEN PREFERRED BY AMERICAN POLICE. THE OFFICIAL SIDEARM OF THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE IS A 38 SPECIAL REVOLVER. VERY FEW CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE PAST 25 YEARS AS FAR AS GUNS AND AMMUNITIONS ARE CONCERNED. NEW YORK CITY DID IMPLEMENT DOUBLE-ACTION COMBAT SHOOTING TRAINING FOR ITS POLICE OFFICERS. ADDITIONAL MINOR CHANGES INCLUDED STANDARDIZATION OF ALL REVOLVERS AND AMMUNITIONS IN THE DEPARTMENT: ALL MEMBERS ON THE FORCE NOW CARRY A 38 SPECIAL ON AND OFF DUTY AND THE 158-GRAIN LEAD SEMIWADCUTTER SERVICE BULLET WAS ADOPTED FOR GREATER STOPPING POWER POTENTIAL. A TEST OF A VARIETY OF WEAPONS AND AMMUNITIONS SHOWED THAT THE GREATEST CONTROL AND SPEED OF FIRING WAS OBTAINED WITH 38 SPECIAL ROUND NOSE AMMUNITION. MOREOVER, WITH AVERAGE SHOOTERS, ANYTHING WITH GREATER POWER THAN THE 38 SPECIAL WOULD WORK AGAINST THE SHOOTER'S ABILITY. WHILE AN AUTOMATIC CAN BE RELOADED MUCH FASTER THAN A REVOLVER, A SURVEY OF THE NUMBER OF SHOTS FIRED PER INCIDENT IN POLICE ENCOUNTERS INDICATED THAT ONLY AN AVERAGE OF 2.3 SHOTS ARE FIRED PER INCIDENT. THUS, THE OFFICER RARELY HAS ANY NEED TO RELOAD DURING AN INCIDENT. MOREOVER, THE REVOLVER IS LESS LIKELY TO JAM, FUNCTIONS PERFECTLY REGARDLESS OF THE DESIGN OF THE BULLET BEING USED, DOES NOT HAVE FEEDING PROBLEMS, IS EASIER TO MAINTAIN, CAN EASILY BE CHECKED FOR PROPER OPERATION, AND CAN FIRE AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER A MISFIRE. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE REVOLVER HAS WITHSTOOD THE TESTS OF TIME. PHOTOGRAPHS OF A VARIETY OF FIREARMS AND AMMUNITIONS, AS WELL AS WEAPON INSPECTION PROCEDURES, ACCOMPANY THE TEXT. (JAP)