NCJ Number
54286
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 26 Issue: 9 Dated: (SEPTEMBER 1978) Pages: 46-55
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE ITHACA MAG-10 ROADBLOCKER POLICE SHOTGUN IS DESCRIBED IN TERMS OF ITS ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS AND IS RECOMMENDED AS AN ENTRY WEAPON FOR FELONY ARRESTS CONSIDERED DANGEROUS.
Abstract
THE MAG-10 ROADBLOCKER SHOTGUN IS APPROXIMATELY 33 INCHES IN LENGTH AND WEIGHS OVER 10 POUNDS, COMPARED WITH THE 6 TO 7 POUNDS OF A 12-GAUGE RIOT GUN. IT CONTAINS TWO SHELLS IN ITS TUBULAR MAGAZINE AND A THIRD IN THE FIRING CHAMBER. IT IS A GAS-OPERATED SEMIAUTOMATIC, WITH THE SAFETY CONSISTING OF A CROSSBOLT LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE TRIGGER GUARD. A RECOIL PAD IS STANDARD. ONE ADVANTAGE IS ITS MASSIVE SHOCK POWER, WITH FIRE POWER BEING GREATEST IN SHORT-DURATION, SINGLE OPPONENT GUNFIGHTS. EACH SHOT FIRED REPRESENTS THE EQUIVALENT OF TWO 12-GAUGE SHELLS LOADED WITH THE SAME TYPE OF BUCKSHOT, WITH ONLY A RELATIVELY SMALL INCREASE IN RECOIL AND MUZZLE JUMP. THE MAG-10 HAS 162 PELLETS AVAILABLE IN 3 SHOTS, WHILE THE STANDARD 12-GUAGE POLICE SHOTGUN HAS ONLY 135 HITS POSSIBLE WITH 5 PULLS OF THE TRIGGER. TESTS ARE REPORTED TO SHOW THE GUN TO BE EXTREMELY RELIABLE. SHORTCOMINGS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE ITS HEAVINESS AND BULKINESS, TOGETHER WITH ITS SUBSTANTIAL RECOIL. IT IS SLOW TO RELOAD, AND IT LACKS VERSATILITY. STILL, WITHIN ITS LIMITATIONS, THE GUN IS RECOMMENDED AS A SPECIAL PURPOSE POLICE WEAPON. ITS MAIN APPLICATION IS IN AN ENTRY SITUATION WHICH CONSISTS OF A CLOSE-QUARTERS RAID IN WHICH THE OFFICER MAY EXPECT TO ENCOUNTER AN ARMED SUSPECT WHO IS PREPARED TO SHOOT UPON AN OFFICER'S ENTRY. (RCB)