NCJ Number
127948
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1991) Pages: 24-26,51
Date Published
1991
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the benefits of the 9mm semi-automatic pistol as standard issue for law enforcement.
Abstract
The 6-shot revolver has long been standard issue for police officers, but the sophisticated firearms now being used by offenders makes it likely that a police officer in a gun battle will expend more than six shots. Today's semi-automatic pistols are just as accurate as a revolver. It makes a .35 caliber hole upon entry, but will generally expand to approximately double its size, causing massive internal damage. Shots should be randomly placed in the adversary's chest to increase the chance a bullet will hit a vital spot or cause massive bleeding. The intention is to prevent the adversary from returning fire as quickly as possible. The hollow point will also reduce the energy of ricochet from missed shots, thus reducing the risk of injury to bystanders. Almost all of the energy of hollow-point bullets is expended upon striking an object, whether it be the adversary, a vehicle, or a wall. On October 17, 1990, the author of this article and a firearms training officer conducted tests on a number of 9mm rounds. Of the bullets tested, the two standouts in terms of penetration were the Federal 124 grain JHP, which penetrated 13.5 inches into clay; and the 147 grain subsonic HP which penetrated to just over 14 inches. A chart shows the issue weapons of 15 major police agencies.