NCJ Number
164246
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 63 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1996) Pages: 36-41
Date Published
1996
Length
6 pages
Annotation
New police weapons are continuously being developed as older models are refined and improved; better holsters, new accessories, and superior ammunition are all the focus of manufacturers who keep an eye on the future.
Abstract
According to a police officer in Ogden, Utah, one way to get the accuracy needed for tactical shooting is to use a specialty weapon, a custom rifle that is capable of shooting one-half minute of angle or better at 100 yards. A problem, however, is that the rifle barrel vibrates like a tuning fork and this vibration affects the bullet's trajectory. For extreme accuracy, the rifle should have a bull barrel, one that is heavy and thick and that does not move when the weapon is fired. The Ogden Police Department has been testing a new product from Browning Firearms that addresses the disparity between accuracy and weight. Browning has created BOSS (Ballistic Optimizing Shooting System) that puts an adjustable muzzle break and a tuning mechanism on the end of the barrel so the shooter can tune the barrel to the bullet. Another weapon development that has drawn the attention of SWAT teams throughout the United States is the use of low lethality munitions. Nonlethal and less than lethal are terms generally used to describe weapons that cannot kill someone. The San Diego, California, Police Department (SDPD) has been evaluating low lethality munitions in response to several police officer-involved shootings. The SDPD uses rounds manufactured by MK Ballistic that are encased in clear shells so the shooter can clearly see the red round is a standard load and the green round is a close range load. Another interesting weapon development is the full-power subcompact autopistol. Glock's new Models 26 and 27 have a sawed-off grip to accommodate the double-stacked magazine and shorten the height. Testing has shown both pistols are easy to shoot, have similar recoil, and are easy to control in rapid firing. Other developments in weapon design and manufacture are examined, including the use of laser devices by the New York Transit Police and the Arapahoe County, Colorado, Sheriff's Office. 1 photograph