As a police officer and a first responder, you already know that you'll be
required to possess and use a multitude of skills and knowledge associated
with other professions. The one thing those other professional
practitioners do not include in their tools of the trade is a handgun.
Aside from the deterrent effect a police officer's handgun may or may not
project, the only purpose for the handgun is the application of deadly force.
You don't have to be a gun lover to appreciate the fact that the handgun
is an indispensable tool for a police officer whether or not that police
officer ever has the occasion to apply deadly force in the line of duty.
If you're lucky, you'll never have to apply deadly force, but you must
remain proficient with your handgun from the beginning to the end of
your career. Even in police departments consumed with the "thinking out
of box" mania, they don't monkey around with their firearms training.
You'll find firearms training to be the most structured and no nonsense
training you receive.
Prior to 1990 the vast majority of police departments issued revolvers as
the primary service weapon. Colt and Smith & Wesson had the lion's
share of the police market. These weapons were excellent in their
operation and dependability. Over the years, improvements in
ammunition; speed loading devices, and safety holster technology only
enhanced their suitability for police work. The most ideal feature to the
revolver was its double action. All you had to do was pull the trigger. The
cylinder would rotate a live round in front of the hammer as the hammer
retracted before falling forward causing the firing pin to strike the round.
The double action weight of the trigger pull prevented you from
accidentally discharging the weapon.
The semi-automatic pistol has been around for a long time, but during the
heyday of the revolver, few police departments issued semi-automatic
handguns. The ammunition capacity of the semi-autos were not more, or
that much more, than the six shot revolver. The semi-autos either had to
be cocked before firing or a safety device would have to be released before
firing. Additionally, the trigger pull was usually much lighter than the
double action revolver increasing the possibility for an accidental
discharge. Further, semi-autos were prone to jamming if a shell casing
was not fully ejected.
Things do change, and technology marches on. My Smith & Wesson
revolver served me well for twenty years, before the department changed
over to the Glock 17 - 9mm semi-automatic pistol. The first time I fired
the Glock, I fell in love with it. I found the weapon to be easier to keep on
target after recoil, and the simplicity and speed of reloading a semi-auto
far surpassed that of a revolver. The department would eventually move
on to the Glock 40mm, and the love affair continued. Like the revolver,
you can simply draw the Glock and pull the trigger. The double action
mechanism is contained within the weapon. A qualified armorer can
adjust the weight of the trigger pull if the department chooses a further
safeguard to prevent accidental discharge.
I describe the Glock, because my expertise is confined to the Glock. Police
departments choose various makes and models of semi-auto pistols. The
quality and dependability of modern semi-auto pistols has made any
drawbacks of the past a thing of the past.
Today, the semi-auto pistol is the preferred handgun of most police
departments. The majority of police departments would probably still be
using revolvers were it not for the vast improvements in semi-automatics.
The single most desired feature of the semi-auto is its ammunition
capacity. It's just simple math...15 to 17 bullets that can be reloaded in
just a few seconds, versus 6 bullets that take considerably longer
depending upon the method used, is more desirable...particularly under
stressful situations. It goes beyond preferred choice since criminals have
acquired high capacity semi-automatic pistols. The change over was
necessary to prevent police officers from being out gunned.
Before I joined the police department, I had no real experience in firing a
handgun. I simply listened to the instruction, and I had no problems
whatsoever. But...you'll be amazed how many people will have problems.
Some police officers will struggle their entire careers to achieve passing
scores at their annual or biannual qualifications.
This really isn't a comforting thought for you, but if you ever have to use
your service pistol, it will probably be in a very up front and personal
confrontation. The good part of this is --if you're one of the poor
marksmen -- the normal skills required for qualification won't be that
critical.
You really have to make every effort to master your shooting skills.
You're going to hear these terms often:
Technology has also improved the quality of firearms training. Depending
on the police department and its level of commitment, you could find
yourself experiencing some interesting and realistic training. Shooting at
stationary targets is find for developing your basic shooting skills, but
training under controlled induced stress is becoming more popular and
doable.
Just remember...never fear your service pistol and always treat it with the
respect it deserves.
required to possess and use a multitude of skills and knowledge associated
with other professions. The one thing those other professional
practitioners do not include in their tools of the trade is a handgun.
Aside from the deterrent effect a police officer's handgun may or may not
project, the only purpose for the handgun is the application of deadly force.
You don't have to be a gun lover to appreciate the fact that the handgun
is an indispensable tool for a police officer whether or not that police
officer ever has the occasion to apply deadly force in the line of duty.
If you're lucky, you'll never have to apply deadly force, but you must
remain proficient with your handgun from the beginning to the end of
your career. Even in police departments consumed with the "thinking out
of box" mania, they don't monkey around with their firearms training.
You'll find firearms training to be the most structured and no nonsense
training you receive.
Prior to 1990 the vast majority of police departments issued revolvers as
the primary service weapon. Colt and Smith & Wesson had the lion's
share of the police market. These weapons were excellent in their
operation and dependability. Over the years, improvements in
ammunition; speed loading devices, and safety holster technology only
enhanced their suitability for police work. The most ideal feature to the
revolver was its double action. All you had to do was pull the trigger. The
cylinder would rotate a live round in front of the hammer as the hammer
retracted before falling forward causing the firing pin to strike the round.
The double action weight of the trigger pull prevented you from
accidentally discharging the weapon.
The semi-automatic pistol has been around for a long time, but during the
heyday of the revolver, few police departments issued semi-automatic
handguns. The ammunition capacity of the semi-autos were not more, or
that much more, than the six shot revolver. The semi-autos either had to
be cocked before firing or a safety device would have to be released before
firing. Additionally, the trigger pull was usually much lighter than the
double action revolver increasing the possibility for an accidental
discharge. Further, semi-autos were prone to jamming if a shell casing
was not fully ejected.
Things do change, and technology marches on. My Smith & Wesson
revolver served me well for twenty years, before the department changed
over to the Glock 17 - 9mm semi-automatic pistol. The first time I fired
the Glock, I fell in love with it. I found the weapon to be easier to keep on
target after recoil, and the simplicity and speed of reloading a semi-auto
far surpassed that of a revolver. The department would eventually move
on to the Glock 40mm, and the love affair continued. Like the revolver,
you can simply draw the Glock and pull the trigger. The double action
mechanism is contained within the weapon. A qualified armorer can
adjust the weight of the trigger pull if the department chooses a further
safeguard to prevent accidental discharge.
I describe the Glock, because my expertise is confined to the Glock. Police
departments choose various makes and models of semi-auto pistols. The
quality and dependability of modern semi-auto pistols has made any
drawbacks of the past a thing of the past.
Today, the semi-auto pistol is the preferred handgun of most police
departments. The majority of police departments would probably still be
using revolvers were it not for the vast improvements in semi-automatics.
The single most desired feature of the semi-auto is its ammunition
capacity. It's just simple math...15 to 17 bullets that can be reloaded in
just a few seconds, versus 6 bullets that take considerably longer
depending upon the method used, is more desirable...particularly under
stressful situations. It goes beyond preferred choice since criminals have
acquired high capacity semi-automatic pistols. The change over was
necessary to prevent police officers from being out gunned.
Before I joined the police department, I had no real experience in firing a
handgun. I simply listened to the instruction, and I had no problems
whatsoever. But...you'll be amazed how many people will have problems.
Some police officers will struggle their entire careers to achieve passing
scores at their annual or biannual qualifications.
This really isn't a comforting thought for you, but if you ever have to use
your service pistol, it will probably be in a very up front and personal
confrontation. The good part of this is --if you're one of the poor
marksmen -- the normal skills required for qualification won't be that
critical.
You really have to make every effort to master your shooting skills.
You're going to hear these terms often:
Technology has also improved the quality of firearms training. Depending
on the police department and its level of commitment, you could find
yourself experiencing some interesting and realistic training. Shooting at
stationary targets is find for developing your basic shooting skills, but
training under controlled induced stress is becoming more popular and
doable.
Just remember...never fear your service pistol and always treat it with the
respect it deserves.
Police
Service
Pistols
Service
Pistols
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| Copyright © 2006 - 2008 - Barry M. Baker - CareerPoliceOfficer.com |
| Disclaimer |
| CareerPoliceOfficer.com is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site, or any changes or updates to such sites. Links are provided only as a convenience, and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by this site. |
Police Author Sgt. Richard A. Nable is a
certified firearms instructor and general
weapons enthusiast and is SWAT certified. He
is an internationally certified driving instructor
and teaches basic defensive driving as well as
high speed and pursuit driving. Sgt. Nable is
considered an expert on a broad range of
topics related to law enforcement such as gun
control, profiling, immigration, use of force and
much more. He has appeared on Fox News
Channel several times and on WXIA TV in
Atlanta as well as radio media.
certified firearms instructor and general
weapons enthusiast and is SWAT certified. He
is an internationally certified driving instructor
and teaches basic defensive driving as well as
high speed and pursuit driving. Sgt. Nable is
considered an expert on a broad range of
topics related to law enforcement such as gun
control, profiling, immigration, use of force and
much more. He has appeared on Fox News
Channel several times and on WXIA TV in
Atlanta as well as radio media.
| Sight Alignment -- Trigger Control -- Breath Control |
| The Semi-Automatic Pistol |
| The Revolver |
| Online Video Learning Systems: Police Exam - U.S. Border Patrol Exam |