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ALBUQUERQUE - POLICE DEPARTMENT - HANDGUN AMMUNITION SUITABLE FOR POLICE USE

NCJ Number
25037
Author(s)
ANON
Date Published
Unknown
Length
8 pages
Annotation
ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST THE USE OF HOLLOW-NOSE BULLETS BY POLICE ARE LISTED, AND IT IS CONCLUDED THAT TRADITIONAL ROUND NOSE BULLETS DO NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE DEFENSE AND THAT HOLLOW NOSE BULLETS SHOULD BE ALLOWED.
Abstract
IT IS NOTED THAT POLICE OFFICERS HAVE OFTEN EXPRESSED A TOTAL LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE .38 SPECIAL CALIBER HANDGUN WHEN LOADED WITH TRADITIONAL ROUND NOSE BULLETS. SUCH ISSUES AS ADEQUATE POLICE SELF-DEFENSE CAPABILTIES, THE EXTENT OF DAMAGE INFLICTED BY HOLLOW-NOSE BULLETS, COMPARATIVE STOPPING POWER OF ROUND NOSE AND HOLLOW NOSE BULLETS, AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS INVOLVED IN THE USE OF HOLLOW NOSE BULLETS ARE DISCUSSED. CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATING THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE .38 SPECIAL CALIBER HANDGUN LOADED WITH ROUND NOSE BULLETS IN STOPPING OR DISABLING SUSPECTS ARE PROVIDED. THIS REPORT RECOMMENDS THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ADOPT THE USE OF THE 125 GRAIN JACKETED HOLLOW NOSE CARTRIDGE IN .38 SPECIAL CALIBER FOR STANDARD ISSUE TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS.