NCJ Number
138915
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 40 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1992) Pages: 47-50
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the factors that must be considered in preparing police officers to use the new handguns once the decision has been made to switch from revolvers to autoloaders.
Abstract
One set of factors that must be considered in an officer's effective use of an autoloader is the match of an individual officer's hand and finger characteristics to the physical characteristics of the gun. Some high-capacity autoloaders cannot be properly aimed and fired by officers with small or even average hands. This is especially true if the weapon is fired double-action. Issues that must be addressed in the handgun changeover are whether proper trigger finger placement can be attained without undermining accurate aim, whether the magazine release can be reached with the strong-hand thumb without destroying the firing grip, whether both right-handed and left-handed shooters can handle the gun, whether the shooter has sufficient strength for proper trigger manipulation, whether the magazines can be manipulated effectively during the tactical reloading process, whether shooters can perform malfunction drills, and whether officers can sufficiently control weapon recoil. Training after the changeover should encompass weapon function and nomenclature, weapon maintenance, tactical reloading, malfunction causes and drills, marksmanship, tactical decisionmaking and planning, cover use and shooting positions, reduce light shooting and handling, and on-duty and off-duty carrying and use.