Search Result: Duty Pistols

Today's police handgun market abounds with full-sized, medium-sized, and compact .45 ACP pistols. But until recently the designers of these weapons all labored under a seemingly insurmountable constraint: size.

So because every cop can't get a sneak peek at the latest police firearms on the floor of a major trade show, POLICE offers you this roundup of some of the latest in law enforcement tools.

My grasp of the obvious is on display for all to see with the following statement. Good marksmanship is a characteristic that is very desirable for a law enforcement officer. There, I said it. And someone should write it down. Oops, never mind, I just did.

“Shoot fast, don’t miss.” That’s the simple strategy for success that was voiced by one of the finalists in the 5.11 Challenge law enforcement shooting competition. But it’s easier said than done, especially when the officer aiming the gun is carrying the added pressure of performing in front of TV cameras, family, friends, and other onlookers.

Slim and trim, this new model rewrites the book on Ruger auto pistols.

The big secret is to listen to these veteran cops, believe most of it, and put it into action in your own life. What I learned from older cops saved my life on several occasions.

Developed primarily as military ammunition in the last days of the Cold War, FN Herstal's SS190 5.7x28mm armor-piercing round was designed to defeat Soviet-made body armor in combat.

Anyone who has seen the 24/7 can tell you, this gun really takes the requirements of law enforcement to heart.

It's not hard to make a strong case for backup guns. The basic contention of backup gun proponents is that old saw that goes: If you absolutely have to have one of something to ensure your survival, then you better have two.

Beginning in the mid-1980s, American police agencies switched en masse from the revolver to the semi-automatic pistol. Rationalizations for this change in weaponry were many and are still hotly debated.

Today's Taurus is ISO9000 rated for quality-control excellence and has become world renowned for making fine firearms.

The rude awakening thrust into my face during that time (the late '90s) was the fact that the majority (and I mean virtually all) of the new recruits had never shot a revolver, much less seen one in anything other than a movie.

We all know that most police-involved shootings develop at a range of just a few feet. But there are exceptions. It’s not easy to hit a target in combat at long range with a pistol. But it can be done.

Since the majority of OISs are up close and personal, with no cover available, movement becomes an essential element in any gunfight.

The company's pistols are so well designed that its classic CZ 52 was a mainstay of the Czech military for 23 years.

If you like the elegant curves and "just-right" feel of that definitive fighting pistol, the Browning Hi-Power, you may be a little surprised by the look and feel of FN Herstal's new FNP9 duty pistol.

Since the turn of the 20th century when criminals first became mechanized, officers have recognized a need for gun and ammunition combinations capable of penetrating the light sheet metal of vehicles.

Each trigger mechanism has a loyal group of supporters. Each claims that its favored type of trigger is the "most practical" or "safest" for law enforcement.

Large trade shows can be overwhelming for everyone involved. They are a blur of seminars, awards banquets, industry schmooze sessions, and aisle after aisle of exhibits and demonstrations.