Issue link: https://let.epubxp.com/i/169452
FI RE ARMS TACTICS But I hadn't gone more than a mile in the country when a car pulled out from a side road in front of me. It looked like the suspect vehicle and matched the shooter's description. It didn't take long for me to confirm that I was following the suspect and I initiated a high-risk stop. The suspect didn't move, despite the flashing lights and announcements. There was, however, one sound that spurred the suspect into compliance. A sheriff's lieutenant showed up with his laser assisted slug gun. The "cha-chunk" of a shell entering the chamber of a shotgun is a universal language, and it worked here. The suspect was taken into custody. I had a shotgun, too. However, my standoff distance, plus the length of the rear of the vehicle, added up to about 25 yards. I was carrying buckshot. At that distance, the spread would have placed some pellets on target, but what about the other pellets? An officer has many firearms tools in the toolbox. Shotguns have enjoyed a long history in law enforcement as a In fact, almost all law enforcement slugs are designed for smoothbore short barrels. There are slugs for rifed barrels, but the propensity toward leading with some products suggest smoothbore slugs are a better application. means to bridge the gap between the range of a handgun and the range of a carbine. When loaded with buckshot, it is the equivalent to .24 to .38 caliber projectiles at respectable velocities. The most popular sized projectiles are in 00 ("double-ought"), the equivalent to .33 caliber, which can have muzzle velocities at 1,200 to 1,600 fps. Most 00 loads are 8 to 9 pellets, which is why they really work for duty. Basically, most 00 buck shells are the equivalent to firing eight .38 special shots simultaneously. Most of us will train shooters in using buckshot within 25 yards, where the nominal spread of shot will land most pellets within 18 to 22 inches, which is around the width of the human torso. Theoretically, a defensive shotgun user— striking center mass—will keep all of the pellets from going beyond the intended target. There are two problems with this. First, if the shooter does not have a completely concentric, centered mass shot, the likelihood of pellets going beyond Focus on your mission. Rely on our ammunition. Our products enable the highly effective combating of the most varied targets in all situations. Your ability and our ammunition make the difference! RUAG Ammotec AG sales.ammotec@ruag.com www.ruag.com Circle 72 on Reader Service Card www.officer.com September 2013 Law Enforcement Technology 33