Law Enforcement Technology

NOV 2014

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FIREARMS TACTICS www.officer.com November 2014 Law Enforcement Technology 31 used to view the sights from the side of the firearm. Unfortunately, they are awkward and don't allow for anything besides static shooting. The advantage of using a laser is both the shooter and the coach can see what is going on by viewing the target. One of the highest levels of laser use for training is a firearms simulator like LaserShot's PSATS-LE (Portable Small Arms Training Simulator). This rein- forces basic skills like marksmanship, but also does higher-level branching for force decision-making. Branching is the ability of a training system to modify, or branch, the scenario, based on what the officer does. Training simulators give an agency discoverable evidence of force decision training. Although the customizable virtual indoor shooting range usually isn't very portable and often expensive, the PSATS-LE can be moved from classroom to classroom, with a little training on the part of the operator. The critical operating and tar- geting equipment is self-contained in a 33-pound package. Even the less portable products that simulate the recoil of a firearm, like the Meggitt Training Systems FATS L7 with tethered simulated weapons, are never a substitute for live fire. However, if any agency wants to augment their realism on the range, this is the way to go. Dry firing One of my favorite tools to have at the range is a LaserLyte Trainer 22 Caliber - LT-LR . This product is very simple. It's laser is installed in the bore of a .22 caliber gun by simply pushing it into the barrel. Only about an inch of the product sticks out of the gun. It uses a sound activated switch that momentarily fires a laser when the gun is dry fired, indicating the impact of the bullet. The company released this about the same time we were experiencing serious .22 caliber ammo shortages. It is a viable method to get good training in a safe area. W hy is .22 caliber train- ing being discussed in a law enforce- ment magazine? Think about it: .22 caliber is about 5.6 mm. Is there a handgun currently being employed by law enforcement agencies nationwide that is approximately that caliber? Yes, the FN 5.7. Dozens of agencies have been using the 5.7. The LT-TTC Trigger Tyme Compact was designed to do exactly as the name implies. The purpose is to give the shooter trigger time when range time is impractical. Trigger Tyme Compact guns are detailed and weighted to resemble the real thing in two models: one similar to the Glock 17/22, the other resembles the S&W; Shield. Besides plinking away on Laser Plinking Cans TLB-BWC, one of the best uses for the Trigger Tyme Compact system is to drive home a training concept or task. I would definitely incorporate this product in briefing training. Laser Ammo is a company owned and operated by former Israeli and US military combat veterans. Not only do they offer simple training devices, they also have complicated products like high end simulators. Their Sure Strike Laser Training System takes dry fire training to a dif- ferent level. It uses the Sure Strike laser cartridge, a device that actually is placed in the chamber of the fire- arm. The switch on this product is actuated by the firing pin of the gun. I combined my experimentation of this system with their T0380A Glock Reset Trigger Kit. Compatible with This is Laser Ammo's Sure Strike Laser Cartridge. It fits inside the Glock barrel. A tube screws into the cartridge and a chamber flag screws into the end. The Glock functions, but one cannot chamber or fire a cartridge. It is remarkably simple and inherently safe. There have been some pretty innovative devices designed for instructors to be able to see what the shooter is seeing. For example, there are some two-way mirror devices used to view the sights from the side of the frearm. Unfortunately, they are awkward and don't allow for anything besides static shooting.

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