US Soldier takes 2 Prisoners with a Pistol

[Seaspriter]

Why one cop carries 145 rounds of ammo on the job

Certainly an interesting story. But this does not indict the .45, it just highlights an anomaly. Consider the following:

"The Firearms and Tactics Section of the NYPD Police Academy produces an
annual report on firearm discharges from the previous year. With a uniformed force
of approximately 37,000 officers, it is unlikely, statistically, that an officer will ever
discharge his or her weapon during his or her entire career on the police force. During
2006, 156 officers were involved in a firearm-discharge incident. Moreover, fewer than
half of these incidents involved an officer shooting at a human being. The majority
of discharges are accidental or involve officers shooting at dogs."

Even firing in real situations is filled with misses. That's one reason why the officer cited above carries 145 rounds of ammo. Consider:
"A 2003 study by the Police Policy Studies Council reports that shots fired by police officers that hit the intended perpetrator range from as low as 25 percent to approximately 50 percent. The article cites Baltimore County Police as being one of the "best trained police departments" with regards to firearm use. This study reports that this best trained Baltimore County Police Department's overall gunshots fired-to-hit ratio was 49 percent. In daylight conditions, the ratio was 64 percent and that dropped to 45 percent in low light conditions. Additionally, the study reports when more than one officer is involved, called bunch shootings, not only are more police gunshots fired, but the gunshot-to-hit ratio is even lower. The number of shots fired increases at a range of 45 percent to 118 percent. The range of gunshots fired-to-hits ratio when one officer was involved was 51 percent, when two officers involved the hit ratio dropped to 23 percent and more than two officers were involved the hit ratio dropped to 9 percent. "

Under stress, accuracy is vital. Ammo that misses it's target means the bad guys have a greater chance of winning. A .22 in the eye is more powerful than a .44 magnum that misses.

[Bill Hollinger]

... and (so I´ve been told) a spent .22 round is impossible to forensically attribute to the weapon it was fired from. Thus, a .22LR firearm must be an ideal murder weapon.

Not exactly correct. They are, however, a favorite for assassinations and "hits".

[vintage hunter]

And what's the trend to 10mm all about?

Power. When loaded to full potential it's at the top of the most powerful auto pistol cartridge list. Unfortunately many ammo makers are now loading it to ''10mm Lite'' levels because of limp wristed pansies not being able to manage the recoil.

[Eaglelord17]

Certainly an interesting story. But this does not indict the .45, it just highlights an anomaly. Consider the following:

"The Firearms and Tactics Section of the NYPD Police Academy produces an
annual report on firearm discharges from the previous year. With a uniformed force
of approximately 37,000 officers, it is unlikely, statistically, that an officer will ever
discharge his or her weapon during his or her entire career on the police force. During
2006, 156 officers were involved in a firearm-discharge incident. Moreover, fewer than
half of these incidents involved an officer shooting at a human being. The majority
of discharges are accidental or involve officers shooting at dogs."

Even firing in real situations is filled with misses. That's one reason why the officer cited above carries 145 rounds of ammo. Consider:
"A 2003 study by the Police Policy Studies Council reports that shots fired by police officers that hit the intended perpetrator range from as low as 25 percent to approximately 50 percent. The article cites Baltimore County Police as being one of the "best trained police departments" with regards to firearm use. This study reports that this best trained Baltimore County Police Department's overall gunshots fired-to-hit ratio was 49 percent. In daylight conditions, the ratio was 64 percent and that dropped to 45 percent in low light conditions. Additionally, the study reports when more than one officer is involved, called bunch shootings, not only are more police gunshots fired, but the gunshot-to-hit ratio is even lower. The number of shots fired increases at a range of 45 percent to 118 percent. The range of gunshots fired-to-hits ratio when one officer was involved was 51 percent, when two officers involved the hit ratio dropped to 23 percent and more than two officers were involved the hit ratio dropped to 9 percent. "

Under stress, accuracy is vital. Ammo that misses it's target means the bad guys have a greater chance of winning. A .22 in the eye is more powerful than a .44 magnum that misses.

I know accuracy is everything. They found in shootouts with cops vs the bad guys, the guys who survive aren't usually the ones who shoot best rather the ones who make best use of cover. The area people also tend to get shot the most is the hands simply because that is what is holding the gun, and you naturally tend to focus on that area.

I personally don't want to get shot with anything, be it a .22 or a .45. All sorts of calibers have been used effectively in combat and as carry firearms (for a while the .25 and .32 were the carry firearms of choice, and the .380 is still very popular). If I had to go with a stopping power firearm I knew would work every time it would definitely be a nice Webley in .455.

[browningautorifle]

10mm

As for power, a friend of mine heard a noise on his back porch and when he looked out found a full grown black bear. Since that was the kitchen door and he didn't want it inside, he grabbed his Glock 20 in 10mm and shot it twice in the bow tie. It fell and didn't move again. It was close mind, about 6 ft away...