Shotgun

Posted by: Blue

I completed the Shotgun Operators' Course Friday, despite high winds, rain and bottomed-out mercury at the outdoor range. I had been trying to get onto the course since spring, but manpower on our shift wouldn't permit it until now.

For the new qualification of SGO, you must successfully utilize tactical "00" buckshot out to 25 yards and rifled slugs out to 50 yards with 100% accuracy.  You must also demonstrate an ability to transition to pistol upon failure of the shotgun, speed-load from behind cover, use the weapon-mounted light while shooting, and properly deploy from the cruiser car.

The slugs are accurate beyond 100 yards, but the iron sights diminish in accuracy at that distance. A scope would be necessary at that range, and a rifled barrel with sabots would increase accuracy as well. The guns are currently zeroed at 50 yards.

The old Remington 870s have been retro-fitted with new furniture:

• Magpul bantam stocks
• Magpul QD slings
• Magpul forends
• Streamlight TLR-1 weapon lights
• Mesa Tactical 6 round shell carriers
• Trijicon Ghost ring and front post sights

Duty ammunition currently consists of:

• Federal Premium Law Enforcement Tactical 2 3/4" 00 buckshot, low recoil, flight control wad, 9 pellet
• Federal Premium Law Enforcement Tactical 2 3/4" 1oz. rifled slug, low recoil, tru-ball

Squeeze Up

Posted by: Blue

Per Officer Safety Unit, Tac has advised them to start teaching the squeeze-up.

While using lethal force cover on a suspect, you tighten up your stance, getting closer to the other officer and use your off-hand to squeeze their leg when you approach them at their blind spot.  This is also useful in the case of tunnel-vision. One of you is then able to switch to a less lethal option such as a Taser while the other provides lethal cover for both officers.

Squeezing below the waist means that any sympathetic reaction should occur below their waist as well, thus lessening the chance of a sympathetic reaction above the waist like an accidental trigger pull.

This technique differs from what used to be taught, which is standing approximately 10 feet from your partner during lethal force coercion. Studies showed that if the suspect rushed one officer with a knife while the officer transitioned from a firearm to a Taser, by the time the officer with firearm coverage began shooting, he would be approximately three feet behind the suspect, until eventually over-correcting, leading ahead of the charging subject and firing bullets into his partner by mistake.

During tests by our OSU, the officer who was charged was shot 100% of the time with blue on blue friendly fire. The suspect was only hit approximately 20% of the time, and always after the officer went down.

Qualifying

Posted by: Blue

Today was firearms qualifications.

I shot 100% in back to back qualifiers.  I believe the Hogue moulded grip that I put on the Glock has made a major difference.  The gun feels much better and my grip has improved.

Per the Firearms Unit, the top 4 contributors to a good shot, starting with the most important are as follows:

1. Trigger control
2. Grip
3. Sight picture
4. Follow through

Bonus: we were able to shoot our two year old duty ammo and have been re-issued new bullets.