L.A. police to get slicker, lighter guns

Sacramento Bee ^ | August 27, 2003

[John Jorsett]

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Police here will soon be able to carry a lighter and slicker weapon -the Glock pistol. The Board of Police Commissioners on Tuesday approved the new weapons, which are already used in some specialized divisions.

"Quite frankly, it's just a much better weapon," than the standard-issue Beretta 9 mm, said Chief William Bratton during a hearing before the five-member civilian panel that oversees department policy.

[John Jorsett]

it's more difficult to trace the bullets fired from Glocks than other guns

I never heard this before. Anyone know anything about this?

[AnalogReigns]

"The guns can take 9 mm, .40 caliber and .45 caliber ammunition."

Dumb reporter alert!!! The guns COME in 9mm, 40cal S&W and 45 cal. configurations. Neither Glock nor anyone else makes one gun that takes all 3 sizes.

I love my Glock 23 (40 cal S&W...)....

[dead]

L.A. police to get slicker, lighter guns

This will make Rodney King happy. Those old heavy guns really hurt.

[PatrioticAmerican]

I guess for the little girls with small hands and small brains, the Beretta was too complicated and big. /sarcasm

[AngryJawa]

Wow! 9mm, .40, and .45 all out of the same barrel? What a wonderfully well-informed piece of journalism.

[Shooter 2.5]

The $500 Glock has less recoil than guns currently used by officers.

Less recoil and they're lighter? Wow! I can't wait to buy one of these miracle machines.

[ctlpdad]

FYI ping - they are throwing your name around

[heckler]

Don't know for a fact, but I would guess that it has to do with the polygonal(sp) rifling in the barrels. It leaves a smooth concave indentation in the bullet. With modern manufacturing techniques I would bet that if you took five guns of consequtive manufacture, it would be tough to match the bullets to the individual guns. If some enterprising defense attorney where to do this and use it in a high profile court case he could turn ballistics testing evidence on its ear.

[heckler]

My Glock 17 is so light that it takes a 2 handed choke grip to get an accurate quick follow up shot. It's not a problem for me but for someone with small hands it might be.

[rellimpank]

--hadn't heard of this either. I suspect this may be attributable to "journalistic license"--

[Tallguy]

Yeah, that recoil claim kinda violates a few physical laws ...

I just love journalists when it comes to guns, the military and scientific stories -- they can't get even the basic facts straight, but their "conclusions" carry the weight of a Holy Writ.

[ClearCase_guy]

Is it good to have a slick gun? Should I oil up my hands before target practice? Will I achieve the same effect?

[thackney]

Almost a journalist, Glock Ping

[Shooter 2.5]

It takes two hands to get any fast follow-up shot. I was just commenting on a poor article that claims a lighter gun would have less recoil.

Some guns do have a shorter bore to hand distance which lessens muzzle flip.

[MeanWestTexan]

The barrels of Glocks are very easily removed and replaced. (Actually, this is true of many/most automatics, but just especially the case with Glocks; and there happens to be a readily available/reasonably cheap market for the same because people like to modify up their Glocks.) Even more importantly, Glocks are VERY stringently manufactured, so the rifling of the barrel is extremely consistent from one to the other, making the characteristic markings somewhat less prominant.

The combination of the above factors combines in SOME difficulty.

Of course, if one wants a gun with NO rifling, you should use a cheap shotgun. That way, you don't have to throw it away after each crime. LOL. (Guess I watch too read too many mob books; they always used .22 if they were going to throw it away (cheap) or shotgun if they couldn't bear to part with their piece.)

[Frank_Discussion]

ROFLMAO!!

[toddst]

The $500 Glock has less recoil than guns currently used by officers. It also has a larger magazine capacity, a simpler construction and a more ergonomic design that allows officers with small hands to easily grip the gun, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Where to begin. First, the Glocks are likely being bought because they are cheaper (their greatest advantage for police departments.) Second, larger magazine capacity allows for more "spray and pray" by officers, reducing the need for "real" training LOL.Third, the wider double-stack magazines cause the grip to be larger in diameter, thereby negating the "easier for small hands to hold" arguement. Fourth, the trigger design will likely increase the incidences of officers experiencing "negligent discharges."

Sure sounds like a great move to me - not!

[FenianOfEire]

I'd never heard that before either... If true, I'm going to have to definitely look into getting a glock...

[Frank_Discussion]

Whew. Glad I'm not the only one to see that. I didn't want to speak up, since I haven't shot my own Browning Hi-Power for about five years. (Bad, BAD Frank, I know...)

When I swapped weapons with a buddy at the range, I found the Glock kicked like crazy, since it was so much lighter. It was still nice to shoot, though.