American Handgunner July/August 1977

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GLASER SAFETY SLUG POLICE-ONLY MANSTOPPERBy COL. REX APPELGATEuntil last year, few police, firearms andballistic experts had any knowledgeof the existence of The Glaser Safety Slug.Its a different situation now, and althoughthis is currently a limited production, littleadvertised, police handgun round, its popularityin law enforcement circles is rapidlyescalating. A recent U.S. governmentevaluation, comparative demonstrationsagainst conventional police rounds, andword of mouth reports amongst policeagencies is "spreading the word" throughoutthe entire law enforcement community.The only existent piece of Glaser literatureaccurately describes the situation,Cutawa rendering of the GlaserSafety Slug shows features contributingto its high Rll rating: A.20% glass-Teflon nose. 6. Thin.copper jacket. C. Number 12 .chilled shot suspended in D. aliquid Teflon solution. Its light(96 grain) weight allow very highvelocities.mAberdeen, all existent written material onhandgun, ammunition ballistics and effectivenesson the human animal was compiledand studied. US. military, civil andpolice handgun wound data was studied,and noted handgun and ballistic expertswere invited to add to the pre-testing input.During the test program, 20% gelatinblocks were used as human tissue simulants,flash X-ray and high speed 16 mmcameras capable of filming 20,000 framesa second, and velocity chronographs wereall employed. In an entirely new approachto ammunition evaluation, a three dimensionalcomputer man was utilized. Thecomputer man consisted of a humancadaver divided into 150,000 parallelopipeds,called computer cells. These cellswere distinguished by their location andtype of tissue etc. A team of medical doctorsrated each cell with relation to the incapacitationwhen hit by a projectile.Allowances were made in the computerfor hit distribution, velocity, weight, depthof penetration and temporary wound cavitvdeformation. The combination of allthese factors enabled, for the first time, areliable measure of the amount of damagequote: "The Glaser Safety Slug gives the a given bullet type, traveling at a certainofficer the edge." In this case and as the velocity, would cause in different areas ofliterature implies, the main emphasis is the human body. During the test programplaced on the public safety-anti ricochet 142 different rounds of commerciallyfactor. However, equally and perhaps available police ammunition, of the varimoreimportant to the individual officer is ous brands, bullet types and calibers werethe fact that it makes him "safer" in an ac- fired from two and four inch police handtualfirefight with armed criminals. The guns. The summarized result of this procapabilityto deliver instant and in- gram was distributed to law enforcementcapacitating shock from his service hand- agencies in 1975.gun, or backup, with a single head or body The most important factor thathit is always present.emerged at the end of the testing was, thatThis round first came to national law bullet incapacitation (stopping power)enforcement attention through the aus- was definitely related to the diameter andpices of the US. Department of Justice. In shape of the temporary wound cavity at1972 this department sponsored a survey the time of impact, in relation to depth ofcovering the effectiveness of police hard- penetration. It was only possible to makeware, including lethal weapons. Based on this determination by the combined use ofa computerized representation of 13,000 high speed photography, and X-ray photopolice agencies, large and small, the sur- techniques in ordnance gelatin blocks,vey revealed that: 99% of all police duty followed by a computer analysis. Each ofhandguns were revolvers, 66% of the the 142 test bullets was judged and asstatepolice officers favored the .357 mag- signed a relative stopping power rating.num, 94% of all other departments had The various commercial rounds wereofficers armed with the .38 Special re- rated by brand name and caliber on a devolver,and that complaints relative to am- creasing scale. The highest rating of 54.9munition had mainly to do with the inef- was assigned to a Speer, .44 magnum 200fectiveness, lack of penetration and stop- gr. bullet travelling at a measured velocityping power of the 158 gr. lead round nose of 1277 fps. The lowest round on the in-.38 Special cartridge. The survey data, capacitation table was the MBA .38 Spepluspublic and departmental controversy cial Shortsop, 64 gr. bean bag type roundover the effectiveness and types of ammu- with a velocity of 671 fps and a rating ofnition that should be issued, resulted in a 0.4. "Off beat" rounds such as the MBA,government financed and sponsored test- the KTW, and the Glaser were included ining program to determine the true facts the program because they were being soldand provide a data base for police selec- and used in limited quantities to law entionof service ammunition.forcement and their capabilities were un-The National Bureau of Standards was known to police agencies, in general. Therequested to prepare and supervise a test- top rated .44 magnum round was recogingprogram thatwas conducted by the US nized as one infrequently used by policeArmv Ballistic Research Laboratory at but was included in the program to enable~berdeen Proving Grounds, ~aryland. better comparative values to be placed. ItPrior to the beginning of the program at (Continued on page 16)AMERICAN HANDGUNNER JULY/AUGUST <strong>1977</strong>
The best personalprotectiona youcan buy, nowwith afour-inch barrel.If you ever have to use your-personal handgun, you can't affordto miss. That's why you need all thebuilt-in accuracy you can get in alightweight .38. That is exactlywhat the new Colt Police Positivedelivers. On or off duty.Now aColt is evensafer. Foryears, thesafety leverin Coltrevolvers hasserved toassure thatthe firingpin cannotaccidentallystrike theNew Colt safety lever (right)assures greater margin of safety.primer.Now, an irnprovea, noicnea leverin the new Police Positive providesmore contact area to perform thissafety function even more effectively.But to fully understand what setsthe Diamondback apart, you have toshoot it. You have to feel its almostliquid smoothness - completelyforeign to any other gun of its caliber.Yet, like the new four-inchPolice Positive, the DiamondbackColt Diamondback .38 Special. 4"(shy1) or 2%"barrel. Target grips target hammer adjustable rearsight, velvet yxmothaction. Optionh nickel finish.Also available m .22 L.R. with4"bmel.Â¥Col Police Positive .38 Specialh 4e?*rnTz.A more accurate .38.The Police Positive has a four-inchbarrel. Those extra two inches meanmore weight up front, less muzzlejump, better overall balance andgreater confidence. The PolicePositive also'has a new gripdesigned to fit more comfortably inany size hand. Its "teardrop" shapebetter accommodates a smallerman's or a woman's hand, while anincrease in the gri s length createsa more certain fee f in even thelargest hand.Compare Colt quality. Manycompetitive .38's are made withaluminum alloy. The Colt PolicePositive is all steel. Some otherrevolvers have only a five-roundcylinder. A Colt cylinder always hassix chambers. The ejector rod onmany guns is exposed and can getsnagged on your holster or clothing.The shrouded Colt ejector rod completelyeliminates that problem.Naturally, anything less thanperfect alignment between barreland cylinder can impair a gun'saccuracy. That's why the advancinghand on the Colt Police Positiveholds the cylinder rigidly in linewith the barrel. There is absolutelyno play in the cylinder at the criticalmoment of fire. On most corn titiverevolvers, however, you will 7 eel acertain amount of cylinder slack.-Only Colt hat -of the tireless engineeringthat makes Colt the revolverother gun makers try tolive up to.Another safety design exclusiveto Colt: the loaded cylindercannot be closed with the hammercocked. This is a s*ple feature,to be sure. Which iftight lead you towonder why so many other gunmakers don't off r it.For additio 1 a1 facts onthe safety and use of handguns,send for Colt's freebooklet, "Handlin theHandgun." write &ItFirearms, Department 7 J ,Hartford, CT. 06102.Naturally, there is noobligation.The best .38 &all. Atfirst glance, the ColtEvery ~olt revolver mustpass several rigidDiamondback (inset photoabove) may seem like other"target-style" -38's. True, it hasthe wide target hammer,ramp front sight andadjustable rear sight,all of which unquestionablenhance comfortan J accuracy.inspections, All are doneby expens, by hand.offers the compact portabilityof a handgun weighing lessthan two pounds. As well asthe confidence that comeswith owning the finest .38money can buy.<strong>American</strong>heritage
Page 2 and 3: a great designUnique, exclusive QUI
Page 4 and 5: THE AMERICAN% ..George E. von Rosen
Page 6 and 7: comply with the PPC shooters' deman
Page 8 and 9: QUESTION people as to the effective
Page 10 and 11: .- . . , .. , - ..DESIGNsERRORSome
Page 12 and 13: number of emergency situations. Thi
Page 16 and 17: was not unexpected the powerful .44
Page 18 and 19: The National Shooters League's Seco
Page 20 and 21: 3&
Page 22 and 23: Vince there's no time to change you
Page 24 and 25: -NOW HANDGUNNERS WHO HANDLOAD CAN P
Page 26 and 27: LOAD DATA FOR THE .22 FLEALeft: An
Page 28 and 29: By IRA A. GREENBERGPhotos by Mil Bl
Page 30 and 31: game and the field conditions. He s
Page 32 and 33: By WALTER L. RICKELLHE PPC (Practic
Page 34 and 35: usingthe Second Six loader, and ins
Page 36 and 37: Handgun Profile:AMODEL 19COMBAT MAG
Page 38 and 39: wslon, the Model 66 stainless. Phot
Page 40 and 41: K-22-thus all three calibers would
Page 42 and 43: S B W MODEL 19"The Peace Officer's
Page 44 and 45: wadcutters, with heavy load firing
Page 46 and 47: USE THE-- -out the left side of the
Page 48 and 49: Ibe great for anything else. Of cou
Page 50 and 51: mat's New. 7 Due CHANGE to the incr
Page 52 and 53: Where our readers and writers tell
Page 54 and 55: PERFORMANCE TIPS FORTHE MID-SIZE MA
Page 56 and 57: duce accuracy.The use of .38 Specia
Page 58 and 59: 'RELOADING THE .357 MAGNUMalways se
Page 60 and 61: CHAPMAN ON PRACTICAL PISTOLCRAFTsho
Page 62 and 63: as 'well as the position you will a
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PRECISIONEUROPEANPELLET AIRRIFLESPI
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DIXIEItemsforWORLD'S LARGESTNUZZLEL
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Books of Interest to HandgunnersHAN
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American Handgunner July/August 1977

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