was not unexpected the powerful .44 magnumwas at the top of the rating scale, butthe extremely high ratings of the Glaserrounds in conventional police calibers wasunforseen. Fired from a 4" barrel, theGlaser Safety Slug rounds rated in stoppingpower: second (9mm rating 54.5)fourth (-357 magnum rating 50.0) and fifteenth(.38 Special rating 41.8). The mostused 38 special, 158 &lead round nosebullet travelling at a measured velocity of600-800 fps averaged only 4.2. The poorperformance of this round was not unexpecteddue to police complaints and previousexperience. However, the 6.5 ratingof the .45 ACP, 230 gr. full metal jacketedround was very disturbing to its advocatesand those who have for years given italmost mythical status as a manstopper.The study concluded that the velociY.38special with 158 gr. lead round nose bulletwas inadequate. As of this date a largenumber of police agencies are revising,upward, their requirements for bullet performance.Many are changing to othercommercial rounds with different lighterbullets and higher velocities. Now, manyofficers who are able to make an individualchoice are carrying the Glaserround and their numbers are increasingby leaps and bounds.The vastly superior performance of theGlaser rounds is due to an entirely newbullet design combined with a lighter projectile(96 gr.) and use of higher velocitiesin the 1500-1900 fps range. This particularcombination does not produce severerecoil, pressure and accuracy problems.Good firearm control is possible under alltypes of combat shooting, including fastdouble action. The Glaser Slug is a prefragmantedprojectile, composed of cop-per jacket enclosing a metal fragment 1Ñfiller suspended in liquid teflon, andsealed with a 25% glass- teflon plug. Solong as the pressure remains constant onimpact the projectile will continue topenetrate. However, on the slightest varianceof impact pressure, the plug disintegratesand the jacket fragments, so thatthe metal fragment filler is dispersed in anever widening cone. The richochet problemthat is of so much concern to policeagencies operating in congested areas isevaluation program.Due to agency and other personal reasonsmost police officers have been reluctantto discuss their use of the GlaserSafety Slug against armed criminal targets.However, a number of informal reportshave been made. Three such incidentsare summarized:oracticallv non existent. The " governmentreport states, quote; "with the exceptionof the Glaser Safety Slug, all handgunbullets pose a serious hazard to bystanders".It is this writers opinion that there isan exaggerated concern about the ricochetpotential, but it exists and manytimes is the dominating factor in ammunitionselection. Certainly, more importanceshould be given to any projectile'scapability to develop irreversible shockand body relaxation accompanied by min- .- - -.imal penetration at the moment of impactin the head or torso area. The so called Maximum temporary wound cavity,"hydrostatic shock" effect and superiority (top to bottom): Glaser .38 Spl. @I858of the Glaser slug is graphically portrayed fps; 9mm 115 gr. JPH @1 160 fps; .38in the comparative gelatin block photos Spl. 158 gr. RN 0868 fps; .45 ACP 230taken at Aberdeen during the year long gr. MJ a750 fps. Measured velocities.A. An officer fired at the feet of an opponentarmed with a knife. The officerwas using a 38 special, the floor wasconcrete and the area a crowded busterminal. The offender fell to floorscreaming he had been killed. He hadonly superficial injuries from the fragmentsin his feet, and no one in the terminalwas injured.B. A criminal was running from anarmed robbery attempt about 0130hours. Several officers were firing athim with conventional ammo, and allmissed although they did get two automobiles,one plate glass window, and acoke machine with ricochets. An officerusing the Glaser ammo fired froma Python hit the gunman one inch infrom the edge of the body, one inchabove the belt at a 45 degree outwardangle. With any other ammo it wouldhave been just a grazing wound andonlv served to increase the offender'sspeed. The criminal was just turning acorner when he was hit. The officerssaid he went into the air when hit andlooked as though he was swimming,and rolled for 35 feet Incidentally, hewas hit at a range of 42 yards. Since itwas the first time they had used thisammo, they measured everything.When the officers reached him thev ~ - -thought he was dead, and he was sentto the hospital where he was found tobe in deep shock. The projectile hadpenetrated and disintegrated the rightkidney. The X-ray showed a spray patternof shot just under the surface onthe right side of the body. The outwardangle was all that saved this individual.As it was, he spent a couple of monthsin the hospital and was then returnedto the penitentiary from which he hadescaped.C. An armed criminal advancing on an .officer was shot center with 38 Special.He collapsed, didn't even kick, andwas DOA. The coroner first certifieddeath as caused by a .410 shotgun atpoint blank range but could not understandthe absence of powder burns.There was a neat entry hole and the X-rays showed a perfect internal shot pattern..-.--The effectiveness of this new ammunitionis largely unknown to the public, themany times hostile press, and those individualsand organizations that are antipoliceand dedicated to disarming themor requiring them to use 'harshmallow"bullets in encounters with armed criminals.It should be emphasized that the useof chilled shot can be considered legal andacceptable under the much quoted Genevaconvention. This prefragmented projectiledoes not yet come under prohibitionsagainst hollow point or so called"dum dum" bullets now in effect in manydepartments because of political or otherpressures. Furthermore it should be pointedout that if the department authorizesthe use of the riot shotgun with buckshot16 AMERI CAN HANDGUNNER JULY/AUGUST <strong>1977</strong>
lead the rationale already exists forauthorization of the Safety Slug.The Glaser Slug functions satisfactorilyin semi automatic ,handguns with minorstipulations from the manufacturer. Targetaccuracy is possible at normal policeranges. Chamber pressures are well withinthe safety limits used by the manufacturersof conventional police ammunition.The Glaser Slug currently being loadedweighs slightly less than 100 grains, andvelocities are in the 1500-1900 fprange.Recoil is similar to that of current ammunitionbeing used for duty purposes. Asof this writing, limited orders are beingshipped in -357, -38 special, 9mm, and-380 calibers. .44 Special, -44 magnum,A5 ACP and -30 carbine loads arescheduled for <strong>1977</strong>. At a later date riflerounds in conventional calibers will beoffered to sportsmen and police agencies.To reiterate, this round will not causemajor injuries from ricochet, nor will itcompletely penetrate a human body andinjure innocent bystanders. It is safer touse in and around congested areas, in andaround aircraft and expensive installations.After penetration, the projectile ex-Water-filled jug is shattered, but paperbackground shows no signs of pelletpenetration.pends its total energy, instantly, within theprimaq target. Sold only to law enforcementoficers, it is the result of many yearsof world wide combat and hunting experienceof Col. Jack Cnon, the inventor. Patentshave beefi granted, others pending.Although more expensive than regularamniunition, it is only necessary to carry afew rounds in the weapon. Practice andtraining can be done with standard ammunition.If the officer wants to "walk softly andcarry a big stick" a couple of Glaser safetyslugs, backed by more penetrating roundsare all he needs. If the police offker carriesa 2" barrel revolver or a .380 duty orback up weapon, the Glaser Slug shouldbe a must.Editors note: The US. govt. report on thepolice ammunition test program is availablefrom: The US. Department of Justice,LAW Enforcement Assistance Administration,National Institute of LawEnforcement and Criminal Justice, Wah.D.C. Ask for LESP-RPT-0101.01<strong>August</strong> 1975.Note:. Inquire from: Glaser Safety Slug,Box 1975, MeAllen, Texas 78501. ForPollce Only.solid $1.00lor our now catalogOf a Win. .erbPride! That's the feeling. The feelingyou get when you own the best. Thefeeling you get when you can reallyperform because everything isright. Mustang Grips are designedfor better control, accuracy andrecoil distribution. They are madeof the finest woods available, andfinished in oil or lacquer-theymake you look like a winner evenbefore you move it.. .wwm6Wlu ufi {IPS28030 Dd Rio RodTomocula, CA 02380 Phone 676-5416AMERICAN !iANDGUNNEFl JULYIAUWST <strong>1977</strong> 17
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