Regular readers will recall TTAG’s previous post about the Pittsburgh Po-Po’s “investigation” into whether their .40 caliber pistols had enough “stopping power” for local law enforcement officers intent on saving their asses protecting and serving the city’s taxpayers. Back in April, the City of Bridges’ police department responded to two incidents where bad guys refused to fall down dead after being shot by embarking on some comparison testing—to see if they needed to switch to .45 caliber firearms. Yesterday, they tested a “new gun.” And the survey says . . .
According to Deputy Chief Paul Donaldson, the FBI Ballistic Research Facility concluded that the ammo “is consistent with (its) expectations of this cartridge.”
I so expected them to say that. Hang on; did the Pittsburgh Police ignore the 4,432 websites providing reliable data on handgun stopping power and pay taxpayer money to the FBI to conduct ballistic tests on a .45 caliber Glock?
Of course not! That would be a waste of resources. wpxi.com gives us additional insight into the Pittsburgh police’s cost-effective thinking on the matter and its rigorous scientific testing regime:
Officers tested a .45-caliber Glock on Monday, and union members told Target 11 investigator Rick Earle that they were pleased with the gun.
Eric Engelhardt said that the .45-caliber has “a little less recoil, so it actually might improve officers’ shot placement.”
Union officials told Earle they want to recommend that officers have their choice of which gun to use.
“If officers believe that they need a little bit more firepower, that they’d feel safer with a .45, that should be their option,” said Engelhardt.
Another round of testing will take place in June before recommendations are sent to the chief, who will have the final say.
In the interests of expediency and efficiency, why can’t some gun manufacturer just ply the Chief and his union pals with hookers and blow, sell ’em a bunch of .45s (the police not the hookers) and be done with it? Just sayin’ . . .
[h/t tudbb]