The latest trend in law enforcement finds departments moving toward increasing their firepower through the addition of patrol rifles. This is being achieved by the purchase by the departments themselves, or by approving the use of personally owned and approved rifles to be carried by their officers. The caliber of these weapons is almost exclusively in .223; there are several manufacturers and models that are popular. The thrust of this movement is to make another resource available to our officers to level the battleground.
For years we had what many considered an adequate weapon in the Remington 870 (or similar) shotgun. Those of us who are believers in this old partner of the street cop still believe in its application on patrol. But contemporary policing has taught us that there is a time and place for everything. Therefore the addition of the rifle is appropriate for today's environment. What delayed the advent of this excellent weapon was in part due to the long-standing mythology surrounding it.
One of the misconceptions about the .223 round was that it would over-penetrate and therefore was not suitable for urban environments and close quarter battle. The fact is that the round has less penetration than the ubiquitous .40 caliber handgun round. If the argument against the rifle was one of "collateral damage", the same could be said about the shotgun pellets that spread as we increase the distance from our target.
Clearly the patrol rifle is suitable for most users. Other than having a few more levers and switches than the shotgun, it is much easier to operate and to fire. Its accuracy is superior to that of the shotgun, especially at longer distances, and unlike the shotgun, the rifle's round will penetrate soft body armor. Recoil has always played a role in training with, and deployment of, the shotgun. The ability to fit the rifle to most shooters via adjustable stocks makes it a very comfortable weapon to use. Many officers, after mandatory training with the shotgun, have opted not to carry it on duty because of the heavy recoil. The patrol rifle, on the other hand, has no such liability. Its recoil is minimal; multiple shots barely take one’s sight picture off the target. Factor in the increased magazine capacity, generally 30 rounds, and you have a tactically superior battle weapon.
Two main factors impact a decision to add additional weaponry to a department’s armament. The first consideration is always cost. The traditional shotgun is cheaper than the rifle. The second factor is training. How long will it take, and how much difficulty will my training staff encounter to implement this new weapon? The patrol rifle is a user-friendly weapon. Most officers will have no difficulty in mastering its functionality and becoming adept at firing it. Marksmanship is superior versus the shotgun, especially at increased distances. With a negligible amount of recoil, most find that firing the rifle is actually enjoyable.
As is the case with all firearms it is a perishable skill. Unless regular training is conducted with the patrol rifle, the skill and confidence levels will denigrate over time. And just like the shotgun, an officer's reticence to use the rifle increases exponentially when he has not trained with the weapon on a regular basis. That training becomes an important component when deploying the rifle, not only regarding one’s marksmanship, but when and how to deploy it. To neglect that aspect of training is to negate the weapon’s effectiveness.
Deployment of the patrol rifle is key. Instructors should emphasize that it is not the primary weapon, but rather ancillary to the handgun. Some of the instances when the rifle is certainly appropriate:
- when you are certain that you are about to be involved in an armed confrontation
- when a long distance shot is anticipated
- when the offenders are known to be wearing body armor
- when your assignment is on the perimeter of a crime scene
- when there are multiple offenders involved.
The problem with carrying the rifle, or for that matter any shoulder weapon, is that more often than not we go hands-on with people rather than shooting everyone that we encounter. That poses a dilemma - how do we do that safely and effectively? That element should be addressed in training. There should not be a long gun on the street that does not have a sling. Some of the slings on the market today can be frustrating to negotiate for someone that has not trained to quickly deploy or secure his long gun. Training should include this component, as it is just as important as the ability to fire the weapon accurately.
Patrol rifles have been used for years by police departments in rural environments. They know the value of having the long gun handy. Urban departments are finally catching up, recognizing the rifle's usefulness in situations such as active shooters in office buildings, malls and schools. It would not be unusual for an officer to take a 50 yard shot in some malls and school hallways. As far as cost being a determining factor for a department when deciding whether to purchase or not - what value do you place on a cop's life? That's an easy one, a police officer's life: Priceless!
Stay safe brothers and sisters!
