[Majic]

I think there's enough of a disparity between shots fired and shots on target here that some criticism is warranted.

That said, I also know for a fact that my accuracy with a firearm would degrade rapidly if my target had already fired several shots at me, and I can't knock these guys for being scared.

I sure as hell would be.

But hey, that's what training and practice, practice, practice are for.

Here's hoping that every officer involved in this incident will find time to burn a few extra boxes of ammo at the range this weekend.

Meanwhile, for what it's worth, .40 S&W is a very fine cartridge for law enforcement work, as evidenced by the vast number of cops who carry pistols chambered in this cartridge -- which was designed specifically with terminal ballistics in mind.

I know there's a lot of buzz about the .45 ACP and the .45 GAP, but well, I'm looking at the numbers and not seeing a big difference.

Subjectively, the .45 has a nice thump to it, but I don't feel any less confident bringing a .40 to the party. Both do the job nicely, and a flat nose for mushrooming and energy transfer is part of the .40 S&W cartridge specification, which is nice.

The Glock 22, a full-sized service pistol chambered in .40 S&W, is one of the best-selling pistols for law enforcement in the U.S.

Unless I'm mistaken, the FBI Academy still issues Glock 22's or 23's (student's choice) to graduates, which says something.

Just sayin'. ;^)

[Ramius]

I used the .45ACP as an example merely because I know it. That's what I carried on duty, I've reloaded buttloads of it, and it's what I carry now in civilian life. I like it, and for good reason.

But that's not to say that there aren't lots of good alternatives. I too have heard good things about the .40S&W as well as the 10mm. I also still like my good and trusty .357 magnum revolver.

There's no one perfect all-purpose gun. But I do remember the title of my favorite Ruark big-game hunting book: Use Enough Gun. It doesn't have to be the biggest gun, it just has to be enough gun.

For anything but target practice... the 9mm just isn't enough gun. :-)

[R. Scott]

That said, I also know for a fact that my accuracy with a firearm would degrade rapidly if my target had already fired several shots at me, and I can't knock these guys for being scared.

I sure as hell would be.

But hey, that's what training and practice, practice, practice are for.

Yep training, training and more training – and a good cop won’t mind using his free time for some of it. Good training will overcome fear.
The first time I was fired on I did feel a touch of apprehension – but Good Old Army basic training kicked in and we responded automatically. No one freaked out, no one shot into the air.