In the FBI shootout 20 years ago, it is noted in this wikipedia article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FBI_Miami_shootout,_1986 that this shootout lead to the FBI to question the effectiveness of their 9mm and .38 special ammunition and search for a "more powerful" caliber. The 10mm. Now, I am not trying to start a caliber war here. I am actually trying to discourage it.
The .38 Spl+P LSWCHP is a proven manstopper and in fact is known as the FBI load, the 9mm used at the time was probably in the ballpark more or less (although I seem to remember reading recently that the load was a little light at the time of the shooting, 115 gr I think). The 10mm, might increase the chances of dropping someone slightly, but we've heard our share of stories of people getting shot with .45 acp HP ammo and not going down. Some of those men carried .357 magnums which I understand has the same power the 10mm. Anyway, the FBI backed off the 10mm and downgraded to the .40 S&W.
A pistol is a defensive weapon and it's primary purpose is to get you out of trouble.
A rifle or shotgun is what is needed for going on the offensive.
Seems to me, rather than change handgun calibers the solution should have been that when planning to track down known heavily armed criminals in a search, take a little more artillary than just service handguns and a single shotgun. Perhaps ever other man in the FBI party should have been armed with an 870 SG for each car. A rifle in an urban area seems to be a little extreme when you are likely going to be in close range combat.
Back when the FBI and the rest of america was chasing down criminals like Bonnie & Clyde, Machinegun Kelly, Babyface Nelson, John Dillinger etc. they took along a little more than just handguns as said criminals were armed with everything from the Thompson to the BAR.
Hate to get legal and political, but didn't they neglect to inform the local police what they were doing? If you will recall, in the tv movie anyway, the miami police arrived as the firefight was going on in a subdivision having no idea who were the good guys or bad guys or even if there were any good guys (could have been rival gangs in a drug war) and were unable to do anything but watch and wait rather than offer assistance.
The .38 Spl+P LSWCHP is a proven manstopper and in fact is known as the FBI load, the 9mm used at the time was probably in the ballpark more or less (although I seem to remember reading recently that the load was a little light at the time of the shooting, 115 gr I think). The 10mm, might increase the chances of dropping someone slightly, but we've heard our share of stories of people getting shot with .45 acp HP ammo and not going down. Some of those men carried .357 magnums which I understand has the same power the 10mm. Anyway, the FBI backed off the 10mm and downgraded to the .40 S&W.
A pistol is a defensive weapon and it's primary purpose is to get you out of trouble.
A rifle or shotgun is what is needed for going on the offensive.
Seems to me, rather than change handgun calibers the solution should have been that when planning to track down known heavily armed criminals in a search, take a little more artillary than just service handguns and a single shotgun. Perhaps ever other man in the FBI party should have been armed with an 870 SG for each car. A rifle in an urban area seems to be a little extreme when you are likely going to be in close range combat.
Back when the FBI and the rest of america was chasing down criminals like Bonnie & Clyde, Machinegun Kelly, Babyface Nelson, John Dillinger etc. they took along a little more than just handguns as said criminals were armed with everything from the Thompson to the BAR.
Hate to get legal and political, but didn't they neglect to inform the local police what they were doing? If you will recall, in the tv movie anyway, the miami police arrived as the firefight was going on in a subdivision having no idea who were the good guys or bad guys or even if there were any good guys (could have been rival gangs in a drug war) and were unable to do anything but watch and wait rather than offer assistance.