The popularity of the 9 mm in Law Enforcement

I went 9mm a little over a year ago, and as an instructor for my dept I have influenced and push other officers in that direction as well. 

The 9mm's popularity is on the rise with US Law Enforcement and even the FBI has shown a renewed interest the it, which is funny considering their history. 

Despite all the debate, one thing is for sure with dealing with handgun stopping power; shot placement is key. Also, to go with that, penetration is also very important, which in general the 9mm has. 

My department doesn't officially regulate ammo beyond hollow-point, but I stress the following to my guys: 

1. +P, the added pressure adds to the round's overall velocity and penetration,

2. Hollow point, among other things, helps prevent over penetration, 

3. Bonded, consistent performance and weight retention, particularly beneficial when dealing with obstacles like vehicle glass and heavy clothing. 

I have been carrying Winchester's PDX1 do to availability in my area and the fact that it meets the 3 basic criteria I look for. I also like the 124 grain weight of the round better than the heavier 147 gr or lighter 115 gr that is common in the caliber. 

In my opinion, the advantage of higher capacity, low recoil, cheaper ammo cost, and modern bullet design, among other attributes will continue to fuel the rounds popularity. 

New Fitness Recommendations

AHA Recommendation For Overall Cardiovascular Health: At least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity at least 5 days per week for a total of 150 OR At least 25 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity at least 3 days per week for a total of 75 minutes; or a combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity AND Moderate- to high-intensity muscle-strengthening activity at least 2 days per week for additional health benefits.

If you can't commit to a dedicated workout program something is better than nothing.  

Spyderco Sharpmaker

Knife maintenance is important, a big part of that is keeping your blades sharp. I have had great luck with the Spyderco Sharpmaker. Most of my knife are Spyderco and I do have some brand loyalty there, but it is a quality product. 

One thing I quickly realized with the system is the 2 sets of rods that come with the Sharpmaker are not sufficient to perform as needed. For knives that need reshaping or that are very dull, the grey medium stones don't take enough steel off for me.  I purchased the diamond rods, they make all the difference in the world. A quick 20 or so passes on the diamond stones will give you a massive head start. From there I bought the ultra-fine stones, they bring a higher polish than the standard fine stone that come with the unit. The ultra-fine stones do take a bit of work to get results.

  

Overall I would recommend the Sharpmaker, I have used a Lansky sharper, but this seems a bit easier and faster. I can run the kitchen knivies through the Sharpmarker and get fast results, again, the diamond stones really help with this, I think they should come standard with the sharpener. 

For oil I have been trying Ballistol Sportsman's Oil, it's a mineral based oil, and is safe to use on and around food prep items and surfaces. It doesn't seem to attract dirt like some lubes, it does have a peculiar smell, but so far I like how it performs. 

 

Extra Ammo

While I'm thinking about extra ammo on patrol, here is the new more compact Maxpedition "Mag Bag Double" I just received.( click here for specs )It will fit 4 30 round mags upfront and 2 pistol mags on the side. Inside space is very limited, but lined with soft hook and loop.  My plan is to transport this back and forth daily from the vehicle.  This will allow me to keep a fresh snack inside, as well as other things I don't want exposed to the extreme Texas temps when left in the car. Also, the smaller size was needed so allow it to stay up front with me at all times, even if I have a front seat passenger. 

I removed the waist belt, because I'm unlikely to use it, the fewer things I have around me to snag on stuff the better.  On the molle side I put a sheath to hold a multi-tool and my Spyderco Resue.  I already had some hook and loop shotshell holders from High Speed Gear Inc. so they worked out nicely on the inside of the bag. They can be ripped out and put in my pocket if so needed. The quality of the bag is standard Maxpedition stuff, as expected, overall it's well made, water resistant and should last.  Basically, I am using it like an Active Shooter bag, extending its use without impeding function. 

What's In My "Mini-Patrol Bag"

Realizing the intended purpose for me is primarily ammo, it's holding: 2 30 round P-mags, 2 Glock 17 Mags, 3 HSGI Shotshell holders with 10 rounds of buckshot and 5 rounds of slugs, Spyderco Resue, Gerber Multitool, Fenix PD-32 flashlight, 4 CR123 batteries, mechanix gloves, light stick, Advil, Power Crunch Whey Protein Bar, travel size Sunscreen. 

About Extra Ammo

How many rounds do you carry? A lot of officers I know feel pretty safe with their high capacity autos and a couple of extra mags on the belt. Let's face it, on the surface it would seem like a really bad day to burn through 3 fully loaded Glock 17 mags, 51 rounds.  It has become popular these days to have 3 pistol mags, even better if you can do it. How about the long gun? A couple of 30 round mags, even down loaded by a few rounds, that is well over 50 rounds of high quality firepower. 

A quick search on the web will easily reveal countless situations where LEs have faced long lasting shootouts.  The recent incident in Stockton, CA is a good example.  Thankfully, facing gang members armed with AKs with extra mags taped to their bodies is not a common thing, but it happened. I am sure none of those officers started their normal day shift thinking they would face a violent 45 minute ordeal ending in hundreds of rounds exchanged, 15 police vehicles knocked out by gunfire including an armored SWAT unit, but it happened. 

I recently purchased a smaller bag from Maxpedition to carry with me on patrol, I'll be putting up a quick show and tell on it soon. It is much smaller than my current bag for convenience sake, hopefully allowing me to keep it handy. 

I don't think carrying extra ammo means throwing a box or 2 in your BOB or wherever, it's not going to work like that. You need to have loaded mags, ready to go, easy to carry and completely accessible from the drivers seat.  The bag or other method you choose to carry these items needs to be easy to manage, move with, tested and practiced with. 

Just a thought. 

OWB Kydex for S&W Shield 9mm

Just a quick afternoon project, offers me another choice over the IWB. 
Trying a suede adhesive pad to soften areas that make contact with the skin.

Using a Blade for Backup?

Whether you are Law Enforcement or an armed citizen do you carry a knife for backup?  Is it a folder or fixed blade?  How bad would things get before you would deploy a knife in an attempt to defend yourself? If under attack or a violent gun takeaway senario could you reach and use a blade?  

Some of those questions can't be answered with any real confidence, too many unknowns. I have always carried a folder in such a way that, at least in my mind, I could use it if my gun side was under attack.  A fixed blade would seem to be faster, not requiring  you to hold it in a certain way so you can get it open. My problem is I already have a packed duty belt and have ever found a comfortable way to carry even a compact fixed blade.  I have tried a couple of push knives and other styles and even partially concealed between my duty and garrison belt is difficult and uncomfortable. 

I'm a big Spyderco fan, these are a couple of my blades I consider defense oriented, and they are easy to carry for sure. But ease of deployment in a life or death situation is unsure at best. 

I suppose my philosophy would be; It's better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.