[Rival]

After Miami shootout FBI did an extensive research on various handgun calibers and their effectiveness.

I read somewhere that the end result of FBI research and experimenting with different calibers was choosing of .45ACP caliber.

My questions are as follows:

-what calibers did FBI consider and tried to implement, and in what order?
-what are the current guns of choice for the agency?
-where can I find detailed articles about this?

Thank you very much.

[Hkmp5sd]

The Far Reaching Effects of the Miami Firefight (http://communities.prodigy.net/sportsrec/gz-miamiammo.html)

[Tamara]

Actually, after a brief flirtation with 10mm Auto, they wound up with .40 caliber guns. FBI SWAT and HRT guys do carry .45 ACP 1911s, though.

[Rival]

Someone told me that FBI wants to adopt .357Sig. Is that true?

[ACP]

Article: http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs7.htm

I believe U.S. Marshals stationed on airliners are using .357 Sig.

[Gerald McDonald]

If they are issuing 357sigs to air marshalls I hope they issue ear plugs to the passengers. I would hate to be in an inclosed area if someone touched one off close by.
Gerald

[JohnKSa]

I would hate to be in an inclosed area if someone touched one off close by.Beats the alternative...

[petej88]

Hey, look on the bright side (no pun intended). Even if the Air Marshall misses, he/she will scare the heck out of everybody on the plane.

[Scoob]

The noise from 357sigs isn't any louder than .40 to me( from my G22 with both barrels). If it is I can't tell. In fact I can't tell much difference between the two at all when firing, except the hole size in the target.

[sanchezero]

Y'know, just the shockwave from them .357SIGs will pop rivets in a pressurized airplane.

Thats why them Izraylee airport commandos use subsonic .50AE Desert Eagles.

Our gummint won't let airmarshalls use them because of political reasons.

:p

[ACP]

From the beloved TFL: http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=123691&highlight=air+marshal

[.45TCB]

Check out the link in this thread (http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12428) as well.

[jc2]

http://www.totse.com/en/bad_ideas/guns_and_weapons/10mmpist.html

A second purpose of the seminar was to determine, if possible, which of the two calibers, the 9mm or the .45, was likely to be most effective in accomplishing that goal. And, although the seminar was unsuccessful in conclusively resolving the caliber question, it did identify the desirable performance criteria of an effective bullet.

[Gerald McDonald]

To me its right up there with a 2 3/4" 357 mag for getting the wax cleaned out, of course the loudest I have ever heard was some doofuss with a ported 38 super shooting some truly stout handloads in the indoor range I haunt. He settled in to the lane next to me and every time he touched one off I felt a concussion in my face and chest and would swear what little hair I have blew back. I had to sit it out until he finished.
Gerald

[Prodigalshooter]

Does anyone have a link to a description of the original altercation? I don't think I've ever read an actual account, just references and snippets.

[Tim Burke]

You didn't like ACP's link above? I thought it was an excellent summation.
You may want to try this one, (http://communities.prodigy.net/sportsrec/11april86.html) too.
Then there are the official FBI FOIA files available online here. (http://foia.fbi.gov/shooting.htm) Be advised, there's a lot of data in these files to wade through, and if you are on a dial-up, it'll take you forever to download them all.

[Prodigalshooter]

Thanks for the links, Tim. Sorry, I didn't check out ACP's first link.
I have Road Runner connection, so the down loads don't take long;) Some very interesting reading.

[Hkmp5sd]

Forensic Analysis of the April 11, 1986, FBI Firefight (http://www.frenchanderson.org/french/forensic/report/report.html)

Tactical Briefs #8, August 1998: Ayoob, Sanow Shooting Incident Falsehoods Reveal Credibility Problems with Gunwriter "Street Results" Research and Data (http://www.firearmstactical.com/briefs8.htm)

[Beorn]

Forensic Analysis of the April 11, 1986, FBI Firefight Tactical Briefs #8, August 1998: Ayoob, Sanow Shooting Incident Falsehoods Reveal Credibility Problems with Gunwriter "Street Results" Research and Data

Yah, I read them both. Very enlightening.