US law enforcement forces vary widely. There are small ones with a sheriff and a few deputies and massive ones with a police force that could fill several medium-sized cities.
Ammo selection amongst agencies is primarily similar. The cycle restarts when needed. After negotiating a contract, municipal and county ammo purchases can be handled differently. The distributor and agency have a long-term collaboration. The range master may need to repeatedly and gradually restock ammunition.
I have never seen a range master with enough ammunition and range time to train officers. No matter who, they all have to meet some arbitrary minimum criterion and are rarely encouraged to go above and beyond in their education or experience. Check out some ammunition on this site.
Consider Policies
Before buying ammo, your company should assess its policy. Does your company use one brand for all sizes and uses? Do the policy cover ammunition and non-official actions? If employees must use one type of ammunition on and off duty, discussing the agency’s training and practice guidelines is crucial. “Carrying it” and “practicing with it” is essential.
The policy should include off-duty/backup firearm qualification and training. The off-duty/backup gun’s ammunition could be shot regularly and updated as part of the operation (not policy). Gun control must precede ammo selection. Any agency that allows officers to fire at vehicles must examine cartridge performance against vehicle parts.
The most significant organizations employ the FBI Ammunition Test Protocol. The FBI Protocol is frequently regarded as the best indicator of potential. Before choosing ammo, consult the FBI Ballistics Research Facility. The FBI’s Ballistics Research Facility provides ammunition information.
Assess Your Company’s Needs
This assessment requires an honest appraisal of the organization’s typical response. This raises the question: do most deadly incidents happen in buildings or outdoors? Consider mutual aid organizations. This may mean more than merely cutting ammunition prices in a severe crisis. Some variables are localized.
A specified caliber may be needed when an officer is required to put down an animal per community regulation. External factors determine agency needs. Most modern cartridges can endure naval use, but some cannot. Know your organization’s rules before buying ammunition. If your company requires certain ammunition on and off duty, you must address the training and practice policy.
Simultaneously practice using and carrying it. Check your company’s policies before buying ammo. If your company requires certain ammunition on and off duty, you must address the training and practice policy. Carrying and practicing are natural steps.
Know the Agency’s Inventory
Some governments keep several rules and records for different purposes. SWAT teams’ firearms are often stored separately from patrol division armories. Some cases have little in common. What if two factions’ long guns are incompatible? 5.56 and.223 carbines twist from 1/7 to 1/12. Multipurpose cartridges work differently from ones designed for a specific purpose.
(5.56) carbines with a variant of 1/7-1/12 cannot employ more powerful ammunition, reducing their efficacy. This distinction matters when police use pistol-caliber carbines. Longer barrels increase sub-gun bullet velocity. However, different barrel lengths handle additional ammunition differently.
A sub gun may over-penetrate or shed a handgun bullet. Know your firearm’s nominal cartridge. Lighter bullets work better with more lightweight pistols. If the Beretta 92 were supplied for duty, my group would use 124–147-grain bullets. Drop to 115 grains with a Beretta Nano. In the end, ammo picking is a group effort. Involve everyone on your team.
