LESS LETHAL-PROJECTILES Appendix

1.   TARGET AREAS 

PRIMARY TARGET AREA-GREEN—see previous 2 picture images 

      The following areas are where resulting trauma, in most cases are minimal. The injury is incurred and it tends to be temporary rather than permanent: 

1. Lower abdomen

2. Forearm

3. Buttock

4. Thigh

5. Shin

6. Upper arm

7. Calf

8. Instep

9. Achilles tendon

10. Wrist

11. Front of hands 

Multi shots to the Primary area may be needed to subdue the subject depending on mental and physical condition. Additional officers who are prepared to use lethal force should be ready to cover the primary officer. Consider the area above with the use of a baton and it’s area of primary strike zones. 

  SECONDARY TARGET AREAS-YELLOW 

The following secondary target areas should be engaged only after strikes to the Primary target areas have failed to be effective, or the threat level has correspondingly increased. Injuries that occur in these areas may be more permanent in nature: 

1. Collarbone

2. Upper arm

3. Shoulder blades

4. Inside of the wrist

5. Knee joint

6. Shoulder

7. Elbow joint

8. Upper abdomen

9. Back of hand

Because of the greater force generated by the projectile areas above, areas that would normally be considered primary strike zones for a baton are thus placed in a secondary target area for projectiles. 

 FINAL TARGET AREAS – RED  

The following areas should not be targeted unless strikes to the primary and secondary target areas have failed to be effective and\ or the threat level has risen to the point where the use of deadly force can be substantiated. (Can try multi hits to the first two areas). Strikes in this target area may result in serious bodily injuries or death.  

     1. Solar Plexus

2. Groin

3. Kidney

4. Rib Cage

5. Spine

6. Head Area

7. Neck

II. USE OF FORCE 

Less lethal weapons are intended to incapacitate dangerous persons and de-escalate dangerous situations while reducing the likelihood of death and or serious bodily injury to all persons involved.      

Several deaths and numerous serious injuries have occurred thru the use of projectiles. Managing the potential for death or serious injury is the single most important aspect of less-lethal projectile training and is controlled by the following:  

1. Shot placement: Deaths occur because people are hit in vital areas. In order to prevent this, rounds must be accurately fired at those points unlikely to cause death or serious injury, unless that outcome is acceptable. Certain parts of the body are more vulnerable to injury than others, specifically: 

         a. Head and neck. Impacts to the head and neck must be avoided, unless  

             deadly force is justified and intended.

         b. Chest\Rib cage: They can tolerate large compression loads if applied  

                   slowly. Should the compression be applied too deep or too fast it may

                   have fatal consequences via fractures and related hemorrhage, cardiac         

                   arrhythmia or even heart rupture.

               c.  Abdominal Area: less-lethal impacts to the abdominal area have

                    historically been uneventful, but potentially can result in critical

                    injuries or death, especially when involving the liver, spleen or kid- ney.

2. Target Size: Larger targets have a lesser percentage of body mass displacement than smaller targets, when hit with the same round in the same place. Target size has a direct impact on the potential injury severity, particularly when the viscous regions such as the solar plexus and abdomen are involved. Due to the inherent potential for different injury, outcome based on size, the same point of aim should not be used for every suspect. 

Statistics on Beanbags 

IV. DEPLOYMENT 

A. Team concept

1. Point man is the one firing the projectiles

2. Point man commands movement of team

3. Other members of team provide lethal cover 

 V. LESS LETHAL-LEGALITY

Some courts have given summary judgment and said “there is no   constitutional duty to use non-deadly alternatives first.” 

Some courts have criticized the failure to train and equip its officers in the use of alternative, less drastic measures. 

Examination of other cases reveals that opinions demanding less than lethal options have historically been the exception and not the rule, especially in federal court. Will this thinking continue in the future? It is logical to assume that in the court of public opinion less lethal makes sense. 

IMPORTANT NOTE:  Never aim at or above the Sternum.  Less lethal projectiles can cause contusions, abrasions, broken ribs, loss of eyes, superficial organ damage, serious skin lacerations, skull fractures, rupture of the kidney or heart, fragmentation of the liver, hemorrhages, and even death.  Medical assistance should be SOUGHT immediately after an actual deployment of a less lethal projectile even if no physical injuries appear on the subject/s.  Penetration, though not a desired effect, can occur regardless of manufacturer or design. 

12 GAUGE KURTZ SHOT SHELLS 

Inasmuch as the weapons firing these munitions were originally designed for the longer, 2 and ¾ inch shells some special attention needs to be paid to these rounds.  Simply pay attention to what you’re doing and you’ll be fine. 

870 Remington:  Cycle the weapon as though you are angry at it.  Should you cycle the weapon slowly the fired round will fail to eject and the new round won’t chamber.  Fast and hard is the order of the day.  Please see the video entitled, 870 Remington Short Shell Demo. 

Mossberg 500, 590, Maverick 88:  Cycle briskly.  Again, if the weapon fails to be cycled briskly, the weapon will fail to eject or feed.  Under no circumstances should you attempt to cycle the weapon when pointing the muzzle up at a 45 degree angle or higher.  The weapon will fail to feed properly about 5% of the time, with the shell falling through the shell lifter nose first.  Please see training video entitled 500 Mossberg 12 Gauge Kurtz. Demo. 

1200 or 1300 Winchester, Ithaca 37:  No known problems exist provided the weapon is cycled smartly. 

LESS LETHAL MUNITIONS

All of our munitions must be fired through an un-choked or cylinder choke barrel.  A go/nogo gauge is supplied with every order if needed.  Simply attempt to place the narrow part of the gauge into the muzzle of the weapon in question.  If it fits without being forced, then the barrel is a,’go.’  If it doesn’t fit then the choke is too tight and the rounds will not work properly. 

Heavy Bag: 

Muzzle velocity—265fps

Weight—900 grain, 58 gram, two ounce

Energy—140 foot pounds at muzzle

Range—15-50 feet

Drag Stabilized Bag: 

Muzzle Velocity—290 fps

Weight—37 gram, 570 grain, 1.3 ounce

Energy—100 foot pounds at the muzzle

Range—20-100 feet

Three Ball/Tetherball:   

Muzzle velocity—400 fps average from an 18 inch, cylinder choke barrel.

Weight—each projectile weighs 38 grains for a total payload of 114 grains.

Energy—41 foot pounds at muzzle

Range--minimum range--15 feet, maximum effective range--75 feet where two balls will strike an area of 18 by 24 inches.

Beehive: 

Muzzle velocity--400 fps average from an 18 inch cylinder choked barrel.

Weight--each of the 48 projectiles weigh about 3.1 grains giving a net weight of 149 grains

Energy—53 foot pounds

Range—minimum range 10 feet, maximum effective range 40 feet.