What are the cops carrying?
A Guide to Cop-Riot Weapons
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Quick and dirty overview:
“Less lethal” riot weapons are typically marked with bright colors (yellow, orange, red, or blue w/black)
Lethal weapons are Never marked with bright colors (black, grey, tan, green, camo, or some combo)
All “less lethal” weapons can and do cause severe injury and death.
“Rubber bullets” are metal bullets coated in rubber.
Police usually misuse “less lethal” weapons such as by intentionally aiming for the head, face, and eyes.
Rubber bullets are not fired from regular guns.
“Less lethal” Riot Shotgun.
Typically marked with bright orange or red. These fire bean bag rounds or rubber bullets.
Pump action, can be loaded with up to 5 rounds.
Single Shot Grenade Launcher
These are sometimes marked in bright colors. They can fire a variety of impact projectiles (bean bags, rubber bullets) and gas grenades (OC-pepper spray, CS-tear gas).
Single shot, can only load 1 grenade at a time.
Revolver Grenade Launcher
These are typically not marked with bright colors.
They can fire a variety of impact projectiles (bean bags, rubber bullets) and gas grenades (OC-pepper spray, CS-tear gas).
Most police use a pump action, that can be loaded with up to 4 grenades.
Pepper Ball Gun
These either look like paintball guns with a “hopper” on top or like AR15s.
The AR variant is always marked with bright colors (yellow, blue, orange, red)
These fire paintball-like hard plastic projectiles filled with OC or PAVA pepper spray powder.
Semiauto
For more details on Cop-Riot “less lethal” weapons, projectiles, and grenades check out this excellent Seattle Times article:
seattletimes.com/seattle-news/t…
AR15
Overwhelmingly the most common police rifle. They are never marked with bright colors.
AR15’s come in a variety of sizes from 10.5” barrel length to 20”
Cops may carry them with a suppressor or without. Note: suppressors will reduce sound but still be loud.
Semiauto
Sniper Rifle
Cops use a variety of sniper rifles. They are never marked with bright colors. Sniper rifles can be distinguished by being long and large, using a bipod or tripod, and having a large high power scope.
AR variants can be used as sniper rifles.
Bolt-action or semi
Let us know if you’d like more information, or if we should add other items such as shields and armor.
1. Suppressed AR15 (Lethal)
2. Handgun in a Safariland holster (Lethal)
3. Single shot grenade launcher (“Less Lethal”)
4. Suppressed AR15 (Lethal)
Ranges and hazards:
All “less lethal” weapons are fairly weak and short range.
Note: cops typically ignore minimum engagement distances and approved target body parts.
The can be blocked by anything that will survive a blow with a hammer (barrel, pallet, helmet, Not umbrella)
Cops with lethal weapons vary widely.
Most cops are poorly trained and poor shots.
Even SWAT are often poorly trained.
Most cops cannot confidently or reliably shoot rifles farther than 100 yards.
However, cops may have a variety of skill levels from outside training.
US Army field manual FM 90-10 discusses the penetration of various bullets. It can be found online.
AR15’s fire 5.56
Police sniper rifles typically shoot .308 (close to 7.62 NATO) or heavier (such as 300 Win Mag).
Their penetration will be between 7.62 NATO (closer) and .50
Fairly weak and short range *for a bullet
As an addendum:
Cop-Riots are equipped with the same weapons across much of the world.
And the “Less Lethal” industry is heavily concentrated in the United States.
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