• Login
• My Profile
• Help

Search

Products Police Products Accident Reconstruction AEDs AFIS Ammunition Antennas Apparel Badges Bags and Cases Ballistic Shields Batons Bicycles Biometrics Body Armor Books and Training Materials CAD Cameras Cargo Storage Collectibles Communications Communications Interoperability Computer Forensics Concealable Armor Consoles Correctional Armor Corrections Products Crime Scene Investigation Crisis Communications Data/Information Sharing Software Dispatch Equipment DNA Forensics Duty Boots Duty Gear Emergency Lighting Emergency Preparedness Emergency Response Emergency Response Software EOD Evidence Management Eyewear False Alarm Management Financial Services Firearm Accessories Firearms Firearms Storage Fitness Flashlights Footwear For Cops, By Cops Forensic Supplies Gas Masks GIS/Mapping Software Gloves Gun Cleaning Gun Racks Handguns Headsets Helmets Holsters In Car Video Investigation Investigation Software Jail Management K9 Police Training K9 Products Knives Laser Sights Laser Traffic Enforcement Less Lethal License Plate Readers Light Bars Medical Supplies Mics Mobile Computers Mobile Data Motorcycle Accessories and Gear Motorcycles Mounts Night Vision Outerwear P25 Radios Partitions and Barriers Patrol Cars Personal Protective Equipment Personal Shields Personal Transportation Vehicles Police Robots Power Distribution Precision Rifle Prisoner Transport Projectiles and Launchers Public Safety Software Public Venue Protection Push Bumper Radar Radio/Wireless Networks Radios Report Writing Software Restraints Riot Gear RMS Satellite Communications Scheduling Search and Rescue Secure Communications Shooting Range Equipment Shotguns Sights and Scopes Simulation Software Sirens Software Specialty Vehicles Sprays and Aerosols Stinger Stun Guns Storage Surveillance Tactical Apparel Tactical Armor Tactical Entry Tactical Eyewear Tactical Footwear Tactical Headsets Tactical Medical / TEMS Tactical Products Tactical Video TASER Technology Thermal Imaging Traffic Enforcement Training Training Gear Training Products Training Services Training Simulators Undercover Undergear Uniforms Vehicle Equipment Vehicle Graphics Vehicles Video Analysis Video Surveillance Weapon Lights Wire Tap Systems Wireless Communications Wireless Handsets Wireless Networking WMD Equipment

• PoliceOne Email

Sponsors

Corrections Training Resources

AcmiSystems Action Response Survey from Response to Resistance Training California Commission on Peace Officer Standards & Training California Correctional Peace Officers Association Enforcement Technology Group, Inc. More Links Submit A Listing

Featured Product Categories

Tactical Eyewear Vehicle Equipment Vehicles Consoles Shooting Range Equipment View All Categories

Corrections Training Products

Featured Product:

RedMan Training Gear, Great Prices, Great Support from RRB Systems, USA

Corrections Training Article

June 12, 2007

EmailPrintTalk BackRegisterWhat's This

Specialized Training & Tactics with Dave Young

Marking weapons for training

By Dave Young

Marking your weapons for training is an important issue and a serious task — one that should never be taken lightly. Over the past 10 years, there has been an increase in officer-related deaths from shots with a live firearm during a training scenario.

MP5 with simulation marking rounds

There are three main reasons for marking your firearms when conducting training simulations:

1. To give the person you’re firing at a level of comfort/knowledge that the weapon is safe and will not discharge a live round.
2. To give the person handling and operating the firearm a level of comfort/knowledge that the weapon is safe and will not discharge a live round.
3. To give a third-party onlooker a level of comfort/knowledge that the weapon is safe and will not discharge a live round — and that it’s being used in a training scenario.

Currently, there are no industry standards covering the issue. However, many trainers across the country are finding ways to make the training area safer. One way to do this is by using non-functional weapons.

Nonfunctional weapons can be made of plastics, injection molding, metal, aluminum, or other various solid constructions. Their specifications are as close as possible to real weapons, but are available in a variety of colors such as red, blue, orange, yellow, and even black (however, black is not recommended due to the possibility of the training weapon being mistaken for a real live firearm).

Airsoft

Non-functional weapons have no moving parts and aren’t capable of discharging a live projectile, which makes them completely safe. (Note that some may have sharp or intrusive areas, which, if they’re not filed, may cut the skin during defensive tactics.)

Another option for safe training is to use functional training weapons, which have come a long way from the toy plastic weapons of the past. For one, their specifications are close to the exact weight and size of real weapons. They’re made of the same materials as non-functional training weapons, but have actual working parts such as triggers, slides and safeties.

These are available in a variety of colors — usually black or silver — with a special marking on the slide or barrel that designates it as safe for training and identifies it as a functional training weapon and not a real firearm.

While functional training weapons do have moving parts, they are not capable of discharging a live projectile. They are designated with the color yellow as safe, with the markings on the barrel, slide and handle so they can be identified as a training weapon when secured in the holster.

Air M4 with green laser xads redman gear

Nonfunctional weapons are considered partially safe because they are able to discharge a training projectile at safe velocities and impact to the body. Training and special safety equipment is recommended, but they also may have sharp or intrusive areas, which may cut the skin during defensive tactics unless filed down or removed.

Technology has made it possible to convert your existing weapons so they can fire a training or marking round. These conversion kits make it possible for the officer to change their barrel and certain features of the top slide to accommodate a special training projectile with a marking tip.

It is important for the user to be trained and certified in these conversions so that proper and safe selection can be made. I recommend designating these converted weapons with the color blue, with colored tape on the barrel, slide and handle so it can be identified as a weapon converted to discharge a marking round when secured in the holster.

They are considered moderately safe as they can discharge a training projectile at safe to high velocities due to the various calibers used and impact to the body. Training and special safety equipment is recommended. Again, they may have sharp or intrusive areas, which may cut the skin during defensive tactics unless taped, covered, or removed.

Recommended reading: Training at the Speed of Life by Ken Murray  http://www.policeone.com/writers/columnists/KenMurray/articles/97999/

---

Dave Young is the Director of Specialized Programs for Northcentral Technical College and the Director of Training for Redman Training Gear, now part of the PoliceOne Training Network. He is also a training advisor for PoliceOne.com. Dave graduated from his first law enforcement academy in 1985, and now has over 20 years of combined civilian and military law enforcement and training experience. He was a sworn corrections and law enforcement officer in the state of Florida and has served as a gate sentry, patrol officer, watch commander, investigator, Special Reaction Team (SRT) member, leader and commander in the United States Marine Corps.

View a full list of Dave's Classes

Back to previous page