<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Dudrop:
JonNYC,
The .45cal ammo is subsonic as originally loaded.The .40cal is not.
I carried a .45 for several years, so am aware of its pro and conns. I am also aware that the FBI and Air Marshall's Programs worked with both the .45 and 9mm (not sub-sonic)to develope a suitable subsonic/lo penetration cartridge for the Marshall's program.</font>
I was simply addressing the issue of "nothing larger than .45"-- let's hope not! As I'm sure you know, 9mm is frequently loaded subsonic with very heavy slugs. The L.E.O. ("law enforcement only") ammo that was very much in vogue in Fed. circles for a while was sub-sonic, 147 grain WInchester silver-tip-- it was "the standard" for years-- although it was never really proven one way or the other. The pilots certainly would never be issued .45 cal. pistols-- as you allude to, that 'aint no beginners gun-- even in a double-action-only type firearm (as opposed to our beloved 1911 variants.)
In any case, the pilots are carrying .40 cal. guns-- I would assume Sig or Glock, I would assume double-action-only and I would assume with a subsonic .40 hollow-point or pre-fragmented slug.