I’ve read a few reports recently where police were required to shoot dead “out of control” animals, dogs, cows etc.. (even a rhea a couple of years ago).

Two questions:

1. Are they trained to perform this task humanely i.e. heart/lung shot, per a deer stalker?

2. Do they use a rifle, e,g, .243 or similar

Or

Do they just attempt headshots with their standard-issue 9mm carbines?

Yes, the majority of Firearms Officers are trained to shoot small animals i.e dogs etc for either safety or humane reasons. They can use either their 9mm handgun or .223 Long Arm.
However for larger animals, as you mention the like of cattle or bulls then only a trained officer (generally a member of the rifle team) will shoot them with either a .308 or perhaps a rifled slug shotgun. In my days as a rifle officer we had much larger calibres and weapons lodged in the armoury should a zoo type animal escape.
As part of the rifle team we had training in how to take down these animals. Head shots were the requirement as they caused an ‘instant’ kill. Heart shots cause a much slower death, during which time a rampaging animal can cause a lot of destruction.
Such removal of animals was never taken lightly, and would only be done as a very last resort.

Edit : Deleted as it was a reply to DS, not the second post.

Durham Constabulary FA officers used to carry Accuracy International .243’s.
I know cos I had a few shots with one on the training range at Catterick.
They also did have a .50 something or another for heavyweight use, like bulls charging around. Dunno if they still have it. I didn’t have a try at that but was given a live demo by one of their lads, Big Bang & associated recoil.
So yes, they’ll be trained for it.

Thanks for these responses.

Are they any good at squirrels?

Are they any good at squirrels?

Squirrels vapourize.

Friend who was AR had to escort a croc in transit in case the vehicle crashed & the croc got free.

I’d be surprised if it was even a realistic possibility to target headshots. Moving targets are non trivial and marksmanship standards too low.

As part of the rifle team we had training in how to take down these animals. Head shots were the requirement

I’d be surprised if it was even a realistic possibility to target headshots. Moving targets are non trivial and marksmanship standards too low.

Thanks goodness, an expert has arrived 🙄

Trained police firearms officers can fail the basic army annual personal weapons test.

They may have been ribbed mercilessly about it

When I worked at the safari park the head keepers had rifles in their cars. Never asked what sort of training they had

I would imagine that yes is the answer and a fair amount of training will go into how, what, where the shot goes. In certain circumstances a stopper shot may be needed not an instant death. That comes a few seconds later.

They put a croc in a transit?

Croc in a transit, think that is smokey and the bandit 4

I love this place. A trained firearms officer states the facts and the experts come back with
“I doubt it”
“Their standards are crap”

Magnum 45 that’s what ya need – ‘do ya feel lucky Daisy?’…

I grew up in the country before armed cops were the norm, they used the local vets to kill dogs, bulls, injured deer etc. Our vet was a trained deer stalker and had his own rifle, as well as a special pistol with a blunderbus barrel to shoot horses and cows in the head at short range.

a blunderbus barrel to shoot horses and cows in the head at short range.

That looks like a captive bolt gun to me.

Forestry Commission, Well FE nowadays deal with wild animals, a vet might come and have a poke at a maimed sheep but they tend to be left to the owner who chucks them in van for an unknown but prolonged fate.

That looks like a captive bolt gun to me.

Its a pistol made by vickers, I think its 38 special.

It’s not a captive bolt gun, nor is it a blunderbuss pistol.

It is a single shot “humane killer” by Vickers in .32 calibre.

I love this place. A trained firearms officer states the facts and the experts come back with
“I doubt it”

We truly are the forum that keeps on giving – luckily at both ends of the topic spectrum

I’d be surprised if it was even a realistic possibility to target headshots. Moving targets are non trivial and marksmanship standards too low.

I don’t know what your marksmanship standards are but, this training forms part of the annual CoLlege of Policing firearms curriculum. All ARV AFOs will have exposure to the training and generally have to pass an annual shoot. This is not their regular qualification shoot, which incidentally uses moving targets, but is in addition and seen as developmental training.

Many forces have different policy regarding this; if there are other means available that can get to the animal quickly without causing suffering then that is normally a preferred option. However, if someone such as a vet or local deer group is too far away, then it falls to the Police.

Was working in the farm in the south many years ago looking after nearly 500 pigs (10kg to 90kg), if pigs got sick (no chance of recovery) they got put down using bolt pistol. I had to hold the pig’s head steady with a device while the person with license pulled the trigger. Never like to assist but had to since it was part of my job. The pistol only shoot bolt and the cartridge looks like .38 but I may be wrong.

As a former soldier it would be really interesting to know the training used for head shots on fast moving animals.
I don’t doubt it and this isn’t sarcastic, but highly impressed with the level of expertise.
I guess we may be discussing different scenarios in our heads. I’m thinking of a rampaging heavy but fast moving animal in a town centre, a headshot is going to be high risk.

That scenario is obviously tongue in cheek, but to be trained for headshot on fast moving targets is pretty impressive.

(Absolutely no malice or intent in my message in case it looks like I’m being a dick!)

They just get trained on Unreal Tournament.

HEADSHOT

They put a croc in a transit?

… but a Hilux will do

Moving targets are non trivial and marksmanship standards too low.

You’ve clearly not watched Line of Duty, Steve was an amazing shot.

Apparently puppies are the hardest as they just don’t stay still.

Headshots won’t be used on moving target. You have to wait until it stands still.

They just get trained on Unreal Tournament.

HEADSHOT

GODLIKE

If we ever get a forum the supports stupid post awards I propose UT callouts.

I’m sure the decision to unleash the Joules energy of a .458 WinMag outside Stolen From Ivor* would be arrived at with much consideration!

*I’m 53.

I’m sure that’s true but if a wild beast was rampaging through a heavily populated area causing immediate risk to life and limb then I’m pretty sure marksmen (markspeople?) would be looking to take it down by whatever means possible, even if that was an inhumane shot to incapacitate at first.

“I know six people got pecked in the process, but I was waiting to get a humane head shot and the angry duck wouldn’t stand still long enough” probably won’t look good on the incident report.

i know someone who had to shoot a farmers bull, as it decided it didnt want to be where it was supposed to be anymore. apparently they tried rounding it up with pickups and all sorts. it got close to a road so there was no option. grim. some kind of 300 magnum. dont know if he shot it in the head or the boiler room

What harm could it do in the boiler room? Full of pretty robust equipment from what I remember…

IGMC

Headshots won’t be used on moving target. You have to wait until it stands still.

Easiest solution is to shoot member of public in the foot, said rampaging animal will stop or slow to gore them some, so presenting the headshot moment.

(Just in case – 😉 )

I nave nothing to add to this thread…except MEGA KILL!!!

Or you can take the Thames Valley approach. When a cow got loose in the ‘burbs last year and was considered a risk they ran it over with a van. I suspect this was not as per best practice.

“Beast practice” surely?