Repurposing a Metal Desk

Police departments are moving away from static range training to more realistic knowledge.

An old metal desk that has outlived its usefulness as a desk can still be of value -- and might provide information that can even save a life down the road. When police go through firearms training, an important point that they learn is the difference between concealment, or places that hide them from view, and cover, or places that both hide them from view and provide protection against incoming gunfire. Using a real metal desk at the range as a target gives documented proof of the efficiency of that type of furniture as either concealment or cover.

Things You'll Need

• A variety of firearm calibers that police normally encounter on the street, including .22 LR, .223, .38 ACP, 9 MM, .357 magnum and .45 ACP.
• Shooting glasses, ear protection and vest
• Spreadsheet program
• Range with shooting lanes of 10 feet and 25 feet

Instructions

1. Set up a spreadsheet program that has a list of the calibers running downward as rows and the distances as columns. Have a list of potential effects such as dented, severely dented, slight puncture and complete puncture to note the individual caliber at which distance fired.

2. Move the desk to a safe shooting area where potential ricochets will not be a problem.

3. Record the type of desk on the spreadsheet, the size, the gauge of the metal in various areas of the desk and the type of metal that makes up the construction.

4. Test one firearm at a time by firing it against the metal desk at 10 feet and record the results. The test can be run from the side to side of the desk, against the top of the desk as it is turned on its side, and from front to back.

5. Repeat the tests at a distance of 20 feet, and record the results. Shooting the metal desk at an angle may will also reveal its characteristics as concealment or cover.

6. Document the tests with digital pictures to add to the spreadsheet, to show at presentations just how well or poorly the desk performed to protect an officer.

Tips & Warnings

• Testing a variety of office furniture, such as filing cabinets full of mock files, wooden desks and office chairs, at the same time gives a rounded picture of what protection an officer can expect in a shootout in an office environment.

• Lighter calibers may ricochet directly back to the shooter. Full protective shooting gear is required to run tests such as this.

References

• Guns and Crime: Firearm Calibers
• Tactical Life: Cover Versus Concealment