LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ALWAYS HAVE FACED THE DILEMMA OF STRIKING A BALANCE BETWEEN POWER AND SIZE IN SELECTING A HANDGUN FOR UNDERCOVER OR OFF-DUTY USE. DETONICS .45 ASSOCIATES LAUNCHED A STUDY TO DETERMINE THE IDEAL CALIBER FOR SUCH A GUN. STUDY RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE .45-CALIBER AUTOMATIC COLT PISTOL (ACP) WAS MOST SUITABLE, COMBINING THE ATTRIBUTES OF EXCELLENT STOPPING POWER, LOW RICOCHET POTENTIAL, AND LIMITED DANGER OF OVER-PENETRATION. THE DESIGN GOAL OF THE COMPANY BECAME TO INCORPORATE THE BRUTE FORCE OF A .45 AUTOMATIC IN A HANDGUN THE SIZE OF A SNUB-NOSED REVOLVER. THE DESIRE TO USE THE .45 ACP CARTRIDGE INDICATED THAT AN AUTOLOADING PISTOL, RATHER THAN A REVOLVER, WAS CALLED FOR. THE RESULTING WEAPON -- THE DETONICS .45 ACP -REPRESENTS A REWORKING OF THE ORIGINAL .45 ACP DESIGN BY JOHN BROWNING. DESIGN SIMPLIFICATIONS INCLUDE A CONE-SHAPED BARREL AND A ONE-PIECE RECOIL MECHANISM. A STANDARD MILITARY OR COMMERCIAL .45 ACP MAGAZINE IS USED. ALTHOUGH THE WEAPON IS THE SAME SIZE AS A SNUBNOSE .38, IT HAS A CAPACITY OF SEVEN FACTORY OR 'HOT RELOAD' CARTRIDGES. THE FAVORABLE RESULTS OF PROTOTYPE TESTS AND THE CONTINUING EVOLUTION OF THE DETONICS .45 DESIGN ARE CITED. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE GUN ARE INCLUDED.