Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!julius.cs.uiuc.edu!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military From: pb@hpocia.hp.com (Peter_Brooks) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Sidearms for flyboys Message-ID: <1990Nov2.201833.28220@cbnews.att.com> Date: 2 Nov 90 20:18:33 GMT Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker) Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories Lines: 30 Approved: military@att.att.com Full-Name: Peter_Brooks From: Peter_Brooks The ballistics you mention for the FBI 10mm load are the same as for a .40 S & W (at least that's what we measured in load development for the .40.) If I am remembering correctly, Smith developed the new round after the FBI developed the downloaded 10. Apparently, the .40 is getting some law enforcement sales. As to whether it'as better to have a smaller bullet at high velocity than the larger .45 at lower, I guess I'd rather not find out the hard way. Note on large capacity magazines: At Jeff Cooper's Gunsite ranch, they frequently run two pistol class sections at a time. When circumstances require, the .45 people are in a differenct section from the people shooting high capacity 9mms. Curiously (this is reported by a couple of students at the class and from some other sources-can't remember who), the people who use the 7 round magazine get caught empty MUCH less often than the people with the big magazines. I know it is easier to count to 7 or 8 in practice drills than to 13-14. I'd rather carry the extra magazine and not get caught dry than to carry a wonder **mm and get caught. (Even with the extra mag, trying to shoot with the slide back can be embarassing, and maybe fatal.) Other concerns such as a lesser amount of concentration with the big magazines have been mentioned (forgot who said that). Considering that a major portion of carrying a sidearm is psychological, I'd go with what I am most comfortable with. I was trained with a .45, so I'd carry it. If you can hit with a 10 or whatever, by all means use it. (I'd draw the line at a .25ACP, tho) Pete Brooks pb@hpocia.hp.com