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From: jkh@jade.UUCP
Newsgroups: mod.rec.guns
Subject: Re: 9mm vs. .45 automatics
Message-ID: <807@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Mon, 9-Jun-86 17:37:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: jade.807
Posted: Mon Jun  9 17:37:56 1986
Date-Received: Tue, 10-Jun-86 20:07:47 EDT
References: <791@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Organization: University of California, Berkeley
Lines: 49
Approved: jkh@ucbjade
Author: voder!kontron!cramer@ucbvax (Clayton Cramer)

Article: 6:10

> I am on the verge of purchasing my first handgun and I need
> some advice. The models which seem the most appealing are the
> Colt and S&W .45 automatics, and the Browning and Beritta 9mm
> autos.  Some of the information I am looking for includes:
> 
> 1) quality of handguns- (tendencies to jam, quality of
>                         workmanship, ease of operation)

I have no experience with the S&W, Browning, or Beretta large autos.  
I have a Colt .45 auto -- and I have been completely happy with it.
With factory hardball ammo I have had about three failures in almost
a thousand rounds -- and two were when the gun was quite new.  I find
it very easy to fire, as does my wife (and we both qualify as wimps).
>From what I have seen of people firing a variety of 9mm pistols, I
think either the Colt is easy to fire well, or the .45 ACP cartridge
is instrinically more accurate.

The Colt has a grip safety -- the others don't.  That makes the argument
for me real easy.

> 2) relative performance between the .45 and 9mm
>    calibers

I read recently of a California policeman who had a confrontation with
a guy on PCP.  It took three shots in the the face with a .45 to make
the guy undangerous.  There seems to be general agreement that the 9mm
is a less effective cartridge than .45 ACP.  You really want something
less effective?

> 3) pricing and future value-(i.e. is the Browning worth the price?)

I don't know what retail is like -- I'm a dealer and buy everything at
wholesale.  At wholesale, the Colt .45 is cheaper by about $30 than the
Browning Hi-Power, and the Beretta 92 adopted by the U.S. Army is about
$10 cheaper.  The Colt is available with a wider selection of finishes
(stainless steel, satin nickel, blued steel, brightly polished nickel,
brightly polished stainless steel) than the others.

> 4) cost and availability of ammo for these guns
> 

.45 ACP ammunition is about 10-15% more expensive at my prices than
9mm.  I consider it well worth it.

> 	David Fannin

Clayton E. Cramer