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From: jkh@jade.BERKELEY.EDU (Jordan K. Hubbard)
Newsgroups: mod.rec.guns
Subject: Re: 9mm
Message-ID: <2192@jade.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Wed, 14-Jan-87 01:40:05 EST
Article-I.D.: jade.2192
Posted: Wed Jan 14 01:40:05 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Jan-87 19:52:27 EST
Organization: U.C. Berkeley
Lines: 41
Approved: jkh@ucbjade
Author: sdcsvax!gould9!joel@ucbvax.berkeley.edu (Joel West @ Western Software Technology)

Article: 1:22


I don't know much about the Browning, but my recollection is that
most are single-action.

If you're buying a pistol, particularly if you intend to have it available
for home defense, you should decide first whether you want single or
double-action.  Single is certainly easier to shoot, but the disadvantage
is that it's easier to shoot unintentionally.

The most popular Browning is the Hi-Power, and I believe it is a single-
action.  There are also 9mm versions of the famous Colt .45, also
single-action.

[ Yes, the Hi-Power is single action -jh ]

Double-actions are harder to shoot the first shot (the remaining shots
are single-action) but can be used single-action by cocking the trigger.
Most police agencies insist on DA so this is where the money is now.
The most famous 9mm is now the Beretta 92F, the army's new gun.  The
runner up was a Sig-Sauer (they make 3 models, the P220, P225, P226,
differing primarily in size and magazine capacity.)

I haven't heard as high praise for S&W as for the above names, but they
do have a wide line of guns.  Everything I've seen suggests the 459 is
preferrable to the 439 for a full-size gun.  The 469 is the smallest
DA 9mm I know of, if that is important.  My father-in-law has one,
about the size of a 2" .38, but much easier to shoot accurately.

Other than DA vs SA, the three major features for an auto are:
	- Barrel length
	  Most have 4.5" to 5" barrels
	- Magazine capacity
	  The older designs are 7-shot, with up to 15 shots (Beretta
	  92F, S-S P226, S&W 459) on the nwer models
	- Safety
	  The S-S have no safety.  The SA must have safeties, and
	  they are usually easy to use.  Some people have trouble using
	  the safety on a DA with their shooting hand.

In terms of price, the S&W's are also much more reasonable than any
other, but don't expect revolver prices.  Some like the Taurus 92F/92T,
which were made in Brazil with the molds used for the Beretta.