Practical firearms discussion: size and weight considerations

I like it, there is not a significant amount of creep to the trigger and breaks now at just under 5 lbs. Of course I have put thousands of rounds through it. I nelieve it was about 6 lbs when new.

 

Size and weight are natural concerns with concealed firearms.

However, caliber may not be as important as many think.

With modern bullet designs, 9 mm seems to be sufficient.

Of course, in leftist California legislation has distorted things, so as Im limited to 10 rounds, I went with a .45 capable of 45 super.

Here is a decent breakdown of stopping power, it would apply to smaller guns as well.

 

The ammo is the real game changer. More so than caliber or velocity/energy.

There have been several generations of hollow points.

The older generations (gold dot, hydroshocks, etc) were less reliable at expansion through clothing.

Newer generations like the XTP, HST, etc are more reliable.

The Hornady flex tip actually has its hollow point pre filled with a rubber plug, to ensure expansion.

 

Limited to 10 rounds? Please. You won't be at the OK Corral.

 

Huh? We benefit from no such explosion here in California. We still live in the "Shall Never So Don't Even Ask" era. The "Are You Serious? Get Your Application Out Of Here" era. The "LOL! You Are Applying For What" era. The "Is That The Sound Of My Application Being Torn Up And Thrown Into The Garbage Can? Why, Yes It Is!" era.

You must live on another planet. Or, possibly in another State. Here, we have this:



Here's what's been recently approved:

The number one answer is Capitalism, having the broadest product selection possible and the desire to generate revenues. That's the manufacturers reason.

The End Users reasons are far more varied and include everything from Nostalgia, to Self-Defense, Hunting (yes, people do hunt with handguns) and Competition Sports Shooting. For Self-Defense, the market drives manufacturers to continue producing smaller caliber firearms because every set of hands is different relative to ergonomics, every personal need for self-defense varies by individual and different people have different beliefs about what they need, want or desire.

The differentials in frame size may or may not be exaggerated by the manufacturer from caliber to caliber. Some manufacturers don't have matching designs that share the same product name and general shape while covering a range of calibers. So, you can't always buy the Full Size Frame, Compact Size Frame and Sub-Compact Size Frame of every single gun design in the world. Some only produce one size in one caliber. Others produce just one size but in multiple calibers. While other manufacturers produce multiple sizes in multiple calibers. It depends on the manufacturer entirely.

My State places heavy restrictions on all guns, whether handgun or rifle. Shotguns may enjoy the most number of degrees of design freedom among all other types in my State. Because of that restriction, I selected a Manufacturer that produced the widest number semi-automatic platform available that met my States draconian rules and the platform that met my needs across several different metrics. That manufacturer turned out to be Heckler & Koch. The platform turned out the be the USP 9 Full Size and the USP 9 Compact.

First, the USP as a weapons system has a quarter century history, a proven track record around the world in civilian life, police, military and special operations. It was well researched, designed and executed by H&K. Its design comes from a proven Browning Action philosophy with optimization on that concept that make if functionally reliable and efficient for its designed purpose. It functions well in all climates, temperature ranges and environmental conditions. It is more accurate than I will ever be. Everything from its barrel design to its FCU design was unique (at the time), mechanically sound and highly durable. It used a unique polyamide compound for its frame with glass fiber reinforcement - well ahead of its time and competition 25 years ago. It has good weight and balance, relatively low recoil, returns the front sight to the target quickly and never stops running when called upon. It is the Semi-Automatic Polymer Pistol that beat out several other designs younger than itself as the platform I trust with my life.

Second, the USP has available to it what H&K calls its Light LEM Trigger. It is a hybrid trigger design that puts the FCU somewhere between a true DAO and true SAO. It is called the Variant 7, and it transforms the trigger of the USP from a Variant 1 DA/SA with a near 10lb DA followed by 5lb SA, into a Hybrid DAO 4.5lb trigger having the exact same pre-travel range before the firing brake. This provides a much more consistent, smoother and predictable first shot which in turns allows for a more precise follow-up shot with greater speed and accuracy. I prefer the Light LEM over the LEM, which reduces the trigger pull of the DAO down to about 7.8lbs with the same pre-travel range. The 4.5lb LLEM is not the 1911 ghostly 2.9lb - 3.2lb trigger - but in a self-defense scenario, I don't think I want want a 2.9lb trigger in my carry platform.

The LLEM is available for both the Full Size USP and the Compact Size USP. The Compact version has a shorter barrel, shorter grip and a slightly narrower frame overall - making it an excellent carry candidate for me personally. Others may believe the USP 9C might be a bit too large to carry. However, I can carry the Full Size version with no problems at all and no complaints. It is larger, I do notice the added size, but I have no personal hang-ups with IWB in the USP 9 FS and certainly no issues with its smaller sibling the 9C.

Regarding "Caliber." That question is a lot older than the USP series of pistols and those things are now 25 years old. You are going to get a wide variety of opinions - but that's all they will be at the end of the day, opinions about which caliber is best for Personal Self-Defense. I choose the Underwood XD in either 65 grain or 90 grain. I choose that round because it has a more consistent terminal ballistics profile than any JHP I've ever seen tested or evaluated. JHP has been used for a long time and has a proven track record on the streets in Law Enforcement. It is also subject to Tumbling at a rate higher than the XD round. It also is susceptible to deformation prior to penetration of the actual target by whatever media presented by the target barrier (Nylon Clothing, etc., etc., etc.). The XD is more Barrier Agnostic (not perfect) and in a Self-Defense scenario, you don't always have a wide horizontal plane to work with on your target. You can't possibly know what kind of barrier your target will present in the form of clothing or (I know it sounds bad) body parts to your line of sight. Your round many have to penetrate through either of the two types or other non-target presented types before penetrating the actual target and doing enough terminal ballistics work to stop the attack - and that is what using a firearm for Self-Defense is supposed to be about.

Over penetration - yes. That's a concern with any Self-Defense round. However, Self-Defense shootings are not done against FBI Gelatin Molds in controlled conditions. You don't know what your round will have to penetrate through before reaching the assailant. A small tree branch, a cluster of leaves from a bush. A cluster of branches from that same bush. Auto glass. A large Nylon jacket. Drywall. The list of unknowns is very long. If your JHP hits some of that material it could clog and effectively become a NATO ball round in its terminal ballistics profile. That can still stop your assailant, but it loses the net effect of what the JHP was designed to do. Ballistics is a very personal issue. You will have to STUDY it for yourself and draw your own conclusions. I suggest lots of personal testing at the range using many different kinds of Barrier scenarios. That will tell you what you should be using for yourself.

Good luck. Train often and stay prepared always. That's that responsibility of every responsible firearms owner.

 

The obvious question of "so what?" must be asked with regard to the above. What ultimate, meaningful difference does such make?

 

Well, obviously he thought it made a difference that's why he brought it up.

Here's a thought. You don't HAVE to respond to every post.

 

What does what locations one may or may not be visiting have to do with the discussion of magazine capacity?

Such a point is ultimately irrelevant and off topic to the discussion at hand.

 

Are you really so far removed that you didn't understand the reference and how it applies?

Wow.

 

Just another backdoor way to ban firearms.

.45 is a decent caliber, if you have the build to be able to carry one concealed.

 

It the presented question truly that difficult? Can it not adequately be explained how such is related to the discussion of adequate and appropriate magazine capacity? What does a squabble between criminals and law enforcement officers have to do with private citizens who are neither?

 

Its my NSG. (Night stand gun)

Also a very sweet shooter even with +P loads.

Also has a light/laser module.

 

If the police need more than ten rounds, so do I. I don't have the luxury of armed backup like they do.

 

Nonsense.

 

Not nonsense.

Feel free to use your flintlock, though.

 

Let me know when you get into a big gunfight and needed more than 10 rounds.

 

Because you as a civilian going about your daily activities is the same as the job of a police officer, which is to potentially engage with criminals on a daily (shift) basis? Should you also get a bullet proof vest and lights and sirens on your car for when you need to engage with all these criminals?

 

I don't plan on getting into a gunfight.

But if I ever need to defend myself, it would be nice to have the full capacity my pistol was designed for.

I can't do that because of democrats.

 

It's like the local pizza joint where they don't sell 12 oz cans of Coke anymore, just 20 oz bottles. 12 ozs is enough, 10 rounds is plenty.

 

No one has ever made it to the other side of a gunfight and thought they had too much ammo or their rounds hit too hard.
There's no sound argument for limits on magazine capacity.

 

Catchy little phrase.

Ask him:

 

You can't defend yourself with 10 rounds? How do you know?

 

Then actually demonstrate how the claim in question is indeed nonsense, and that the statement is nor merely an out of hand dismissal on the part of yourself.

 

A fair question. Why exactly should one be forced to take the chance and see how they fare in the matter?