WEIGHT & POWER

Question
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Followup To GCH

Hi its me again!

I understand what you said about the other pistols and their stopping power. I have a Kel-Tec 9mm. However its not a magnum.

Maybe I didn't explain myself correctly (as my wife usually tells me)lol

Seriously, what I'm looking for if the gun manufacturers make them is:
a small light weight magnum pistol in the following cal. 25,32,or 9mm

What gets me is that gun manufacturers do make a .22cal. magnum. Why not the other cals.? ? ? I don't know if they do or not. That's what I'm asking you GCH.

Thank you for your patience with this ol'/young 65yr. older.

R.Monaco
Question -
Hi GCH

I own two 9mm pistols and have c/c/carry permits for both.
Carrying one or the other is somewhat heavy. Either on my side or ankle.

I'd like a little more power and lightness in carrying my pistol(s)

A friend my mine showed me his .22 cal Magnum Brettra pistol. Its real nice and light to carry he says. He put in the palm of my hand and it is light I must say.

What I'm looking for is: A magnum auto pistol that is light to carry and NOT A DESERT EAGEL.
Something with stopping power but ease of carry.

What are you suggestions.
Thank you GCH

Ray
Answer -
Mr. Monaco,

For a light, small gun, you might consider the Kel-Tec P.32 to P-3AT (chambered in .32 ACP and .380 ACP respectively).

Niether of these calibers is, in my opinion, really suitable self-defense, but if sieze a wieght are the criteria, they will be better than a .22 or .25.

For a serious caliber, I would look at the Kahr Arms P ("polymer") series of pistols.  These can be had chambered in 9mm or.40 S&W, and are very small and light compared to other pistols so chambered.

Another opition is one of the titanium revolvers, although they will be wider than the auto pistol, they will be lighter when loaded due to the smaller ammunition capacity.

I hope this helps.  I wish you well with your new carry piece.

Answer
Mr. Monaco,

The term "magnum" doesn't really mean much.  It usually designates an already existing cartridge that been re-invented (usually with longer length and thicker case walls) to hold more powder, and thus give an increased velocity.

E.g. .38 Special to .357 Magnum; .44 Special to .44 Magnum; 2 3/4 12 Ga to 3 in. Magnum 12 Ga; and .22 LR to .22 Magnum.

There in fact have been things that you might call 9mm Magnum (9mm is 9x19 - there is a 9X21, but it never really caught on).

The .357 SIG is in effect a 9mm Magnum, but they called it what they did for marketing reasons.

But why would you want that?  The problem with 9mm is the danger of overpenetration.  If you drive it 300 fps faster (as the .357 SIG does) you only increase the danger of overpenetration.

If you want something "hotter," you can look for ammunion marked +P, as this will increase velocity - just make sure the mfg of your guns says it's OK to shoot +P ammo in it.

The .40 S&W has proven to be the most effective fight stopper out there.  This cartridge was actually downloaded from the old 10mm because it was all around more effective (you might say the .40 is a 10mm anti-magnum.  When it first came out, gun writers were calling the .40 S&W the "Forty Short and Weak"- well, the data has proven them wrong, and it is now THE most used cartridge in American law enforcement.

To sum up, the term "magnum" is fairly meaningless, except to designate that it is a hotter, usually longer cartridge than its antecedent, usually developed for hunting.

The reason there is no "magnum" calibers in self defense cartridges (the .357 Magnum being the exception) is because they ones we have now work.

I hope this helps.