If you could arm the Indian Army...

[Grumpy]

Yes, .38 Super - more recently called the .38 Super +P.
Check this out ( the article contains a fair few errors but John Dillingers .38 Super `mini-sub-machine gun` is a fact - scroll down to find it) :
http://www.vincelewis.net/38super.html

[Skyman]

What are your thoughts on the .38 super round? Some magnificent guns there...

[Grumpy]

Good enough calibre - very similar to the 9x19+P and suffers from the same problems as the 9mm as regards it`s effectiveness ( or otherwise ! ) I used one briefly in Modified Class PP but it didn`t make enough gas to make efficient use of a compensator so I built a 9x25 Tanfoglio instead ..... which was so damned nasty ( the blast from the compensator was astonishing ...... and would make ones belly `smack` ) that I went back to .45 ACP. lol - but that`s another story. The 9x25 is probably responsible for my hearing loss to a large degree.

[Grumpy]

"The 9x25mm Dillon was a success in that there was a noticeable reduction in felt recoil, especially compared with comparable 38 Super IPSC Open guns. When fired the gun recoiled almost straight back into the shooter's hand rather than up and back. This resulted in competitors being able to fire their second shot more accurately in less time which increased their score. Another advantage was that the larger 9x25mm case could be loaded to 175 power factor at a lower pressure level than the 38 Super which extended the life of brass.
There were, however, some drawbacks to the cartridge. First (and most important given the evolution of stage design) was that since it was based on the 10 mm case, magazine capacity in a double-column 1911 magazine (such as a Strayer-Voigt or STI) was reduced by 3 to 4 rounds compared to a similar gun chambered in 38 Super or 9x21mm. Second was that some users of the 9x25mm Dillon were experiencing parts breakage on their guns at a much higher rate than a similar 38 Super—cracks in the compensator and slide and broken scopes.[citation needed]
The cartridge in its most effective IPSC loadings was known for an enormous shock wave that was produced when the cartridge was fired. When firing the gun, the shooter could actually feel the impulse hit their face and travel up their arm. After a while, some people began to experience tendinitis in their wrists and other soreness in their wrists and arms. For a lot of people the trade-off from reduced felt recoil and a quicker second shot wasn't worth the potential damage that could be caused to their hearing and wrists.[citation needed]. Some users such as Rob Leatham developed loads with less blast and shock to mitigate this, but discovered there was little advantage over a similar load in .38 Super.[3]"
( Wikipedia )

[Skyman]

Whats the handgun round you favor the most? SD wise.

[Grumpy]

The Wiki entry for the 9x25 Dillon has been considerably revised .... and quite recently as it now says pretty much what I`ve been saying for years.
For permanent carry I`d use a modified and accurised 1911A1 in .45 acp - or one of the commercially built examples .... I`ve always favoured Les Baer for his superb build quality and guaranteed accuracy. Something like the FBI Hostage Response Team specification would be right. Just about the only alternative I`d consider would be a CZ 97B or BD ( which is the .45 acp version of the CZ75 ) with an adjustable rear sight. The CZ hasn`t the `mystique` of the 1911A1 but is technically a better pistol and very accurate ..... and holds ten rounds in the mag. I`ve never shot one - they weren`t around when the pistol ban came into place - but I`ve shot a good few CZ 75s.
Actually, thinking about it sensibly, I`d get a CZ 97BD with an inside the pants cross draw holster - something like a Bianchi 84.
http://www.czub.cz/en/catalog/79-pistol ... _97_B.aspx

[Grumpy]

Oops - that`s the 97B.
This is the CZ 97BD:
http://www.czub.cz/en/catalog/79-pistol ... 97_BD.aspx

[Grumpy]

The trigger would have to be changed though as the standard unit is set too far forward and is too curved.

[Grumpy]

I didn`t build that first 9x25 on a Tanfoglio ..... My memory is failing rapidly !
I either built it on an STI .... or ......
bug*3r - what did I use ?

[Skyman]

A 45 man!

[Grumpy]

Absolutely.
The .45 ACP was developed for a purpose and dos the job - and a semi-auto because of the greater capacity and they lie flat.
If I were to use a handgun for hunting I wouldn`t even look at a semi-auto - it would have to be a revolver ....... except perhaps for a decent .22 lr semi-auto for bunnies and squirrels,etc. I always fancied a 6" heavy barrelled third version Colt Woodsman Match Target - a beautiful looking little handgun and beautifully made ..... but SO expensive nowadays - a nice one can be $2500. I can`t help but wonder why Colt stopped making them ..... probably uneconomic.

[Skyman]

Other than the .45 ACP, anything else you would carry?

[Grumpy]

Only a .40 S&W.

[Skyman]

Umm.What about 10mm auto?

[Grumpy]

It`s quite humpy. I used a 10 mm Glock in standard class PP for a while and had no problem with it but others found the recoil excessive. It`s basically a good caliber but rather too much - more than is needed I suppose.