[red-beard]

What is your plan for the Pistol? Concealed carry is almost impossible in CA. If you are planning target work, 9mm is much less expensive than 40S&W. Here in Tejas, I can get Winchester 9mm FMJ for $4.99 everyday, box of 50 rounds. 40S&W runs around $12.50 a box, about the same as 45ACP.

I have 2 pistols for self defense. A 13 oz 9mm and an 8 oz .380 auto. For target shooting, I have a Springfield Mil Spec 1911A1 (.45ACP) and a S&W .22 cal target pistol. And they have been joined today with a GAMO .177 CO2 pistol. I can fire the CO2 pistol at home!

The .45 and the .22 are a pleasure to shoot. The 9mm and the .380 are a handfull. But, being so light, you make a compromise for concealed carry.

If you do plan to use the pistol for some self defense, buy some decent personal defense rounds. DO NOT buy super duper killer rounds (fragmenting, shotgun rounds, P+, etc). If you every need to use the gun for self defense, and you are aquited in round 1 (Criminal Court), you will have a tough time in Civil court. Get some Federal Hydro Shocks, or Winchester Personal Defense Hollow points. Anything standard and over the counter.

The good thing about hollow points is that if you miss and hit sheet rock, they are likely to expand and not penetrate. The same is true of a human target. You want to avoid at all costs hitting a third party.

So again, what is your plan for the pistol?