[Rick Lee]

Well, I shot a .40 for the first time last night. It was a tiny, compact Glock and it packed some punch. I have two .357SIG's, an H&K P7 in 9mm, a few .45's and a .44 mag. The .357SIG and .44 mag. kick the most. .44 mag. is only good for hunting and target shooting. Try 6 rds. of 180gr. .44 mag. and you'll know immediately how unrealistic the Dirty Harry movies are. That round would cut a person in half, go through a wall or two and kill the guy in the next house AND blow out the eardrums of the shooter.

The Secret Service is now using .357SIG, I believe the P229. It packs a LOT more punch that a 9mm and can also fit into high-capacity magazines, usually at 12 rounds. A .45 is probably the most reliable stopper for close range shooting. But .45's don't work for everyone. They are usually single-stack magazines up to 7 or 8. ParaOrdnance made the double stacks famous for .45's and I had one. But they are fat and bulky. 9mm is the cheapest ammo, you can fit 15-16 rounds in a normal magazine and it's just the most universal thing around now.

Luckily, a lot of the SIG's and Glocks can take interchangeable barrels now in .40, .357SIG or 9mm. Own two SIG's in .357 and you'll fast get tired of paying for the ammo. I am ready for a .40 or 9mm barrel for one of those guns.