Somebody explain something about a "Handgun Battery" for me.

[mini14jac]

I picked up a gun rag the other night, and skimmed an article about having a handgun "battery".
The author says he wants an "always" gun, ie: NAA .22 or Seecamp .32, etc.
Also wants a "pocket gun", as in .38 snub.
Ok so far.

Next, he says we need a compact carry gun, and he lists a couple of "officer-sized" .45s.
Then to round out his collection, he says you need a full size, service weapon, and lists a couple of 1911-style guns.

Here is my question:
If you have a compact gun with 5 or 6 shots, that is accurate, why do you need a full-size gun that only adds 1 or two shots?
Many of the compact guns are as accurate, or more so, than the full size guns.
I've seen several tests where the smallest Glocks shoot smaller groups than the full size guns. At least with a full size Glock, you add quite a few more rounds.

My "compact" gun is a S&W 457, which holds 7+1 rounds of .45.
I don't see any advantage to have a much larger, heavier, 1911 gun that would hold the same amount of rounds.

So, again, why do you need the full size handgun, if it only adds .5" barrel and 1 or 2 more rounds?
Or is the guy just writing something so he can draw a paycheck, and the publisher can get you to pony up $9?

I'm truly seeking enlightenment here.

 

[Pheonix]

The longer the barrel the higher the velocity the more riliable the expantion. I have no problems with my sub compact 9mm.

 

[BigG]

Battery is a term used to describe a group of more than one artillery pieces. Gunscribes have adapted it to mean a group of guns. A battery of guns would be more than one gun, in my book.

 

[Matthew_Q]

Are you thinking about the term "out of battery" or "in battery"?

Take any autoloading pistol. When the slide is COMPLETELY closed, it is considered 'In Battery', meaning it will discharge (if the safties are disengaged) if the firing mechanism is actuated. With the slide back, even just slightly, or just enough to unlock the barrel from the slide, it is 'Out Of Battery'. MOST handguns will not fire if they are out of battery, but some will. This is usually a BAD thing, as the case head will usually rupture under the pressure, resulting in a KB. (Ka-boom).

Does that help?

 

[Al Thompson]

"So, again, why do you need the full size handgun, if it only adds .5" barrel and 1 or 2 more rounds?
Or is the guy just writing something so he can draw a paycheck, and the publisher can get you to pony up $9?"

Mainly (IMHO) to sell stuff. There are some personal issues - I.E., I like the way my M19 handles compared to my M26 Glock. Same capacity (for now ), not much diff for practical accuracy. The backstrap of the G26 beats the heck out of my palm when I shoot it. Great for carry though.

Commander length 1911s balance different for some folks - both pro and con.

Different strokes, ya know...

 

[DMK]

It depends on what you plan on using the firearms for.

A full size gun will be heavier and more comfortable to shoot. That means that you will likely shoot better with it due to a better grip and less apparent recoil. Suggested purpose: Dedicated range gun, home defense, open carry.

A compact gun will have some compromises in weight and size for improved carry comfort or concealability. Suggested purpose: Winter or casual concealed carry, open carry.

A sub-compact gun will be designed exclusively for improved carry comfort or concealability. It will have compromises in weight, size and maybe caliber. Suggested purpose: Daily concealed carry.

A pocket gun will be designed exclusively for improved carry comfort or concealability. Suggested purpose: Daily concealed carry, "deep concealment", backup gun to one of the above.


YMMV Obviously some happily conceal a CZ-97B and others may open carry a Keltec P32. It's still a free country in some places.

 

[Tamara]

mini14jac,

While small guns may be as mechanically accurate as bigger ones, I am probably not going to lug a ransom rest to my next mugging. Bigger, service-sized autoloaders offer a longer sight radius and a full grip and more weight to tame muzzle flip. This is a Good Thing.

 

[jercamp45]

Battery meaning more than one....

and each one geared to fulfill a niche or a specific purpose.
Mostly he was putting words in a row to make money.....but we all have our tastes and environment/dress concerns. Some people feel they have to have a different gun for every occassion....Monday thru Saturday, and a fancy one for BBQ's and church goin'. Then one encase Zombie(aliens, mutants, crackheads, whatever attack en masse), one just in case he goes to Alaska/Africa or encounters something big, nasty and hungry;one for whatever competition(s) he/she might chose to participate in, another for hunting critter's, small, medium and large; another for superlong range shooting, one for the pocket, the ankle, the colon, one for the car, one for the wife and X number of kids, a back up gun, a back up to the back up gun....I mean the list can go on infinitely.
More or less, these are the excuses we gun nuts use to placate our desire to get something else to try out and play with...a boys and toys kinda thing.
You can get by with one or two, if you pick the right platform that fits YOU and your percieved needs. Simplification and familiarity are good things.
For me that is an Officer sized 1911(well, three-Monday, Wensday, Friday)...but I have a couple of Governments(Tuesday, Thursday) that I have had for decades and would never part with, and am looking for a 4 inch slide/officer frame combo for 'what's next'(Saturday-then I get to start building my Sunday/BBQ/Church going gun(titanium Officer frame, Damascus Commander slide...nevermind I seldom go to church!). Then the .22 conversion unit for plinking. The 460 Rowland kit for hunting. And Picanny rails for mounting tac lights and grenade launcher's(how about a short single shot 12 gauge barrel that throws a slug containing a small shaped charge? Lemat meets Mad Max!)
See, I really keep it simple!! Yeah, right! LOL
Unless you are into handgun hunting, competition, or some specialty purpose...a compact .45 or .40 that is reliable, fits your hand and budget will do almost anything you need to do defensively AND are extremely versatile in that they can be applied to a variety of uses.....some would also throw the .357 revolver with a 3 or 4 inch barrel into that category and they are probably right. Some one living in Alaska may have other requirements and need more power outta their pistol, someone who has to hide their implement DEEP so as not to scare and offend the poor Sheeple may chose something else.
This is not so much about NEED as it is about WANT and DESIRE....which are not bad things either. Get what YOU want.....the gunrags exist to sell advertising space and 'new and improved' is not always true.
Jercamp45

 

[Brian Williams]

see here,
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=44773

 

[Poohgyrr]

Just because we can (well, in some places we still can .)
Some folks need a car instead of good public transport. Some need a fast car (what's the speed limit?), or a 4X4 (for on road & no ice/snow??). Some need a $150 pair of tennis shoes (to attend high school?). Some need whichever ... I need Hi Powers and Smith revolvers (preferably blued). And fresh hot coffee & breakfast in the backyard on Sat. mornings with my wife. What a great country ......

 

[mini14jac]

Hey, thanks for the input ladies and gents.
My full size gun is a Ruger P95.

I guess extra weight, longer site radius, are good reasons.
Like Tamara said.

 

[Rich357]

mini14jacm:
"I picked up a gun rag the other night, and skimmed an article about having a handgun "battery"."
-----------

Hi mini14jacm,

The idea of a battery of guns is an old theme for gun magazines. It is often seen in the form of the two or three rifles you want for different hunting situations. It is the stuff gun owners have argued over for years.

You're right about the smallest Glocks. The G26/G27/G33 are accurate and have enough power for many situations. Do you "need" a large pistol? Maybe not. It often comes down to what you "want" rather than what you need.

Many shooters buy guns because they want to specialize and the get "best" gun for certain situations. A G26 is a fine pistol but it isn't likely to win in a competitive Bullseye match.

If the '94 ban sunsets then you will find some of the full sized pistols giving you a lot more than 7+1. Do you need the extra capacity? Apparently a lot of government and police agencies think they do. YMMV.

Rich

 

[Jim K]

The term originally meant a group (usually 4) of artillery pieces. Since firing was done from a line, guns were normally brought back into line after recoiling and it was said that they were then "in battery". If a gun was fired from the recoiled position, it was said to have been fired "out of battery". When small arms breech loaders and auto loaders came into use, the terms "in battery" and "out of battery" came to mean the position of the breechblock, so that if the block (bolt or slide) were not fully closed, the gun was "out of battery".

In the meaning of a group of handguns, the term was first used by target shooters to mean the guns they needed to compete in all the bullseye matches. That meant one .22 pistol, one centerfire handgun (usually a .38 revolver) and one .45 pistol.

Over the years, revolvers were gradually replaced by .38 auto pistols, then many people chose to use the .45 in the center fire leg as well, reducing "the battery" to two guns.

As used today, it seems to mean a group of "using" handguns, presumably as opposed to a "collection", which implies the guns are not routinely carried or used.

Jim