tried to get a new gun - baffled

[dakotasin]

went down to the gunshop this morning bent on getting a new gun so i can play gun games (ipsc/idpa style competitions). i have decided on a 40 to keep ammo simple (other handguns are 40's). decided on the beretta 96 inox. at the last moment, i asked about mag cap, and the dealer said the mag had an 11 round cap, and that was the beretta standard cap... this is a pretty large gun, so i couldn't believe that the mag cap was less than my smaller, more comfortable sig p-229. anyway, the sale has been put on hiatus while i do some checking...

so... is it true the beretta 96 has a maximum capacity of 11 rounds??? am i correct that the sig p-226 in 40 will hold 15? this is the deal breaker or maker... the beretta is pretty big, so in a gun that size, i best not be limited to 11...

as a curiosity, what are beretta 92/96's running where you are? what about sig p-226's?

any suggestions on a different gun to look at?

 

[Black Snowman]

Yes, 11 rounds are the stadard high-cap in the 96 series. The 92 in 9mm has a 15 rounds standard capacity. They're big guns for what you get. I'm not familiar with the SIG's capacities but a gun with a 15 round .40 capacity should hold about 17 to 20 rounds of 9mm in the same size mag.

My Glock 24P (same mags as the 22 and 35) holds 15 rounds of 40 and I have +2 extensions on the high-caps. Other high capacity 40s include guns like the Para-Ord, STI, S-V Infinity, CZ 75 series (only 12 rounds with standard mags), and many more.

What kind of a budget are you working with and what features are you looking for?

 

[dakotasin]

budget - i was trying to stay under $700-ish, and less is better. $550 would be about ideal on the top end, but a little more is ok if necessary.

features: i want da/sa w/ a decocker, and am looking for a mag cap of greater than 12. stainless would be nice, i could probably live w/ blue, though. i'm pretty much wide open except the cartridge: 40 it is.

a gun the size of the beretta that caps out at 11 isn't gonna work for me. that fat, long grip should hold more than that!

i'm open to suggestions, then, since the beretta 96 is out... i do have the sig p-229, but was hoping for more than 12 for mag cap...

 

[RGF]

Beretta 96 .40 = 11 rounds.
Sig 226 .40 = 12 rounds. (yep, same as the 229)

 

[Optimus]

96 - 11 round high cap mags

For a 96, a factory high cap mag will only hold 11. Aftermarket MecGar will hold 12 I believe. In the new 2005 catalog, they have 13 round 40sw listed, however it may be a misprint. No one can confirm, so I guess time will tell.

 

[RGF]

Afterthought...

HK USP holds 13 + 1 - OR - 16 + 1 with the jet funnell and extended mags. You can get a varient with safety and decock or decock only I believe. Might be worth a look.

 

[denfoote]

How about the Ruger KP944D??
According to the Ruger web site, it has a 17 round capacity.
I have not verified this by actually seeing the gun and mags, however.

 

[Jim Watson]

If you have, as you say, a P229, you don't need to buy a new gun to get your feet wet in IPSC or IDPA or "style" shooting. Go try it out before sinking money into it. You might end up with something entirely different once you see what the needs of the matches are.

I don't know what you mean by keeping ammo simple, but for USPSA/IPSC Production or IDPA Stock Service Pistol that would be the best places for a Beretta, etc., standard load .40 is at a disadvantage to 9mm on recoil. If you handload .40 exclusively, light load .40 is fine.

Magazine capacity is not relevant in USPSA Production or any IDPA; all you get is 10+1 as a holdover from the AWB and the continuing repression in some states.

 

[dakotasin]

jim- boy, you sure do wreck a high!! this is merely a justification for a new gun - though i will also use it in these shoots...

keeping ammo simple... i handload for everything i have, and i looked at my 'collection' of dies, brass, and powder the other day, and i surprised myself... i have too much of each - i have more reloading stuff than most small gunshops do. not counting loaded rounds, i have a little over 2000 223 brass, 5,000 40 brass, and the list goes on...and on...and on...and - well, you get the idea. i expect to keep my 38/357 stuff, 45 acp stuff, and 40 stuff, but i have divested myself of all things 9mm and smaller. i'm primarily into rifles, but handguns are second, and i shoot shotguns on occasion - mostly for pheasants and waterfowl. so, more guns, fewer components. no, recoil doesn't bother me, and i don't care if it might cost me time - i just wanna play the game; i don't expect to win. and i do want to keep it a 40.

mag cap...if i'm gonna have a large gun, i want capacity to match it. if the p-229 is as much mag cap as i can get from a 40 (at 12), then there is no point in buying large framed guns...

denfoote- thanks on the ruger suggestion, but i had a p-89 and really did not like it. one of the few guns to go that i didn't have any pangs of guilt about whatsoever... so, i'd rather not do a ruger again.

keep the suggestions coming...appreciate it.

 

[Majic]

When the .40SW first hit the market I think all the pistols were only 11 or 12 rounders as they were just modified 9mm models and that was all that would fit in the magazines.

 

[dakotasin]

i understand that...

i guess what i don't understand: para ordnance can put out a 45 acp that holds 14... but 12 is what a 40 tops out at? just doesn't seem right...

 

[Aguila Blanca]

Para's full-size 1911 tops out at 16 rounds in .40

http://www.paraord.com/product/product.html?id=31

 

[eerw]

Beretta would be fine for IDPA or USPSA production or limited 10 if you want..

all these divisions have 10 round max..

if you are going for max capacity and want to play in USPSA Limited..
then you will do well to save your money and go STI/SV. Para or Caspian.

 

[Jim Watson]

Dakotasin,

I understand, sometimes you just need an excuse to buy a new gun. But if you shoot a couple of matches first with something on hand, you will know better what to shop for.

I fully understand your stance on reloading, too. I don't do .40s because 9mm, .38, and .45 do well enough for me without another set of components to buy and sort. Some people say a light loaded .40 is more controllable than 9mm ball, when you are at Minor power factor anyhow.