Every now and again you run into something that really gives you a chuckle and 9mm stopping power threads on the internet are always a chuckle source. From a thread on packing.org on 9mm stopping power:

“…a NYC coroner has said after seeing 100's of shootings, the 9MM is mrginal(sic) at best.”

What’s wrong with that statement? I guess the ones he saw that were shot with 9mm were less dead than those shot with .45's.


"...if you unfortunatly had to shoot and kill someone, would it look better in court to have shot the perpetrator 5 or 6 times with a 9mm, or once or twice with a 40 S&W, or 45 ACP?"

That one is just silly... he's dead either way. 9mm or 40 cal, you shoot to stop the threat.

"Now, thanks to the 40 S&W, there is no longer a conversation. 40 is the only way to fly. It gives you almost as much capacity as you need, and almost 95% of the necessary stopping power."

Almost as much capacity as you need?

If you dont' believe that everyone has an opinion, just read the packing.org thread.

Curios and Relics FFL

From the picture below it should be apparent that I do not have enough guns :) therefore I have started the process of obtaining a Curios and Relics Federal Firearms License. Step 1 is to call the BATF and have a rather strange telephone conversation with someone who barely speaks English. It almost sounded like a computer talking, but the responses, while very delayed, were to appropriate to have been a computer.

Step 1 Complete – Call the BATF forms distribution center at (703) 455-7801 and ask for a Form 03 Curios and Relics Federal Firearms License application.

Evidently you cannot download the form; it must be requested and mailed.

So what will this get me?
1. Discounts at places like Brownells.
2. Wholesale Prices on Firearms, well C&R Fire arms at least.
3. The ability to have a C&R firearm shipped directly to my house (this is the biggie).

What's it going to cost? $30.00

There are tons of C&R rifles out there at bargain prices and pistols too. I really want to start with Beretta pistols will likely start my C&R collection with a Beretta model 1934 in .380. This will be a nice shootable gun. Another gun that I will likely get is an SKS rifle. See Heads Bunker's excellent article on the SKS.

Here is a nice example of a Beretta 1934 .380 that qualifies as C&R.


Current C&R listing for Beretta:
• Beretta, M 1951 pistol Israeli Contract, caliber 9mm parabellum.
• Beretta, model 1915 pistols, cal. 6.35mm, 7.65mm, and 9mm Glisenti.
• Beretta, model 1915/1919 (1922) pistol (concealed hammer), caliber 7.65mm.
• Beretta, model 1919 pistol (without grip safety), caliber 6.35mm.
• Beretta, model 1923 pistol, caliber 9mm Glisenti.
• Beretta, model 1932 pistol, having smooth wooden grips w/"PB" medallion, cal. 9mm.
• Beretta, model 1934 pistol, light weight model marked "Tipo Alleggerita" or "All" having transverse ribbed barrel, cal. 9mm.
• Beretta, model 1934 pistols, cal. 9mm post war variations bearing Italian Air Force eagle markings.
• Beretta, model 1934 pistols, cal. 9mm produced during 1945 or earlier and having S/Ns within the ranges of 500000-999999, F00001-F120000, G0001-G80000, 00001AA-10000AA, 00001BB-10000BB. The classification does not include any post war variations dated subsequent to 1945 or bearing post war Italian proof marks.
• Beretta, model 1935 pistol, Finnish Home Guard Contract, marked "SKY" on the slide, cal. 7.65mm.
• Beretta, model 1935 pistol, Rumanian Contract, marked "P. Beretta - cal. 9 Scurt - Mo. 1934 - Brevet." on the slide, cal. 9mm.
• Beretta, model 1935 pistols, cal. 7.65mm, produced during 1945 and earlier and having S/Ns below 620799.
• Beretta, M1951 pistol, Egyptian Contract, caliber 9mm parabellum.
• Beretta semiautomatic pistol, Model 92F, 9mm Luger caliber, slide engraved in gold "North Carolina Highway Patrol 60th Anniversary 1929-1989," serial numbers NCHPC 0001 through NCHPC 1313 inclusive.

Rare stainless steel deficiency