Carry Guns - doin' the math

[indytechnerd]

DISCLAIMER: The 'nerd' in my username is NOT ironic.

The other day I was digging around, looking at various pistols, and trying to compare different brands and models. What I finally decided to do was plug various points of info into a spreadsheet so I could see exactly how various pistols stacked up side by side.

So, INGO, I need your input. What are some specifications you'd like to see side by side in a pistol? Here are a few I came up with, that you won't find on the manufacturer's website.

Footprint: basically the area of the triangle created by the overall length of the weapon x the height. IE G19 footprint = 17.125 square inches vs. XD45 service = 20.9875 square inches

Bang Factor: The amount of lead thrown down range by emptying a full magazine + 1 in the pipe; standard mag capacity +1 * bullet weight. Bang factor of a G21 (230gr .45) is 3220 vs. XD9SC (115gr 9mm) which only has 1610.

Loaded Weight: Just what it says. Empty weight + weight of cap.+1 rounds. This is far from an exact measurement, since I don't know whether empty weights listed on the websites are with an empty mag or no mag. But, based on the assumption that it with an empty mag and doing some algebra to figure what a single 9mm or .45 cartridge weighs, a G17 comes in at 30.09oz, with the 9mm 4" Svc XD 5.5oz heavier.

Just so there's no confusion that this is a Glock vs. XD thread, here are the 3 specs above for a Spring. 4" GI Champion: 20.625sq.in., 1840BF w/ 7rd. mag, and a whopping 43.09oz loaded.

We see comparisons and 'Which is better' questions daily, and comparing barrel lengths and empty weights doesn't give a true comparison in terms of carrying the weapon. Maybe I've just got too much time on my hands, but ultra-controlled 'tests' don't weigh to much for me. I could care less if the new Pistolero Model 9000 shoots a ragged hole at 20m inside a hermetically sealed range using Olympic level ammunition while epoxied into a 2.5ton vice. If it can't hit a pie pan outside on a windy day from 7m, it's a pile of .

So, am I crazy? BTW, I'll put it all into a google doc if yas want. Also, if there's a specific pistol you want to see, I'll put it in also.