From: rwalton@NeXT.COM (Robert Walton)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Rating Guns for Purchase
Date: 31 Aug 92 22:01:56 GMT


For those of you interested in rating firearms, I offer the following  
alpha version (see appropriate disclaimers at the end of this posting).   
Still a lot of judgement involved, but it's structured in a way that may  
work for you if you choose the right categories and weights...

I was recently in the market for a home defense handgun for my wife.   
Being a die hard for data and numbers, I compiled some criteria and  
measured a select number of handguns against these criteria.  Each  
category gets a 1-10 score multiplied by the category weight (eg., 9 x.25  
= 2.25), a simple weighted average.  The total weights = 1.0 so the best  
possible score for a gun = 10.  In devising a set of criteria for my wife,  
I took into account she is a novice, seldom shoots, is 5'4", likes shiny  
finishes, and has small hands.  I developed the following categories and  
weights for her self-defense handgun:

	x.25 Reliable (tendency to malfunction for this shooter)
	x.25 Effective (accuracy and damage when used by this shooter)
	x.20 Manageable (ease of handling/use for this shooter)
	x.10 Firepower (rapid fire potential)
	x.10 "Fun" (so this shooter will practice)
	x.10 Aesthetics (to instill pride of ownership, care, etc...)
You can change the categories and weights so long as the total of the  
weights adds up to 1.0.

The way I used this system was:
1) Decide on the purpose and shooter
2) Develop the criteria and weights (remember, sum of the weights = 1.0)
3) Rate the guns (judgement) and multiply the weights
4) Sum up the total for each gun (1-10)
5) Pick the top 3 (or 4 or 5, if you want).  Alternately, take the top  
score and subtract 1.0.  Any guns that fall into this range should be  
considered, the others dropped.
7) Decide amongst these based upon price and feel (rent one if available).

		Rel	Eff	Man	Fire	Fun	Aesth	Total
Sig 230		2.0	1.25	1.4	.4	1.0	 1.0	7.05	
Browning BDA	2.0	1.25	1.2	.9	1.0	 1.0	7.35
Walther PP*	2.0	1.0	1.0	.4	1.0	 .5	5.9
Firestar 9mm**	2.0	1.75	1.0	.4	1.0	 1.0	7.15
S&W 66, .38	2.5	1.25	1.6	.3	1.0	 .9	7.55
S&W 66, .357	2.5	2.0	0.6	.1	.5	 .9	6.6
S&W 686, .38	2.5	1.25	1.8	.3	1.0	 .9	7.75
S&W 686, .357	2.5	2.0	0.8	.2	.5	 .9	6.9

*German Police surplus, blue, in .32 ACP with rubber wrap-around grips
**Using Black Talon, Starfire, or Hydrashock ammo, otherwise 1.25 - 1.5  
max.

For comparison, here's how the same guns (and a couple of others) would  
have scored if I were the intended shooter rather than my wife (I rate  
myself an experienced competitive shooter, shoots often, 6'1", medium  
hands):

	x.25 Reliable (tendency to malfunction for this shooter)
	x.25 Effective (accuracy and damage when used by this shooter)
	x.20 Manageable (ease of use for this shooter)
	x.15 Firepower (rapid fire potential and capacity)
	x.15 Durability & Aesthetics (of parts and finish)
Note the categories and weights are different, so you can't compare  
between shooters except at the 'Total' level for each firearm.

		Rel	Eff	Man	Fire	Dur	Total
Sig 230		2.25	1.5	2.0	.6	1.35	 7.7	
Browning BDA	2.25	1.5	2.0	1.2	1.35	 8.3
Walther PP	2.25	1.25	2.0	.6	1.35	 7.45
Firestar 9mm	2.25	2.0**	2.0	.6	1.5	 8.35
S&W 66, .38	2.5	1.5	2.0	.6	1.5	 8.1
S&W 66, .357	2.5	2.25	1.6	.3	1.35	 8.0
S&W 686, .38	2.5	1.5	2.0	.6	1.5	 8.1
S&W 686, .357	2.5	2.25	1.8	.45	1.5	 8.5
Desert Eagle*	2.25	2.5+	1.6	.75	1.5	 8.6	
Browning HP	2.25	2.0**	2.0	1.5	1.35	 9.1
S&W 629		2.5	2.5	1.8	.45	1.5	 8.75

*.50 AE
**Using Black Talon, Starfire, or Hydrashock ammo, otherwise 1.5 - 1.75  
max.

Notes on categories:
Define them however you like.  Here's what they meant to me...

Reliability - revolvers slightly ahead of autos.  You'll note I gave the  
same guns a higher rating for me than my wife.  This is to take into  
account an experienced shooter v. a novice.  The experienced shooter can  
not only recognize and avoid potential malfunctions but can resolve them  
quickly (ie., stove pipes and such).

Effectiveness, always a hot topic - I simply am looking at this v. a human  
target, ie., beyond a certain threshold more ballistic damage becomes  
moot, so the difference between a .50 AE and a .380 is dramatic but not  
overwhelming.  Besides, the recent advent of such ammo as the Winchester  
Black Talon and PMC Starfire give performance in the smaller rounds that  
should help them compete with larger bore conventional ammo.  I also took  
into consideration sights and the shooters proficiency.  A gun of 9mm will  
be more effective in my hands than in my wife's purely due to different  
levels of shooting proficiency.  One might argue that there should be more  
difference, but frankly, in a home defense situation this is as much  
difference as I could give, and is based upon composure and comfort with  
firearms more than accuracy.  You can choose to disagree and set your own  
weighting, of course:-).

Manageability - I took into account ease of loading, safeties, and  
recoil consideration.  It might be worthwhile to break these out as  
separate categories for finer distinctions.

Firepower - a combination of capacity and target acquisition  
after the first and subsequent shots, hence an inverse relationship to  
effectiveness, generally.  A semi-auto with 6 shots should score slightly  
better than a revolver due to revolver DA for each pull, but this can be  
more dependent upon shooter than firearm.

Durability [and Aesthetics], I simply took into account the  
ruggedness of the firearm and the type of finish, giving stainless a  
higher value than blue, for instance, and the 686 a higher rating than the  
66 for repeated magnum firing (the 66 is not quite as rugged), and  
revolvers slightly better ratings than autos, generally.

Try this approach if you have the time and see what results you get.  Do  
you own the guns you should?  I know you were looking for an excuse to go  
out and buy others...

Good luck!

P.S.  Join the NRA now, and VOTE!

NOTE:  This posting represents the opinions of the poster only, not those  
of NeXT Computer, Inc.  The poster is not a gunsmith nor an expert giving  
advice regarding firearms performance, nor does he endorse the products  
mentioned in this posting as safe or superior to any products mentioned or  
unmentioned.  All liability for firearms use, ownership, and purchase is  
assumed by the firearms owner.  Safe and responsible firearms use is every  
gun owner's responsibility.