[jundeleon]

What is the choice/most popular caliber for an open gun among today's shooters?

38super? or 40SW? or 45acp?

What are the advantages/disadvantages of each round?

[batangueno]

38 super. This catridge has sufficient gas pressure to effectively work the compensator.

[jasonub]

ditto, mag capacity and shell life too

[cznayr]

siyempre 40s&w for me.. don't ask me why

[mc_oliver]

Ideally, it should be the caliber that'll offer you maximum capacity using legal equipment.

Only the 38 super and the 9mm can give you this. The 40 and 45 can work. However, judging from feedback over at BE's forum, you'll need to use really light heads. This is to maximize powder charges (for gas volume to work the comp) and minimize torquing (during recoil) of the gun.

[doctabako]

In most forums and what we see being used in competitions, it has to be a 38 super since as mc_o said it offers maximum capacity. If you are going to .40 s&w or .45 ACP it would be better to build a gun for Modified division instead.

[mc_oliver]

One thing to consider going modified is your ability to withstand blast. Once you start putting holes in your barrel, prepare for the blast and noise (lalo na the short-barrels). Try shooting one first before deciding if it's the thing for you.

FWIW, the first time I tried one of the modified guns (with major PF), I thought I lost my teeth (good idea to remember closing your mouth when shooting these beasts). The second is that it does slap your hand harder than your Standard gun.

Now, everytime I'm near a modified shooter, I start flinching everytime they pull the trigger.

[bulm540]

hands down .38 super or 9mm. You need to tweak your mags to be reliable with a 9mm however.

[ogiebb]

for me the best caliber would be 38 super comp or 9mm major because they are rimless and can have the most ammo put it a mag..only problem is that super comp brass is helluva expensensive and if your going to use 9 major its one time use only for the brass...just stick to 38 super if all else fails

[rhino465]

For an open gun, any of the 9mm family will do nicely, but .38 super and 9x23 and its clones have the longest track records.

[bulm540]

Hey RHino, you gonna post the digi pics of us at the Indiana State match???

[rhino465]

Yeah! I sent them to my brother in law to post on his web site so I could link here, but I made them too small! I have to resize and try again!

Thanks for reminding me!