The basis for my prejudice is a Norinco 45ACP I had with an aftermarket barrel. The feedramp clearance was normal, but a Remington 185-grain factory load blew out. When that happened, I got a face full of brass and powder granules, the stocks split in several places, and the mag and remaining ammo was blown out the bottom, into my crotch. My face was bloodied but my eyes were okay, my hand was blackened and stung like fire, but that was it. The remaining rounds were scattered into the tall weeds with the mag floorplate, spring and follower, and the mag itself was flared outwards into the mag well and took some serious prying to get it out. The gun was otherwise fine, and I shot it again the next week, with a new set of Pachmayr grips, which I chose for the steel inserts under the rubber, a darn fine idea! I'm just really glad I didn't have my support hand under the grip! I still have the brass casing, which had to be pried out of the barrel, and the missing section is a precise example of the gap between the ramp and the barrel hood. You can understand my hesitation at the thought of buying another GI 45!
As for an aftermarket barrel that IS supported, why buy a gun just to start replacing parts? Seems kinda wasteful, and I'm not only frugal, I'm CHEAP! :wink:
I guess for now I'll stick with my EAA Witness in 40 S&W, I've got around 13,000 rounds thru it without any problems, and I've put ammo thru it that would make a ballistician cringe (by accident, wrong powder! :eek: ).What I really want is a 10mm carbine, I think that would be a major hoot to play with, and good whitetail/pig medicine up close!
Thanks for all the replies, I may look into the 45GAP if other makers start chambering it in steel guns.
PJ