Any time a discussion involves comparison of guns or shooting technique, if the thread/discussion goes long enough, someone will assert that their position is supported by "performance" over "aesthetics" or some other less-important value. These remarks often overlook the fact that "performance" means different things in different contexts and to different people. For instance, imagine three semi-auto pistols:
Before criticizing someone's preferred gun or technique as offering suboptimal performance, consider whether you're talking about the same performance they are.
- A polymer-framed service-grade pistol in 9mm with good clearances and a consequent ability to run reliably even when fouled by foreign matter;
- A double-stack 1911/2011 in .40 S&W with a crisp single action trigger, flared magwell, fiber-optic front sight, thumb-rest, and a heavy frame with full dust cover;
- A .22 blowback pistol with the magazine forward of the large and heavily contoured grip, and an extremely light single-action trigger.
Before criticizing someone's preferred gun or technique as offering suboptimal performance, consider whether you're talking about the same performance they are.