hoobens:
First of all, welcome to the Forum.
As for a comparison of the Seecamp LWS32 and the Rohrbaugh R9, each one is at the top of its caliber but the two calibers are vastly different in capability. Treatises have been written on the subject, but here is a quick summary which may be of interest:
[size=10].32 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) - AKA 7.65mm Browning
Initially introduced in europe in 1899, this semi-rimmed centerfire cartridge came to the United States in 1903 when Colt introduced its "Pocket Model" semiautomatic pistol. Also referred to as the .32 Auto, the .32 ACP was introduced with a 71 grain full metal jacket bullet at a muzzle velocity of slightly over 900 fps with around 130 foot pounds of muzzle energy. Like the .25 ACP, the .32 ACP is considered by many as too weak to be an effective self-defense round. But it has been an extremely popular caliber, notably by the fact that practically all minor and major manufacturers of autoloading handguns in the world have built millions of small pocket autoloaders in .32 ACP.
9mm Parabellum - AKA 9mm Luger, 9mm NATO
This cartridge was introduced in 1902 along with the Luger semi-automatic pistol. The pistol and cartridge was first adopted by the German Navy in 1904 and then by the German Army in 1908. This cartridge has since been adopted by the military of practically every non-Communist power. It has become the most popular and widely-used handgun cartridge in the world. Performance wise, the 9mm cartridge has somewhat more power than the .38 Special but falls well short of the .357 Magnum. A typical 115 grain bullet will have an average muzzle velocity of 1200 fps and a muzzle energy around 350 ft-lbs.[/size]
http://www.rattlesnakeridge.org/Ammo.htmlWith regard to the operation and comparative size and weight of the two pistols:
Seecamp LWS32 .32 ACPOperation: DAO
Capacity: 6 +1
Overall Length: 4.25”
Height: 3.25”
Width: 0.86”
Weight Empty: 11.5 oz.
Weight Fully Loaded 13 oz.
Rohrbaugh 9mm (9 x 19 mm)Operation: DAO
Capacity: 6 +1
Overall Length: 5.2”
Height: 3.7”
Width: 0.91”
Weight Empty: 14.3 oz.
Weight Fully Loaded 17 oz.
Chart comparison of pocket pistols:
http://www.mouseguns.com/PocketAutoComparison.pdfI do not know how many pistols Rohrbaugh produces each year -- only that demand seems to exceed supply.
With regard to the R9 in Massachusetts, I would call the company. I do not see the R9 listed on the latest published roster of firearms approved by that state:
http://www.mass.gov/Eeops/docs/chsb/firearms/approved_firearms_roster_08_2009.pdf
