Princess Twilight Sparkle inserted a loaded magazine into the grip of the large semi-automatic pistol. She’d read about this style of firearm in several technical and scientific journals over the last couple of years.  
 
Apparently they had come to the attention of the Royal Sisters since they had initiated this study to consider the possibility of replacing Equestria’s inventory of black powder revolvers with these new smokeless powder, supposedly wondertech, repeating pistols. Or whether to just adopt a new revolver that can shoot smokeless, Another camp in the court was asking whether existing revolver could just take the new powder. The princess had heard that there was similar program for a new service rifle.  
 
With her left hand she grasp the knob on the toggle, and following the advice of the company representative she gave it a quick, sharp tug. She watch as the action stripped a cartridge from the magazine and fed it into the chamber.  
 
Well, it’s different. Thought the alicorn.  
 
Deactivating the safety on the pistol she raised her right arm and started to take aim but then paused. Remembering the first magazine, and her still ringing ears, her horn flared and silence bubble enveloped her right hand and the pistol. She then squeezed the trigger. The pistol proceeded to send another 8 rounds of 7.63mmx25mm downrange and into the target. The silence bubble didn’t cancel all sound but it reduced the sound of it firing down to a series of muffled thumps. Once again remembering the company reps recommendation she focused most of her attention on the blade front sight. Still a small part of her conscious mind noted the empty brass casing ejecting upward.  
 
That’s definitely an improvement over the model that Luna tested.  
Royal Opinion by Baron-Engel  
Thought the princess. At least it’s not throwing spent casing at my face and down my cleavage.  
 
Upon firing the last cartridge Twilight removed the now empty magazine, worked the toggle a couple of times to confirm the chamber was empty. She engaged the safety and set the pistol back down on the bench. She then turned and looked at the company representative who was already resuming their sale schipel.  
 
“As you can see your Highness this latest offering from my fine company is the latest in modern semiautomatic technology.” The male griffin puffed up his chest as he made his proclamation. “So. What did you think?”  
 
Twilight considered several diplomatic ways to reply, but then took a page from AJ’s book and decided that honesty was the best policy.  
 
“I don’t like it. It’s overly large and bulky for a service pistol. The grip angle is not conducive to comfortable shooting. It’s overall layout places too much mass behind the shooter’s hand. That combined with the its relatively light barrel results in unnecessary barrel flip. Also it appears possess numerous, complicated machine parts that require hand fitting. That would undoubtedly will drive up the per unit price.”  
 
The company rep deflated some at the princess’s critique, but quickly regain his composure. “Ah! But your Highness with the combination stock/holster attached it turns into a very handy, light semi-automatic carbine!”  
 
The alicorn gave the griffin a deadpan look. “But we’re not testing for a carbine. We’re testing for a new pistol.”  
 
The rep deflated even more. “Oh.”