I would have one of these pistols just because it is so different and I appreciate the engineering, but it would have to work all the time.
Here is my opinion on a Boberg:
If you look at most gas-port driven (or what I will call it) firearms like Garands, M14/M305, AR's and so on you see a limitation of useable ammo compared to a bolt action. This is generally due to the fact a bolt or other "fixed action" can shoot and feed just about anything (if you ignore the .223 and rates of twist). The gas-port driven firearms require ammunition that can build proper pressures without exceeding parts-damaging pressures to operate at proper levels. In other words, for those with an M305, would you run hundreds of rounds of Barnes 250gr Origional bullet at the max of 2200fps through it? Probably not: it would pound the gas system to death. Like-wise, light "squib" loads would never operate the system.
The AR then introduces requirements to change ammunition based on gas port lengths and buffer confirgurations: or change port lengths and buffers based on the ammunition you want to shoot. You could also look at an AR15 in 300AAC Blackout where to shoot sub-sonic a pistol length gas port is required (as I have read, but I know my carbine 300AAC stove pipes sub-sonic regardless of the nice groups). Then, if you add the .223/5.56 AR system with various rates of twist, then those ammunition choices get restricted again based on not just operation but accuracy. A 1in7 twist on a pistol length system might operate awesome with very heavy bullets and tight crimps, where a full 20" rifle with a 1in14 twist will be unlikely to operate optimally and have the best groups on the same ammunition.
You could also look at any handguns like a Sig, Glock, CZ (and on, and on, and on) and find that each firearm works optimally and has the best groups with a certain ammunition. Many threads here talk about one (insert brand here) working better on one ammo, and yet another person has the exact (insert brand here) and it works better on something else. Grouping of the fired projectiles down range is one factor, while the smooth and 100% reliable operation of the system is another: the balance of the two must be decided by the user. Maybe super flawless 100% operation in the US where carry is allowed is more important, maybe the one ammo with awesome groups is more important, or maybe a reasonable medium can be found: 100% operation with the 2nd or 3rd best ammo groups.
In other words, if someone is using a non "fixed action" (bolt, single, break, etc.) then they are already knowledgeable that their firearm doesn't operate ammo "K" very well and gets barn sized groups with ammo "S".
I look at a Boberg as buying an AR-15 type rifle with a set and unchangeable buffer, barrel length and gas port length: the type of ammunition it will feed 100% reliably and with good accuracy becomes narrowed. By looking at the Boberg site that records the ammunition tried by actual owners the limitations are not horrible: medium to heavy loads (or +P) with a moderate to heavy crimp. If someone wants to shoot light loads then it won't work properly, and if someone wants to shoot rounds with little or no crimp then they will get seperations in the magazine. There is another limitation presented too: no heavy military-type primers in the 6lb trigger (that is easily solved by getting the standard 7.5lb trigger). The actual problems with the Boberg design seems to have been worked out in the refinement and first user reports part of the development of the firearm. That only leaves the ammunition restrictions based on the intended and well-engineered design, something that cannot be changed: for the firearm to work as desgined that requires good ammo of good crimp and decent C.U.P.
I have already worked out the best ammo for an Norc M305 and several AR's of various configurations, so I really don't see any more effort for a Boberg. For those that are not accustomed to such things, in my opinion, a Boberg might (just might) seem like a strange piece of un-reliable hardware...
