Does 38 Special have stopping power?

38 special yields very limited stopping power. Yes, the peewees may be better than no gun, but not by much.

Does 38 Special have good stopping power?

When topped with a high-quality Hornady or Speer hollow-point projectiles, the stopping power is quite impressive. A good hit with JHP or semi-wadcutter hollow-point rounds out of an old snub-nose revolver will get an attacker's attention.

Which has more stopping power 9mm or 38 Special?

38 Special only produces 264 foot-pounds of force (147-grain bullet at 900 feet per second out of a 4-inch barrel), while standard pressure 9mm can produce 365 foot-pounds of force (124-grain bullet at 1,150 feet per second).

Which has more stopping power 357 or 38 Special?

38 Special +P ammo does help close the gap, but even then, it's still not even close to coming to the raw, unadulterated power offered by the 357 Mag. The 357 simply has more muzzle velocity, energy, and better terminal ballistics compared to the 38 Special.

Is 38 Special a good carry gun?

38 Special is an absolute breeze, even with stout carry loads. The 2-inch model is the carry gun, while 4-inch, 5-inch and 6-inch barrel models can also be had. You'll pay for the innovative design and construction, but you get it back in function for sure.

The .38 Special Is The Best Handgun Cartridge. PERIOD

Which is more powerful a 38 Special or a 380?

38 Special carry more energy than those from a . 380 Auto. In the example of the . 380 firing a 90 grain bullet at 1,040 feet per second, that bullet would provide about 215 foot-lbs.

How much kick does a 38 Special have?

If you have shot any one caliber listed, you can estimate the comparative recoil from the other guns based on the figures given. For example, a 38 Special has roughly twice the recoil of a 380 ACP i.e. 1.39 X 2 = 2.78. Again this assumes guns of equal weight at 40 ounces.

Which ammo has the best stopping power?

40 round, which supposedly combines the best features of the . 45 ACP and the 9mm. However, others say that the lowly . 22 LR has the best stopping power, since it stays in the target's body and bounces around, shredding arteries and punching holes in internal organs.

What is the difference between a 38 and 38 Special?

There's no difference between a . 38 and a 38 special. The former refers to a caliber with a . 357 inch bullet diameter, while the latter is a cartridge variant under the .

Why is the 38 Special called special?

Despite its name, the caliber of the . 38 Special cartridge is actually . 357 inches (36 caliber/9.07 mm), with the ". 38" referring to the approximate diameter of the loaded brass case.

Is a 38 Special good for home defense?

38 Special cartridge, the revolver is a good home defense handgun. It takes a great deal of time, money, and training to be appreciably better armed with a handgun.

What is the best caliber for home defense?

The most common caliber for a home defense handgun is 9mm. This does mean that your gun will penetrate through walls and can possibly harm your loved ones during a home invasion. Also, many experts recommend hollow point ammo because of the power, and they are a bit safer to shoot in a home defense scenario.

Is 38 Special the same as 357 Magnum?

38 Special and . 357 Magnum are exactly the same in width. It's only when looking at their length that you'll notice a difference. Many handgun owners shoot one or both of these rounds, and while the cartridges have a common heritage, these bullets perform in strikingly different ways.

What handgun has the most stopping power?

Ruger 1707 GP100

The GP100 can hold . 357 Magnum rounds, giving it high honors for stopping power. However, with only six rounds, you'll want to be sure to spend time practicing.

How accurate is a 38 Special?

When loaded with quality ammunition, the . 38 Special can be an extremely accurate piece at the ranges typically employed in a personal defense situation. Integrate +P ammunition with well-designed bullets, and all of the positive elements of a personal defense handgun are represented. Yes, the .

Is .38 ammo cheaper than 9mm?

Ammunition in 9mm is available in bulk and has many variations than the ammunition for . 38 Special. It is also cheaper.

Is .38 bigger than 9mm?

Both bullets are equal in bullet diameter, the 9mm case is about 3/8 of an inch shorter than the . 38 Special but boasts double the pressure.

What does +p mean in 38 Special?

Overpressure ammunition, commonly designated as +P or +P+, is small arms ammunition that has been loaded to produce a higher internal pressure when fired than is standard for ammunition of its caliber (see internal ballistics), but less than the pressures generated by a proof round.

Is a revolver more reliable than a semi-auto?

Those who advocate for the relevance of the revolver will often counter with one or both of following arguments: Revolvers are more reliable and more accurate than semi-autos. There are plenty of other advantages of wheel guns, but in my experience, these two seem to be the most commonly repeated.

What handgun caliber has the most one shot stops?

Average Number of Rounds Until Incapacitation

We can see that smaller calibers tend to require more shots until the person is incapacitated. The 9mm round has the highest number of shots prior to incapacitation. I believe this is because it is one of the easiest rounds to shoot quickly.

How many rounds do you need for self-defense?

In the overwhelming majority of the incidents where an armed civilian fires a shot in self-defense, probably 70 to 90% of them are able to resolve the situation within 3 or 4 rounds, and usually closer to one or two rounds.

Which has more stopping power 9mm or 40?

40 S&W Comparison. At its most basic, it's reasonable to conclude that the . 40 caliber S&W has more stopping power, kinetic energy, and superior ballistics to the target, which will lead to larger and potentially more lethal wounds (although 9mm ammunition is powerful in its own right).

Which is more powerful a 38 or a 45?

The difference between 45 and 38 Super is the bullet diameter each cartridge fires and their muzzle velocity. The 45 ACP fires a 0.452” diameter bullet at lower muzzle velocity while the 38 Super fires a 0.356” diameter bullet at higher muzzle velocities.

What's the best caliber for concealed carry?

While many concealed carriers will swear by larger calibers or smaller calibers, the 9mm has proven itself through time to be the “one size fits all” of ammunition. Provided a good choice of carry round, the moderate recoil and accuracy of the 9mm round is such that it is the default choice and for good reason.

Is .38 the same as 9mm?

38, . 357, . 380 auto and 9mm ammunition are all the same caliber. (Caliber is the size of the projectile, or bullet.)