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.
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Which ammo is cheaper 38 or 9mm?

As the much smaller cartridge, it's only fair that the 9mm should cost as little as half as much as a 38 Spl. There's simply less lead and copper in it, and its lighter weight means it costs less to ship as well. It's not uncommon for 9mm ammo to run 20-30% less than 38 special.
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What is better a 38 or a 9 mm?

Standard pressure . 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). This is 38.25% more energy at the muzzle in favor of the 9mm.
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How much does a .38 bullet cost?

38 Special is currently averaging around $1 per round, while some of the “premium” options – such as Winchester's Silvertip rounds – are now selling for more than double that price. What's driving the high prices right?
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Why is 9mm stronger than 38 Special?

The standard pressure for the . 38 Special is roughly 17,000 pounds-per-square-inch (psi). However, the 9mm Luger has internal pressures of 35,000 psi. It's this higher internal pressure, the result of expansive propellant design and testing, that makes the smaller 9mm more powerful.
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If 9mm is so great, where is all the 38 caliber ammo?



Is a .38 good for self defense?

Is 38 Special A Good Self Defense Round? The gist of . 38 Special is that it's a medium bullet at medium velocity. It can be effective for personal defense but ammunition selection (and placement!) is important, especially if your gun has a shorter barrel length.
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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.
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Is 38 Special 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.
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What's the difference between 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 .
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Why is it called 38 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.
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Is a 9mm revolver worth it?

The Why. First off, 9mm ammo is cheaper, more common, and readily available on a broader degree of defensive loadings than 38 Special or 357 Magnum. It outperforms 38 Special, and in a snub nose, it's still mild to shoot and easy to handle. Without a doubt, 357 Magnum outclasses it.
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Is a 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.
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What is the best 38 caliber handgun?

BANG: Five Best . 38 Special Handguns for Home Defense
  • Here's What You Need To Remember: The . ...
  • Ruger SP101.
  • Colt Cobra.
  • Smith & Wesson Model 10.
  • Smith & Wesson Model 442.
  • Smith & Wesson 686.
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Which is better 380 or 9mm?

9mm and . 380 ACP cartridges — both popular choices for self-defense rounds — have the same diameter, but a 9mm round is longer. The . 380 ACP round is cheaper and easier to handle and conceal, while the 9mm is more powerful overall.
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Why is there an ammunition shortage?

COVID-19 Pandemic Supply Chain Issues

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, shoppers could opt for imported ammo if they couldn't get products from their favorite American brands. However, the ongoing pandemic has disrupted international supply chains, leading to ammo imports into the U.S. dropping by 34%.
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Is .38 and .380 the same?

38, . 357, . 380 auto and 9mm ammunition are all the same caliber. (Caliber is the size of the projectile, or bullet.)
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How many rounds is enough for concealed carry?

“To be clear, that's 2.45 Hits – not rounds fired.” So: If it takes (on average) 5.55 shots to make a hit, And if it takes (on average) 2.45 hits to incapacitate an attacker, Then it takes 5.55 x 2.45 = 13.6 rounds fired (on average) to incapacitate an attacker.
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Is .357 the same as .38 Special?

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.
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Why 9mm is better than 45?

As we can see from the chart above, 9mm bullets have a higher muzzle velocity than 45 ACP bullets do. Combined with the 9mm's smaller size than . 45 ACP, that translates into deeper bullet penetration. A higher muzzle velocity and lower weight also means that the 9mm usually has less vertical drop than a 45 does.
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What is the best 9mm carry handgun?

8 Best Compact 9mm Handguns
  • HK VP9 Shooting.
  • Walther PDP.
  • Sig Sauer P320.
  • M&P 2.0 vs 1.0.
  • FN 509 Compact.
  • Taurus G3C on the farms.
  • Glock G17, full-size, and G19 Gen 4, compact.
  • Managing Editor Jacki is 5'2″ and carries a Glock 19 or similar-sized clone.
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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.
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What is the smallest caliber for self-defense?

First of the small calibers for self-defense is the . 22 rimfires, specifically . 22 Long Rifle and . 22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, also called .
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What is the best all around handgun caliber?

The . 357 Magnum, 10mm and . 357 Sig rounds are better fits, as all three are capable (and proven) in both roles.
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What is the best weapon to carry for self-defense?

The 10 Best Self-Defense Weapons for Men in 2022
  • Compact Sport & Safety Horn. ...
  • Diablo 2 Stun Gun. ...
  • Triple Action Police Strength Pepper Spray. ...
  • 3-pack Emergency Self Defense Personal Whistle Alarm Keychain. ...
  • Ultimate Knife, Tactical Knife with Fire Starter, Sharpener, and Knife Sheath. ...
  • Williams Defense Key.
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Is revolver better than pistol?

To many though, revolvers feel better in their hands and are easier to grip and control. Something else to consider is the trigger. A single-action revolver may have the smoothest trigger in the handgun world.
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