Why is 38 Special so weak?

38 Special is weak because of black powder per se. We are only including these historical tidbits to attempt to explain how the 9mm, despite having a smaller case, can handle higher pressures than the . 38 Special.

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.

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.

What is the point of 38 Special?

Known for its accuracy and manageable recoil, the . 38 Special remains one of the most popular revolver cartridges in the world more than a century after its introduction. It is used for recreational target shooting, formal target competition, personal defense, and small-game hunting.

Why is 38 Special ammo so scarce?

Because of its popularity, it was bound to be in demand, and prices shot up from the early pandemic levels – when it could be found for around $0.25 per round – to as much as $2.88 for each bullet in early January of this year, a more than 10-fold increase.

Is the .38 Special REALLY So WEAK and Ineffective? 9mm VS .38 Special Speer Gold Dot Ballistic Test

How long will the ammo shortage last?

Unfortunately, many ammo dealers expect the shortage and price hikes to continue into early 2023, especially if more Americans keep buying guns. However, if COVID-19 supply chain issues reduce, dealers may start importing more ammunition to support domestically produced ammo supplies.

Why is ammo out of stock everywhere?

The shortage has been attributed to many factors, including pandemic-era supply chain disruptions, the bankruptcy of major supplier Remington in 2020, the massive amount of new gun owners in the last year, and the resulting surge in demand.

What is 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 .

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.

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.

Why revolvers are better for self-defense?

One advantage of the revolver in home defense is that it is easier to operate and learn to shoot. There isn't much to shooting a revolver: simply open the cylinder, insert bullets, close the cylinder and pull the trigger.

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.

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 a 357 Magnum more powerful than a 9 mm?

The 357 Magnum round loaded with a 125-grain projectile reaches almost 1,500 feet per second and strikes targets with 585 foot-pounds of energy. Needless to say, ballistically, it outperforms the 9mm. The 357 Magnum also has no problems reaching the FBI standards and even exceeding them.

Can a 38 shoot 357 bullets?

No; . 357 Magnum was specifically designed so it cannot be fired from handguns chambered in . 38 Special, but you can shoot .

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.

What is the best ammo for a .38 Special?

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).

Are .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.)

Is 380 the same as 38 Special?

38 special is designed for use in revolvers and the . 380 ACP is used in semi-auto pistols.

Which ammo is easiest to find?

Rifle ammunition is the most available. Averaging the five dealers, 3.5% of their total selection was in stock when we checked last week. If you think that's depressing, it gets worse. Only 2% of handgun ammo was available, 1.7% of shotgun ammo, and 1.2% of rimfire ammo.

Will the ammo shortage end in 2022?

The Great Ammo Shortage of 2022 Just Won't End - 19FortyFive.

Are 30 year old bullets still good?

Generally, yes. If factory centerfire cartridges are stored in a dry, cool place with low humidity, preferably in an airtight container, they can have an amazingly long shelf life. Many ballistics experts who have shot tens of thousands of rounds over the years report shooting 20- to 50-year-old ammo with no problems.

How much ammo do I need to stockpile?

A good rule of thumb is to consider a 500-round stash your starting point for your handgun. That might seem high but it does go fast. Of those 500 rounds at least 150 should be defensive, not target rounds. If you can afford to stash mostly defensive ammo, do it.

Why is ammunition so expensive 2021?

This is a supply and demand story in which the gun and ammunition buying public is suffering. Inflation looks to be one of the main culprits for the prices increases. But scalpers, Internet opportunists, and distribution bottlenecks are also contributing to the problem.