Why is 9mm more powerful 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.

What has more kick 38 or 9mm?

38mm Special offers low recoil when compared to the 9mm Luger. Bothe these cartridges have lesser recoil as compared to other cartridges like .

Is a 9mm more powerful than a 357?

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.

Will a 9mm stop a bear?

The 9mm can kill bears but is considered underpowered by experienced woodsmen. The 9mm has 350 to 450 ft/lbs. of energy, while 1,000 ft/lbs is considered the minimum for a bear hunting gun. Proper 9mm bullets yield sufficient penetration in soft tissue, but it may not stop a bear quickly enough to avoid being mauled.

Is a 45 ACP more powerful than a 9mm?

45 ACP comparison, the 9mm is smaller and more compact and has less power. The . 45 ACP is comparably larger, heavier, and wider. Therefore, it can hold more gunpowder and stopping power.

"9mm is ALWAYS More Powerful than .38 Special" - Except for When it's NOT - (? Hairy Canary Time)

Is .38 better than 9mm?

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.

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 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.

What is the difference between a 38 special and a 38 special P?

38 Super, which fires a comparable bullet considerably faster. All of these cartridges are usually found in semi-automatic pistols. The higher-pressure. 38 Special +P loads at 20,000 psi offer about 20% more muzzle energy than standard-pressure loads and places it between the .

Is .22 better than 9mm?

While the 22lr is accurate and easy to shoot it does fail to penetrate adequately. The 9mm, on the other hand, was specifically designed as a combat cartridge. As the standard round for the US Military and NATO, it is much larger and powerful than the 22lr.

Is 9mm enough for self-defense?

So, with proper HOLLOW POINT and 124-125 grain ammo, a 9mm will work fine for defense, since it meets these two F.B.I. criteria. Recognize that some guns perform better with high pressure loads or bigger grains, while some don't.

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.

What caliber is 9mm equal to?

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

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.

Is .38 ammo cheaper than 9mm?

It's cheaper to buy. Quality 9mm ammunition tends to outperform the best . 38 Special loads in police and defensive use. Anything larger than a Glock 43 has more carrying capacity.

Will a 9mm stop an intruder?

The 9mm Luger, invented before the Great War, is one of the longest-serving gun calibers in history.

Why is 9mm so popular?

Right now, 9mm is quite popular because it is a versatile cartridge, and advances in the technology used to make it have improved its performance. But that doesn't mean other types of ammunition are disappearing or that they aren't suitable for different missions.

What is the stopping power of a 9mm?

Factors that Affect Stopping Power. As I alluded to above, stopping power isn't as simple as saying a 9mm Luger has 300 ft/lbs of energy, and a 40 Smith and Wesson has 400 ft/lbs, so the 40 caliber wins.

Is 5.56 better than 9mm?

The 5.56 rifle cartridge is inherently more powerful than the 9mm pistol cartridge, so you might expect the 5.56 to be a lot louder than the 9mm, but that's not the case. They're actually pretty close to one another. The 9mm cartridge averages about 166 decibels while the 5.56 cartridge averages about 169 decibels.

What is 9mm good for?

For over a century, the 9mm has been the pistol round of choice for military, law enforcement, and civilians alike. While that means that there are lots of 9mms out there for you to consider for self-defense, it's hard to figure out which is the best one for you and your needs.

What's the smallest gun caliber?

The 2mm Kolibri (also known as the 2.7mm Kolibri Car Pistol or 2.7×9mm Kolibri) was the smallest commercially available centerfire cartridge, patented in 1910 and introduced in 1914 by Franz Pfannl, an Austrian watchmaker, with financial support from Georg Grabner.

Do they make 9mm revolvers?

Ruger LCR. The Ruger LCR 9mm is a solid self-defense option that is easy for anyone to operate. There are some law enforcement officers that like to use this one for a back-up. Built for concealed carry, this Ruger revolver comes in at a trim 17.2 ounces, making it a breeze to conceal in a holster or purse.

Why is .38 Special so popular?

38 Special is still popular, particularly among those who prefer the simplicity and aesthetic of revolvers. It is inexpensive and available in a wide variety of configurations, from regular ball ammo to hollow points to high pressure +P rounds. The . 38 Special is one of the most durable cartridges in history.