As we can see from the charts above, the 9mm at double the pressure, translates to near double the amount of muzzle energy. Does that mean that it is a better man stopper? Not necessarily, although it certainly has more power, dead is dead. I do not know anyone willing to stand down range and catch lead from either. What I do know is that heavier bullets mean greater penetration, and penetration is crucial to stopping an attack. While the 9mm does look better on paper, its heavy weight load tops out at 147 grains, while the 38 Special tops out at 158 gains. Yes the .38 Special would be moving slower, but heavier loads should penetrate better. This is not to say that a 158 grain .38 Special is more effective than a 147 grain 9mm. I point this out solely because it is the only valid defense the .38 Special round can argue. As far as weight of projectile, the .38 has the edge. FBI recommends that between 12 to 15 inches of penetration is needed for a good self defense cartridge. So, the question is, can the 9mm meet that requirement? The answer is, yes it can with any weight bullet in its class. Most premium hollow points have what is know as, "Controlled Expansion." This means that the bullet has been engineered to expand at a controlled rate so that it can meet the penetration needed, without over penetrating. Even the lightest 9mm load can meet the penetration requirement and moreover, pack a better punch while doing it. Is the 11 grain weight advantage of the .38 Special even relevant? WHICH IS BETTER So what about the Nine? Lets let the 9mm flaunt it's glitter. The main advantage for starters is the greater energy and velocity of the round. The 9mm is neither puny, weak, or anyone's ugly step sister. It is the most widely used round in the world, and for good reason. While the revolver claims a mere 5 or 6 round capacity, many modern 9mm's sport a hefty 15-18 round capacity. More ammo is definitely an advantage. Another clear advantage is how quickly a magazine can be changed, vs loading a wheel gun. This is excellent leverage when seconds count. Especially when you consider that by the time you spend your 18 rounds, the wheel gun would have been reloaded 3 times. What about reliability? I think we can all agree that there are some pretty damn reliable semi-auto's on the market today. Glock, Sig Sauer, Springfield, Smith & Wesson, CZ just to name a few. With that in mind, for me personally, I would trade the 11 grain advantage of the .38 Special for greater energy and 18 rounds of ammo any day. I feel that the extra 11 grain weight the .38 Special boasts is moot. There are 9mm loads in every weight that penetrate plenty, so I see no value in the heavier bullet. I am very familiar with semi-auto's and feel quite confident with the ones I own. I have taken the time to work out any hiccups, and find ammo that works effortlessly. (This is a crucial responsibility should you choose a semi-auto). This is not to claim that everyone feels the same. To each their own. Another issue I should point out just to be fair is this, I would not typically buy a .38 Special for one simple reason, .357 Magnum! Why would I buy a .38 Special when I can have the higher power .357 Magnum and the .38 Special in the same gun? We know there are far better rounds than 9mm or .38 Special but these rounds do have their niche and do excel in those departments. But... if you bring a new variable into the equation, such as 357 Magnum, maybe, just maybe, I might choose the Cowboy Canon over the 9mm. THE BOTTOM LINE These are the facts. You can curse about it and if you feel so inclined you may call me a liar. One thing you can not do is debate the undeniable facts of physics and engineering. Go to the batting cage and get pegged with a ball moving at 40MPH. Now stand in the cage with the ball moving 70MPH. (actually don't do that, you get the idea.) Sometimes things are not always how we perceive them. When technology is introduced, the stories our Grandfathers told us may no longer apply. But if they did... our cars would have been flying since the year 2000. - Jeff | ballistics101 Copyright 2009 | Ballistics101.com | All rights reserved Is 38 Special +P more powerful than 9mm?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.
Is 38 Special +P 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.
Are +p bullets worth it?Snubbies and Self Defense Handgun +P Ammo
The second answer is probably, no, unless you don't mind the added recoil and wear on your firearm; the terminal performance gain is usually marginal if any at all. However, if your handgun has a very short barrel and is +P rated, +P ammunition can be a good thing.
How much more powerful is +P ammo?Official +P pressures are established by the SAAMI for certain cartridges; in general the +P pressure is approximately 10% higher than the standard pressure (see chart below).
|