Short barrels: 9mm vs 38
- Thread starter bratch
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Glock19Fan
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The 9mm is usually the best.
From the chrony results that ive seen, the 9mm holds its velocities pretty well. The .38 seems to loose much more in a short barrel.
Besides, 9mm ammo is better designed (IMO) and is cheaper and more available.
Dont get me wrong though, I would still feel just fine with a .38.
From the chrony results that ive seen, the 9mm holds its velocities pretty well. The .38 seems to loose much more in a short barrel.
Besides, 9mm ammo is better designed (IMO) and is cheaper and more available.
Dont get me wrong though, I would still feel just fine with a .38.
P. Plainsman
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Since you specify "quality ammo," that means comparing the various 9mm with .38 Special +P.
All of S&W and Taurus's* current production .38 snubbies are rated for +P. To judge from the snubby threads here on THR, people who tote them rely on +P as carry ammo. It's actually getting hard to find defensive-type ammo in plain .38 Spl.
footnote *: Rossi says its snubbies are "capable of handling" .38+P loads. Charter 2000 says a little is OK, but discourages "a steady diet." (The Charter website also contains the interesting assertion that "Studies have shown that +p ammo is not a great defensive round.")
All of S&W and Taurus's* current production .38 snubbies are rated for +P. To judge from the snubby threads here on THR, people who tote them rely on +P as carry ammo. It's actually getting hard to find defensive-type ammo in plain .38 Spl.
footnote *: Rossi says its snubbies are "capable of handling" .38+P loads. Charter 2000 says a little is OK, but discourages "a steady diet." (The Charter website also contains the interesting assertion that "Studies have shown that +p ammo is not a great defensive round.")
Handguns
Both are handguns, would rather use a rifle or shotgun to defend me or mine.
Either will do the job, hopefully, if you do yours. Both have advantages and disavantages.
Example, winter is among us in my part of the country. Very easy to slip a small revolver ie S&W642 into a front jacket pocket, knowing it will work when fired from the pocket. Semi autos often become single shot guns when used in this manner.
Both are handguns, would rather use a rifle or shotgun to defend me or mine.
Either will do the job, hopefully, if you do yours. Both have advantages and disavantages.
Example, winter is among us in my part of the country. Very easy to slip a small revolver ie S&W642 into a front jacket pocket, knowing it will work when fired from the pocket. Semi autos often become single shot guns when used in this manner.
Splitting hairs.
9mm beats .38 spl by a bit
9mm+P beats .38spl +P by a bit.
9mm is probably pretty close to .38spl +P
You get a heavier bullet with the .38 and have more leeway with the bullet style since feeding is a non-issue.
In terms of recoil, I think the 9 will be a bit easier on the hand.
9mm beats .38 spl by a bit
9mm+P beats .38spl +P by a bit.
9mm is probably pretty close to .38spl +P
You get a heavier bullet with the .38 and have more leeway with the bullet style since feeding is a non-issue.
In terms of recoil, I think the 9 will be a bit easier on the hand.
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