it would depend alot on what guns the two rounds were being fired from--are they comparable? Are you comparing a PM9 to a j frame, or a 4 or 6" revolver vs a small 9mm, or a full sized 9mm vs a j frame...all kinds of possible scenarios that would make a big difference as far as energy and such.
these factors not only affect energy, but how likely the average person is to shoot them well, too. Most people find +P's out of a lightweight snubbie pretty unpleasant and hard to shoot well.
Having said that, I'm old enough to remember when 148 wadcutters were a preferred load in 38 snubbies, which have all of 166 ft pounds of energy or something like that, but were supposed to cut holes less likely to close up that would bleed alot as a result, or that was the idea anyway. I knew an old timer who moved UP to a 38 snubbie with such loads for the power. Hell, the first issued police revolvers in NY were chambered in 32 S&W or something of the sort as I recall.
The long and the short of it is that if somebody is hopped up enough or crazy enough or wants you badly enough, you can plug them with body shots from a 40 S&W or something of the like till the cows come home and they may still get to you. But the average person is going to go "oh crap, I've been shot!" and lose interest in attacking you in a hurry, no matter what the caliber that poked the hole in them.
these factors not only affect energy, but how likely the average person is to shoot them well, too. Most people find +P's out of a lightweight snubbie pretty unpleasant and hard to shoot well.
Having said that, I'm old enough to remember when 148 wadcutters were a preferred load in 38 snubbies, which have all of 166 ft pounds of energy or something like that, but were supposed to cut holes less likely to close up that would bleed alot as a result, or that was the idea anyway. I knew an old timer who moved UP to a 38 snubbie with such loads for the power. Hell, the first issued police revolvers in NY were chambered in 32 S&W or something of the sort as I recall.
The long and the short of it is that if somebody is hopped up enough or crazy enough or wants you badly enough, you can plug them with body shots from a 40 S&W or something of the like till the cows come home and they may still get to you. But the average person is going to go "oh crap, I've been shot!" and lose interest in attacking you in a hurry, no matter what the caliber that poked the hole in them.
