Average range of a 9mm and .357
- Thread starter MR.G
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DogLegArms
Member
there's a lot of factors involved in calculating that...bullet velocity, drag, altitude, vertical wind, horizontal wind, temperature, humidity, etc.
try and google a ballistics calculator.
try and google a ballistics calculator.
Grey Morel
Member
Assuming the shooter is holding both handguns at an eye level of 5' 5" (66"), both handguns are zeroed @ 25 yards, and both handguns are level with the ground (0* elevation):
1) 125gr 9mm (Hornady .145 BC) @ 1,200fps (generic) would impact the earth at approximately 230 yards.
2) 125gr 357 (Hornady .151 BC) @ 1,600fps (generic) would impact the earth at approximately 280 yards.
HOWEVER, even a few degrees of elevation would increase those numbers exponentially.
1) 125gr 9mm (Hornady .145 BC) @ 1,200fps (generic) would impact the earth at approximately 230 yards.
2) 125gr 357 (Hornady .151 BC) @ 1,600fps (generic) would impact the earth at approximately 280 yards.
HOWEVER, even a few degrees of elevation would increase those numbers exponentially.
BCRider
Member
Well, since the bullets are very close to the same diameter and the weights are the same for sake of argument the distance is going to be purely based on the velocity if both are shot from level and at the same height.
I still fail to see what this has to do with the price of oranges...... Is there a reason why you asked about the cartridges specifically instead of just asking "two bullets of the same size and weight leave their barrels at x and y velocities....."?
I still fail to see what this has to do with the price of oranges...... Is there a reason why you asked about the cartridges specifically instead of just asking "two bullets of the same size and weight leave their barrels at x and y velocities....."?
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Very good point, I'm also curious...BCRider said:
tipoc
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Since you do not specify loads (what weight bullet, what type powder, velocity, etc.) or what you are trying to do, well maybe we can take "average maximum range" as you just want to see how far the round can travel. Figure about a mile or a bit less depending.
Of course the hardest part would be hiking all that way back while looking for a tiny bullet to measure how far it went. But maybe a mile.
tipoc
Of course the hardest part would be hiking all that way back while looking for a tiny bullet to measure how far it went. But maybe a mile.
tipoc
highlander 5
Member
The older Lyman reloading manuals used to have that type of info,but the most recent doesn't.
The Wiry Irishman
Member
After testing the cartridge when it was first introduced, didn't Ed McGivern say that the .357 could be used effectively on human sized targets out to 6 or 700 yards?
BCRider
Member
I don't know about actually taking anyone down at longer ranges but I do know that shooting .357Magnums out of my cowboy action lever gun at a steel gong out at 200 yards produced a nice BONK! sound with about a 6 to 8 inch holdover on a gun sighted for 25 yards. Mind you this is from a nice long 20 inch barrel.
There's a video on YouTube from some time back of a guy doing 100 or 200 yard shots at steel targets with a 2 or 2.5 inch snubnose. He's using a lot of hold over of course and I'm not sure if he used .38Spl or .357Mag rounds. But it does show that if you just want to get a bullet out that far that they'll go a long way. Haxby's figures show what is possible if you just want to reach out. The question is how effective it is by that time.
So MrG, care to let us in on why you asked? Not that it's a bad question. I think we're just curious about the "why" of it.
There's a video on YouTube from some time back of a guy doing 100 or 200 yard shots at steel targets with a 2 or 2.5 inch snubnose. He's using a lot of hold over of course and I'm not sure if he used .38Spl or .357Mag rounds. But it does show that if you just want to get a bullet out that far that they'll go a long way. Haxby's figures show what is possible if you just want to reach out. The question is how effective it is by that time.
So MrG, care to let us in on why you asked? Not that it's a bad question. I think we're just curious about the "why" of it.
The reason for the post was to settle a bet. I live on a lake that is about 650 feet across. My neighbor and I were talking, and he said that a bullet fired from his 9mm, straight and at shoulder height, would hit the water before reaching the other side. Also says that a .357 magnum from a 4" barrel would not make it to the other side. I am no expert on this but bet him that he was wrong.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Pond = 650 feet = 216 yards.
According to Hornady ballistics tables, you win!
124 9mm FMJ-RN @ 1,100 FPS
Pistol zerod at 25 yards.
Drop at 200 yards = 55.6", or 4.6 feet drop.
140 XTP JHP .357 Mag @ 1,400 FPS.
Pistol zerod at 25 yards.
Drop at 200 yards = 37.5", or 3' 1 1/2" drop.
I'd say the 9mm would probably make it, and the .357 would for sure!
rc
According to Hornady ballistics tables, you win!
124 9mm FMJ-RN @ 1,100 FPS
Pistol zerod at 25 yards.
Drop at 200 yards = 55.6", or 4.6 feet drop.
140 XTP JHP .357 Mag @ 1,400 FPS.
Pistol zerod at 25 yards.
Drop at 200 yards = 37.5", or 3' 1 1/2" drop.
I'd say the 9mm would probably make it, and the .357 would for sure!
rc
No one shot across any water. It was simply a conversation about how far a bullet fired from a handgun will travel. We were standing beside the pond at the time and used it as an example since we knew the distance to the other side. We are not that stupid to actually shoot across the pond.
Please tell me why this question is so upsetting to everyone.
Please tell me why this question is so upsetting to everyone.
tipoc
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Mr.G, I don't think anyone was upset. I think Whalerman misunderstood the scenario.
I think some of the rest of us wondered at the question. In your first post the question is posed so broadly that it's hard to know what you were asking. Asking "What is the average range..." is like asking "How loud is a bullet?". The correct answer is "Loud, sometimes very loud" (or maybe, really, really quiet until it's fired). With more specific information the answer can become more specific and useful. By post #16 you got to the pond and the answer is simple and clear.
tipoc
I think some of the rest of us wondered at the question. In your first post the question is posed so broadly that it's hard to know what you were asking. Asking "What is the average range..." is like asking "How loud is a bullet?". The correct answer is "Loud, sometimes very loud" (or maybe, really, really quiet until it's fired). With more specific information the answer can become more specific and useful. By post #16 you got to the pond and the answer is simple and clear.
tipoc
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BRE346
Member
About a mile farther than you'd like.
BCRider
Member
Exactly what tipoc said.
Nothing wrong with mental exercise discussions. Lots of fun in fact.
Yep, looks like you won the bet. But just barely and dependent on what load is used in each I'd say. Using the Hornady calculator for a 9mm 115gn round operating at a high but not max velocity of 1230 fps I get a 33 inch drop at 200 yards. So techincally either gun would make it to the beach on the other side if optimized distance loads were allowed instead of matching bullet weights.
But obviously neither would make it much, if any, off the beach at the other side even with loads optimized for each gun for horizontal distance.
Nothing wrong with mental exercise discussions. Lots of fun in fact.
Yep, looks like you won the bet. But just barely and dependent on what load is used in each I'd say. Using the Hornady calculator for a 9mm 115gn round operating at a high but not max velocity of 1230 fps I get a 33 inch drop at 200 yards. So techincally either gun would make it to the beach on the other side if optimized distance loads were allowed instead of matching bullet weights.
But obviously neither would make it much, if any, off the beach at the other side even with loads optimized for each gun for horizontal distance.
BCRider
Member
Just thinking after I hit the Post button that the much loved and "high stopping power" .45ACP would lose out in this sort of "race" since the muzzle velocity would see the rounds skipping across the water like flat stones well before the beach.
I tried to use the Hornady calculator to see how much drop it has but it kept timing out on me. I must have broken their web site...
I tried to use the Hornady calculator to see how much drop it has but it kept timing out on me. I must have broken their web site...
tipoc
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Interesting BC. Now I looked at Bob Forker's book "Ammo and Ballistics Vol. 4" for some information. Bullet drop is calculated as a theoritical construct It's based on the idea of a gun being held parallel to the surface of the earth and calculating how far the bullet drops as it travels in a vacume.
A 115 gr 9mm Remington JHP +p bullet which leaves the muzzle at 1250 fps and has 399 ft.pds of energy will drop 59.1" in 200 yards. At this point it will be moving at 897 fps and have 206 ft pds of energy.
A Federal 230 gr. jhp 45acp round which leaves the muzzle at 850 fps and has 370 ft. pds. of energy will drop 106.4" at 200 yards. At this point it will be moving at 737 fps and have 277 ft. pds. of energy.
Note that the heavier slower round will retain both more energy and velocity than will the lighter round over a longer range. This is true across the board.
tipoc
A 115 gr 9mm Remington JHP +p bullet which leaves the muzzle at 1250 fps and has 399 ft.pds of energy will drop 59.1" in 200 yards. At this point it will be moving at 897 fps and have 206 ft pds of energy.
A Federal 230 gr. jhp 45acp round which leaves the muzzle at 850 fps and has 370 ft. pds. of energy will drop 106.4" at 200 yards. At this point it will be moving at 737 fps and have 277 ft. pds. of energy.
Note that the heavier slower round will retain both more energy and velocity than will the lighter round over a longer range. This is true across the board.
tipoc
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