Help me understand why 9mm is better than 38 special

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Not to mention almost 357MAG power out of +P+ 9mm.
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.38sp +p+ also can obtain 357 mag levels. There are some less efficient loads for the .357mag that are actually less powerful than some of the more efficient loadings for the .38 sp (no +P or +P+) while being pretty much at the max allowed saami pressures for their respective calibers. This is according to load data from Modern Reloading second edition. I don't have to book here right now to pull out examples, but for the same bullet weight, a max load for the least 2-3 efficient .357 mag rounds are slower (and therefore have less muzzle energy) than the most efficient max loadings for the .38sp by almost 180 fps.
 
aveage 9mm duty sized pistol goes bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang+another bang in the barrel before reloading (unless you live in a socialist state then it's bangx10+another bang in the barrel) :p

average .38 spl duty sized revolver goes bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang before reloading :D

average sized .357 mag duty sized revolver goes BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM before reloading :evil:

or I can spice things up a bit by loading a .357 mag revolver to go pop-bang-BOOM-pop-bang-BOOM (a.38 spl blank, a .38 spl cartridge, and a .357 mag cartridge) :D

nothing superior or inferior about any one of them :)
 
Well.38 special is more or less the 9mm equivalent in a revolver, and likewise 9mm is the equivalent of a .38 in a autoloader. Barrel length will ultimately decide which one will perform better in ballistics in my opinion.
 
Well.38 special is more or less the 9mm equivalent in a revolver, and likewise 9mm is the equivalent of a .38 in a autoloader. Barrel length will ultimately decide which one will perform better in ballistics in my opinion.
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I'll second that one.

If the 9mm is superior to the .38 special, then why haven't 9mm revolvers found the same success that .45 acp revolvers have?
 
I would buy a 9mm or 45acp in a snub nose j frame concealed hammer model. I haven't seen one.

Now Reloading a 38?
How heavy of a bullet can you load?
And what does that do?
 
They both work; choose the kind that comes in a gun that fits your hand and that you can shoot well. :)

motivator901579xj1.jpg
 
All things being equal (bullet weight, manufacturer, etc) why is the 9mm ballistically superior to the 38 special?
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Now that was the original question. Note that it has to do with ballistics. It does not take up usefulness or performance in a revolver compared to a pistol, or what works best out of a J frame, etc. it was about ballistics. The op used the word "superior" and that has apparently confused some posters so that they thought the question was about something else.

As others have said the 9mm operates at higher pressures than the .38 Spl. This provides it with a higher velocity and more energy than the .38 Spl. Most folks who can read ballistics tables figure this means it has an edge on the .38 Spl. Or in other words it is a ballistically superior more powerful round. A fella can argue that it's not but a fella can also be wrong.

The op also says "...all things being equal..." but they are not. The .38 Spl. can use heavier bullets than the 9mm can. The case capacity of the .38 can also be maximized to bring it close to what the 9mm in some of it's standard velocity loads can do thus narrowing the gap. In terms of terminal effectiveness making them about the same. But most ammo manufacturers don't do this because of fears of overpressure loads in older guns and liability and because we have the .357 Magnum.

The reason more revolvers aren't chambered in the 9mm is because we have the .357 Magnum which easily beats the 9mm in performance from a wheelgun.

tipoc
 
1) I have revolvers chambered for it - I have no 9mm semi-autos.
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I have both, doesn't make one better....

3) Flexibility. My revolvers will fire a .38 round with any bullet nose shape, seated flush or way out, any reasonable powder charge, wax, plastic, as long as I can fit it in the cylinder, it'll fire. Also, .357 revolvers will also fire .38's. Can you fire 9mm ammo out of a .40?
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Can you fire your .38s out of a .44 magnum?

4) 6 rounds is plenty enough if you hit what you aim for.
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unless there is more than one threat or you hit them in non threatening areas. Then you have a nifty club to beat on them with. Also, reloading is far faster with an auto.

5) .38 rounds fit perfect in the loops of my leather cartridge belt. 9mm rounds always slip through and fall out
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Thats why I keep my 9mm ammo in magazines. Much more convenient than loose rounds.
 
The 38 special with 125 grain bullet is essentially the same bullet with more powder behind it, so how can it be so far behind the 9mm in terms of velocity and muzzle energy?
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Its merely about the 9mm being a much higher pressure round. However, saying it is "better" is pretty subjective. I assume that in a real world "taste test", the bad guy won't be able to tell the difference. Pick the type of gun you like, and go with it. Personally, I have both.


...
 
Why

The .38 doesn't use the same propellant as the 9mm so it doesn't generate the same velocity. If you are looking at terminal ballistics, then the 9 is "superior". If you take two identical bullets and speed one up, it will do more damage. But superiority is relative. A +P 158 gr .38 special lead semi-wadcutter hollow point will almost always expand in human tissue (enough bad guys have been dropped with that round to prove that, both from snubbies and service size). Some 9mm hp's will go right through you, thus defeating the purpose of a defensive round. Some .38's will too. Others in both calibers won't. What defines a good round (especially hollow point) is will it expand, is it heavy and fast enough to reach vital organs, and can you hit what you're aiming at. I have no problem relying on a .38 special, or a 9mm. One may be faster, but they'll both kill ya deader than hell. And they're both superior to having nothing.
 
Dravur:Can you fire your .38s out of a .44 magnum?

No. What I should have asked is, does the 9mm have a higher performance round of the same caliber, what the .357 is to the .38sp, which both can be fired out of the same gun?

My tantrum was primarily directed toward the OP's title, that the 9 is better than the .38, which I don't agree with. I will, however, stand and fight for his right to say so.

Parker
 
Would anyone here have a problem saying that ballisticaly the .357 beats out the .38 Spl.? If we speak of the bullet weight, velocity and energy of a round we are speaking of it's ballistics. Ballisticaly the .357 is superior to the .38 Spl.

Well so is the 9mm. Ballisticaly it is a more powerful round. It is superior ballisticaly to the .38 Spl. Just a statement of fact.

No. What I should have asked is, does the 9mm have a higher performance round of the same caliber, what the .357 is to the .38sp, which both can be fired out of the same gun?
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No it does not.

To get that you have to go to other rounds like the .38 Super or the 9x23 Winchester. A 9mm gun can have switch barrels made for it in either of these calibers.

tipoc
 
9mm vs 38 spec

This is my first post here but I'm going to jump in with both feet. I perfer the 38 over the 9 because I 'm a wheel gun fan and the ammo that is factory loaded these days is very good for concealed carry weapons.
As most of you know the auto guns are all subject to jam but a wheel gun will stay with you through thick and thin.
The 9 got lost of hype years ago because of their magazine capicity.
MHO
Larry Burchfield
Seabees/RVN 67/68/69
DAV
 
I have had a S&W revolver cylinder lock up and it could not be fixed in the field. Revolvers are not jam-proof and when they do lock up there's no tap-rack-bang drill to fix them -- rare, but it can happen.
 
average .38 spl duty sized revolver goes bang-bang-bang-bang-bang-bang before reloading

average sized .357 mag duty sized revolver goes BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM before reloading

or I can spice things up a bit by loading a .357 mag revolver to go pop-bang-BOOM-pop-bang-BOOM (a.38 spl blank, a .38 spl cartridge, and a .357 mag cartridge
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LMAO, I almost spit coffee on the keyboard!
 
I have had a S&W revolver cylinder lock up and it could not be fixed in the field. Revolvers are not jam-proof and when they do lock up there's no tap-rack-bang drill to fix them -- rare, but it can happen.
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In that stuation, a New York reload is in order.
 
Jam-up

Riverdog
Yes, they will jam-up but I don't think the do it as often as an Auto. If you think not go to a IPSC match and watch the guys shooting the pump action auto. The only ones that don't seem to jam are the glocks.
I've had my revolvers jam up one time and that was from shooting reloads and I forgot to put any powder in the case. As I have alsways said "Ain't nothing idiot proof".
Most factory ammo has a little cement to help hold the bullet along with the crimp.
And besides you don't have to pick your brass up off of the ground like you do with an Automatic. I'm to old for that any more.
Larry Burchfield
Seabees/RVN 67/68/69
DAV
 
Like I said, revolver lock-ups are rare -- that said, my 1911's and Glocks all run and if they don't they get fixed or tossed. It's usually a magazine issue and bad mags are designated for range use only and used for failure drills.

BTW, 9mm all day over .38 Spl. I really like 9mm 147 gr JHP's.
 
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