COMPARISON -- 158-grain bullets in 9mm and .38 special +P
I carry a 4" barreled 9mm Double Action Only pistol and a 2" barreled .38 special Double Action revolver. We have all read numerous comparisons between these two platforms. I wondered if there might be a way to bring this comparison into the "apples-to-apples" category, so I did an informal experiment. I loaded some of the same lot of 158-grain SWC HP bullets for 9mm and for .38 special, and fired them from my respective handguns.
Results? -- You judge for yourselves. It may be just another black hole of discussion fodder, but maybe we'll learn something from it, too. Here's what I did.
As for the 9mm pistol load, I sized some Hornady .358" bullets down to .356" and loaded them on top of various amounts of Bullseye powder, from 2.9 grains to 3.2 grains. I test-fired them. They all shot to POA, and there were no high-pressure signs or feeding problems, with a big bonus -- I shot the best group of my life with the sample loads (1.5" @ 30 feet). I have since made the 3.2 grain version my go-to load for defense practice. I tried to fire each round one second apart. Recoil was light, and follow-up shots very easy to make. My primary carry magazine holds 17 rounds, and I keep one round in the chamber, as well, for a total of 18 shots before reloading. The only report I've read on this type of loading showed 925 fps out of a 5" Browning High Power with 3.0 grains of Bullseye. I figure my 3.2 grain load from a 4" barrel would be in the 850 fps range. I didn't have access to a chronograph, so I admit my experiment has no definite scientific value.
Now, as for my snubnose .38 -- I used the same 158-grain Hornady SWC Hollow Point bullet as with the 9MM loads, with the factory sizing and dry lube. I loaded some samples with 3.8 grains of Bullseye, as per the latest Alliant data for +P .38 specials. I also loaded a few rounds slightly hotter (from an earlier manual). Recoil was so much greater than the 9MM loads, that I opted for the 3.8 grain +P .38 special loading for comparison. At the range I was able to keep all of the hits on a sheet of copy paper, with most of them inside a 6" circle -- certainly good enough for up-close civilian defense work.
Apples-to-apples? Two things could be done with this experiment to even the platforms out a bit more. Since the velocity of my .38 special +P load would come up a little short compared to the 9mm load, maybe those Buffalo Bores (or other 900 fps loads) would make an even better "apples-to-apples" comparison. I don't think I could tolerate the recoil, nor could my Rossi handgun, even though it is an all-steel gun. The second thing might be to use a 9mm pistol that has a shorter barrel, bringing it closer to the .38 special in velocity and conceal-ability.
My Opinion. I like both loads in both guns. I shoot the 9mm better, but there are some times and places that I cannot carry it with me. The .38 fits in the front pocket of any pair of pants. Ballistically, although I am not qualified to make too many judgments in this arena, I would say that any projectile hurled from any choice of platforms at a given velocity will produce the same expansion, penetration, permanent and temporary wound channels, and "shock value" as that same projectile hurled from any other platform at the same velocity. The main variable here is shot placement. I can shoot tighter groups at the range with the 9MM. I guess that would give it the advantage in a personal encounter with a bad guy. It is interesting that we would have to handicap the 9mm and push the .38 snub in order to get them into the same category of performance. Even then, each gun has merit. I am more accurate with the 9mm, but (from a civilian's perspective) an accurate 9mm is no good in the glove box of the car, so the snubnose .38 wins on conceal-ability.
I really like these 158-grain bullets in both 9mm and .38 special. For now, I'll continue to Golden Saber +P 124's in my 9mm; and Gold Dot "short barrel" 135's in my snub .38 until something better is offered (and proven). My 4" barreled .357 magnum will be loaded Gold Dot 125 magnums when I carry it with me, and SWCHP 158's in the house. The shotgun sits by my bedside loaded with 000 buckshot.