Power and barrel length.

[emilianoksa]

Civilians here have a choice of 380 acp or 38 special (no + P rounds). More powerful calibers are not allowed.

Which of the following is likely to be more effective for defensive purposes:

1. 380 out of a 3.6" semiauto barrel.

2. 38 special our of 2" snub revolver.

Or is there not much in it?

 

[LightningMan]

Try this; http://www.handloads.com/misc/stoppingpower.asp?Caliber=7

 

[Jim K]

I would say that they would give similar results. The .38 Special bullet is heavier but the .380 has a higher velocity. The greater capacity of the .380 auto might make the difference in a bad situation.

Jim

 

[Shadan7]

Here ya go: http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/38special.html

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/380auto.html

And remember our note:

One note: in every case with the T/C Encore the length of the barrel was measured from the end of the barrel back to the breech face. This is how semi-auto pistols are measured, but revolvers are measured as the length of the barrel in front of the cylinder gap. Take this into consideration when comparing calibers using our numbers.

So you basically want to add an addition 2" to the length of the .38 "barrel" for comparison to the .380.

Jim D.

 

[emilianoksa]

Thanks a lot.

I never thought about the basic difference between revolvers and pistols.

As you say, Dick, there isn't really that much difference between a 3.6" semiauto barrel and a 2" revolver barrel.

What about the gap between the cylinder and the breech on a revolver? Does this not affect velocity? The bullet has to make a jump before it contacts the rifling of the barrel.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

#2, the .38 special - mainly due to the partially exposed lead nose making for quicker and greater expansion, but also the much heavier bullet (up to 158 gr). A 2" revolver doesn't count the cylinder, whereas an auto pistol DOES count the cylinder to arrive at the 3.6". So it's apples & oranges - the reality is that the snubbie .38 has more like 3.25" of bbl length, so it's about a wash. Slower, yes, but IMO far more effective and desirable, all other things being equal, than .380 auto.

 

[emilianoksa]

Thank you.

 

[Oyeboten]

Try a 6 inch Barrel .38 Special...Velocity will be much higher...