Which would you carry between a 357, 5 shot snubby, or a 9mm single stack 7 round pistol

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My prior post addressed "power" KE but bullet performance counts, a "powerful" bullet may fail to expand, not good.
Bullets that perform (expand) well from a 4'' barrel may not from a 2'' snub.
Thankfully Lucky Gunner has conducted tests that allow us to objectively compare.
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/
Not many 38 special bullets penetrate 12-18'' and consistently expand from a 2'' barrel, ammo selection is critical.
Two 38 special loads that meet criteria from a snub:
Hornady 110 FTX Critical Defense +P 13.1'' penetration / .48 (consistent expansion all 5 bullets tested)
Winchester 130 Ranger Bonded +P 13.8'' penetration / .60 (consistent expansion all 5 bullets)
Its much easier to get 357 Mag loads to meet criteria (12-18'' and consistent expansion) from a 2'' barrel.
Barnes Tac-XPD 14.2'' / .75 (impressive)
Corbon 110 gr. 13.8'' / .58
Several others.....
How about 9mm?
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/
Barnes 115 Tac-XPD +P 13.4'' / .70 (impressive)
Federal 124 HST +P 18.3'' / .66
Corbon 115 +P 13.6'' / .56 (what is in mine and it works)
Several others....
Since several loads that meet penetration standards and consistently expand are available in 357 Mag and 9mm...
How about the guns?
Capacity- 7 rounds vs 5 (advantage 9mm)
Sights- (my PM9 has night sights, I suppose a revolver could too)
Speed of follow up shots - 9mm (357 Mag snub revolver doesn't inspire thoughts of quick & accurate follow up shots)
Ease of accuracy- advantage very likely to Kahr over DA revolver
 
the auto, just for the simple reason that is narrower, I carry IWB and faster to reload, providing one have a loaded extra mag on.
 
george burns said:
This is just for around the home, not when travelling any distance, Basically for hanging out on your property or just at the pool? I have been carrying a PM9 for around the house the past 8 years, because it weighs very little and is reliable, and easy to hide in a pocket. But picked up a Taurus 357 and still can't get into carrying a Revolver again. Shootability wise I can shoot both accurately, it's really 5 powerful rounds vs 7 or 8 less powerful rounds
I also use a speed loader when carrying the snubby and 2 spare mags for the 9. "it weighs 16 ozs vs 24, that is really the determining factor, but if I have to let a 357 go, it will have a lot more stopping power considering decent shot placement. I carry 38+p and 5 more 357 in the speed loader..
Click to expand...

Neither. I would pick subcompact 9x19 with double stack magazine. If single stack it would be .45acp. I would not pick compact revolver because I would need to carry two of them.
 
I suppose I could get sold on LCR 9X19 because I could reload it out of Glock magazine.
 
I've had 5 shot snubbies even as recently as last week, when I traded in my LCR-X 357 Mag.

I've got a G43 9mm and traded the LCR-X in for an XDS 9mm.

I love revolvers, just not small ones. They're typically not that easy to shoot because of their heavy triggers and poor sights, again usually.

Capacity is terrible and reloads are so slow that I actually consider them to be dangerously slow, which means you better hope 5 shots does the trick.

I've had pocket sized 9's, .40's and .45's and would rather have any of those over a 5 shot snubbie anything. Recoil in a small .40 or .45 like an XDS or Kahr is nothing compared to 357 Mag recoil from a snubbie, they're actually pleasant by comparison. The 9mm semi's are easier to shoot than 38's out of snubbies too. The semi will give you better capacity and much, much, much, much faster reloads.

I'll keep my big revolvers, but I'll never again waste money on a 5 shot snubbie.
 
There is nothing wrong with small light revolver provided approptiate ammo is used. Counting on being able to reload one under duress has no basis in reality. Not of concern for most because chance they will need to use firearm in the first place is so remote that need for reload will be zero.
 
I would vote for the single stack 9mm. I honestly prefer semi-autos though. I haven't purchased one yet but I plan on making the inexpensive version of your PM9 (the CM9) my next purchase.
 
Between a SIG 938, S&W642 and a S&W 640, I honestly find that I carry the 642 the most, and the 938 the least. As a civilian and not LEO, I don't really concern myself with round count but rely much more on carry-ability and reliability. I pocket carry for 99% of the time and the squarish shape of the 938 just doesn't work as well as the rounded profile of a revolver. Summertime it's the 642 in my pants pocket; wintertime it's the 640 in a jacket pocket. The 938 is carried IWB when carried at all.
 
In jeans weather I pocket carry a LC9 all the time. I've tried to pocket carry a revolver (640) but just couldn't make it work. That cylinder is just too bulky with the pocket holster.
 
I'd go with whichever one fits in my pocket better/I had the better holster for.

However, I don't think snubbie revolvers are as great as people make them out to be, for all the reasons SDG lists above.
 
CDW4ME said:
My prior post addressed "power" KE but bullet performance counts, a "powerful" bullet may fail to expand, not good.
Bullets that perform (expand) well from a 4'' barrel may not from a 2'' snub.
Thankfully Lucky Gunner has conducted tests that allow us to objectively compare.
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/revolver-ballistics-test/
Not many 38 special bullets penetrate 12-18'' and consistently expand from a 2'' barrel, ammo selection is critical.
Two 38 special loads that meet criteria from a snub:
Hornady 110 FTX Critical Defense +P 13.1'' penetration / .48 (consistent expansion all 5 bullets tested)
Winchester 130 Ranger Bonded +P 13.8'' penetration / .60 (consistent expansion all 5 bullets)
Its much easier to get 357 Mag loads to meet criteria (12-18'' and consistent expansion) from a 2'' barrel.
Barnes Tac-XPD 14.2'' / .75 (impressive)
Corbon 110 gr. 13.8'' / .58
Several others.....
How about 9mm?
http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/self-defense-ammo-ballistic-tests/
Barnes 115 Tac-XPD +P 13.4'' / .70 (impressive)
Federal 124 HST +P 18.3'' / .66
Corbon 115 +P 13.6'' / .56 (what is in mine and it works)
Several others....
Since several loads that meet penetration standards and consistently expand are available in 357 Mag and 9mm...
How about the guns?
Capacity- 7 rounds vs 5 (advantage 9mm)
Sights- (my PM9 has night sights, I suppose a revolver could too)
Speed of follow up shots - 9mm (357 Mag snub revolver doesn't inspire thoughts of quick & accurate follow up shots)
Ease of accuracy- advantage very likely to Kahr over DA revolver
Click to expand...
A Kahr PM9 has been my weapon of choice for pocket carry, for 8 years now. Before that it was a 35 S&W steel 36 or chiefs special for 25 yrs in NY, and a splatteringof a dozen different guns from 1011's to Glocks , sub to full size. The PPK's also rode in an ankle holster for 20 years also. The PM9 is the best bang for the size as far as my constant search for the perfect balance of size and power go. I bought mine used from a cop friend who had done everything possible to like the gun, from Night Sights, to a thorough tuneing and polishing of the internals and trigger smoothing by Kahr. I stepped in DO DO you might say. He tradede me for a M&P 9C , with holster, but it still was half the price. he just couldn't like the gun.
Nothing since then has come along that isn't much larger or heavir than my PM9, maybe the Kimber Solo, but again, they are problematic, and more expensive. I tried the Shield in 40 when it first came out, never liked the grip, it's oval and I think it sells becaus it is cheap more than anything else, the 9C is a far better gun and is about the same size with 13 rounds. One mor thing before I am finished, everyone is counting bullets while they compare guns, in reality 50% of all shots fired in gunfights by Federal Agents, "who can't all suck" are misses. So the 5 shot gun may get you 2 or 3 hits, why not have 8-13 rounds so you have a chance of actually stopping something big coming at you. Aside from all the guys who say they only need 3-6 rounds, have they forgot, that not every round is going to hit the target? And what about 2 guys or even 3, I had 5, and got lucky, they left in the middle, or I would surely be someware else, if there is such a place. That's when I stopped carrying a revolver, as much as I love them, I will only carry one as backup on an ankle or pocket gun, with a 19 or 26 on my hip.
 
We just had an armed robbery here where a pizza delivery guy knocked on someone's door, the guy at the door pulled a gun and demanded the other guy's car. Pizza guy pulled his own gun. They both exhausted all their ammo without hitting each other. The robber fled but was caught later.

So learn to hit what you aim at, folks!
 
george burns said:
This is just for around the home, not when travelling any distance, Basically for hanging out on your property or just at the pool? I have been carrying a PM9 for around the house the past 8 years, because it weighs very little and is reliable, and easy to hide in a pocket. But picked up a Taurus 357 and still can't get into carrying a Revolver again. Shootability wise I can shoot both accurately, it's really 5 powerful rounds vs 7 or 8 less powerful rounds
I also use a speed loader when carrying the snubby and 2 spare mags for the 9. "it weighs 16 ozs vs 24, that is really the determining factor, but if I have to let a 357 go, it will have a lot more stopping power considering decent shot placement. I carry 38+p and 5 more 357 in the speed loader..
Click to expand...


I like 357's better, but quantity over power is important in a gun fight "according to statistics". Or so I've heard.... So I think I'd take the highest magazine capacity.

Also, where do you live?
- Farmland or inner city?
 
I find the OP a bit misleading (not intentionally). The title is 5x .357 vs. 7x 9mm. Yet, in the body of the OP he mentions he carries it loaded with 5x .38s. That is a totally different scenario.

.357s, even from a snub, are indisputably better stoppers than 9mm. So, the trade off for 2 less rounds (and more recoil) is better terminal effectiveness per shot. .38 +Ps are slightly less effective than 9mm, so now we have 2 less of a slightly less effective loading.

I carry a P226, sometimes with flush-fit 18rd mag, or a Kahr K9 with only 7. My wife's gun is a 7x S&W stoked with .38s so I don't personally care either way. Just saying 5x actual .357's is a different ball game than 5x .38s.
 
strambo said:
I find the OP a bit misleading (not intentionally). The title is 5x .357 vs. 7x 9mm. Yet, in the body of the OP he mentions he carries it loaded with 5x .38s. That is a totally different scenario.

.357s, even from a snub, are indisputably better stoppers than 9mm. So, the trade off for 2 less rounds (and more recoil) is better terminal effectiveness per shot. .38 +Ps are slightly less effective than 9mm, so now we have 2 less of a slightly less effective loading.

I carry a P226, sometimes with flush-fit 18rd mag, or a Kahr K9 with only 7. My wife's gun is a 7x S&W stoked with .38s so I don't personally care either way. Just saying 5x actual .357's is a different ball game than 5x .38s.
Click to expand...
The 38's I hve in the gun were only for indoors, and are +p+ that are hand loads. Honestly not a heck of a difference, but I went back to my 9"s only for capacity
 
I have a Star Super automatic in 9mm and a 5-shot .38 J-frame. I never carry the Star; the J-frame is lighter, smaller, fits my body shape better, and there are better (for me) holsters available for it.

Would I want more firepower should I ever wind up in a gunfight? There's no doubt of it. But there's also no doubt the little .38 will always be there if I need it; I've carried it faithfully, every single day, for years.

When my state's legislature finally nails down some vagaries which make our kinda-sorta-OK open carry unquestionably legal, and I don't have to worry about printing or accidental exposure, I might start carrying a higher-capacity automatic. But I'll probably still carry the J-frame as a backup gun.
 
Of the original choices, I'd probably go with the single stack 9mm, although I would not feel too bad with the five shot .357 magnum.
Neither would be my first choice for an "at home" gun. I'd be more likely to carry my full size G17 or G21 pistol, or maybe my four inch S&W 686+ around the house in a OWB holster.
 
I would never use a .357 in the home. Too bright, too loud, penetrates too much. I'd take the 9mm any day.

Going cross country, it would be the .357 any day. But I'd take a 6-shot and I'd take a 4-inch. The Highway Patrol learned long ago that on the road, the .357 was a magic bullet. It went through car doors, penetrated trunks and seats, flattened tires and, most importantly, stopped the bad guys.

But what it would do to cars it tended to do even more efficiently to plaster walls and doors. It's not an indoor gun, unless you used it in a rest area. It's not worth killing someone in an adjoining room.

The 9mm is a great round, but it too might overpenetrate a bit. Still, it's controllable and it's accurate. I love the older S&W 2nd and 3rd generation pistols the best.
 
I don't have much use fir single stack 9s, I'd take a Glock 26 over a slightly smaller single stack every day and twice on tuesday. If I can only have 7 in an auto, make mine a .45 (my preference).

For the question, I guess I'd go with a .357, more range in power/ammo to choose from while more unpleasant to shoot.
 
The difference between subcompact 9mm and snub .357 ballistics is not that much. This excludes 147s and 158s, which are not suited for those guns.

It seems to me that the .357 would be easier to hit with (better ergonomics), the chances of a malfunction are basically zero, and it's easier (and more likely) to practice at the range because there is no brass to chase. To me, the 5 vs 7 capacity difference is insignificant.
 
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