Recoil. . 38mm Special offers low recoil when compared to the 9mm Luger. Bothe these cartridges have lesser recoil as compared to other cartridges like .

Also Does a 40 have more kick than a 9mm?

40 caliber cartridge typically sports a heavier bullet with loads between from 135 to 180 grain, compared to between 115 and 147 grain for the 9mm. … 40 caliber will be a little slower in velocity. The . 40 also delivers more felt recoil and has a slightly higher recoil velocity.

Subsequently, Is a .38 more powerful than a 9mm? The 9mm is ballistically superior to the . … 38 Special only produces 264 foot-pounds of force (147-grain bullet at 900 feet per second out of a 4-inch barrel), while standard pressure 9mm can produce 365 foot-pounds of force (124-grain bullet at 1,150 feet per second).

Does a 38 Special have a lot of kick? This is a common question and there are many misconceptions floating around. Following is a short list of recoil energies from common handguns, all taken from 40 oz guns. Lighter guns will kick more, heavier guns will kick less. … For example, a 38 Special has roughly twice the recoil of a 380 ACP i.e. 1.39 X 2 = 2.78.

Is 38 Super better than 9mm?

38 Super has the ballistic edge in terms of velocity and energy over the 9mm, even when fired from short-barreled handguns.

Which has more stopping power 9mm or 40?

The 9mm releases about 10 – 12 % less energy than its competitor. Also, there are ammo manufacturers that say their 9mm can match up in stopping power against other 40 cal. … Most gun manufacturers use the same 9mm pistol frame for both calibers. Glock is notorious for this.

What is easier to shoot .40 or 9mm?

The 9mm round has been innovated so many times by ammunition manufacturers that it is a far superior round than it used to be, while still being much easier to shoot than the . 40 S&W. … 40 FMJ ammunition is superior to 9mm FMJ ammunition as a self-defense cartridge. This is a simple fact.

Is a .40 or .45 more powerful?

The . 40 S&W was built as a compromise cartridge to offer more power than the 9mm, with less recoil and more capacity than the . 45. … The FBI also acknowledges modern bullet technology has all but eliminated the terminal performance differences between these cartridges.

Will a 38 special stop an attacker?

38 special yields very limited stopping power. Yes, the peewees may be better than no gun, but not by much.

Is 38 snub enough for self defense?

38 Special is one of the best revolver cartridges ever made. … 38 Special is most commonly used in short-barreled ‘snub nose’ revolvers such as the Ruger LCR and Smith & Wesson J-Frame. These revolvers are purpose-made for concealed carry and have features that make them ideal for self-defense.

Are 38 and 9mm the same?

380 auto and 9mm ammunition are all the same caliber. (Caliber is the size of the projectile, or bullet.) The different names are for marketing reasons or because of where the cartridge was developed. … 38 is 0.38 of an inch; Europe uses the metric system, so 9mm.

What caliber kicks the most?


Recoil is 172 foot-pounds.

  • The recoil of a T-Rex is no joke. …
  • Measuring up the .600 Nitro Express. …
  • A close look at the .460 Weatherby. …
  • The .475 A&M Magnum kicks with more than 100 foot-pounds of recoil. …
  • The .700 Holland and Holland produces 160 foot-pounds of recoil force. …
  • The .50 BMG (far left) dwarfs other ammo.

What handgun has least recoil?

  • The Kel-Tec PMR-30 . 22 Mag. …
  • Smith & Wesson Model 351C . 22 Mag. …
  • FNH Five-SeveN MK2. …
  • Ruger LC380 .380 ACP. …
  • Taurus PT638 Pro SA .380 ACP. …
  • Browning Black Label 1911-380 .380 ACP. …
  • Rock Island Armory M206 . …
  • Charter Arms Pitbull 9 mm Revolver.

Is the 38 Special good for self defense?

38 Special are that it’s effective in a self-defense capacity in service-size pistols. It doesn’t produce excessive recoil, so most shooters can accurately shoot it. That made it very popular with police departments and civilians.

What is the 38 Super comparable to?

38 Super +P cartridge ballistics have been improved over the years by the use of modern propellants. Since the early 2000s, ammunition is available with velocities exceeding 1,400 ft/s (430 m/s). This is impressive from a semi-automatic pistol and is comparable to the . 357 SIG.

Why is 38 super so popular in Mexico?

38 Super actually made it big in Mexico and other Latin American countries where governments restrict ownership of “military” calibers like 9mm and . 45 ACP. … 45 ACP 1911 pistols, which easily met the power factor requirement using factory ammo.

What pistol do Navy SEALs carry?

While the Sig Sauer P226 is used by many militaries and agencies worldwide, one of the most famous users of the pistol is the U.S. Navy SEALs, which used the P226 up until they switched to the Glock 19 around 2015.

Is a 9mm or .40 more accurate?

Hence the FBI chose to make the change to the 9mm round, which usually offers a higher round count per magazine, faster and more accurate follow-up shots, less perceived recoil, and very similar physical bullet characteristics to the . 40 S&W. … 40 caliber can wound, injure, incapacitate, or kill.

What is the best caliber for self defense?

The most common caliber for a home defense handgun is 9mm. This does mean that your gun will penetrate through walls and can possibly harm your loved ones during a home invasion. Also, many experts recommend hollow point ammo because of the power, and they are a bit safer to shoot in a home defense scenario.

Is 9mm enough stopping power?

Based in a combination of factors, including so-called “stopping power,” weight and availability, the FBI study shows that the 9mm round penetrates far enough, allows for shooters to carry more rounds, and is more widely available and less expensive than alternative rounds like the . 45 ACP or . … 45 Auto.”

What is the best handgun caliber for self defense?

The most common caliber for a home defense handgun is 9mm. This does mean that your gun will penetrate through walls and can possibly harm your loved ones during a home invasion. Also, many experts recommend hollow point ammo because of the power, and they are a bit safer to shoot in a home defense scenario.

What caliber do most police use?

45 ACP and the 9mm have their fans, these days, most law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, have chosen Glock pistols for their standard issue sidearms.

Which is better 9mm 40 or 45?

Light bullets shed velocity and thus energy faster, both in the air and in the target. Retained energy aids in penetration of the target. … 40 has 122 percent more bullet weight than the 9mm, and the . 45 has 161 percent more bullet weight than the 9mm.