which is a better stopper, 9mm or 38spl?

Question

not about the revolver having 6 rounds and pistol having 15 rounds. just on the ammo please. thanks.

Answer 1

9mm beats 38SPL even when .38SPL uses +p+.

38SPL=@850fps
38SPL+p=@950fps
38SPL+p+=@1050fps
(average velocities of 125gr .357" slug)

9mm=@1150fps
9mm+p=@1250fps (110gr .357MAG=@1290fps)
9mm+p+=@1350fps (125gr .357MAG=@1450fps)
(average velocities of 124gr .355" slug)

,38SPL survives mainly because of target shooting out of a .357 MAG revolver (the old exclusive .38 target revolvers are gone) and snub-nose concealment guns. If you own a .38SPL, by all means keep it-don't trade it in, as I am only answering the question and not suggesting a switch or trade. The old, outdated Hatcher Bullet Theory gave sectional density credentials and made it look as though .38SPL were superior. Some still hold onto this belief because of things Elmer Keith had said while promoting .44 caliber revolvers (as well as the late, great"Colonel").
One mor thing, ever hear of "light and fast" and "big and slow"? Well, .38SPL is neither of these.

Answer 2

The Aguila IQ 9mm ammo I carry produces 1540 fps out of my Beretta 92FS, and 1500fps out of my Glock 17. Altho it's only a 65gr alloy jhp, it produces enough hydrostatic shock to instantly drop an assailant with one round well placed in the vitals. Aguila IQ 45acp ammo was nicknamed "The flying ashtray" due to it's exceptionally deep and wide hollow point, and it's distinctive 3 slot cuts, which reminds a smoker of a typical round, 3 groove ashtray. I have yet to find any factory 38+p+ ammo that comes close to the fps developed by aguila IQ ammo. Handloaders are able to get a super hot loaded truncated flat point bullet moving in excess of 1500 fps using a 357 pistol, but loading it in 38spl. but you only get to load the case ONE time, then it's overstressed to safely load again. I much prefer the 9mm, but the 38 has it's good points as well, first and foremost being, it's a revolver, it can be left loaded for years, and you KNOW it's going to fire the first time you pick it up and pull the trigger, a semi auto you simply can't say the same thing with any assuredness.In an emergeny situation, a firearm that you can have almost 100% confidence in is worth a lot more than a high magazine capacity in a weapon you're unsure of.

Answer 3

Many people are promoting the idea if you can't do it with 6 you can't do it with 15. This might be true if deadly force encounters are one on one. They usually are not. There is also a growing trend towards body armor. Thus, you can put two accurate shots in each target and still need more ammo than 6. One should look at the effect of high end 9 ammo and 45 ammo in gelatin and pig carcasses and you will see that there is little difference. Given the extra capacity and controllability of 9 I give it two thumbs up

Answer 4

This is akin to the debate of 9mm vs 45 ACP. It could get feisty!

For stopping power, a 38 Special 125 JHP +P has a proven history as a man stopper. As is the 38 Special 158 grain SWC Hollow Point. This is all IMHO.

Check the link below for an EXCELLENT discussion by a forensic pathologist on 9mm vs 38 vs 380, etc.

Answer 5

The better .9mms and the best .38 Specials are about the same. Standard nines are better than standard 'widow-maker' .38 Special 158 grain lead bullets (a notoriously poor stopper!).

And the hottest nines and the hottest .38s are close. Variables are: Is your .38 rated for +P+? Is it a two, four or six inch barrel? A .38 +P+ fired out of a six inch barrel is going to be 'hotter' than a .9mm +P+ fired out of a four inch barrel.

But all things being equal (a 124 grain FMJ .9mm out of a 4" barrel vs a standard .38 Special 158 lead out of a 4" barrel), the .9mm is going to be better because it is inherently a faster round.

H

Answer 6

the .38 and the 9mm are fairly equal as far as ballistic performance - there are numerous rounds for both but in general the 9mm tends to throw a lighter bullet faster ( the advantage in real life is the 9mm ammo is cheaper sometimes much cheaper )

but for ballistic performance the best way to go would be a .357 revolver which will also handle the .38spl ( all do ) then you have one of the most effective rounds when you need it ( in real world testing - actual shootings- the .357 has the best performance of all pistol rounds )

and the reason the cops switched to 9mm has to do with # of rounds - cost - image and everything but ballistics with a +P round the .38special will hold it's own with the 9mm

and note that the FBI and other agencies have switched to the .40 as the best comprimise between ballistics and recoil

Answer 7

Given the same bullet design and construction they will be pretty much equal. There is little enough difference in them. The 9MM's bullet is .355" in diameter and the .38 Special is .357. Velocity is close to the same, not enough difference to make anything noticeable.

Shot placement is far, far more critical that the difference between cartridges. Which ever one you can shoot the most accurately will be the best stopper.

Good luck

Answer 8

I have both but I like the 9mm with a 18 shot clip like having an assalt pistol. The range is way over a 38........

Answer 9

The 9 is hotter, though bbl. length is a factor. On the other hand, auto's don't feed every bullet, so your bullet selection is a bit wider in the 38. Really to close to call. Whatever you choose, you'll probably be better off with the other in the rare circumstance when it's needed. Murphy's law.

Answer 10

If you are ammo-shopping;9mm Cor-Bon 115gr. JHP is better than any .38 round out there and is among the top stoppers in any caliber..Their are other 9mm loads that are also better stoppers than the dated .38spl.The only time where a .38 approaches the 9mm in stopping power is in the subsonic 147gr.9 mm loads.