2007-07-15 10:05:17 · 11 answers · asked by somewhatdamaged2 2 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
People are making this more complicated than it really is. The 9MM is the most powerful, the .38 is in the middle, and the .380 is at the bottom, well below either of them. Truth is none of them are very powerful. For serious handgun self defense, use a .45 or .357 Mag.
2007-07-16 13:27:05 · answer #1 · answered by sliwil 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You'll have to do better than that. If you mean 380 ACP, 9mm Parabellum, and 38 Special, which would be the general assumption, then it'll be easy to remember that 380 ACP is also known as 9mm Kurtz, 9mm Corto, etc., meaning "short" compared to the 9x19. 38 Special in some loads is about equivalent to 9x19, and it can even come down to barrel length, but being a wheelgun round it also has the ability to be loaded with a wider range of bullets, inclusive of some a good deal heavier than are available for the 9's, so depending on your particular application it can have a significant edge.
2007-07-15 18:13:20 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
All three are defensive pistol/revolver rounds. The biggest in actual size, powder capacity and diameter is the .38 Special. I don't know what you mean by 'meanest,' but the best defensive round of the three you've mentioned is the .9mm. It is available in more configurations and found world-wide. The .38 Special would follow as the .380 acp is actually a .9mm short this putting the .380 at the bottom of the heap.
H
2007-07-15 16:31:03 · answer #3 · answered by H 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bullet, or projectile, of these three rounds are about the same size. The case of the .38 special is the largest, so it will hold more powder and generally will fire a heavier bullet. But it is pretty much restricted to revolvers. The 9mm is the next sized case, not large enough to match the .38 powder capacity. However, as a small, light recoiling, round for semi auto and full auto use, it commands sheer firepower. The .380 has the smallest case and so is the least powerful of the group.
2007-07-15 15:57:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are pretty-much the same size, with around .002 of an inch difference. The .380 is the weakest, the .38 is in the middle, and the 9mm is the most powerful of the 3. This is for standard rounds, not +P or +P+ rounds. This isn't speculation or my opinion. This is based purely on the facts as they have been for decades of ammo manufacturing. Here is a great tool for you to see all the different handgun ballistics below. Have fun.
2007-07-15 10:42:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
380 is the weakest then 9mm then 38
2007-07-15 10:09:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
.9mm best of the listed
.38 second best
.380 weak
2007-07-15 11:10:14 · answer #7 · answered by . 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Same as the other guys,
9mm
.38
.380
.38 can load more than 9mm but 9mm will always be the meanest.
I'll just give a list of guns chambered in 9mm to prove it
MP5
Uzi
Sig P226
Glock 17
Of course, .45's even meaner, and I only need to list 2 guns
M1911A1 (and its many descendants)
Thompson
2007-07-15 14:46:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Meanest--.38, then 9mm, then .380
2007-07-15 11:48:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
9mm
.38spl
.380ACP
2007-07-15 10:35:25 · answer #10 · answered by david m 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋