mc24  |
this may be a dumb question but i am just getting into guns and wanting to learn more. i know a 40 and 45 are pretty powerful guns. but between the 380,38, and 9 mm, what would be the order of most powerful to least between those three. thanks and sorry for a dumb ?. |
raffycanlas
i would go with the 9mm on this one, on a compact glock 19, you get to carry 15 lethal rounds of the penetrating 9mm.
Reaper308
it varies depending on load, bullet weight and barrel length.
I would say .380 is the weakest of the three, then .38, with 9mm getting the highest velocity and energy of the three. you can get hotter loads with .38 and 9mm when you get +P or +P+ ammo (plus pressure, loaded to higher pressures)
Here's an example of some Federal loads...
Federal 9mm 124 gr - 1170muzzle/345 energy
Federal .38sp 110 gr JHP - 943 muzzle/217 energy
Federal .380 90gr JHP - 1000 muzzle/200 energy
As you can see, 9mm has a heavier bullet, gets higher velocity and energy. .38 has a heavier bullet than .380 but is and a tad slower, but still has more energy due to weight. A .38+P load would be much faster.
fordvg
the 380 is the weakest and then the 9mm with the 38. When I use a 38 I never carry anything less than 158 gr bullets with it. Like reaper said about the 9mm you can carry more rounds with the 9mm.
scudrunnernrh
Dumb Question??? the only dumb question is the one not asked on gunslot. answering questions is what were here for. .380 is the weakest, then 38 special, then 9mm, but like said above a lot of that has to do with the loadout. a .38special +p may be more powerfull than a 9. They all have their purpose though. there are some pistols that are chambered in .380 that are ultra compact and inexpensive, these guns could, depending on the shooter, be more effective than a .38 or 9mm when carried for conceilment