.380 vs. .38 +P

GUDWyo · February 21st, 2008, 02:52 PM

Does anyone know which has the grater amount of stopping power?

pgrass101 · February 21st, 2008, 03:00 PM

Check out the following

Handloads.Com - Stopping Power

S.D. · February 21st, 2008, 03:12 PM

No doubt a .38+p has way better stopping power.

GUDWyo · February 21st, 2008, 03:15 PM

thanks, that's definitely going to become bookmarked, but does anybody know about the joules (in general) of either bullet

Shizzlemah · February 24th, 2008, 11:21 AM

To calculate energy (in ft-lbs, not joules, sorry) for any bullet:

Weight in grains * velocity in FPS * velocity in FPS / 450240

For example,
92 gr * 900 FPS * 900 FPS / 450240 = 165 ft lbs
158 gr * 1000 FPS * 1000 FPS / 450240 = 351 ft lbs

Seraph · February 24th, 2008, 12:23 PM

Ft/lbs don't stop an attack. You need a nice, wide tunnel through the CNS for that. The .38 Special is your clear choice here.

HarleyDriver · March 2nd, 2008, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shizzlemah

To calculate energy (in ft-lbs, not joules, sorry) for any bullet:

Weight in grains * velocity in FPS * velocity in FPS / 450240

For example,
92 gr * 900 FPS * 900 FPS / 450240 = 165 ft lbs
158 gr * 1000 FPS * 1000 FPS / 450240 = 351 ft lbs

No need to calculate. Federal has free software on their site (2007 Interactive Ballistics Catalog) that will compare and graph velocity and energy for all of their loads. It's a great resource.

AZ Husker · March 2nd, 2008, 06:23 PM

Regular load .38 special far outshines the .380.
Plus P .38 special blows it away, not even close!

homepcmd · March 2nd, 2008, 06:46 PM

A .38 special can "bury" the .380 ACP... if fired from a 20" lever action carbine.

My point?

Let's first ask the person... using which specific platform?

Too many answers and not enough questions.

Are we talking about comparing a Bersa 380 with an S&W ultra-lite with LESS than 2" barrel?

No part of a firearm stands on its own merit and the most important part is the person who uses it.

Has the person ever fired a 2" revolver with +p "kick hard but also rip your hand off" recoil?

It's the package deal we should look at. Imagine try to shoot a .45 ACP... using the "platform" of a KT 380 or the new Ruger LCP?

How many shots can YOU get off?

And would you hit or would you miss?

Just wanted to point this out to the original poster.

You still have other questions that need to be answered before you can get a fair answer on which one has a "better" stop.

Just my opinion.

bmcgilvray · March 2nd, 2008, 07:28 PM

Wow! And I thought all he was considering when he asked the question was, "assuming reasonable hits".

February 21st, 2008, 02:52 PM	#1
GUDWyo New Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Laramie Posts: 10	.380 vs. .38 +P Does anyone know which has the grater amount of stopping power? __________________ I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees. Sic Nos Sic Sacra Tuemur- family motto, translation: Thus We Guard Our Sacred Rights

February 21st, 2008, 03:00 PM	#2
pgrass101 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 6,064	Check out the following Handloads.Com - Stopping Power __________________ Noli nothis permittere te terere

February 21st, 2008, 03:15 PM	#4
GUDWyo New Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Laramie Posts: 10	thanks, that's definitely going to become bookmarked, but does anybody know about the joules (in general) of either bullet __________________ I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees. Sic Nos Sic Sacra Tuemur- family motto, translation: Thus We Guard Our Sacred Rights

March 2nd, 2008, 06:23 PM	#8
AZ Husker VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 2,746	Regular load .38 special far outshines the .380. Plus P .38 special blows it away, not even close! __________________ Treat me good, I'll treat you better. Treat me bad, I'll treat you worse.

March 2nd, 2008, 06:46 PM	#9
homepcmd Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 59	A .38 special can "bury" the .380 ACP... if fired from a 20" lever action carbine. My point? Let's first ask the person... using which specific platform? Too many answers and not enough questions. Are we talking about comparing a Bersa 380 with an S&W ultra-lite with LESS than 2" barrel? No part of a firearm stands on its own merit and the most important part is the person who uses it. Has the person ever fired a 2" revolver with +p "kick hard but also rip your hand off" recoil? It's the package deal we should look at. Imagine try to shoot a .45 ACP... using the "platform" of a KT 380 or the new Ruger LCP? How many shots can YOU get off? And would you hit or would you miss? Just wanted to point this out to the original poster. You still have other questions that need to be answered before you can get a fair answer on which one has a "better" stop. Just my opinion. __________________ “We sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm” - George Orwell

February 21st, 2008, 03:12 PM	#3
S.D. Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mesa, Az Posts: 44	No doubt a .38+p has way better stopping power.

February 24th, 2008, 11:21 AM	#5
Shizzlemah Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Maine Posts: 724	To calculate energy (in ft-lbs, not joules, sorry) for any bullet: Weight in grains * velocity in FPS * velocity in FPS / 450240 For example, 92 gr * 900 FPS * 900 FPS / 450240 = 165 ft lbs 158 gr * 1000 FPS * 1000 FPS / 450240 = 351 ft lbs

February 24th, 2008, 12:23 PM	#6
Seraph Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Secret City Posts: 47	Ft/lbs don't stop an attack. You need a nice, wide tunnel through the CNS for that. The .38 Special is your clear choice here.

March 2nd, 2008, 07:28 PM	#10
bmcgilvray Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: North Texas Posts: 1,141	Wow! And I thought all he was considering when he asked the question was, "assuming reasonable hits".

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