You're kidding, right?

 

There's not much difference in the energy levels of the two rounds. The hand loader can push the 38 pretty hard in a strong firearm.

 

.50 bmg

 

I don't have a 9, so I prefer the .38+P. Both are okay. I carry .357 magnum anyway.
Sometimes a full sized 1911.

 

Thank you

 

Which has better stopping power, a long bow arrow, crossbow bolt, or an arrow coming from a compound bow hitting the same vital organ? Gotta love modern ammo discussions. I'm sure men from many moons ago never gave it a second thought. Dead game and dead men are just that.

 

They're about the same.

Depending on barrel length, grains, +P options, you'll get slightly different results but both rounds are in the same ballpark, given equivalent JHP ammo. The .38 does allow for rounds like the Buffalo SWC, which you can't fire in semi-auto. The 9mm will usually offer more rounds, so it all sort of cancels out.

 

Same diameter bullet, using a premium HP in each, but one carries greater KE-
Greater KE likely to result in quicker incapacitation, other factors equivalent:
Generally speaking, a 38 snub might produce 200-250# KE versus 325-375# KE from +p loads out of a Glock 26
9mm > 38

 

More a function of bullet than velocity. Since an auto loader is limited to what it can feed, and can be beat to death by higher pressures, taking both to their maximum, the 38 spl handily beats the 9mm.

 

if you want "stopping power" its often going to be the 9mm, if you have a 9mm gun with say like 15 rounds in it, compared to a 38sp with 5 to 8 rounds. For one shot... who cares, it depends on shot placement.

 

Pinto VS Vega

 

Snub nose 38spl at 1 7/8 barrel length should not
be compared against a 3.42 barrel length Glock 26,
you can rig anything to fit an agenda.

 

The snub barrel length doesn't include the cylinder, whereas the Glock 26 barrel includes the chamber in the cited measurement.
A S&W j-frame has a 1.85" barrel.
Glock 26 barrel minus the chamber (comparable to how the revolver is measured) is about 2.25''
Less than 1/2'' of barrel difference if the measurement is made using just the barrel, not the chamber/ cylinder.
The Glock 26 is very comparable to a j-frame in overall size as well,
G26: length 6.6'', height 4.0''
S&W 638: length 6.4'', height 4.3''
In the June 2005 Guntests magazine the model 638 using Black Hills 125 gr. +P averaged 817 fps/ 185#KE
In the July 2003 Guntests magazine the Glock 26 using Black Hills 124 gr. +p averaged 1,149 fps/ 364#KE

Adding 1/2'' barrel length onto the 638 would not be enough to approach the performance of the 26.
My initial reply is valid.

 

Both are fine, dependable stoppers when stoked with quality defensive ammo (no gimmicky junk). Past that? It's ALL ABOUT shot placement. Capacity is more about practice, 'cause only hits... count!

 

I like them both terminal performance will depend on shot placement. Platform of origin i.e. barrel length. Not to mention most folks will keep injecting felon repellent till the problem no longer manifests itself.

 

I don't believe you would be better with one or the other. Fairly equal, depending on the gun and ammo. My wife has a .38 snubbie with 158 gr LSWC. I carry a .40 cal G27, however I have a 9mm with 124gr JHP that I sometimes carry. IMHO anyone of them are good for SD. Find the one that you shoot the best and that's the best gun and ammo for you.:smile:

 

Exactly. Personally I like the .40 round for reasons beaten to death, but any round, even a .380, .38, 9mm, .40 etc all will get the job done. Pick the one you shoot the best and carry and stay safe.

 

I'm sure there's a scientific answer that could be found, but believe me, you won't find it - there's so much ego and special interest invested in stopping power discussions that the truth is impossible to uncover.

So, figure they're roughly the same. In terms of ballistics they're very similar; 9mm goes to a higher pressure and more work has been done to optimize 9mm ammo, while .38 has the advantage of using more effective bullet shapes that won't feed in an auto.

 

I'm sure there's a scientific answer that could be found, but believe me, you won't find it -

Ooh, look what I found!
Handgun Cartridge Power Chart - Condensed Version
Speer Ammo - Ballistics Tables

Firstly, there is no reason to compare .38+P to plain Jane 9mm. Both must be compared at potential in similar weights in similar barrel lengths (as explained by CDW4ME). 125gr .38+P is about 900fps. 124gr 9mm+P is about 1,100fps.

Both are adequately reliable defensive calibers. .38 is the low end.

 

Both are great for cc which ever you will carry comfortably an shoot best, I love the .38 from buffalo bore use it for my wifes 642 an it great for me to practice with in my sp snub which I carry .357. Also love the 147 gr from hornady for my CZ an shield. The .38 is not going anywhere fantasticly versatile round.

 

Pinto VS Vega
Pfffft.....man up and get a Le Car, you limp wristing pansy.

 

For what little it is worth, both are calibers not to be trifled with. Both have solid advantages and disadvantages . You will be pleased with both.

Of course, if you like a bit more punch in an auto and a craving for enchiladas, get a 0.38 Super.

Ai yi yi

 

Frankly, I always considered the term "stopping power" and typical handgun calibers to be contradictions. If it is true, and I believe it is, the most common cause of death from a handgun is bleeding to death, to speak of "stopping power" kinda does not make sense to me. Now a rifle, that's a different story. Anyway, as has been said either will do the job if you understand their limitations. Another way to look at it, a .22 LR to the head is probably a better "stopper" than a 44 mag to the right toe of the BG.

 

Sorry for my retort. I have a Kahr P45 that I was carrying, but after several jams at the range, I wanted to carry a firearm that I could trust. I bought a S&W 442 which I'm more confident with but wanted to know how the Federal 129 gr HYDRA-SHOK JHP stands as a stopping power ordinance? I know I must sound as a neophyte to all the professionals on this site, but that's why I'm here-which is to learn! I would appreciate any suggestions, such as a change in ammo. Thank you.

 

^^Go get some^^^^^^^^^

Speer Gold Dot 135 grain +P .38 short barrel, OR some 158 grain LSWCHP and you will be in terrific shape.

 

This link, or links to the same content, may be of interest: An Alternate Look at Handgun Stopping Power | Buckeye Firearms Association (Some do not like this article, so be it).

Among the most common carry calibers - .38, 9mm, .40, up to .45 - there's not a compelling difference based on the data. Shot placement is king, and there is no magic bullet.

I have three guns that I routinely carry - a SW 637 (like your 642, an airweight but with an exposed hammer), a Shield 9mm and an XDS .45. I tend to carry heavier bullets - 158 in .38, 147 gr. in 9mm, and 230 in .45. I can shoot each relatively well, and probably the Shield the best of the three.

I've stopped analyzing stopping power or particular bullets - I just go with the heaver bullet in .38, 9mm and .45. And for .38, I carry a standard pressure, non +P load because I am much more accurate with that load than a +P when doing rapid fire point shooting.

The "caliber war" threads always have anecdotal evidence - the guy that was "Dead Right There" with a .22 to the heart; the guy that kept coming after a dozen.45's center mass, etc. But the human body is incredibly resilient, and it seems that an opponent in a killing frenzy fueled by anger/hate/drugs that overpowers his or her will to live will be difficult to stop unless the shot is well placed. By well placed I mean something that drastically impacts the central nervous system (headshot or massive spinal damage) or causes enough hemorrhaging to rapidly reduce the blood pressure. And even the latter, from what I have read, may take many seconds.

All this leads me to the school of shot placement, which means I want to be able to shoot the guns I carry relatively well (and which is why I dropped +P's in my airweights).

 

The "caliber war" threads always have anecdotal evidence - the guy that was "Dead Right There" with a .22 to the heart; the guy that kept coming after a dozen.45's center mass, etc. But the human body is incredibly resilient, and it seems that an opponent in a killing frenzy fueled by anger/hate/drugs that overpowers his or her will to live will be difficult to stop unless the shot is well placed. By well placed I mean something that drastically impacts the central nervous system (headshot or massive spinal damage) or causes enough hemorrhaging to rapidly reduce the blood pressure. And even the latter, from what I have read, may take many seconds.

All this leads me to the school of shot placement, which means I want to be able to shoot the guns I carry relatively well (and which is why I dropped +P's in my airweights).

This should be a sticky!

A .380 is just as deadly as a .45 to a vital location under normal circumstances.

 

OP, your chosen ammo will serve you very well. The only other type of ammo I recommend is a lswc of 158 weight. HP ammo is fine, but I prefer something a little heavier with a little better penetration.

But I would carry what you have and not lose any sleep.

 

What Gman said........^^^^^^^^^^^^^.

 

Forgoing KE numbers witch really don't mean much INO. Lookin at the FBI protocol testing on both .38 +P the 9mm. The 9mm does a better job especially when encountering intermediate barriers.