Is 38 Special +P effective?

The . 38 Spl. is one of those cartridges we all take for granted. It has been around forever, is available in a dizzying array of handguns and varieties of ammunition and has a good reputation for accuracy. It is also generally accepted as an effective cartridge for personal defense.

Is .38 Special +P as powerful as .357 Magnum?

As you can see from these paper ballistics comparisons, the 357 Magnum with a host of standard loads is considerably more powerful on paper than the 38 Special, even with a selection of +P loads. The 357 Magnum generally eclipses the 38+P loads by nearly double in terms of muzzle energy.

Is 38 Special +P stronger than 9mm?

38 Special only produces 264 foot-pounds of force (147-grain bullet at 900 feet per second out of a 4-inch barrel), while standard pressure 9mm can produce 365 foot-pounds of force (124-grain bullet at 1,150 feet per second).

What is the difference between a 38 Special and a 38 Special plus p?

38 Super, which fires a comparable bullet considerably faster. All of these cartridges are usually found in semi-automatic pistols. The higher-pressure. 38 Special +P loads at 20,000 psi offer about 20% more muzzle energy than standard-pressure loads and places it between the .

What is the best grain bullet for a 38 Special?

38 Special 130 Grain FMJ is a good starting point. It shoots a 130-grain FMJ bullet at a velocity of 890 fps. It is great for training or target practice. I like it because it has a low recoil and will not frighten new shooters.

What is the ballistics on a 38 Special?

As the 38 Special was initially a black powder cartridge, its pressure remains comparatively low at 17,000 psi. Its common 158 grain bullet achieves a velocity of only 755 feet per second out of a 4-inch barrel, delivering 200 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle.

What is a good load for a 38 Special?

The best load is the FBI load, which is a 158-grain bullet over 3.5 grains of Winchester 231 propellant. Five rounds of . 38 Special, with a 158-grain flatpoint cast bullet and 3.5 grains of Winchester 231. It’s a great load.

Why is 9mm more powerful than 38 Special?

The standard pressure for the . 38 Special is roughly 17,000 pounds-per-square-inch (psi). However, the 9mm Luger has internal pressures of 35,000 psi. It’s this higher internal pressure, the result of expansive propellant design and testing, that makes the smaller 9mm more powerful.

Why 38 Special is the best?

The . 38 Special is one of the best revolver cartridges ever made. Because it was introduced in the late 19th century as a black powder cartridge and has not changed dimensionally in that time, today’s . 38 Special is a mild recoiling, low-pressure round that enjoys a very healthy following.

Does a 38 Special have enough stopping power?

When topped with a high-quality Hornady or Speer hollow-point projectiles, the stopping power is quite impressive. A good hit with JHP or semi-wadcutter hollow-point rounds out of an old snub-nose revolver will get an attacker’s attention.

Does a 38 Special kick more than a 9mm?

38mm Special offers low recoil when compared to the 9mm Luger. Bothe these cartridges have lesser recoil as compared to other cartridges like .

What is the best handgun for accuracy and power?

Here is the first list of most accurate 9mm pistol out of the box:

• Sig Sauer P226X5. Single action trigger, adjustable, steel barrel.
• Glock34. Long barrel.
• Swiss AT 84 S. Considered a CZ75 clone but many shooters feel this is more accurate.
• Browning Hi-Power 9mm.
• Glock17.
• Sig Sauer P210.
• Beretta APX.

Is 38 Special +P ammo good for self defense?

A 38 Special +P’s energy falls between what the 380 ACP and the 9mm provide. It may even approximate a 9mm’s terminal performance when fired from a rifle. You can learn a lot more about using 38 special in a concealed carry gun by looking at our best 38 special ammo for self-defense project.

How does a 357 Magnum compare to a 38 Special +P?

Side by side there really is no serious way to compare the 38 Special +P with a 357 Magnum. The comparison though is interesting to see the relative power differential between the two. For that comparison it is easiest to use factory ballistics data just as a base level starting place.

How many PSI is a 38 Special bullet?

38 Special’s Role in History As the 38 Special was initially a black powder cartridge, its pressure remains comparatively low at 17,000 psi. Its common 158 grain bullet achieves a velocity of only 755 feet per second out of a 4-inch barrel, delivering 200 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle.

What is a +P load for a 38 Special?

This was after all the ammunition engineering intent of creating a more powerful load for the 38 Special. Keep in mind though, that a particular firearm chambered for the 38 Special has to be certified to handle +P loads. Don’t take it for granted that these +P loads are to be used consistently in a lightweight handgun so chambered.