Rank the power of these pistol cartridges

[overthehorizon]

Ok I'm always hearing this guy I know saying oh this pistol bullet is so much better than the other etc. etc. I'm looking for one of you experts out there to basically give me a run down. I'll list a bunch of handgun rounds and can you just rank them like 1, 2, 3, in terms of most powerful to least powerful? Thanks for anyone who can help.

ok here's the list I'll just stick to like 10 or so.

9mm, .45 ACP, .40SW, 10 mm Auto, .38 Special, .44 magnum, .357 magnum, .380 ACP, .357 SIG,

Ok those are the only ones I can think of for now. So which are the most powerful and which are less so?

[skinnyme]

.380, 9mm, .357sig, .38 Special, 40 S&W and 10mm, .45 ACP, .357 Mag, and .44 Mag. As far as I know this is about right. the 40 and 10mm are about the same. The .380 is really a baby 9mm. And of course the magnums speak for themselves. I think they call the after-effect of a magnum pink mist...?

[overthehorizon]

so what makes a magnum so much greater than a normal bullet?

[Hartski]

ok here's the list I'll just stick to like 10 or so.

9mm, .45 ACP, .40SW, 10 mm Auto, .38 Special, .44 magnum, .357 magnum, .380 ACP, .357 SIG,

Ok those are the only ones I can think of for now. So which are the most powerful and which are less so?


.380ACP
.38 Special
9mm
.40S&W
10mm
.357Sig
.357 Magnum
.45ACP
.44 Magnum





Of course, there are so many different loads for each caliber, you can have a 9mm +P+ that's more powerful than some .357 Magnums or .45 ACP rounds.

[wsuwarrior]

so what makes a magnum so much greater than a normal bullet?

no change in the bullet. Its a longer cartridge so it can hold more powder....therefore more muzzle velocity. The downside is that there is also more kick, making for a harder second shot.

[mezazvers]

making for a harder second shot.

real sportsman only need one

[King Crush]

If you want a pistol with hell of a lot of power go, and get the S&W 500!:D The biggest hand gun made!:) If you think the .44 mag is big, after you shoot the 500 from S&W, it's like camparing the .44 Mag to a bb gun! I shoot my neighbors when he first got it, shootin' heavy hot loads for big game. My GOD did it Kick:eek: You better have strong hands, and wrist before you shoot it! You prolly break your wrist, if you don't!:(

[MonsterG8r]

If you want a pistol with hell of a lot of power go, and get the S&W 500!:D The biggest hand gun made!:) If you think the .44 mag is big, after you shoot the 500 from S&W, it's like camparing the .44 Mag to a bb gun! I shoot my neighbors when he first got it, shootin' heavy hot loads for big game. My GOD did it Kick:eek: You better have strong hands, and wrist before you shoot it! You prolly break your wrist, if you don't!:(

I have the .454 Casull Tauras. When i shot that at the range everyone stopped what they were doing and just watched in AWE. My wife said she could feel it in her nervous system in the car with the windows rolled up. The kick is obnoxious and makes the .44 seem like child's play. Great protection and doesn't weigh 10 pounds like the .500.lol

[King Crush]

I have the .454 Casull Tauras. When i shot that at the range everyone stopped what they were doing and just watched in AWE. My wife said she could feel it in her nervous system in the car with the windows rolled up. The kick is obnoxious and makes the .44 seem like child's play. Great protection and doesn't weigh 10 pounds like the .500.lol
Have you shot the 500? Which one kicks harder? I do know, you can't be a pussy and shoot the 500, or you're gonna have a broken wrist!:eek:

[GREENFEATHER]

I shot one of those hand cannons made in 45-70. You wanna talk about kick !!

[MonsterG8r]

Have you shot the 500? Which one kicks harder? I do know, you can't be a pussy and shoot the 500, or you're gonna have a broken wrist!:eek:

I honestly don't know. I only held the .500 at the gun store and it weighed about 4-5 pounds.....or so it seemed. The Casull kicks like a son of a gun and actually kinda hurts my hands. They were sore along with my wrirsts the next day after about 12 rounds fired. I would trust that gun at point blank in brown bear country.

[Hartski]

You want a real hand-cannon, get a Savage Striker chambered for .308win. :cool:

[Geno]

1.) .44 mag
2.) 10mm
3.) .357 mag and .357 sig (tie)
4.) .45 acp
5.) .40 s&w
6.) 9mm
7.) .38 Special
8.) .380 acp

[mick123]

Can you get pistols like the MPK or MP5 or AUG Steyr whatever on die hard with the front handle for the left hand(assuming RHS pulls the trigger) to help with the kickback?

[me32687]

Have you shot the 500? Which one kicks harder? I do know, you can't be a pussy and shoot the 500, or you're gonna have a broken wrist!:eek:
my dad just bought the .500..havent shot it yet..gona go to the range maybe this weekend..he bought it as a back up for when we go bowhunting for bear in alaska this summer..(the only backup i get are my legs and i hope they get me as far away from that bear as possible if it charges haha)

[MX2000]

hunting bears...aren't they endangered?


Also there seems to be a huge difference in everyones opinion. I thought a .45 was stronger then a 9mm?

[me32687]

hunting bears...aren't they endangered?

no

[King Crush]

hunting bears...aren't they endangered?


Also there seems to be a huge difference in everyones opinion. I thought a .45 was stronger then a 9mm?
Depends on what kind of bears. Kulalla bears are endangered, but not the bears he's gonna be huntin' in Alaska. They are thick up there! Grizzlies and Kodiaks. I think thier the same thing anyways!:o

[Laurie]

LOL......The biggest I have shot was a .58 Blackpowder Military Horse pistol at one time to go with a Mountain man outfit. Shot it several times. Good smoky fun. Like a damn fool, traded it off for something else.

Right now, my biggest caliber modern pistol is a .45 Webley. But I have shot my husband's .44 mag. But I was introduced to big calibers by my husband. He always believed a woman is perfectly capable of handling as big a caliber as any man.

[Hartski]

But I was introduced to big calibers by my husband. He always believed a woman is perfectly capable of handling as big a caliber as any man.

Of course women are perfectly capable. They just have to learn not to be scared of the recoil, just like most guys have to learn the first time they shoot.

[Geno]

hunting bears...aren't they endangered?


Also there seems to be a huge difference in everyones opinion. I thought a .45 was stronger then a 9mm?


It is.

[Points]

http://www.volny.cz/buchtik/Revo/Ballistic_Info_komplet.htm
here's some generic ballistic info.

[guest89]

Weakest to strongest

.380ACP, .38special, .9mm, .40S&W/.357SIG, .45ACP, .10mm/.357, .44 mag.


NO pistol caliber is a good against a bear, I talked to someone who saw a perfect shot on a bear with a .338 rifle and it still ran 300+ yards.


And no it is legal to hunt bears. Depending on the area your hunting them in.


For protection in the wilderness a .44MAG. For protection against a human a .45 ACP. Is my personal choices.

[BlueBayou]

"power"- based on muzzle energy, and disregarding +P loads:

1) 44 mag
2) 10 mm
3) 357 mag
4) 357 sig
5) 40 S&W
6) 45 ACP
7) 9 mm
8) 38 Special
9) 380 ACP

[BobbyZeus]

So let's see

9mm, .45 ACP, .40SW, 10 mm Auto, .38 Special, .44 magnum, .357 magnum, .380 ACP, .357 SIG,

Based on 5" BARREL or better

Pistol-

45 ACP- Bigger is Better ( Many of the young bucks will disagree. This cartridge has survived for so long for a reason )

10MM - Fast and Strong ( Has never caught on with the general public )

40SW- Hot ( Prob the standard Pistol these days )

357 Sig- Hot ( Looks good on ballistics )

380- Excellent Backup ( If you could find a Colt Mustang, lucky! )

9MM- Excellent gun to buy your spouse,sister,mom,girlfriend or start off a young kid. ( Adult Supervision )

One cartridge you left out, which my all time fav,

Colt 38 Super- Many see it as a Supercharge 9MM or a Hotter 38 Special in Semi Automatic. This cartridge retired the standard 38 in semi auto. This was the most power semi auto cartridge from the 1920's when it came out till the late 1980's. Only to be dethrone by the 10MM. This cartridge was pretty much exclusive in the 1911. These last couple years I think I see in in Polymer type pistols as well. I also see couple revolvers in 38 Super as well. This pistol has the balls that the 9MM lacks. It has the speed that the 1911 45 lacks with an easier recoil. Try this pistol out, you will like it. ( Pretty musch the 357 magnum in ACP. )


Revolver-

44 Magnum - The true daddy of all guns. You really don't need anything bigger than this, unless you want to be extra sure or a Polar Bear or elephant find them self into your back yard. ( Also fires 44 Special )

357 Magnum- The Magnum that started it all. Still as popular as it was when it first came out. Prob the most successful revolver cartridge ever. ( Hot ) {Also fires 38 Special}

38 Special- Good little back up.

[BobbyZeus]

hunting bears...aren't they endangered?


Also there seems to be a huge difference in everyones opinion. I thought a .45 was stronger then a 9mm?

Faster little < Slower Bigger

The 9MM is faster, the 45 is bigger. Even though the 9mm is faster, the 45 makes up for it in size. The 45 will kick your ass, the 9mm will piss you off. :)

Remember Jimbo from South Park. If it's coming at you, it's no longer an endangered species :)

[Geno]

"power"- based on muzzle energy, and disregarding +P loads:

1) 44 mag
2) 10 mm
3) 357 mag
4) 357 sig
5) 40 S&W
6) 45 ACP
7) 9 mm
8) 38 Special
9) 380 ACP


I am amazed at the number of incorrect responses. Whether or not you like or dislike certain characteristics, pure power must be based on energy. The above list is correct in the context given (disregarding plus p). I ranked them based on the hottest load I could find data on that included all of the above calibers (so that I would not be comparing apples to oranges), Remington hydra shok and it is plus p. Anything over 9mm will work fine for defense from humans with a really hot load. I personally am a huge fan of the .357 sig and 10mm just because they are really powerful but I carry a 9mm most of the time.

[BlueBayou]

I am amazed at the number of incorrect responses. Whether or not you like or dislike certain characteristics, pure power must be based on energy. The above list is correct in the context given (disregarding plus p). I ranked them based on the hottest load I could find data on that included all of the above calibers (so that I would not be comparing apples to oranges), Remington hydra shok and it is plus p. Anything over 9mm will work fine for defense from humans with a really hot load. I personally am a huge fan of the .357 sig and 10mm just because they are really powerful but I carry a 9mm most of the time.

Yeah, theres really a number of ways to estimate the "power" of a handgun round. The 45 ACP doesnt deserve the credit that most people are giving in terms of "power" if youre using the more common definition of that- based on muzzle energy. Dont get me wrong, my next handgun is probably going to be a 45- a Glock G30 most likely. The 45 ACP is a really accurate round in most guns though. But unless you get into +P rounds, the 45 doesnt have as much muzzle energy throughout the energy range of available loads as the 40 S&W and only a little more than 9mm. The 45's a big round though and doesnt have to expand as much to do similar things terminally than smaller rounds. The 357 sig sounds like its turning out to be a really great round, more accurate and powerful than the 40 but in the same size case. Its the muzzle blast with it that kind of bothers me, but you cant have one without the other I guess. A guy at the local indoor range was shooting one and you could easily tell the difference between it and the other stuff. Havent shot one myself yet. The 357 sig will probably be as popular as the 40 before too long. Prices are still too high on the ammo for me though. I'm not going to have a gun I cant shoot a lot, and 357 sig ammo crosses the line in price for me. It wont be too long I dont think before the prices on that ammo comes down though. Still, the 357 magnum offers more power at the respective upper ends of their ranges than the 357 sig does, thats why I would rank it higher. A tactical length Glock in 357 sig would be a very serious powerhouse gun w around 600 ft-lbs easily possible and easily shootable. The power on the 357 sig really goes up with the longer barrels due to its enormous pressures from what Ive read with chrony reports and such. I'm surprised Glock hasnt made one yet, but you can get a G35 and 357 sig aftermarker barrel for it for a tactical length 357 sig Glock. The 357 sig really is looking like "the evolution" of the modern handgun cartridge. Extreme power without extreme recoil, and a very shootable round from what everyone is saying. Time will tell I guess. My next Glocks are going to be a G30, G19, and G35 most likely. People are really ranting and raving about how easily and accurately the G30 shoots, including long-time 1911 fans. Ayoob calls it "the most accurate Glock" for him. I have seen more "WOW!" posts about the G30 at Glocktalk and elsewhere than any other Glock model. The 10mm and 44 mag are powerful rounds, but for self defense, usually overpenetrate and you are taking on more energy and especially recoil than needed for that purpose. The lighter weight well-expanding bullets in those two calibers are best for self defense against zombies.

[fastdraw]

44.mag. This is my dream pistol.

[BobbyZeus]

44.mag. This is my dream pistol.

Is your name Harry Callahan? :)

I have a Smith Wesson M29, love it. It's a shame they don't make them no more.

[BlueBayou]

Just pulled this from GlockTalk

Double Tap 357 sig ammo:


Caliber : .357 Sig
Bullet : 125gr. Gold Dot JHP [Double Tap ammo]

3.5" (G33) barrel - 1415fps / 556 ft. lbs
4.0" (G32) barrel - 1450fps / 584 ft. lbs
4.5" (G31) barrel - 1525fps / 645 ft. lbs
5.32" (G35) - 1594fps / 705 ft. lbs

Estimating here, it seems they gain on average of 40-50fps per 1/2" of barrel added.
6.02" (G24) - 1644fps / 750 ft. lbs

Thats 645 ft-lbs from the standard length, and 705 ft-lbs from the tactical length Glocks coming from a 40 S&W size case!

:eek:

[fastdraw]

No, my name is not Harry Calahan (sorry don't even know who he is), but my friends have said I look like Jesse James when he was my age, of course that was when I had longer hair. Jesse James the western outlaw btw.

[Points]

No, my name is not Harry Calahan (sorry don't even know who he is), but my friends have said I look like Jesse James when he was my age, of course that was when I had longer hair. Jesse James the western outlaw btw.
But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself a question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?

[fastdraw]

I shoot very well actually mister Points, so who are you calling punk?

[BlueBayou]

I shoot very well actually mister Points, so who are you calling punk?

ROFL! That is a quote that he took from the movie "Dirty Harry". Harry Calahan in that movie is played by Clint Eastwood. In that scene with that quote, he is holding his 44 magnum to the face of a bad guy just after shooting all 6 rounds out of it(I think). We'll let ya slide this time since you are not from the US. :)

[BobbyZeus]

ROFL! That is a quote that he took from the movie "Dirty Harry". Harry Calahan in that movie is played by Clint Eastwood. In that scene with that quote, he is holding his 44 magnum to the face of a bad guy just after shooting all 6 rounds out of it(I think). We'll let ya slide this time since you are not from the US. :)

OMG, he was serious.

This dude

http://www.space-debris.com/spy_eastwood_dirtyHarry_LG.jpg

[fastdraw]

I am from The U.S.A and I have never seen the movie you guys are talking about, never even heard of it. I don't watch many movies.

[BobbyZeus]

I am from The U.S.A and I have never seen the movie you guys are talking about, never even heard of it. I don't watch many movies.

Being a fan of the 44 magnum, I find it hard to believe you have never heard of this movie. This movie literally put the 44 Magnum on the market. If you do some history on the Caliber, you will more likely see a reference to the movie. After this movie came out, it became a trend. People bought 44 magnums like crazy, just cause Clint Eastwood had one.