.38 compared to 9mm

When I posted the formula for black powder ingredients I should have posted potassium nitrate, not potassium chloride.


Sodium nitrate was uncommonly used and if my memory is correct only toward the end of the black powder era.

The formula for black powder changed over the centuries and varied from manufacturer to manufacturer.
 
Absolutely DITTO regards Mike's last post.

I'd done some fairly mild loads in a .357 case & "duplicated" it (same-same powder loads & bullet) in .38 special cases = blown/punched primers. A bad thing.

No doubt that .38s (& even 9mm & .357 mag) can be boosted some contrary to current load data, but it ain't worth part of an eye. Even with the most bullet-proof eye protection, you still may ("just") lose your trigger finger & get to practise that "funky shooting style" .... you get to choose.

"It's the reverse of what happens when you take a .38 Spl. load developing 900 fps and put it in a .357 casing and only get 800 fps."

I'd agree, to a point, & disagree heartily here. It's much worse than as stated.

Progressive powders are called that due to their increase in pressure/velocities as related to volume, etc. A pretty mild decrease in volume can result in a fairly horredous increase in pressure (not necessarily velocity). Presure blows up your gun.
Check some load data regards seating a 9mm bullet only .01" deeper for a 2X spike in pressures .... not as bad in a .38 case, but illustrative nonetheless.

No doubt there's current loadings that max out the latest data, but to what advantage?

Take a look at various manufacturers' data (& other's) - as far as you think you can trust them - for penetrative tests. Maybe do your own "Fakler Box" tests.

(Handgun, especially) bullets "kill" just as does a sword, or an arrow ... they either cause a massive bleed-out, or cut some part of the central nervous system. There's nothing magic in a .25 versus .44 mag - they all kill the same way.

Either the "perp" loses enough blood to cause loss of conscienceness, or you get a hit to the CNS which causes a non-functioning to that affected body part.

Really, other than that, you might as well stab 'em with a knife - only at a further distance.

Handguns allow us to give a bit better penetration & at a further distance is all.

Pick a bullet that pentrates through & through. Your part is to put it in a place that will disrupt enough "stuff" to cause the quickest "disillusionment" to your opponent.

Be prepared for "an ampount of time" for your aggresor to decide "to quit" the fray ...
 
I think he meant the platform, not the case. But a good sanity post.


We all probably spend time making mental lists, like "what is the revolver equivalent to a 45ACP?" or "if I listed them in order, where would the 10mm really be?"

When trying to match a revolver cartridge to its autochucker mate, you have to give a little credit to the wheelgun's ability to shoot heavier bullets. For instance, 38 special is right at home with a 148gr bullet, but a 147gr in a 9mm is pushing it.

I like to think of the 38spl and 9mm as being brother and sister; ballistically speaking, the difference would be so small that either would perform almost equally on a given species, and comes down to wheelgun or semi as a preference.

I also tend to think of 45Colt and 45ACP as sharing this relationship.
 
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