Let me rephrase this question, since some people just don't get it. BTW, this thread is for SELF DEFENSE vs bear, NOT hunting. Hunting a bear with a pistol is stupid, unless you got a .50 cal. Also it's a situation where you DON'T have access to a larger gun, or you simply DIDN'T bring one or don't even have one. This is a about a: .357 SNUB-NOSE vs 9mm in the woods for self-defense. Key word: snub nose.
Question:
You are out camping. You come across a bear, in SELF-DEFENSE. You can tell you are going to need a weapon. Your 12 gauge is completely out of reach, or you simply didn't bring it. You have only 2 back-up guns to choose from: a 9mm+P+ with 15+1 rounds of HEAVY FMJ loads OR a snub-nose 357 revolver with 5 shots. Which one do you choose, and why?
I say the 9mm. Especially if you can get off all 15 rounds of 9mm+P, it should do much more damage than 5 shots of a snub-nosed .357 would. At least that's my theory. The total energy out-put is also higher for the 9mm (which may or may not matter)
**Here's some quick numbers too, as to why I personally think the 9mm would work just as well (maybe even better) than a 357 snub nose would. **
Numbers:
.357 MAGNUM in Snub-Nose
---Ruger SP101 .357 MAGNUM, 110gr, JHP. Velocity: 1,208 fps. Ft-pounds energy = 356.
---Taurus, 125 grain, .357 MAGNUM, JHP. Velocity: 1,143 fps. Ft-pounds of energy: 363
VS
---Glock 26, 124 grain. Velocity:1,182 fps. Ft-pounds energy: 394
---Glock 19, 124 grain. Velocity: 1,238 fps. Ft-pounds energy: 433
Outcome: 9mm has slightly higher ft-pounds of energy being generated.
Here are some heavier loads to compare from both:
----Taurus 617, .357 MAGNUM, 180 grain, JHP. Velocity: 1,023 fps. Ft-pounds energy: 418
----S&W 686, .357 MAGNUM, 180 JHP. Velocity: 1,042 fps. Ft-pounds energy: 434
VS
----Glock 19, 9mm +P, 115 grain. Velocity: 1415. FT-pounds energy: 511.
----Glock 19, 9mm +P+, 115 grain. Velocity: 1400. Ft-pounds energy: 500
Outcome: the 9mm+P generates almost a 100 ft-pounds of energy more. Granted, it is 9mm+P. Although the .357 180grain is heavy stuff too, it just losses a lot of it's power when coming out of a 2 or 3 inch snub nose barrel. The .357 isn't meant to be fired from a Snub-Nose.
Round-----Barrel----Energy(ft-lb)-----Velocity(ft/s)
.357 Mag --- 2" ---- 250-300 --------- 900-1000 (Ruger LCR is here)
.357 Mag --- 3" ---- 410-440 -------- 1150-1250
9mm ------- 3" ---- 250-280 --------- 980-1050
9mm +P ---- 3" ---- 375-400 -------- 1150-1250 (Glock 26 is here)
So comparing the RUGER LCR .357 Snub vs GLOCK 26 9mm+P we get this:
--RUGER LCR .357 MAGNUM average Velocity is 900 too 1000 FPS and 250 to 300 energy.
--Glock 26 in 9mm+P average Velocity is 1150 to 1250 and 375 to 400 energy.
And we aren't even talking number of rounds! You can get 15 rounds of 9mm with those above numbers, or 5 rounds of 357 with the above numbers. It seems like the 9mm+P or +P+ would work better in self-defense vs a bear compared to a snub-nosed .357 revolver. At least the numbers make it seem like it would. The .357 only shines in full size or large barrels, it performs much more poorly in snub-nosed revolvers.
Also, my theory on combined energy I NEVER SAID it was fact, or that I was right. In fact I actually said "I very well could be wrong". I said it was my PERSONAL OPINION. I guess most people didn't bother to read, thus, I have to edit it for people to understand! I can have an opinion without it being fact.
(I said 15 rounds of 9mm produces thousands of pounds of more energy than 5 rounds of a .357 snub nose revolver does). Which is a fact. But, again, I never said total combined energy actually worked in taking down a target. Never said that. I simply presented the numbers and gave a personal opinion. I personally think having a high combined total energy output is a good thing, others say it's 100% pointless. Doesn't matter, it's just an opinion!
Question:
You are out camping. You come across a bear, in SELF-DEFENSE. You can tell you are going to need a weapon. Your 12 gauge is completely out of reach, or you simply didn't bring it. You have only 2 back-up guns to choose from: a 9mm+P+ with 15+1 rounds of HEAVY FMJ loads OR a snub-nose 357 revolver with 5 shots. Which one do you choose, and why?
I say the 9mm. Especially if you can get off all 15 rounds of 9mm+P, it should do much more damage than 5 shots of a snub-nosed .357 would. At least that's my theory. The total energy out-put is also higher for the 9mm (which may or may not matter)
**Here's some quick numbers too, as to why I personally think the 9mm would work just as well (maybe even better) than a 357 snub nose would. **
Numbers:
.357 MAGNUM in Snub-Nose
---Ruger SP101 .357 MAGNUM, 110gr, JHP. Velocity: 1,208 fps. Ft-pounds energy = 356.
---Taurus, 125 grain, .357 MAGNUM, JHP. Velocity: 1,143 fps. Ft-pounds of energy: 363
VS
---Glock 26, 124 grain. Velocity:1,182 fps. Ft-pounds energy: 394
---Glock 19, 124 grain. Velocity: 1,238 fps. Ft-pounds energy: 433
Outcome: 9mm has slightly higher ft-pounds of energy being generated.
Here are some heavier loads to compare from both:
----Taurus 617, .357 MAGNUM, 180 grain, JHP. Velocity: 1,023 fps. Ft-pounds energy: 418
----S&W 686, .357 MAGNUM, 180 JHP. Velocity: 1,042 fps. Ft-pounds energy: 434
VS
----Glock 19, 9mm +P, 115 grain. Velocity: 1415. FT-pounds energy: 511.
----Glock 19, 9mm +P+, 115 grain. Velocity: 1400. Ft-pounds energy: 500
Outcome: the 9mm+P generates almost a 100 ft-pounds of energy more. Granted, it is 9mm+P. Although the .357 180grain is heavy stuff too, it just losses a lot of it's power when coming out of a 2 or 3 inch snub nose barrel. The .357 isn't meant to be fired from a Snub-Nose.
Round-----Barrel----Energy(ft-lb)-----Velocity(ft/s)
.357 Mag --- 2" ---- 250-300 --------- 900-1000 (Ruger LCR is here)
.357 Mag --- 3" ---- 410-440 -------- 1150-1250
9mm ------- 3" ---- 250-280 --------- 980-1050
9mm +P ---- 3" ---- 375-400 -------- 1150-1250 (Glock 26 is here)
So comparing the RUGER LCR .357 Snub vs GLOCK 26 9mm+P we get this:
--RUGER LCR .357 MAGNUM average Velocity is 900 too 1000 FPS and 250 to 300 energy.
--Glock 26 in 9mm+P average Velocity is 1150 to 1250 and 375 to 400 energy.
And we aren't even talking number of rounds! You can get 15 rounds of 9mm with those above numbers, or 5 rounds of 357 with the above numbers. It seems like the 9mm+P or +P+ would work better in self-defense vs a bear compared to a snub-nosed .357 revolver. At least the numbers make it seem like it would. The .357 only shines in full size or large barrels, it performs much more poorly in snub-nosed revolvers.
Also, my theory on combined energy I NEVER SAID it was fact, or that I was right. In fact I actually said "I very well could be wrong". I said it was my PERSONAL OPINION. I guess most people didn't bother to read, thus, I have to edit it for people to understand! I can have an opinion without it being fact.
(I said 15 rounds of 9mm produces thousands of pounds of more energy than 5 rounds of a .357 snub nose revolver does). Which is a fact. But, again, I never said total combined energy actually worked in taking down a target. Never said that. I simply presented the numbers and gave a personal opinion. I personally think having a high combined total energy output is a good thing, others say it's 100% pointless. Doesn't matter, it's just an opinion!
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