by Chris Dwulet, Ammo.com
When discussion handgun calibers, it is inevitable that the 9mm vs 357 Magnum debate comes into the discussion.
Although the decision between the 9mm Luger and 357 Magnum really boils down to whether you prefer a revolver or semi-automatic handgun, there are specific benefits to each cartridge that could sway a shooter one direction or the other.
In this article we will take an in-depth look at the 9mm and 357 Magnum handgun cartridges and help you understand which one is better for your needs.
What is The Difference Between .357 Magnum and 9mm?
The primary difference between 357 Magnum vs 9mm is that the 357 Mag is a revolver cartridge and the 9mm Luger was designed for semi-auto pistols. The 357 Magnum is a rimmed handgun cartridge that will have higher velocity, muzzle energy, and recoil while the 9mm Luger is a rimless design that has lower recoil and higher magazine capacity.
Cartridge Specs
When comparing two handgun cartridges, it’s a good practice to examine the differences in case design to gain more knowledge of each.
One striking similarity that some shooters might not be aware of is that the 9mm and 357 have almost the same bullet diameter. Notice that I said “almost”, as they are separated by 0.002”. The 357 Magnum fires a 0.357” diameter bullet while the 9mm fires a 0.355” diameter bullet.
Although the bullets are almost the same diameter, the case length and case capacity are strikingly different. The 9mm Luger has a case length of 0.754” and case capacity of 13.3 gr.
However, the 357 Magnum towers over it with a case length of 1.290” and 26.2 gr case capacity. This means that the 357 is over a half inch longer with almost double the case capacity, which will have a profound affect on the ballistics for both cartridges.
One benefit of the added cases capacity of the 357 Mag is that it can fire heavier bullets than the 9mm. Normal factory loads for 9mm are either 115 gr, 124 gr, or 147 gr. While 357 can be loaded with bullets weights as high as 180 grains.
With all that added case capacity, it would make sense that the 357 Magnum would be a higher-pressure round, but that is not the case. Both the 9mm and 357 have the same maximum pressure of 35,000 psi as defined by SAAMI.
Stopping Power/Kinetic Energy
Stopping power is one of those ubiquitous terms that gets thrown around campfires and gun store counters and is completely unquantifiable. You’ll hear stories of how boutique rounds like the 357 SIG have “More stopping power than a 380 Auto” or how, “The 45 ACP is a real man stopper.”
The important thing to remember is that shot placement is more important than any ballistics values as a .22LR between the eyes will always be more lethal than a 500 Smith & Wesson Magnum to the hand...
Read the rest here.
Comments