Cartridge Power

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LEAVING OUT variables as shot placement,"what feels right in hand", no + P involved,same barrel lengths


I am making a list of power from weakest to most powerful and what i have wrong could you correct....this is not to be annoying,i am just learning



1. 380
2. 38 special
3. 9mm
4. 40S&W
5. 45 ACP
6. 357 Magnum
7. 10mm
8. 44 Magnum

Thanks
 
Depends on the barrel length and the powder charge/chamber pressure.

45ACP in standard military 230grain hardball is actually pretty darn weak, theoretically as muzzle energy goes.

357 magnum does very VERY poorly in very short barrels. 357 magnum performance is reduced more drastically by shortened barrels than any other round. So much so, that 9mm +P actually outperforms 357mag in very short barrels.

.38 special +P+ does very well...much better than 38, and nearly as well as 45 ACP standard military 230 grain hardball...if you believe in theoretical muzzle energy.

Your list is basically correct, but it gets more complicated than that. You are oversimplifying.

for instance, 9mm+P is basically equal to 40S&W. 38+P is basically equal to 9mm. In very short barrels, the ranking will change somewhat.

You should also add to your list: 38 super, 357 sig, 327 mag, 32 H&R, 45 long colt, and 41 mag.

There are cowboy loads, standard loads, +P loads, and +P+ loads. Some states restrict +P+ loads and higher(+P++, and +P+++) to law enforcement only. But if you handload your own ammo, you can do anything you want. WARNING: not all guns will withstand +P loads or higher. THE GUN COULD EXPLOAD. Check with the manufacturer of the firearm.

I would also reccommend that you investigate 9x23 winchester, and 30 carbine. I personally like these two calibers very much. But they are a bit of a rarity.
 
Actually .357 magnum is superior power wise to 10mm.

Here is an apples to oranges comparison (the 10mm has the longer barrel) -

A 4" barreled .357 with Buffalo Bore's 158 grain loads gets 775 ft/lbs of energy.

A 5" barreled 10mm get 730 ft/lbs from Buffalo Bore's or Double Tap's 180 grain 10mm. (Double Tap specializes in 10mm)

Both are great cartridges, but the .357 does edge the 10mm out.
 
+P is not offered in 40S&W or 357mag. It is offered in 38 special, 9mm, 45ACP.

That is all I know for certain, I think. someone prove me wrong.

there are some here that are saying you should change 357mag positon in your list with 10mm. I am not in agreement with that. I think you have it correct...basically. Longer barrels(6" or more) then yes, switch them.

As I said earlier, 357mag is funny about barrel length.
 
there are some here that are saying you should change 357mag positon in your list with 10mm. I am not in agreement with that. I think you have it correct...basically. Longer barrels(6" or more) then yes, switch them.

As I said earlier, 357mag is funny about barrel length.

Really? They seem pretty even when dropping the barrel length. Going from 5" to 3.8" (there is no 4") the 10mm dropped 14.4%. Going from 4" to 3" the .357 lost 11.3%.

I don't really see what your saying here. Not trying to argue just pointing out cold, hard numbers.
 
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