difference between .38 special and .357 magnum

[CrackerTooth000]

3 rounds of 38 Spc and then 3 rounds of 357 Mag. If you're in enough of a jam that you need more than 3 rounds you're probably not worried about overpenetration at that point.

[thebakerman1]

It may not *look* like a big difference but when you're the one firing the two calibers you WILL feel the difference. I don't even like firing .357 Magnum cartridges anymore in favor of .38 Special ammo.

In fact, I don't even carry .357 Mag ammo for personal protection, as I use .38 Special +p for that purpose in my late 1970's S&W model 66 2.5" revolver :)

[missboo564]

how much more recoil does a 357. have on a 38. special

[benbangui]

@missboo564 im holding the gun with the same force in the video. first 2 shots are .38special and the second 2 shots you can see throw my hand high in the air... thats the .357mag

[matthewHizzle]

@missboo564 watch the video. thats how much.

[dodgerlives]

When are you going to shoot the .357?

[benbangui]

@dodgerlives first 2 shots are .38. last 2 shots are .357

[dodgerlives]

@benbangui I was joking....thank you anyways.

[matthewHizzle]

@dodgerlives PAY ATTENTION

[hammerogod]

The difference between high end .38 Special +P loads and low end .357 loads is not a big margin.

The difference averages around about 300-400fps.

This seems like a big deal but with a bullet designed to transfer kinetic energy quickly it's not much difference at all.

Lots of .38 Special loads will drive a 125gr to 158gr bullet at 1000+ fps....while most .357 loads don't exceed 1300fps using the same bullet.

There are .357 loads that reach around 1700fps but they only throw a 85-95gr bullet.

[hammerogod]

Also:

In a short barrel (under 5 in) a large percentage of the propulsive charge ends up being muzzle flash and not driving the bullet.

Muzzle flash and noise are wasted energy..

.357 are not a bit more efficient in 2in barrels than .38 Special +P.

They are just noisier.

I am a long-term .38 Special +P shooter for a lot of good reasons.

[Fudoh1]

if u want a .38 spl +p to be more powerfull than a 9mm or 9mm+p, u need to handload. using factory loads, .38spl+p is even weaker than 9mm standart pressure

[davidkrod]

finally, a clear-cut direct obvious comparison, THANKS!

[twal1011]

LOL. Good demonstration.

[xxxCRAZYLOVExxx]

wich is stronger? 9mm or 38 special?

[benbangui]

@xxxCRAZYLOVExxx all you gotta do is look up a balistics chart to find out. standard velocity 9 vs .38... hard to say... but i would definatly say .38 is stronger if your talking +P or maximum powdered casings... again, balistics chart will tell ya :)

[hiimstevie15]

@benbangui the .38 special is definitely not stronger than the 9mm. The .38 special is actually extremely low velocity. The slowest in all handguns. And also the ballistic chart that i looked at said the 9mm and .380 acp are stronger. So the .38 special is the bottom floor for self defense to me.

[benbangui]

@hiimstevie15 your probably right with standard volocity ammo. especially if you looked at a chart :) but to my understanding +P .38special is simular/close to the volocity of a standard .375mag.

[awsomeshot]

@benbangui .38 spc +p is not close. 110grn jhp hornady critical defense gets like 1000-1100 fps for .38 +p.

hornady 125grn jhp .357 gets 1400-1500. about 300 ft ilbs more energy @ the muzzle.

+P 9mm is also much faster than .38 +p

[Timbonezs]

@hiimstevie15 You're right that the 9mm is going to have better ballistics than a .38 special. You're wrong the the .380 ACP has better performance than the .38 special. A .38 special better ballistics. As for the "slowest in all handguns" comment, that isn't necessarily true either. Reloads can be made to extremely slow velocities, but that can be said for any cartridge. Older and obsolete cartridges will be slower than a .38 special in typical loadings.

[IowaHunter641]

@hiimstevie15 All about bullet placment man. All 3 are the same size projectile so they will all be good for you.

[dudefreezone]

@hiimstevie15 the point of a self defense weapon isnt to have high velocity, what if u popped a burglar with a 357mag and it went through him, than your wall thank hit your neighbor?

[yoyopiemonk]

@xxxCRAZYLOVExxx 9mm it is a more tramatic round belive me. but if you have to have a full power 38special then the 38 wins

[NinjaOfTinFoil]

@xxxCRAZYLOVExxx 38 special for sure

the 9mm is half the size of the 38

[1982Fgreen]

@NinjaOfTinFoil the 38 is bigger cos it was originally for black powder, which is more coarse/large, the 9mm beats the pants off .38

[ricochet08]

dammit, i shoulda got the 357

[cooooooool1357986420]

lol, puf puf bang bang

[Antarath]

bam bam BAAAAM BAAAAM!

[mikeb1444]

How about you get a stack of political magazines, and shoot it once with 9mm, once with .38 special, and once with .357 magnum, and bonus points for .45 colt if you can find one.

[benbangui]

@mikeb1444 haha alright :)

[RRViper800TT]

finally, a clear-cut direct obvious comparison, THANKS!

[remingtonltr]

Are the 1st and 2nd shot .38 Special and 3rd and 4rth .357 Magnum? How much does your Revolver weigh? I'm getting a 13 OZ . 357/.38 Revolver.

[benbangui]

yep, 2 .38s and 2 .357s. all stainless steal 21.5 Onces. hope that helps :)

[remingtonltr]

Man, with my 13 Ounce S&W Model 360 .357 Snub, I'll probably stick to .38 Special, but i'll probably fire first the .38 Special, then .38 Special +P, and then Graduate to .357 Magnum, and then back to .38 Special, Anyway my main Defensive Handgun is a 1911 and a Glock .40 Cal. I'm just a little worried with my very light gun for the Full load of .357 Magnum.Your recoil doesn't look as Bad, because your gun is more heavier.Thanks for the Vid.

[remingtonltr]

I have 5 Rifles and 4 Handguns, and the snub will my 10th of my Collection, and it's so funny because, it's the first time I'm getting scared of a recoil this time, off course this will my lightest gun with the hottest load possible to fire.

[GameCubeFan99]

HMMM I cant tell the difference. It's so HARD! :P

[remingtonltr]

The first 2 shots fired was a .38 Special and the last 2 shots are .357 Magnum. The .38 sounds pak! pak!, the .357 is Boom! Boom! Watch it again and again, you may see the difference this time.And the Muzzle Blast is way Bigger at the last 2 shots.

[GameCubeFan99]

Sarcasm dude, it's clear which is which.

[llwrdlfstyl]

thats awesome!