8/29/2012. Required fields are marked *. Also, note that semi-auto pistol and revolver calibers are both covered in this chart. Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links; this means Outdoor Methods may earn a commission if you click on and make a purchase through these links at no cost to you. Free recoil is the recoil that can be calculated but felt recoil is subjective to the person experiencing it. However, .38 special round can be shot in a .357 magnum pistol due to the .38 special lack of pressure generated when fired compared to the magnum round. If you know the concepts but still are looking for help to decide which caliber is right for you, we have made this decision tree to simplify the process. During the shooting, a bank robber was able to continue killing and wounding FBI agents despite having been struck half a dozen times by their handgun bullets. Please Note: The above data is drawn from various sources including the book Handgun Stopping Power by Marshall and Sanow, and various articles in magazines such as Handguns. Order your next firearm online at Cabelas.com and we’ll ship it to your nearest Cabela’s store for free! When you think of shooting a pistol, you usually think about how to shoot a gun, your stance, or the different parts of your firearm. Hand-gun bullets perpetuate bleeding through tissue damage, which is caused by the hole a bullet creates. In fact, both are widely regarded in defensive handgun circles as being too underpowered for self-defense or hunting and too expensive for those long days at the shooting range. The LR in .22LR refers to Long Rifle, while ACP refers to Automatic Colt Pistol. If you are like me, when you found this out, you felt like everything you knew in your life was a lie, but before you go into depression, hear me out. Handgun Back. Data values are the highest found for the cartridge, and might not occur in the same load (e.g. More than half of US police are issued 9mm handguns and the FBI has switched back to it being their standard issue pistol. We also have some additional thoughts about this particular load in this post.Update 7/11/2018: Test results for 11 different 10mm Auto loads are now live in a n… Hey this is a great detailed and comprehensive article of gun ammo information! man. For experienced shooters the headings of most of the columns above are probably self-explanatory. Like the bound and eBook versions, the Hornady® Reloading App provides all the information needed to successfully reload a variety of rifle and handgun cartridges. It is similar in length to the .22 WMR (Winchester Magnum Rimfire)(5.7×27mm) and to some degree similar also to .22 Hornet or .22 K-Hornet. Most calibers have many different variations of ammo and firearms. A big guy will feel less recoil than a small man. The rounds themselves differ only in terms of length and powder charge; all fire a small, light projectile most suited for target practice and small game hunting. Just be ready for this. A polymer pistol will have more recoil than an all-steel weapon. That brings our total number of loads tested across all pistol calibers to 204 with more to come in the future!Update 8/8/2018: The 130 gr Federal HST +P load has now been added to our .38 Special results. From handgun and rifle ammunition to rimfire, subsonic and shotgun ammo, we have it all. So I have to ask, when you read that last statement, did you think about the caliber of the pistol or the ammunition you are using?  Â. To the Internet I proceed,then once I discover your site my journey for ammo knowledge is now officially completed! Caliber is the least understood topic that is essential to shooting. Only the 10 mm comes close to the performance of a full-sized .357 Magnum cartridge in a semi-automatic pistol. .22 calibers are notable as being one of the last remaining commonly-manufactured types of rimfire ammunition, i.e., rounds wherein the powder is set aflame by primer located in the rim of the cartridge. It is capable of taking down military aircraft, piercing the armor of some personnel carriers, and was used commonly in the wing guns of aircraft for air to air combat. An example of a caliber using this method would be the 0.357 Magnum. In many senses, .40 S&W straddles the line between the small, high-velocity 9x19mm round and the large, lower-velocity .45 ACP; many varieties exist which allow shooters to select their favorite balance of mass and projectile velocity. Such a simple concept has so many factors affecting it. The … NTX® 83176 2050 1450 1070 —145 72 39 -1 5 0 -156 ... Our initial research data covered the relationship between barrel length and velocity for some 13 common handgun calibers/cartridges. To clarify, whether you’re equipping yourself for target practice (do not forget to find a great scope), hunting or self-defense, the choice of caliber can make quite a bit of difference. As always, let us know if we missed something below. The smaller of the two magnums, .357, became one of America’s most popular self-defense calibers when it was retooled from the existing .38 Special cartridge during the 1930s. Hornady® Reloading App. As a result, the .380 ACP gets to be call the smallest of the combat calibers. A pistol caliber comparison chart will typically list this as the largest of common self-defense rounds by caliber alone. Ballistics Handgun Ballistics. You may use a specific caliber for a different purpose that is not listed. However, be warned this topic can get very complicated no matter how much we summarize it. The .357 magnum results in higher pressure when fired compared to a .38 special. On the downside, the round’s large diameter means that most handguns chambered for this cartridge hold fewer rounds than their 9mm or .40 S&W equivalent. By continuing to browse this site you consent to the use of cookies. Cartridges Abbreviated By Manufacturer: (C) = CCI; (H) =Hornady; (R) = Remington; (W) = Winchester 22LR Muzzle Velocity: 22lr muzzle velocity is the speed with which a bullet leaves the barrel measured in feet per second (FPS). Bullet Ballistics & Charts. We had thought about writing about this topic, but after reviewing these we decided there was no need. In order to hit a distant target a handgun must be correctly sighted-in, and to accomplish that the shooter must have some working knowledge of the bullet's trajectory. Its secret lies in the high velocity of the relatively small round; while only three-hundredths of an inch wider than a .32 ACP. Complete 9mm ammunition ballistics Chart. In a nutshell, the .357 magnum is the big brother of the .38 special. A shortened spinoff, the .40 S&W, garnered widespread acclaim and rapidly became one of the most popular defensive handgun calibers. RIFLE BALLISTICS. Ballistic Charts. There are carbines chambered for both cartridges, most of which mimic the lever actions of yesteryear modernized for today’s ammo. Shop Now Learn More. A block of 10% gelatin is typically used to simulate soft tissue in this test. HANDGUN BALLISTICS. Size and weight of the bullet. For everyone else: Note: For an expanded version of this chart with more entries, see the Expanded Handgun Cartridge Power Chart. However, probably one of the biggest and most important factors is that free recoil and felt recoil are two different variables. Complete ammunition ballistics charts. A method to measure how much damage a bullet will do once it enters soft tissue. I am a firearm novice who just purchased a new handgun that’s being processed for pickup soon—so why not acquire some vital knowledge about bullets while I wait I tell myself? The term handgun “stopping power” generally relates various opinions about the ability of handguns to create ballistic wounds sufficient to incapacitate a target. Something that can stop us with one shot might not stop a bear. Ballistics Calculator. The forty-caliber cartridges, .40 Smith & Wesson and its longer cousin, 10mm Automatic, offer larger, heavier bullets than most pistol cartridges without sacrificing too much in the way of velocity. This is because the .357 Magnum is a lengthened .38 special case. Rimless, Semi-Rimmed and Rimmed Bullets Copyright © 2020 Outdoor Methods, All Rights Reserved. We are not saying this chart is all-inclusive, so keep that in mind. The 9mm rounds are light, affordable, and nearly ubiquitous, making them an excellent choice for regular practice. 9mm (+P) rounds are another choice, but again only in newer semi-automatics certified for the +P rounds. So we did a lot of research and found the following objective variables can be used to determine the overall picture of each caliber. That extra length allows for more gunpowder and a larger bullet. This interactive bullet database is free and containst 173 caliber ballistics, history, stats, and their trajectories charted out in full detail. All the ballistics from all manufacturers, finally... in one place. On the other hand, Europeans do follow a more robust method. As a rule the faster the muzzle velocity the shorter the bullets time in flight and there for a flatter trajectory and less drop. We use cookies on this site to optimize site functionality and give you the best possible experience. If you do, please let us know below in the comments. 9mm rounds are a common choice for self-defense, especially in hollowpoint configurations designed to expand on impact. This is a table of selected pistol/submachine gun and rifle/machine gun cartridges by common name. The weight of the firearm also plays into this. However, this a very subjective variable that cannot be measured. This decision was made in the wake of a disastrous shootout in Miami. the highest muzzle energy might not be in the same load as the highest muzzle velocity, since the bullet weights can differ between loads). It also remains one of the most popular ammunition types for submachine guns as well. We are glad you asked! The ammunition isn’t very expensive, and every .357 Magnum revolver will also shoot .38 special. With it’s moderate-diameter bullet and a small charge of powder intended for controllable recoil in small-frame automatics.The world’s most popular pistol round, the 9x19mm Luger or Parabellum (most just call it the 9mm) was designed for military and police applications. The more controversial one of them. The anatomy of different species. Ammunition Inputs. Remember, there are a lot of factors that we did not cover in this article, but this article will help you speed through the learning curve. It is essential to study and understand the different qualities of each caliber when deciding which one is right for you. It is typically determined by the dimensions of either the gun’s barrel or the bullet (not the cartridge). Let your lever-gun run like never before with ammunition specifically built for it. There are also differences in traits in a specific species itself. Remember, we did warn you this is an in-depth topic, but you must understand it. The truth is America (or England) does not have a standard way of deciding a caliber (Merica!!). People also think about what caliber they are shooting, but many of them do not understand this subject. Easy you use the Law of Conservation of Momentum that states that for every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. Plus, high-performance match-grade and self-defense ammo, as well as ammo cans and boxes to house it all in. So now that we know what the numbers and letters mean, it should help us interpret the bullet size chart/bullet caliber chart a bit better! The areas between the groves are called lands. Why? Interesting fact though, the FBI probably has the most extensive terminal performance data bank in the world and used this information to decide to switch back to the 9mm as their standard-issue firearm. Outside of collectors’ firearms and backup guns, neither cartridge is commonly recommended for everyday use. Your Guide to the Best Night Sights for Glocks. Your article and meticulous charts are amazing! Your email address will not be published. Have you ever noticed the spiral grooves going down the barrel of your gun? Compare all 9mm ammunition manufacturers on one easy to read chart. Our calculator creates a proper ballistics trajectory chart that details range, drop, velocity, energy (fps), wind drift, and time. I know it is a long chart…I spent hours researching and creating it. The 0.44 special is the lower powered 0.44 caliber that is used mainly for targeting practice and hunting. "Caliber" is the common name of the cartridge tested; "Load" is the brand of ammunition tested, "Bullet" is the weight (in grains) and configuration (JHP, for instance, means jacketed hollow point) of the bullet, "MV" is the standard abbreviation for muzzle velocity, "ME" is the abbreviation for muzzle energy, "Penetration (10% gel)" is the measured penetration of the bullet when fired into a block of standard ordinance gelatin, which is used to simulate soft tissue, "AIT (goats at Strasbourg)" refers to a famous European experiment where a great many goats of the approximate size and cardio-vascular capacity of a human being were shot broadside through the lungs with a variety of handgun loads and the 'Average Incapacitation Time' (in seconds) from the shot until the animal's collapse was recorded, "One shot stop %" is the percentage of one shot stops in actual street shootings as culled from police records by Marshall and Sanow, "Test brl." The FN 5.7×28mm (designated as the 5.7 × 28 by the C.I.P.) I Choose. RIFLE BALLISTICS. The Federal Ballistics Calculator lets you quickly determine the trajectory for any rifle or handgun load, and save data for an unlimited number of loads. Firearms Used for Testing. You then have to think about fight or flight, aka known as adrenaline. Yet, per our research, it is not as critical as the variables above. Initially developed in the 1980s, the 10mm Auto rose to brief prominence after the FBI selected the round to replace their .38 Specials and 9mms. An additional note on the .22 Mag (officially, the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire) data: this sequence of tests presented a real challenge for our chronographs, probably because the .22 Mag is one of the smaller bullets commercially used yet is driven at high speed. In plan terms, if using the gun itself to determine the caliber, you measure the barrel’s narrowest opening. Most handgun shootings occur at less than 7 yards, but even so, most bullets miss their intended target (only 11% of assailants' bullets and 25% of bullets fired by police officers hit the intended target in a study by Lesce, 1984). Both offer a light, short cartridge suitable for an easily-concealed handgun; neither offer particularly impressive ballistics. Click to download a Ballistic Chart (PDF). They will help you understand this topic easily. (or as some would say our bullet caliber chart). The .22 has acquired a folkloric reputation for lethality due to its supposed propensity to bounce around inside a target; this has been widely disconfirmed by modern studies of stopping power. 6’4″ man, in theory, can take a harder hit than a 5’6″ 150 lbs. Note: A common misconception is that a bullet is one unit of ammunition. However, it has been added to our handgun caliber compassion chart. All the ballistics from all manufacturers, finally... in one place. When a bullet exits a modern firearm, it goes out spinning and acts like a gyroscope that counters outside factors from pushing it off its current path via the Law of Conservation of Angular Momentum. 1. They are: You can make an argument for the bullet’s diameter to be used. A bullet that should stop somebody or something may not due to adrenaline. Before we look at our pistol comparison chart, there are a few things to remember. For every reason, now more than ever, choose Federal Premium—Your Partner In Protection. Another factor is drugs. The big 10mm round and large powder charge proved seriously capable in the right hands, but field testing revealed that the powerful recoil and large size of handguns chambered in 10mm made it difficult for most law enforcement officers to make follow-up shots reliably. Originally developed during the era of nascent semi-automatic pistols, both rounds were intended for self-defense but have since been supplanted by superior alternatives which offer more mass, velocity, or both. The bullet’s diameter is actually closer to .311 inches. Units of Measure. How “hot” the round is which means the more gun powder you have, the more of a “kick” you will have. Due to the higher pressures involved, very few semi-automatic firearms are capable of feeding rounds of the 0.44 Magnum; an exception is the Israeli Military Industries Desert Eagle pistol, of Hollywood fame. Check out SAAMI recoil formula for more information to calculate the free recoil of your firearm. We did our best to simplify this complicated topic so that you will be able to understand it and use the knowledge to your advantage. On that note….if you do not know what +P or +P+ means check out the following links. The larger 0.44 Magnum came about two decades after the 0.357 Magnum, and both remain popular for self-defense applications and, to a limited extent, hunting with the 0.44 Magnum. To drive these concepts home, let’s look at some of the most common handgun calibers used today. With that in mind, we tried to give you a range of different cartridges for each caliber that you typically would see. EDUCATION 101. We use cookies to provide you with an improved user experience and to personalize content. ​One of the twentieth century’s best-known pistol cartridges, the old.45 Automatic Colt Pistol cartridge originally supplanted the .38 Long Colt cartridge after the Moro uprisings in the Philippines showed a need for better stopping power in the pistol cartridges issued to the US military. Read Less.22 LR .223/5.56 NATO .45 ACP 9mm Home Ammunition 671 Items The .357 magnum and .38 special use similar bullets, but the .357 magnum has more powder in its round (even more than the .38 special +p), that results in increased pressure. Calibers have many different traits either from the gun itself or the round. Stopping power, how many people think this is a critical factor when it comes to calibers? As a result, .38 special pistol cannot withstand the pressure from a .357 magnum round. means the length of the test pistol's barrel. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Naturally we are going with the ”all in” mentality to simplify this topic for others. This is another aspect of FBI protocol that we didn’t strictly adhere to. This is called rifling, and it is used to make a bullet spin when it is passing thru the barrel. Somebody, please call my old physics professor up and tell him I actually did listen in class even though my grades didn’t show it. Versions of the Desert Eagle exist chambered in 0.357 magnum, 0.44 magnum, and Action Arms’ proprietary 0.50 Action Express magnum round. Caliber: is basically the terminology used to label a specific model gun that uses a particular round. However, calibers are not always determined by these methods. is a small-caliber, high-velocity, smokeless powder, rebated rim, bottlenecked centerfire cartridge designed for handgun and personal defense weapon (PDW) uses and manufactured by FN Herstal. The .380 ACP is slightly smaller in diameter than the 9mm. Ballistics Rifle Ballistics Ammo Description Velocity (fps) Energy (ft/lb) Trajectory Tables (inches) CARTRIDGE BULLET ITEM # MUZ 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd MUZ 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd MUZ 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd V 17 Mach 2 15.5 gr. We carry an absolutely unconditional quality-assurance guarantee on ALL of our manufactured products. Standard Metric. Also, the listed purposes for each sample is what the majority of people use it for. I had to download and print 6 of these charts and honestly thought I had a plan to find only 1 chart for reference-sake.With the research you relayed here,not only can someone get all possible characteristics of specific rounds,but to also compare detailed information on all other bullets of varied types—and even beyond that cross-reference check sectors of round nomenclature in the case of that tight decision-maker between 2 close favorites and such.Kudos for a job well-done and my personal appreciation that you took the time and effort to do this excellent article —It’s the best! A small man listed purposes for each caliber that is essential to and! That a bullet is one unit of ammunition a specific caliber for a different purpose is... Comparison, Comparing IWB Holsters: Top 5 most Comfortable types of Holsters of cartridge Reloading was. 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