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I looked at a .38 and a 9MM. How would the recoil differ with the same grain bullets? Stopping power difference? No plus P+ used.
Two Snubbies With No Hammers
- Thread starter jerseyguy357
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A short barrel revolver with any modern medium powered standard pressure load like 38spl or 9mm (low powered being like 22lr or 25acp and high powered being like 357mag or 44mag) will be about the same felt recoil and provide similar terminal ballistics. Which from a short barrel revolver is lot of felt recoil and marginal terminal ballistics.
Snubbies are easily concealable and simple to operate and that is about where their strengths end.
Snubbies are easily concealable and simple to operate and that is about where their strengths end.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
I own 3 x 38 snub wheelers - where that round belongs
Also have 9mm in autos -
But none have allot of recoil - my wife can shoot them Okay
9mm is a way cheaper round that obviously can kill
If you really want a revolver - the 357/38 gives you ballistic balance - although neither is a cheaper round
(Depending on how much you shoot)
Also have 9mm in autos -
But none have allot of recoil - my wife can shoot them Okay
9mm is a way cheaper round that obviously can kill
If you really want a revolver - the 357/38 gives you ballistic balance - although neither is a cheaper round
(Depending on how much you shoot)
9mm is ballistically the better cartridge both rounds firing close range from a snub nose ain't going to make a world of difference shot placement is most critical there will be much more recoil from the 9 so if you're not a good shot maybe go with the 38. You'll get 9mm's cheaper and it's a NATO round always good when you can grab your enemies ammo. 
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The difference could be negligible, but there are a lot of variables in what 38 and what 9mm is being fired. Is there a purposes your looking to meet? Or simply wanted to know which may have a stronger recoil force?
If self-defense is a need, nothing wrong with a snubby (hammerless to keep hammer from snagging), but many choices out there may be better in that role.
If self-defense is a need, nothing wrong with a snubby (hammerless to keep hammer from snagging), but many choices out there may be better in that role.
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The possibilty of crimp jump on the 9mm would make me lean toward the 38. One of the major benefits of a snub is 5-6 for sure bangs. Anything that could compromise that is something to avoid.
I'd lean toward 38 for a snub nose revolver. Can buy loads that are as light/hot as you want. I can see the appeal of the 9mm if you already have that ammo though.. Moon clips (I assume) and no crimp are what make me lean toward 38.
That is a myth. They are still mechanical devices and capable of malfunction. The biggest problem with revolvers is when they go down, they go down hard. There is no tap rack drill to clear a simple malfunction.
I have a broken Charter Arm .38 in my safe that is a paper weight due to lock up and timing issues. Not worth fixing honestly. It dispelled the myth for me that revolvers were a sure thing.
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Do modern revolvers chambered in 9mm still require the use of moon clips?
Yes, they do. Hence why I try to steer people away from revolvers that are chambered in semi-auto calibers.
I have a 45 acp moon clip revolver and would not hesitate to own a 9mm pocket revolver of good quality for occasional concealed carry when I can't carry larger. Moon clips are not problematic. Own a few and make a demooner out of a piece of scrap copper pipe.
9mm for me would be more consistent with the rest of my fleet, even though I have 38 sp and reload several bullet profiles in 38 sp.
9mm for me would be more consistent with the rest of my fleet, even though I have 38 sp and reload several bullet profiles in 38 sp.
f355spider
$50 Site Donor 2026
Very similar to the point of being inconsequential. The 9mm having a slight edge.
One thing we have seen in classes is occasinally with revolvers using moon clips is a light primer strike. The cause is possibly the moon clip is causing this from the additinal spacing before the cartridge fully seats as it takes the hammer strike. Only seen it happen with the 9mm S&Ws but may be possible with others (students were using factory ammo). Its not a super common issue, but enough for me to take notice. One of our instructors who was a SWAT officer had it happen on his, and he ended up selling it and getting a 38 spl. I personally own a S&W 625 in 45acp and had this happen with handloads...but my gun does have a tuned action. Never has happened with factory ammo, so I attribute my issues to improper seating of the primers.
I've never had similar issues with any other S&W or Colt revolvers I own (that do not use moonclips). Even tuned action ones.
For this reason I might lean toward the 38 spl. I have owned a S&W 642 38 spl for 25 years and still carry it occasionally, but my primary is a G19.
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The beauty of a small revolver is it's simplicity. For me, moonclips for auto ammo, seem to take away a small amount of it IMHO. Something else to go wrong and harder to reload in a firefight if needed (unless you carry a full moon around with you). I mean if one of those rounds isn't clipped in properly, it could get tricky. But thats just me.
Ballistically, you have a broader range with the 9 over the .38, but neither should make a small revolver unmanageable, unless you choose something incredibly hot, as far as recoil goes. "Stopping power" depends on many other factors than just the ammo. Suffice it to say, either a standard 9mm or .38spl., shot from a short barreled firearm, will have similar terminal effect, ie; on the lower end of scale. Having said all that, my small revolvers will be chambered for cartridges with case rims and a +P designation.
Ballistically, you have a broader range with the 9 over the .38, but neither should make a small revolver unmanageable, unless you choose something incredibly hot, as far as recoil goes. "Stopping power" depends on many other factors than just the ammo. Suffice it to say, either a standard 9mm or .38spl., shot from a short barreled firearm, will have similar terminal effect, ie; on the lower end of scale. Having said all that, my small revolvers will be chambered for cartridges with case rims and a +P designation.
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Why not a .357 and try it with .38 ?
I would not want to deal with moon clips.
I would not want to deal with moon clips.
I've heard Charter arms is pretty good about fixing them if they have issues, assuming yours isn't an original one that's 50yrs old.. I have a couple ones made by the current company and they work fine.
Really though it isn't a myth, if you buy a S&W or a Ruger revolver...
It is absolutely a myth. Anything can malfunction. If a loose primer backs out (which can happen) it could lock up the gun. Never happening to you and never being able to happen are two different things. The notion that a revolver can never fail you is a myth.
OK. Skateboards and cars are both mechanical devices...one more likely to malfunction vs the other.
You cheaped out. Should have bought a Smith or Ruger ... arguably a Taurus. You went cheap and it cost you. I won't argue best carry option. That's a total personal risk analysis. But a revolver, by it's very design is simply more reliable than a semi automatic pistol, fact, not myth.
9mm revolvers...for the sole purpose of self defense/ccw are a glaring example of just because you can doesn't mean you should. Speed loaders vs moon clips?? There's a reason why cops were never issued 9mm revolvers.
Revolvers can fail. Sorry that hurts the feels.
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I have one 9mm snub. I have several .38s and .357 snubs.
In my 9mm Ruger LCR, the recoil is snappier than a .38, but far less than a .357. So, recoil falls between those two, but closer to .38.
Both the .38s and .357s have more muzzle blast than the 9 LCR. I bring this up because muzzle blast sometimes bothers people more than actual recoil (although sometimes they don’t realize that’s what it is). The .38 isn’t much worse than the 9mm, but you can tell a difference. The .357 magnum blast from a snub is of course almost vicious.
I like having one 9mm revolver because I’m more likely to practice with it. I always have some 9mm practice ammo with me. I can’t always say that for .38 Spl. Even though I should keep some .38 practice ammo with my range stuff, I don’t. On the other hand, it would be rare for me to not have at least 50 rounds of 9mm practice ammo, and usually more.
In my 9mm Ruger LCR, the recoil is snappier than a .38, but far less than a .357. So, recoil falls between those two, but closer to .38.
Both the .38s and .357s have more muzzle blast than the 9 LCR. I bring this up because muzzle blast sometimes bothers people more than actual recoil (although sometimes they don’t realize that’s what it is). The .38 isn’t much worse than the 9mm, but you can tell a difference. The .357 magnum blast from a snub is of course almost vicious.
I like having one 9mm revolver because I’m more likely to practice with it. I always have some 9mm practice ammo with me. I can’t always say that for .38 Spl. Even though I should keep some .38 practice ammo with my range stuff, I don’t. On the other hand, it would be rare for me to not have at least 50 rounds of 9mm practice ammo, and usually more.
