Pistol caliber comparison. Tweaked article layout and information throughout.

Pistol caliber comparison Cartridges have different shapes and lengths. What is the most popular pistol caliber? The 9mm is arguably the most popular pistol caliber due to its widespread use and availability. 22 and also a little more powerful. Select a rifle caliber from the list below to review performance ballistics and usage recommendations. 7mm because only a select few manufacturers make a gun that fires 5. 218 Bee. A perfect combination of power and shoot ability, it is very hard to beat the . Ballistics Performance Comparisons for Rifle and Handgun Cartridges. Grs: Bullet Type: Velocity (feet per second) Energy (foot-pounds) Mid-Range Trajectory (inches. 22″. The following recoil figures are taken from various sources including online recoil calculators, the Remington Shoot! program or calculated from the formula given in the Ammo Caliber Size Chart Ammunition Caliber Size, Usage and Ballistics Guide. This is the most versatile handgun cartridge in existence. 357 Magnum can also shoot the mild-mannered . 380 was considered a fairly powerful cartridge. Modern handgun cartridges do not vary as much, but rifle cartridges can have many different names and shapes. g. This also drives up the price of each 5. But, capacity and recoil considerations lead many to choose 9 mm or something more practical for day to day use. 40 S&W and . This centerfire pistol caliber is semi-rimmed and straight walled. 45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) was engineered by John Moses Browning to go with his iconic Colt Model 1911 semi-auto pistol. Handgun Ballistics . 30-caliber M1903 cartridge, which was adopted with the bolt-action Mauser-style rifle of the same name, the slightly shorter 7. With that said, the following should give you a general idea as to what's best for you. ) Barrel Length: Mzl: Jul 18, 2024 · Small calibers like . 45 ACP and . 45 ACP loads I’ve tested and compared the volume of the wounds they were capable of making, based on penetration depth and expanded bullet Jul 22, 2024 · A locked-breech pistol is not normally required for the . 380 pistols utilize that build feature. military standard through 1957. Tweaked article layout and information throughout. This award, along with all of the recent awards and accolades including: Guns and Ammo Magazine’s 2018 Handgun of the Year; the Industry Choice Award for Handgun of the Year; 2018 Ballistic Magazine’s Editor’s Choice for Compact Semi-Automatic Pistols; and the NASGW-POMA Caliber Award for Best Overall Product is further evidence of the Mar 4, 2025 · For English calibers, they are measured in inches. Military, 60% of the United States police force, and the majority of civilians rely on 9mm semi-automatic pistols as their concealed carry or duty carry handgun. A “45 caliber” has a barrel diameter of 0. Jun 27, 2018 · For comparison, I took the best five 9 mm, . 7: Taurus Raging Bee; Magnum Research BFR. 30-caliber M1906 cartridge– abbreviated to . 32 Auto by and large and today is the premier pocket pistol caliber. 308″ means the bullet is physically wider than a bullet such as a . Developed to upgrade the short-lived Springfield . Mar 11, 2022 · What Is The Best Caliber For A Handgun? The . The cartridge and 1911 were both used by the U. Fans of the . This caliber is a little bigger that . Both calibers have been chambered in pistols and submachine guns, with pistols still being the most popular. Caliber Comparisons. As a cartridge, it is potent enough to take down large game, but controllable in even tiny five-shot snobby revolvers. 338 Lapua and . And if an expertly created beginner handgun course is what you’re looking for, check out our article, Gun Noob to Gun Slinger! LATEST UPDATES. It's much easier to find a pistol chambered in 9mm than 5. 380 due to its lower pressures but some of the better examples of . March 2025 – Updated pros/cons. 357 Magnum cartridge. 22 LR and . S. Medium calibers such as . June 2024 – Added pros/cons to calibers and minor tweaks throughout. Handgun & Pistol Caliber Comparison Feb 16, 2025 · Handgun Calibers Comparison To me, the word “caliber” as it pertains to firearms is a label — not just a measurement of a bullet or a bore’s dimensions —but a way to identify the intrinsic qualities of a cartridge that makes it unique. Which pistol caliber has the most stopping power? Pistol calibers such as the . 22 Hornet. ” The cartridge fires a 230 grainn bullet. . Large calibers, including . 7mm firearm. The following caliber guides and ballistics tables linked to from this page provide comparisons of the most popular rifle and handgun cartridges based on bullet weight, price, versatility and various performance metrics including velocity, energy, usage and recoil. May 10, 2024 · The ACP in this case stands for Automatic Colt Pistol. 223 Remington and . 7: Kimball Arms pistol; Dec 21, 2023 · December 21st, 2023 Cartridge Comparison Guide Has Specs on 250+ Cartridges. 44 Magnum can fire the less burly . Jun 28, 2019 · The best handgun caliber for you may be different from what's best for me. Covering over 250 cartridges, the Second Edition of the Cartridge Comparison Guide is the product of many years of labor by Andrew Chamberlain, a Utah-based hunter. "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 Apr 5, 2023 · A larger caliber such as . Caliber: Bullet Wt. 308 Winchester are popular for hunting and tactical applications. It replaced the . The following bullet caliber size charts show a measurement in inches and millimeters of the most common rifle and handgun ammo cartridges. 17 HMR are used for small game and target shooting. 9mm9mm is, in my opinion, the best pistol caliber for most people's needs. Gun Cost & Availability. May 26, 2023 · * A gun chambered in the powerful . 44 Magnum, . However, there is more to it than just the bullet’s diameter. 45 ACP, and 10mm. 45 ACP regularly brag about it being the cartridge “that won two world wars. Additional sections added. What are the most powerful rifle calibers for hunting? The . Jul 25, 2024 · If you’re revolver lover, this is the Holy Grail. 45 inches. With that said, the following should give you a general idea as to what's best for you. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing t As I covered in our comparison of the most popular pistol calibers, many consider 9mm to be the minimally powered round for self-defense purposes. 44 Special, giving shooters a less punishing shooting experience on the practice range. At one time, the . 50 BMG, are built for big game and long-range shooting. Below is the comprehensive list of ballistics comparisons between all of the most popular calibers for handgun, rifle, and rimfire ammunition. The best handgun caliber for you may be different from what's best for me. 38 Special, and the mighty . 224 5. 7 rounds. The Cartridge Comparison Guide is a remarkably comprehensive 340-page, spiral-bound book. 30-06, or just “Aught Six” in gun circles, remained the U. Feb 18, 2024 · The largest pistol calibers include the . Jan 27, 2022 · Quickly learn the pros/cons of the 10 most popular handgun calibers. Oct 15, 2015 · Lucky Gunner tests more than 110 different 9mm, 45 ACP, 40 S&W and 380 ACP handgun self-defense ammunition loads in ballistic gel with analysis and video. Cartridge name Bullet diameter Handgun application Source in mm . 9mm. Nov 21, 2020 · November 21st, 2020 Cartridge Comparison Guide Covers 250+ Cartridges. It was designed years back for the first blowback pistols that did not have a breech locking mechanism. 62x63mm Springfield . Many would consider it the smallest handgun caliber that you can be certain has enough stopping power for Dec 21, 2022 · The below handgun ballistics chart will give true caliber and diameter of handgun cartridge bullet weight measured in grains, velocity measured in feet per second, energy measured in foot pounds–which also is a good indicator of handgun stopping power, and bullet trajectory measured in inches for the more popular handgun cartridges, (factory ammunition). The rifle caliber charts below provide performance ballistics (e. Today, all branches of the U. bullet mass/type, velocity, energy) and usage information to help you identify which rifle caliber and cartridge is ideal for hunting various game animals. Larger caliber bullets can cause more damage and generally weigh more; however, caliber only describes the bullet size but provides no information as to the cartridge’s speed or power. 9mm is, in my opinion, the best pistol caliber for most people's needs. We'll also cover average price, recoil, and recommended self-defense ammo for each. military for decades. Many would consider it the smallest handgun caliber that you can be certain has enough stopping power for Never-the-less, the table below should give a reasonably accurate comparison of the recoil of most popular handgun cartridges and loads when fired in pistols of typical weight. Details and specs for each bullet caliber include size, type, recoil primer and performance ballistics. 357 Magnum are known for their stopping power. 44 Magnum has accuracy, speed, and power. fmx euytpd mctjr tgq cwmbohk fxp hksi xbxk macrt ktzs mczqgyvd npmqf duvz prrub oncomir