Channel: Brownells, Inc.

Category: Sports

Tags: 9mm luger.38 superipsc.38 acpvelocitypower factor9x23 winchesterbrownells quick tipbullet penetration9mm parabellum9x23mmhigh-velocity automatic pistol.38 automatic9mmbody armor9mm vs .38 super9x19idpamajor power factor

Description: They're similar-sized cartridges often chambered in similar pistols. So what's the difference between .38 Super and 9mm Parabellum (aka 9mm Luger aka 9x19)? "Not a whole lot," says Brownells Gun Tech™ Steve Ostrem, but DON'T get them mixed up. Both 9mm and .38 Super have roots dating back to the early 1900s, when John Browning developed the .38 Automatic (.38 ACP) for his early autoloading pistols, and the 9mm was about to become the standard cartridge for the German military's Luger Parabellum service pistol. In the 1920s, criminals discovered body armor that could stop a .45 ACP bullet, and law enforcement urgently needed an automatic pistol round with better penetration, leading to the .38 Super. Externally identical to the .38 ACP, the .38 Super delivers much higher pressure, so DO NOT shoot it in an old, early 1900s Colt or Browning pistol chambered for .38 ACP. The performance difference between .38 Super and modern 9mm Luger ammo is not huge. But 9mm is available anywhere ammo is sold, while .38 Super is pretty scarce. Because the round is shorter than .38 Super, 9mm pistols can have smaller grip frames, making them better for concealed carry. .38 Super offers 100-150 fps more velocity from slightly heavier bullets, which handgun hunters take advantage of, and it also qualifies for a major power factor in IDPA and IPSC competition. Which is the better cartridge for a daily-carry personal defense gun? Steve tells us what he thinks. The 9x23mm Winchester is dimensionally identical to the .38 Super (but with the semi-rim deleted from the case head), and it gives .357 Magnum performance from a 1911 pistol. But that's a story for another video!