Handgun Calibers

Before I get into handgun reviews, I want to start off with a few discussions, or prerequisites, to build our fundamental understanding of guns before starting to review them specifically. Today I want to look at calibers and how they affect gun choice.

There are many common calibers to choose from when selecting a handgun, and I’m going to get into some of them, but first, let’s discuss something more basic. A projectile basically has two properties to it as it relates to caliber: 1) weight of the bullet, and 2) the amount of powder behind it. In other words, each caliber is going to have a certain weight range for its projectiles (weight is determined by the length of the projectile since the width is set), as well as a maximum amount of powder behind it (determined by the brass that holds the projectile; also determined by length since the width is set). Usually, the wider the bullet diameter, the heavier it will be.

To put it simply, lighter bullets tend to go faster given the same amount of powder. In the same way, given the same weight bullet, more powder typically makes the bullet go faster (although not always the case). Bullet weight is measured in grains, as is the amount of powder (1 grain = approximately 65 milligrams). However, for our purposes, I am going to discuss weight range and velocity range for the projectiles.

Why is this important, you ask? Because the heavier a bullet is or the faster it is going, generally the more damage it will do to its intended target.

Now, if I haven’t managed to confuse you yet, let’s press on to specifics of these calibers. I am going to focus on the most common calibers out there, in order of their relative power (weakest to strongest - this is my scale, and good men may differ on this): .380 ACP, .38 special, 9mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 magnum, .45 ACP.

.380 ACP: The .380 ACP is what many consider to be the very minimum they would carry for self defense. These bullets are .355” in diameter, which is exactly 9mm (this round is also called the “9mm short”). The cases are shorter than a standard 9mm case, which means that these bullets have less powder behind them than a 9mm. Typical bullet weights range from 85-95 grains, and achieve an average velocity of 1000 feet per second. Most guns that are chambered for this round have a capacity of 7-9 rounds.

.38 special: Ah, the classic snub-nose revolver. This cartridge first became popular as a police round and is still widely respected as a great concealed carry caliber. The projectiles are .357” in diameter, and typical weights are anywhere from 110-158 grains. From a four inch barrel, these bullets are capable of approximately 700-1000 fps, although you do lose some velocity from a 2” snub barrel. There is also a “+p” variant of this caliber which indicates additional powder. You should only shoot +p bullets in a handgun that is labeled as a “.38 special +p”. This round is only available for revolvers, so typical capacity is 5, but some are up to 7 rounds of firepower. Oh, and a bit of trivia; it’s called a “.38” because the diameter of the brass is .38”, even though the actual projectiles are .357”.

9mm Parabellum: Also known as the 9mm NATO, 9mm Luger, and 9x19. This is the most popular handgun caliber in the world today, and for good reason! It offers high speed projectiles, light weight, and high capacities. There are so many guns to choose from when going with this caliber. Also, you shouldn’t have to worry about finding ammo for this during the apocalypse as it is what all military and most law enforcement uses. The projectiles are .356” in diameter and typical weights for these bullets are 115-140 grains. What really sets the round apart, though, is the screaming velocity: 1000-1400 fps. Due to the lighter weight and higher speed, some complain that the bullets “overpenetrate” and don’t transfer enough energy to the intended target. However, with the right bullet choice (hollow points instead of FMJ), I don’t believe this is a significant issue. Handguns in this caliber have a typical capacity of 7-17 rounds, depending on the size of the handgun.

.40 S&W: The .40 S&W has the honorable distinction of being the only caliber listed that was actually a step *down from another caliber (instead of an attempt to make an existing caliber stronger). It’s a good compromise between the speed of the 9mm round and the weight of the .45 rounds (and my personal favorite). Projectiles are .4005” and typically 155-185 grains. Standard loads put them at 1000-1300 fps, and capacities are usually from 7-15 rounds.

.357 magnum: The .357 is another revolver-only caliber. However, this is one of the granddaddies of them all, and is actually powerful enough that most states allow it to be used as a deer hunting cartridge. Bullets are .357” in diameter (duh!) and usually 125-158 grains, but they come screaming out of the barrel at 1200-1600 fps. As mentioned before, this is a revolver-only caliber, so 5-7 rounds are about all you can expect in terms of capacity. As an added plus for this caliber, all .357s can shoot .38 special rounds (but you should NEVER try to shoot a .357 in a .38 special), since the .38 is the same diameter projectile, but just has less powder behind it (due to a shorter brass case).

.45 ACP: As the old saying goes, “I carry a .45 because they don’t make a .46.” The .45 is the brute of handgun cartridges. These are slow, fat bullets. But, it’s undeniably a knockdown powerhouse. These bullets are .452” and extremely heavy (185-230 grains). Speed is sacrificed a bit (800-1100 fps), as is typical capacity (7-14 rounds), but if you want the job done right the first time, this is the one for you!

Ok, so let’s briefly address a question you may have. Why would you not carry a .45 all the time, right? I mean, it’s the big gun! That’s exactly the point. My ranking also closely follows the size and recoil of these handguns (although there’s more to it than that, and we’ll get into more of that later). So, while a .45 has undeniable stopping power, it’s also most likely to have the biggest frame for a handgun (making it less concealable) and the most recoil, as well as lower capacity. This is where the fun part starts, though! Now we get to start balancing all of these factors to determine what is the best caliber for you!

Soon I will start reviewing specific handguns, but I wanted everyone to be on the same page about calibers and understand the differences. I hope this has been helpful and clear. If you have any questions, please feel free to post in the comments section. Looking forward to helping you make the right choice of handgun for *you*!