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The Handgun Caliber Comparison Chart and Guide

One of the least understood topics for pistols is what caliber really means. As a result, we made a handgun caliber comparison chart, and guide that faces this cartridge-related issue head-on.

What Does Caliber Actually Mean?

At its most basic definition for guns, caliber refers to the diameter of the inner opening( aka bore) of a gun barrel and the diameter of a bullet. These measurements are typically expressed in fractions of an inch

Let’s look at two typical examples:

1. A .22 caliber pistol gun barrel has a bore diameter of 0.22 inches. The diameter of the bullet, not the cartridge, is 0.22 inches.
2. Some calibers which descend from European rounds are expressed in millimeters, most notably the nearly-ubiquitous 9mm Parabellum or Luger. As you guessed it, a 9mm pistol has a bore diameter of 9 millimeters, and the bullet diameter is 9 millimeters.
Simple stuff once you think about it.

Now, let us focus on the bullet itself to compare some of the most common pistol calibers. We will be comparing standard ranges for the following critical parameters for each caliber:

Note: Before we dive in, let us explain that we will be avoiding the classic pistol caliber debate in this guide.  Instead, we are presenting the information to allow you to make your own conclusions.   Now the fun part…

Handgun Caliber Comparison Chart

The Handgun Caliber Comparison Chart and Guide

.22LR

.22 caliber cartridges 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. Most common pistol calibers today are “center-fire,” with the primer located on a striking surface at the center of the casing instead. The rounds themselves differ only in terms of length and powder charge; all fire a small, light projectile most suited to target practice and small game hunting. 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.

.25 ACP

.32 ACP

Twenty-five and thirty-two, the “sub-combat” calibers, occupy a strange space in the world of mainstream handgun ammunition. Both calibers offer a light, short cartridge suitable for an easily-concealed handgun; neither offer particularly impressive ballistics. In fact, both are widely regarded in defensive handgun circles as being too underpowered for self-defense or hunting and too expensive for those multi-thousand-round days at the plinking range. 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. Outside of collectors’ firearms and backup guns, neither cartridge is commonly recommended for everyday use.

.38 Special

Note: .38 special is only available in a revolver.

.357 Magnum

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. 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.

Contrary to popular belief, the case of the .357 magnum was not designed to be longer than the .38 special case to hold more gun powder but to prevent people from loading these into .38 special pistol. The .357 magnum results in higher pressure when fired compared to a .38 special. As a result, .38 special pistol cannot withstand the pressure from a .357 magnum round.

A .357 magnum round shot in a .38 special gun would cause a lot of damage to the gun. 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. Many people use the .38 special in a .357 magnum for target practice. In a nutshell, the .357 magnum is the upgrade to .38 special plan and simple.

 

.44 Special

The larger .44 magnum came about two decades later, and both remain popular for self-defense applications and, to a limited extent, hunting with the .44 Magnum. There are carbines chambered in these types of ammunition exist, most of which mimic the lever actions of yesteryear modernized for today’s ammo.  Many use the .44 special, the lower powered .44 caliber, for target practice.

Due to the higher pressures involved, very few semi-automatic firearms are capable of feeding magnum rounds; an exception is the Israeli Military Industries Desert Eagle pistol, of Hollywood fame. Versions of the Desert Eagle exist chambered in .357 magnum, .44 magnum, and Action Arms’ proprietary .50 Action Express magnum round.

.380 ACP

9 mm

The .380 ACP has a similar diameter as a 9mm caliber. As a result, the .380 ACP makes up the smallest of the combat calibers with a 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 was designed for military and police applications. Militaries and police take advantage of the cartridge’s superior ballistic characteristics and relatively lightweight. As a result, more than half of US police use handguns in this caliber, and it remains one of the most popular cartridge types for submachine guns as well. Its secret lies in the high velocity of the relatively small round; while only three-hundredths of an inch wider than a .32 ACP.

The 9mm rounds are light, affordable, and nearly ubiquitous, making them an excellent choice for regular practice. 9mm rounds are a common choice for self-defense, especially in hollowpoint configurations designed to expand on impact. +P 9mm rounds are another choice, but again only in newer semi-automatics certified for the +P rounds. It is essential to understand what +P or +P+ means. To help understand this topic we recommend you check out the following two articles:

  1. Overpressure Ammunition​​​
  2. Understanding +P Ammunition​​​

 

.40 S&W

10 mm Auto

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. 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. The FBI made this decision in the wake of a disastrous shootout in Miami. During the shooting, a bank robber killed and wounded FBI agents despite agents shooting him half a dozen times.

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. A shortened spinoff, the .40 S&W, garnered widespread acclaim and rapidly became one of the most popular defensive handgun calibers. 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.

.45 ACP

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.

Its low muzzle velocity is sufficient for penetration, and the round relies on its weight for its lethal characteristics. A pistol caliber comparison chart will typically list this as the largest of common self-defense rounds by caliber alone. While it lacks the sheer destructive power of other large cartridges such as the .44 Magnum, the .45 ACP allows for much quicker follow-up shots due to its lower recoil. 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.

Conclusion

Whether you’re equipping yourself for target practice or self-defense, the choice of caliber can make quite a bit of difference. Larger rounds require more material to manufacture and less-common rounds receive less benefit from economies of scale in their manufacturing. Common calibers such as 9×19, .40 and .45 tend to dominate the mainstream handgun market. Plinkers gravitate toward the small end of the spectrum. Those needing protection from ornery wildlife commonly relies on magnum cartridges to bring them home safe. Whatever your needs, check out our pistol caliber chart and learn more about your favorite caliber. Until next time, stay safe and stay on target!

Republished with permission from our friends at Outdoor Methods

READ: Which Round For Self Defense

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6 thoughts on “The Handgun Caliber Comparison Chart and Guide

  1. Aman Sharma says:

    This is a great chart and guide! I’m always looking for ways to improve my shooting skills, and this will be a great reference tool. Thanks for sharing!

  2. Colman Webster says:

    This is one of the most thoughtfully laid out, well organized presentation of this kind of information; it is far more useful than most of the “tacti-bro” websites with beards, tattoos, and sailorly language.

    It is also very thorough in the number of common, practical calibers it covers.
    Thank you for this.

    1. StanM says:

      “Tacti-bro.” I love that. It describes those guys so perfectly. I’m relieved to learn that I’m not the only person tired of that wearisome persona.

  3. RSD says:

    Should’ve included .357 Sig….

    1. Donk says:

      While its a good round, it has largely devolved to a regional caliber because it is only commonly found in those areas where a significant percentage of law enforcement use it. Outside of those areas it is often not on shelves, or more expensive when you do find it.

  4. Rosa Q Perez says:

    Thanks for info as I thought I knew
    I didn’t and learned. Thanks again.
    Still learning. I’m a member in SA group I haven’t gone to meeting because had stints put in and waiting for Md to release me to shoot again

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