Pistol cartridge power comparison graph

[Pyrex]

I thought I would post up a graph I have been working on for a while to get everyone's opinions. I have never seen an extensive graph listing the energy delivery of all popular handgun cartridges. I did my best to keep the loads fair, so they are all maximum energy delivery possible without exceeding the factory pressure ratings, so no +P in here. All of these are factory commercially available loads. It makes for an interesting read. Please let me know if some of the data seems off so I can make adjustments.

http://cj.supraspeed.com/Pics/Weapons/PistolPowerComparison.jpg
Tell me what you think!

[garym1a2]

My 45acp, 9mm and 40S&W are awefull punney next to my 357 mag and nothing compared to a rifle.

[Artful]

I like it - very neatly done.

You might want to think about putting more/different loadings of same cartridges -
for example you have 44 mag w/ 320 grain boolit but most common sold is 240 grain
- 357 magnum you have 158 grain but lots of people use 125 grain HP's
- 45 ACP lots more 230 grain shot than 185 grain
- 40 S&W how about adding 180 grain load.
- 9mm I would like to see 147 grain and 125 grain added to your 115 grain info.

I would also see nothing wrong with including some +p or even +p+ in you chart.

[Pyrex]

I like it - very neatly done.

You might want to think about putting more/different loadings of same cartridges -
for example you have 44 mag w/ 320 grain boolit but most common sold is 240 grain
- 357 magnum you have 158 grain but lots of people use 125 grain HP's
- 45 ACP lots more 230 grain shot than 185 grain
- 40 S&W how about adding 180 grain load.
- 9mm I would like to see 147 grain and 125 grain added to your 115 grain info.
The problem is how do you arrange that data? I decided to make this a power graph, so it's arranged by the maximum energy delivery of each given caliber in the best circumstances within pressure limits. To truly demonstrate which caliber is more powerful than the other.

I plan on making a second chart with includes more wildcat cartridges like .460 rowland, 9x25 dillon, .45 super, etc. and then I will also add in common loads. Also, I'll be doing a rifle and a subsonic chart as well.

Thanks for the kind words, I find it really surprising and interesting that between the .45 GAP and 9mm, just about all of the mainstream cartridges delivery roughly the same energy. That's pretty surprising.

[Artful]

Actually if you want a real surprise look at defensive shootings with the cartridges and the % of one shot stops.


The problem is how do you arrange that data?

I'd just treat each loading like your treating each cartridge - put 'em in like you did the others - no rule to say all the 44 mags have to be together.

I plan on making a second chart with includes more wildcat cartridges like .460 rowland, 9x25 dillon, .45 super, etc. and then I will also add in common loads. Also, I'll be doing a rifle and a subsonic chart as well.


You might also want a chart with pistol cartridges fired in rifle / carbine length barrels.

[Pyrex]

http://cj.supraspeed.com/Pics/Weapons/PistolPowerComparisonWildcats.jpg
Here is an updated one with wildcat cartridges.

[lylejb]

Great work, but I think I see an error.....22lr

Most "hi velocity" aka the commonly available off the shelf stuff is more like 1250 fps, with some specalty going higher.
Much match / target is 1050 - 1150 fps.

You list it as 975 fps, isn't that a bit low?

[Pyrex]

Great work, but I think I see an error.....22lr

Most "hi velocity" aka the commonly available off the shelf stuff is more like 1250 fps, with some specalty going higher.
Much match / target is 1050 - 1150 fps



You list it as 975 fps, isn't that a bit low?

Yes that is too low for sure, I wish all .22 ammo was subsonic, it would make my life a lot easier. Not sure how I missed that.

[Spawn-Inc]

yeah, my 500 wins!

nice chart by the way!

[Pyrex]

yeah, my 500 wins!

nice chart by the way!

Lol, that's the reason I made the chart to begin with. To demonstrate the superiority of the .500mag. I love my 500.

[41 mag fan]

You forgot the 600 Nitro.
Very interesting chart though

[41 mag fan]

You forgot the 600 Nitro.
Very interesting chart though

You sure about the 454 beating the 480 Ruger?

[Pyrex]

600 nitro just isn't a production cartridge, more if a one off. Do you have any in spec commercial data that is higher energy than what I have?


You forgot the 600 Nitro.
Very interesting chart though

You sure about the 454 beating the 480 Ruger?

[nhrifle]

I don't see 50 BMG anywhere on that list! Definitely beats the 500 Smith!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMkiDguYtGw

[429421Cowboy]

Quite the undertaking! Alot of data compiled for easy comparison, thanks for sharing!

[429421Cowboy]

My only question is how come the powerhouse .45 Colt is so low on the list? Buffalo Bore, Double Tap and several others make plenty of stout loads for it, not to mention those of us who load for Rugers or TC's!

[44man]

The same old thing! ME and velocity but not what is important for doing the job on game animals in the field.
Not a single thing to do with bullet performance.
Would I choose .500 S&W over a .44 for deer? Not on your life.
I might get your goat but is there ANYTHING the .500 S&W is better at? Big gun, lots of noise and recoil. What else?

[gwpercle]

I think Pyrex likes making charts. Pyrex ...like the glass baking dish ?
You do make very nice charts , I am very impressed.

[Pyrex]

The same old thing! ME and velocity but not what is important for doing the job on game animals in the field.
Not a single thing to do with bullet performance.
Would I choose .500 S&W over a .44 for deer? Not on your life.
I might get your goat but is there ANYTHING the .500 S&W is better at? Big gun, lots of noise and recoil. What else?

Well, for one firing the maximum power load out of my model 29 feels like a squib in my 500. The 500 gets a clown shoe reputation, but for hand loading I love the hell out of it. I loaded .44 for 10 years and hunted with it as well. I use my 500 for hunting exclusively now. It can do everything a .44 can, and 3 times more, especially now that there are more molds in .501 popping up. Just remember when the .44 mag came out, the .357 shooters said the same thing about the Model 29. Don't knock it until you try it!

[Pyrex]

My only question is how come the powerhouse .45 Colt is so low on the list? Buffalo Bore, Double Tap and several others make plenty of stout loads for it, not to mention those of us who load for Rugers or TC's!

Those loads are over max pressure, I'm using the SAAMI pressure ceiling for all of these cartridges to keep all the data accurate. Powerhouse blackhawk loads are not within cartridge specs. 14,000psi is the pressure ceiling for .45LC

[Pyrex]

I think Pyrex likes making charts. Pyrex ...like the glass baking dish ?
You do make very nice charts , I am very impressed.

Yes, I went to school to be a chemist. Now I mostly blow things up.

[Pyrex]

I don't see 50 BMG anywhere on that list! Definitely beats the 500 Smith!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMkiDguYtGw

LOL, wow.