el3so wrote:But seeing how there are some knowledgeable posters here and me being too lazy to google it, isn't
Hitoru wrote: .38
basically the same as 9mm?
No.
As in would/could the same size of round "fit" both a 9mm semi-automatic and a .38 revolver?
Nope.
Feel free to tell me this is akin to stating cows and horses are the same because both have 4 legs and eat grass, but please, keep the flaming educational.
No more flaming on my behalf, but the educational part I can wrap up pretty quickly...
There is no shortage of various cartridges which measure .357/9mm in bullet diameter.
Those that come to mind right away (without "googling") are the following:
.380, .38 special, 9x18, 9mm parabellum (also most often known as 9x19 or 9mm - this is what the S&W is chambered in), .38 Super, .357 sig, 9x23 Winchester, , .357 magnum, 9x25, .357 Herret and .357 maximum.
I probably left some out.
The bottom line is these are all different cartridges, some of which the casing is held into the mechanism differently (one may be held in by the mouth via a groove in the chamber or one maybe held in by the rim for example) most of these have different cases altogether, having different lengths of casings and at least one (sig) is a necked down case (can't remember what the Herrett looks like - just remember it being popular for a while in the T/C contender pistols (think slightly down scaled rifle).
They all are capable of shooting the same diameter projectile, but at wildly different velocities, and thus wildly varying destructive power.
Any of them will put a hole in an animal (humans included), and all are lethal (what moving object isn't?)...but some will put a hole clean through while knocking through bones and causing pressure and shock waves through blood vessels which is what really removes life from a animal (humans included) quickly.
Life is short. Eat, Drink & Be Merry!