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.40 can hit harder than .45 and .357 Magnum

buschmaster
when can you say one cartridge hits as hard as another?

we can judge the power of a cartridge with kinetic energy and power factor. which one determines how hard a bullet hits?

if it has the same kinetic energy it might smack the target the same, but not have the power factor (momentum) to follow through.

if it has the same power factor (momentum) it might push as hard, but not have the kinetic energy to punch it like the other did.

it seems you can't pick only one.

so it stands to reason that, if it has the same kinetic energy and power factor, then it hits as hard as the other.

if it has more of both, then it hits harder.

if it is equal to one, and has more of the other, that also hits harder.

well then....



.45ACP averages around 200 power factor and 360 ft-lb kinetic energy.

.357 Magnum has power factor in the upper 180's and kinetic energy in the low 600's.

when you look at the numbers for .40S&W and .357SIG

(BBTI data)
chart.png

in a G22 they almost equal .357 (not much difference) and surpass .45ACP.

a G35 surpasses both of those. it hits harder no matter which way you cut it.
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Comments

15 comments

Date Votes
  • Warbirds
    Power factor IS NOT a derivative of caliber.

    I can make in my garage right now a 9mm load that would make a 75 power factor and a 9mm load that would make a 175PF.

    Power factor is simply Bullet weight x Bullet Speed.
    https://www.dillonprecision.com/power-factor-calculator.html
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  • 35 Whelen
    Warbirds wrote:
    Power factor IS NOT a derivative of caliber.

    I can make in my garage right now a 9mm load that would make a 75 power factor and a 9mm load that would make a 175PF.

    Power factor is simply Bullet weight x Bullet Speed.
    https://www.dillonprecision.com/power-factor-calculator.html


    That might be the first time I've bothered checking the power factor of anything I've loaded. According to that link, my +P .45 Colt loads come in at a power factor of 350. :shock:
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  • select-fire
    I will take a .357 6" barrel. The go to handgun.

    http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/
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  • He Dog
    You can only get so dead.
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  • buschmaster
    Warbirds wrote:
    Power factor IS NOT a derivative of caliber.

    I can make in my garage right now a 9mm load that would make a 75 power factor and a 9mm load that would make a 175PF.

    Power factor is simply Bullet weight x Bullet Speed.
    https://www.dillonprecision.com/power-factor-calculator.html
    guess what. it is. of the cartridge anyway.

    but I don't want to go off on a tangent. too much explaining.

    short answer: look at those PF's for 40 and 357SIG. same cartridge necked down. same PF's for the same barrel length. even though the .357 bullet is lighter. how is that? X amount of gunpowder = X amount of momentum.

    mind blowing eh? you can use the exact same amount of gunpowder and get more KE because of more velocity due to the venturi effect, yet momentum remains the same. no free lunch in physics just expressing the energy differently.

    but I 'm going off on a tangent.
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  • Toolman286
    We had "bullet proof glass" from our old HQ & decided to test it. :D It was made up of 5 sheets of 1/4" glass with a membrane between each layer. We used 9mm ball & hydro-shock from a 5" barrel, 45acp ball & hydro-shock from a 5" barrel & 40 S&W 165gr hydro-shock from a 4" barrel. The 9 & 45, fmj & HS shattered out 3 panes & left the back 2 solid. The 40 shattered out all 5 & left only the membrane between the 3rd & 4th panes.
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  • Warbirds
    There is no free lunch in physics- We can agree on that.
    buschmaster wrote:
    Warbirds wrote:
    Power factor IS NOT a derivative of caliber.

    I can make in my garage right now a 9mm load that would make a 75 power factor and a 9mm load that would make a 175PF.

    Power factor is simply Bullet weight x Bullet Speed.
    https://www.dillonprecision.com/power-factor-calculator.html
    guess what. it is. of the cartridge anyway.

    but I don't want to go off on a tangent. too much explaining.

    short answer: look at those PF's for 40 and 357SIG. same cartridge necked down. same PF's for the same barrel length. even though the .357 bullet is lighter. how is that? X amount of gunpowder = X amount of momentum.

    mind blowing eh? you can use the exact same amount of gunpowder and get more KE because of more velocity due to the venturi effect, yet momentum remains the same. no free lunch in physics just expressing the energy differently.

    but I 'm going off on a tangent.
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  • Smitty500mag
    iq2S1Hz.jpg
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  • shilowar
    I know a guy that shot another guy in the chest with a .40 Glock and dropped his ass dead right there where he had stood. It'll kill that .40 will.
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  • montanajoe
    • Community moderator
    It Will KEEL
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  • 35 Whelen
    montanajoe wrote:
    It Will KEEL

    :lol:
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  • buschmaster
    ho hum
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  • kissgoodnight
    You will still not find a 40 cal in my gun safe.
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  • buschmaster
    curses! my dastardly scheme to trick you into getting a .40 has failed again! I must slink away into the darkness this time... but I'll be back!
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  • select-fire
    Oh come on.. I have a 5" XD. .40. With Underwood ammo it does ok
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