Originally Posted by
Chuck S
Super .38, as it was originally called, was the auto pistol "answer" to .357 S&W Magnum in revolvers. This was back when revolvers were considered more reliable and regular police departments (the audience of both cartridges) were content with non-nuclear handguns (or tanks or helicopter gunships).
.38 Super, the current name, was revived as a gun games cartridge and we all know gun games offer only a token correspondence to real world gunfight requirements.
Both are "just 9mm" and product 9mm size holes. While energy is required to produce a wound comparing energy offers no clue to the size of the wound. Bigger wound is better and .45ACP FMJ produces larger wounds than expanded 9mm JHPs. So, no, I don't consider it a good "defensive" (or even offensive) hand gun cartridge.
-- Chuck
I always thought it was the other way round, with .357 being the revolver answer to the Super 38.
Was introduced in the '20s for shooting through auto bodies and "bulletproof" vests worn by perps.
The .357 came along in the mid '30s to do the same job.
-jwk-
Si vis pacem, para bellum
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