[E. Pluribus Unum]

The best way to compare two cartridges is to compare their energies at the muzzle.

The .380 has a muzzle energy of 180 foot-pounds, while the .38 Special has a muzzle energy of 251 foot-pounds.

The .38 has almost 50% more energy.

Handgun Ballistics
PROPERTIES				ENERGY	VELOCITY (feet/second)					BULLET PATH
Caliber	Item No.	Bullet Type	Weight	FT. LBS.	MUZZLE	25 Yds.	50 Yds.	75 Yds.	100 Yds.	25 Yds.	50 Yds.	75 Yds.	100 Yds.
25 Auto	25A	FMJ	50	62	750	722	695	670	645	1.83	0	-6.33	-17.50
32 Auto	32A	FMJ	71	126	900	869	838	809	781	1.19	0	-4.28	-11.89
32 Auto	32B	JHP	60	117	980	849	820	791	763	1.26	0	-4.49	-12.46
32 S&W Long	32SWLA	LRN	98	132	780	758	737	717	697	1.64	0	-5.64	-15.50
32 S&W Long	32SWLB	LWC	100	103	680	655	630	607	584	2.28	0	-7.75	-21.40
380 Auto	380SFA	SFHP	95	180	925	884	847	813	783	1.14	0	-4.12	-11.49
380 Auto	380A	FMJ	90	169	920	886	853	822	791	1.13	0	-4.12	-11.46
380 Auto	380B	JHP	90	169	920	886	853	822	791	1.13	0	-4.12	-11.46
38 Special+P	38SFA	SFHP	125	251	950	918	889	863	838	1.06	0	-3.77	-10.45
38 Special	38A	LRN	158	235	820	801	783	765	749	1.43	0	-5	-13.74
38 Special	38C	LWC	148	175	730	703	677	652	628	1.95	0	-6.69	-18.50
38 Special +P	38D	JHP	125	250	950	920	892	864	837	1.03	0	-3.77	-10.44
38 Special	38G	FMJ	132	207	840	817	795	773	752	1.38	0	-4.82	-13.27
38 Special	38N	JSP	158	225	800	780	760	741	722	1.54	0	-5.29	-14.55
38 Super Auto+P	38SA	FMJ	130	343	1090	1041	1000	965	934	0.75	0	-2.92	-8.16
38 Super Auto+P	38SB	JHP	115	320	1120	1061	1013	972	937	0.71	0	-2.83	-7.95
9mm Luger	9SFL	SFHP	95	330	1250	1239	1228	1217	1207	.46	0	-1.90	-5.26
9mm Luger	9SFB	SFHP	124	327	1090	1043	1003	969	939	0.75	0	-2.89	-8.03
9mm Luger	9A	FMJ	115	338	1150	1099	1057	1020	988	0.65	0	-2.59	-7.26
9mm Luger	9B	JHP	115	344	1160	1099	1049	1007	971	0.65	0	-2.62	-7.37
9mm Luger	9G	FMJ	124	339	1110	1059	1017	980	949	0.71	0	-2.83	-7.86
357 Magnum	357SFA	SFHP	150	480	1200	1131	1076	1031	992	0.60	0	-2.47	-6.97
357 Magnum	357A	JSP	158	505	1200	1132	1078	1033	994	0.60	0	-2.46	-6.95
357 Magnum	357B	JHP	125	584	1450	1337	1235	1155	1093	0.36	0	-1.78	-5.19
357 Magnum	357C	JHP	150	504	1230	1158	1100	1053	1012	0.56	0	-2.35	-6.65
357 Sig	357Sig-SFB	SFHP	124	502	1350	1263	1190	1132	1083	0.43	0	-1.96	-5.62
357 Sig	357Sig-A	FMJ/FP	124	512	1350	1242	1158	1093	1040	0.45	0	-2.07	-5.95
40 S&W	40SFA	SFHP	180	388	985	958	933	910	889	0.93	0	-3.45	-9.58
40 S&W	40SFB	SFHP	155	463	1160	1092	1039	994	957	0.65	0	-2.66	-7.47
40 S&W	40B	JHP	156	396	1040	1002	970	941	915	0.83	0	-3.14	-8.75
40 S&W	40D	FMJ	165	355	985	955	928	903	879	0.94	0	-3.46	-9.59
40 S&W	40E	FMJ/FP	180	388	985	957	931	908	885	0.94	0	-3.44	-9.52
10mm Auto	10SFA	SFHP	180	361	950	926	903	882	862	1.04	0	-3.7	-10.16
10mm Auto	10A	TC-FMJ	200	490	1050	1008	972	941	912	0.82	0	-3.08	-8.63
10 mm Auto	10B	JHP	170	543	1200	1117	1052	1000	958	0.62	0	-2.55	-7.21
41 Rem Mag	41C	TCSP	210	788	1300	1210	1141	1065	1038	0.49	0	-2.16	-6.15
44 S&W Special	44SA	SWC-CP	240	308	760	737	714	692	671	1.75	0	-6.01	-16.56
44 S&W Special	44SB	JHP	180	383	980	938	902	869	839	1	0	-3.67	-10.14
44 Rem. Mag	44SFA	SFHP	240	900	1300	1212	1138	1079	1030	0.49	0	-2.13	-6.08
44 Rem. Mag	44A	LSWC-GCK	240	833	1250	1168	1103	1051	1008	0.55	0	-2.32	-6.60
44 Rem. Mag	44B	JHP	180	783	1400	1270	1167	1091	1032	0.42	0	-2.01	-5.84
44 Rem. Mag	44C	JHP	240	901	1300	1217	1151	1098	1053	0.48	0	-2.12	-6.03
44 Rem. Mag	44D	TC-SP	240	900	1300	1216	1144	1086	1038	0.49	0	-2.11	-6
45 Auto	45SFA	SFHP	230	369	850	830	811	792	775	1.32	0	-4.63	-12.67
45 Auto	45A	FMJ	230	352	830	809	789	769	749	1.41	0	-4.90	-13.48
45 Auto	45B	JHP	185	333	900	867	836	805	776	1.19	0	-4.30	-11.96
45 Auto	45C	FMJ-SWC	200	321	850	818	788	761	734	1.36	0	-4.84	-13.48
45 Colt	45LB	FMJ-FP	250	355	800	783	766	750	733	1.52	0	-5.22	-14.31
*45 Colt+P+	45HA	JSP	300	1041	1250	1192	1144	1102	1066	.51	0	-2.17	-6.13
*WARNING: This ammunition is loaded to higher pressures and is, therefor, not intended for use in firearms of weaker receiver/frame strength such as the Colt Single Action Army revolver. Please consult the firearms manufacturer for compatibility and use. Abbreviations: CC - Copper Coated LRN - Lead Round Nose JSP - Jacketed Soft Point LFP - Lead Flat Point JHP - Jacketed Hollow Point LSWC - Lead Semi-Wadcutter SFHP - Starfire Hollow Point GCK - Gas Check FMJ - Full Metal Jacket LWC - Lead Wadcutter TC - Truncated Cone This Ballistics Table was calculated by using current data for each load. Velocity figures are from test barrels; user velocities may vary from those listed. The data in the table represents the approximate behavior of each loading under the following conditions: 59ºF, barometric pressure of 29.52 inches, sea level altitude.

[Myrddin]

The new S&W 500 Magnum is rated at 2600 ft-lbs of muzzle energy. The hottest .454 Casull from Corbon is rated at 1902 ft-lbs.