9mm Luger (Parabellum) vs .44 S&W Special Ammo Comparison - Ballistics Info & Chart
- Caliber Ballistics Comparison
- 07 Dec, 2018
The following ammunition cartridge ballistics information and chart can be used to approximately compare 9mm Luger (Parabellum) vs .44 S&W Special ammo rounds. Please note, the following information reflects the estimated average ballistics for each caliber and does not pertain to a particular manufacturer, bullet weight, or jacketing type. As such, the following is for comparative information purposes only and should not be used to make precise predictions of the trajectory, performance, or true ballistics of any particular 9mm Luger (Parabellum) or .44 S&W Special rounds for hunting, target shooting, plinking, or any other usage. The decision for which round is better for a given application should be made with complete information, and this article simply serves as a comparative guide, not the final say.
For more detailed ballistics information please refer to the exact round in question or contact the manufacturer for the pertinent information. True 9mm Luger (Parabellum) and .44 S&W Special ballistics information can vary widely from the displayed information, and it is important to understand that the particular characteristics of a given round can make a substantive difference in its true performance.
| Caliber | Type | Velocity (fps) |
Energy (ft-lb) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9mm Luger (Parabellum) | Handgun | 1140 | 360 |
| .44 S&W Special | Handgun | 910 | 360 |
Velocity
As illustrated in the chart, 9mm Luger (Parabellum) rounds - on average - achieve a velocity of about 1140 feet per second (fps) while .44 S&W Special rounds travel at a velocity of 910 fps. To put this into perspective, a Boeing 737 commercial airliner travels at a cruising speed of 600 mph, or 880 fps. That is to say, 9mm Luger (Parabellum) bullets travel 1.3 times the speed of a 737 airplane at cruising speed, while .44 S&W Special bullets travel 1 times that same speed.
Various calibers
Energy
Furthermore, the muzzle energy of a 9mm Luger (Parabellum) round averages out to 360 ft-lb, while a .44 S&W Special round averages out to about 360 ft-lb. One way to think about this is as such: a foot-pound is a unit of energy equal to the amount of energy required to raise a weight of one pound a distance of one foot. So a 9mm Luger (Parabellum) round exits the barrel with kinetic energy equal to the energy required for linear vertical displacement of 360 pounds through a one foot distance, while a .44 S&W Special round exiting the barrel has energy equal to the amount required to displace 360 pounds over the same one foot distance. As a rule of thumb, when it comes to hunting, muzzle energy is what many hunters look at when deciding on what caliber of firearm / ammunition to select. Generally speaking, the higher the muzzle energy, the higher the stopping power.
Again, the above is for comparative information purposes only, and you should consult the exact ballistics for the particular 9mm Luger (Parabellum) or .44 S&W Special cartridge you're looking at purchasing.
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3 Comments
With both 9mm & 44sp having approximately the same muzzle volosity how much difference is the wt. of the bullet in stopping power?
“Stopping power” is not actually a thing. It’s a concept, but doesn’t have any actual science behind it. Muzzle energy is probably the closest analog to “stopping power”, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Bullet mass (grains), bullet design, impact velocity (not muzzle velocity), clothing/barriers, shot placement, and tons of other variables all determine how effective a shot is at disabling the target.
This is why I love my old S&W 629 44 mag . I can go from 44spl loads for targets or pests of various varieties to 240 grain or larger for deer or whatever needs a big whallop . . When I want to carry something high cap I carry the 9mm . Too many underestimate their firearms and just need to practice and train . I kill coyotes regularly with the lowly 22 LR and know when and where to put the bullet . The 9mm is no wimp . You just need to know its limits and your own .