There was probably a fake news article claiming the 9mm is the most deadly cartridge but they don't take the widespread popularity of 9mm handguns into account compared to others. I had a statistics class in college and depending on what you put in or leave out you can make up just about anything and say its statistically Proven, which is a favorite thing of the fake news media to do. For example, Eating ice cream is statistically linked to drowning deaths. Idiots will be afraid to eat ice cream ever again, but in reality its just because more ice cream is eaten in warm weather and people swim more in warm weather. Technically its a true statement but the correct statement would be warm weather is linked to drowning deaths.
@@richardsilva-spokane3436 just think how pissed off she would be if she asked him to pickup pork ribs and watermelon for the party she was throwing. But he figured he was getting ready for his next video and instead of taking them home for her he shoots them instead. Would that qualify for someone sleeping on the couch or filling for divorce?
*two grocery clerks on look from a distance* GC1: "Hey, who's that guy? Hes here like three times a week." GC2: "I have no idea , but he must really like pork ribs and watermelon."
@@ivangucec9508 you nailed it. I love both, and if I can grill some pork ribs and eat some watermelon while shooting ribs and watermelon, that is the kitties titties.
Grow up son, there's no need for immature vulgarity. Notice Paul does not act this way, which should give you a clue how a real man of moral character conducts himself.
TheFew: Wrong. That middle finger was fully intentional and meant for comedic effect. You sound a little uptight, you should learn how to relax or you're gonna pop a vein. Hopefully Paul chimes in here and removes all doubt.
I've had first person experience with both calibers in lethal encounters. There is no comparison in stopping power of the 357 mag. That 357 mag terminated the fire fight immediately. The 9mm, with almost identical bullet placement, still allowed the actor to return fire. Requiring additional follow up shots. This a grim subject and should not be discussed lightly. Just my opinion. Paul, that was a very professional presentation. Good Work!
Do you think it’s safe to say that it was the bigger caliber or was it just shot placement ? Because one scenario doesn’t mean that 357 has more one stop shots. Someone else could get on here n say well I one stopped someone with a 9mm before. Someone’s gonna say they’ve seen a one shot with a 22 you know. I think it’s hard to compare based on one or two scenarios
.357 seems like a best all around pistol round. Lots of power, swappable with .38, reasonable recoil, good in carbines and a variety of bullet weights.
You should mention that it’s a one-way swap: .38 Special is happy in a .357 receiver. The casing of.357 (Thankfully) won’t fit in a.38 Special, or the would probably be numerous reports of cylinders exploding! You just *know* that some idiot would try it, like those who put smokeless power in cap and ball black powder revolvers! 😅
@@monkmoto1887Definitely and not only that but they are also priced similar too. Only big difference is that 10mm is harsher on the gun than 357 Mag is.
@@mychevysparkevdidntcatchfi1489 I've shot a lot with 9mm semis, and not a whole lot with my 357, but hitting shots is way easier with my revolver even with super hot (like 125gr at 1800fps hot) loads than any 9mm I've used or owned. As always, it is more about what you are comfortable with than anything else.
Yeah it's the music intro, outro and his speaking, appearance and clothing. But I really like it. Pauls videos has this raw educational quality. Like retro instruction videos.
When I watch his videos, I feel like I applied for a job, got the job, went to orientation and watched a training video. This guy really makes you interested in listening. His wide range of vocabulary and soft speech really drives his intellect into over drive. Also, I wonder if he can pull a new car out of his jacket pocket. That thing is magic.
Thank you. Received my first 357 at 15 yrs old, a retired Indiana State Police issue handed down. Have carried a Ruger 357 full time since my 18th birthday. In 45 yrs the caliber has never let me down.
"Don't try this at home, I'm what you'd call a professional" when you read that it sounds cocky but when I hear you say it in the video it doesn't sound that way at all. I really appreciate your perspectives and the amount of time and effort you put into making this. You clearly are very knowledgable and I really enjoyed this video.
Allen Atkins I was shot with a 22 and that was not fun either, luckily for me the round had passed through a hard target before striking me in the thigh.
I’ve only just found this channel in the past couple of days, but I have to say I love the content. No BS, no flash, no agenda, just the facts as they exist. More content should be like this.
@@becomematrix I wouldn't call it fairly large. But it does allow you to get a full purchase on the grip. It's easily concealable in the waistband with good holsters.
Yes, I'm doing the same - watching videos made before the government stripped away our God-given rights and we could get out and make a buck. Video watching is my occupation since totalitarianism hit.
Great video Paul! Thanks for dispelling the ridiculous myths going around. No way a 9mm will ever approach the power of a 357. You showed this with concrete, clear and repeatable tests and explained everything thoroughly. Thank you. Great channel
Hickock45 did a review of the Ruger .450 Bushmaster rifle. One shot from that into a cinder block completely powdered the middle of the block, and the intact top piece just fell straight down. Devastating!
@@bigol9223 yeah except that there's science behind that fact and even uncle Paul would agree that climate change DOES exist. Yeah, I agree that they sometimes mislead to make it look worse than it is, but denying it completely is idiocy, and you make all gun owners look bad by doing it. You really think that every scientist today is collectively working together for some conspiracy? That's as idiotic as saying the 9 is more powerful than the .357.
357 is a beast! Both will get the job done. People like 9's for the amount of ammo they carry. Carry what you want, just practice and be good with it. A well placed 22 is more effective than a 357 that misses.
A lot of LE agencies rushed to the 9mm for more rounds and ease of shooting for smaller (femalE / MALE) Officers. I carried a .357 revolver for the first few years of my LE career and NEVER felt i was "outgunned".
This entire comment section wins RU-vid, just too funny. You know you're a success when you draw a good quality crowd like this: respectful AND humorous.
I can still remember shooting a .357 magnum for the first time on pistol night at my local range. The difference in power was obvious and astounding...bought one the next week.
Bought an 8 inch 357 for hunting. Some yrs later got a 2 inch for carry. At indoor range, the range officer quickly came to see what I was shooting. The sound, muzzle flash, & recoil is attention getting. Now use 38 special in the 2". Much more easy to control.
Paul, I want to thank you for all the time you have invested in your videos. They are by far the best, most informative and entertaining videos out there. Also your style brings me back to the old days (1960s-70s) when hunters were regular, nice guys without an ego. They respect their weapons, and knew how to use them... THasnk
I’ve personally taken gallon water jugs and froze them; then put samples of level 2 ballistic vests taped on to them and tested various ammunition. The 357 always did the most damage out of calibers that are primarily accepted as personal defense calibers. The vest always stopped the round; but the ice was destroyed! 🤠
Thanks sir - I own both 357 and 9mm and like both - but the 357 does seem to have the edge on raw power and I concur with your demonstration results. Thanks - always a great presentation!
In plain English, he does not use hype or gimmicks and does not give you any information you don't need. He deep-sixed the premise of 9mm v 357 magnum. 9mm is fine and the shooter can have up to 18 rounds in a magazine. The 357 sig 125 grain is in the neighborhood of a 125 grain 357 magnum but that's it. The 357 Sig holds 15 rounds in a Glock and a 40 cal Glock can be converted to 357 Sig with a barrel and spring change. If 357 magnums had sub $1,000 auto platforms they would be popular. Not everyone has the $$$ to get a Coonan or Desert Eagle.
Theory meets practice. Great video. Since Paul is firing essentially the same projectile at a much higher velocity from the .357, you'd expect the real world results Paul got. For me, it boils down to auto vs revolver. "You be the judge".
And .44 Remington Magnum is a beast compared to .357 Magnum. I shoot well with all three, including the 9mm. I prefer to carry .357 Magnum as concealed carry, simply because a single shot will drop an assailant more effectively than 9mm. i.e. I only need to shoot 'Once', in a typical self defense scenario with just one assailant.
@@Peter-der-gute-vegane-Hirte it physically cannot keep up with the .357, the bullet weights and longer case capacity will always give the .357 mag an edge over the 9mm and it's variants. While there may overlap that doesn't translate to both cartridges loaded to their full potential.
I think so many guys are drawn to this channel because although the vids were posted not long ago, the style of video is nostalgic. I know I get that feeling. Brings back memories.
He doesn't bullshit. He brings more to the table in experience and wisdom than anybody else I've seen on RU-vid for firearms. That's why I love the channel.
I have no military service in my history, and only limited experience in law enforcement. But I was rolling with laughter when I heard Paul saying: the 9mm being just as effective as a 357 Magnum. As I have shot both, and remembered some of the stories I heard from my military friends, with their experiences with the 9mm in combat situations. And my own experiences. So I am in complete agreement with Paul. Is a 9mm effective? Yes. Is it as effective as a 357magnum? NO!
Great demonstration. Thank you Paul. 357mag for the win. I was a kid in the 1960's. I was always in awe of the 357 when dad took us kids to Saunders Heights; our small town shooting range, and someone would pull out a 357 mag pistol. Loud ! I'm talking crowd pleasers for a kid.
Great video. Paul saves me a fortune in ammo with his studies. They are well thought out and entertaining. The only disagreement I have is when he warns us that his talking part may be boring. I find his comments are logical and extremely well thought out. You keep making videos and I'll keep watching.
Shooting a .22LR indoors without hearing protection is a stupid idea, much less .357mag. Put a pair of amplified hearing protection muffs next to your nightstand. When that bump happens in the night, the first thing you do is pop on the muffs and turn up the volume. Then grab your iron.
My dad and his best friend/gun dealer back in ‘89 selected a Ruger Security Six 6” .357 mag as my first gun. I was somewhat disappointed as I wanted a semi. 30 years later....Thanks to both I hold that firearm as my personal favorite for both power, accuracy and reliability. Its also nice at the range to shoot .38 special. Love the .357 mag caliber.
My favorite firearm is my first handgun, at 14, a S&W M27, 6.5" barrel. I've had it 50 years, and it's still the most impressive, accurate, and beautiful gun of all. I've cloverleafed 5/6 shots, with a flyer 2" high, at 15 yards. I sighted it in at 50 yards. No question about the psychological effects of it, either.
Love it when some of your older videos pop up on my list - consistently great info This analysis was perfect - if the unfortunate event occurred where i had to draw and fire- you demonstrated why my instinct is to have my. 357 as primary and 9m as a back up or covering fire escape tool
The kinetic energy (KE) of the rounds as tested show the .357 generates between 1.4 to 1.7 times the KE of the 9mm. Effectiveness is more complex, as ability to hit the target in a vital spot is key. But assuming all else being equal, 0357 is much more powerful.
i'm getting 1300 fps out of 185 grains with 45 acp. i know 1400 fps is doable @ 185, but i don't want to stress the pistol like that because the fireball is real. 5" govt 1911 btw
This is much like the 10mm crowd who was claiming 10mm was just as powerful as the 44magnum. While 10mm is a great cartridge, it's not as powerful at the 44mag, not even close. Same as 9mm vs 357magnum. The magnum always wins. Best gun channel on youtube.
Sir this demonstration is amazing, I enjoyed this 100%. The meat target is the best example on the web of how effective a bullet can be, IMO at least. The .357 is just simply a far more powerful bullet. When you use the word "effective" as the other guy you mentioned did, that opens a whole new can of worms. I feel something like a Ruger LCR in .22LR can be totally "effective" for a self defense weapon, even though obviously the "power" isn't anywhere close at all to either of these two calibers you just demonstrated.
BIG fan of these Paul Harrell videos and how he explains ballistics, mechanicals of the firearms and real world scenarios for personal/home defense. I had to sort through a lot of RU-vid amateurs to find an expert like Paul and I'm so glad I did.
Paul Harrell is definitely my #1 favorite gun guys one RU-vid 💯 he explains things very well, is very knowledgeable I just love watching his videos! Always answers my questions without me still wondering at the end. Thank you sir! 👍👏👏
I remember reading one in depth analysis of police involved shootings with different calibers and the results. The "best" was apparently a 125 grain projectile out of a .357, with a 96% "one-stop shot" result.
You citing what you have personally used and tested, and showing it to us, is why your channel is the best. I have a Security Six .357 like yours (from about 1971) , but I carry a snub-nosed thirty-eight most of the time, and otherwise a G26 (9mm). .357 IS a very powerful cartridge, but not so practical for me, unless I'm walking in the woods, which isn't all that often.
I did not hear him say it was not as practical. I must have missed that, Roy. I heard him say more powerful and effective, but that was in reference to the .357. Reloading and more magazine capacity is for those who miss more shots than Paul, it appears. Personally, I am a terrible shot at 25 yards with a sidearm, but I think I can hit a 3" target while flustered at 21 feet without my glasses.
Thank you Paul, love your videos. I'm still relatively new to guns. bought a Ruger SP101 about 5 months ago, , and, I'm all-in, love it! Your videos are truly entertaining and instructional!
When this guy pulls the snubby out of his pocket, I immediately imagined him in a dark alley, calmly speaking to someone attempting a robbery, and doing exactly that. Loved this video and the thought out information. Thank you for this
I had deer regularly walk past my back yard target area in Oregon while we were shooting. It was weird because, I rarely saw deer on the property any other time.
Can you imagine how neat and organised every aspect of this man's life is? I bet there is not one dirty dish in his sink, every car is spotlessly clean and polished, Underwear folded.
Hello Paul my name is M E Wilson SR. I just want to say what a great presentation that you have put together and put out here online I really appreciate it and it taught me a lot about the reasoning and testing on Firearms thank you so much and I look forward to your next publication thank you so much!!
If anyone tells you that 9mm is just as powerful as .357 magnum, just take them to the range and let them shoot the hottest 9mm they can find, then give them the hottest .357 magnum you can find. Even the stuff from walmart can be pretty toasty for .357 mag.
R Re haha, I have a Ruger Security Six 4 inch in ss and my buddy has a 92f exactly what Paul was shooting today. I let him shoot my 357 loaded with 158 grain Magtechs. He was like "wholly hell, it felt like someone was slapping me in the face. That recoil is ridiculous!"
Right! And if you check out the Duty ammo for PDs and Feds that are switching back to the 9mm, it’s some pretty hot stuff! +p+ is some loads and not available to the public. Nor is it very fun to shoot in a pistol for CCW, ie small and pocketable. I will stick to my 40SW and 357mag.
lol yes. Firing a 9mm is pretty much fun. .357 kicks bigtime and is like a cannon with what I have tried with it. I was firing medium power loads and it was sick. Firing cans and rotten fruit, but I missed and hit the big log they were on and split the log.
Outstanding demostration paul. I have both 357 and 9mm. My edc during the week i carry my either my taurus 509 9mm revolver or my glock 19. Both loaded with gold dot +p. And for my weekend adventures like night fishing or camping i carry my 6 inch ruger GP100 IN 357 MAG. I load it with buffalo bore jhp. It gets a little spooky around 1am in the woods by myself lol. Never know sasquatch could be real 😆
Paul- you have the hands down most informative gun channel on RU-vid. Heck if I count your Zombie video maybe the most informative dental health channel as well. Thank you for the videos and knowledge.
@@Sean_Regan The data doesn't back that up. 9 mm is an excellent caliber and probably the most reasonable choice for self-defense in a concealed carry role. But it is just on the edge with terminal performance. 9 mm hollow points are not created equal. and it really matters who you shoot and where you shoot them and how many times. I would suggest you go watch a channel called active self-protection and just see how many videos there are people being shot with any handgun caliber with hollow points multiple times. One shot and down is almost never what you see with anything. In the US at least over 80% of people in recorded instances of being shot with a handgun survive. Generally it's closer to 87% and varies by year. It's pretty much the reverse for a long arms. this isn't saying 9 mm a useless caliber or that some other caliber would make all the difference it's actually saying that most of the calibers are mostly useless, and the critical thing is having enough shots in the right place until something stops. There's no magic bullet and there's no magic caliber.
@@GunFunZS there’s no fucking way in hell 87% of people shot with handguns survive, that’s asinine as fucking shit. And yes a 9mm COULD one shot drop somebody. A .44 magnum most likely WOULD. Any data that suggests otherwise is most likely complete bullshit, just like Paul said in this video (not believing what he reads), at least regarding the .44 magnum. There’s no way most people who would get shot by that gun would be getting back up or surviving.
@@SuperD00D you can call it asinine but it's facts. Most people who are shot do not get hit in the heart or central nervous system. And so long as they are within driving range of a hospital they are probably not going to bleed to death. This is a statistic which is tracked. Is verifiable information. By the same token it is falsifiable information. Don't yell about your feelings about it, find the data to prove me false.
When my department (OCSD, CA) went from .38 Special revolver to 9mm semi-auto, I embraced the change. We also went from carrying 18 .38 Special rounds to 46 9mm rounds (as well as more rounds before reloading). Later, the department went from S&W 9mm to Glock 9mm, increasing the payload to 52 rounds of 9mm. Much later, the department went to a 3 pouch magazine carrier. That gave it an even bigger boost to 69 rounds. The biggest advantage was more rounds and quicker reloads. Shortly after getting the 9mm, jacketed hollow point ammunition was approved. The .38 special was the Keith semi-wadcutter and speed loaders were used. Your videos are always done well, professionally and concisely. You are at the top of my short list of reviewers that I prefer.
Depending on your department and the numbers of officers 69 rounds may seem like a lot, and some not enough. Rural officers who may be alone with backup 15 to 30 minutes away wants to be prepared. Always being prepared is how you keep the edge. I knew deputies that carried scoped mini 14's because farmers have scoped deer rifles and more. I knew others who only had shotguns. That's the way the world is. Its becoming more violent and the officers must be prepared to meet those threats. Next time you have to call 911 think about those officers there to help you or to help another. To assume they will be "throwing around 9mm in every direction" is asinine.
I love how you guys have that quote above the firing range " speed is good but acurracy is everything" by Wyatt Earp if i am correct...SAPD and OCSD good at law enforcement and community relations
Army Vet to Army Vet, I LOVE your channel sir. Very practical and straight forward information with descriptions, and comparisons. You let the real time results speak for themselves. 💯
@@jethrobodeen88 No sir. Those awards that come on during the video intro are Army awards. The rifle in the blue box with the wreath is the Army Combat Infantryman Badge or "CIB", and the badge right below it is the Army Air Assault badge. He also has Army marksmanship badges on the top rows. He also talks about his time in the Army, and how he witnessed the Army change from the 1911 to the M9 in one of his videos.
Another Great Presentation! I just ordered a Ruger GP100 357 magnum with a 4” barrel today. I had the tracking number before I even got home from my FFL !! Doing the Happy Dance!
I used to think that a revolver could NEVER jam until I had a round malfunction and only the primer fired moving the projectile just enough to jam the revolver from turning!
Don Z Dryver: I have shot thousands of revolver rounds... many of them reloads... and have never had a misfire or hot load foul the cylinder. I should mention I only consistently shot Colts, S&Ws or Rugers... mostly Colts. Guess I got lucky! Cheers.
@@Primus54 ,The scary part was that I had to use a long punch and hammer to pound the projectile back into the casing while hoping it didn't fire! Of course I kept my face and hands away from the muzzle.
retrobeats - I’ve had semiauto pistols that were finicky about Ammo and would jam if not fed the best food. I had a Kimber that produced 3-point jams almost every magazine until I did extensive part replacement and tune ups. Failures to return to battery, failures to feed, and failures to eject all happen with semiauto, albeit rarely with a good pistol. The only problem I’ve ever had with a revolver was when I changed out the hammer spring and went too light, causing light primate strikes. If you had a revolver “blow up” on you, either the Ammo was bad or wrong for the gun, you fired a second shot after a squib left 1 in the barrel, or the gun was improperly manufactured. Any of these problems can happen just as easily in a semiauto.
I haven't commented on any of your videos, but it's not because I don't admire your skills and analysis, which are comprehensive, accurate and freaking funny! Very entertaining and informative. You sir are an excellent instructor.
I learned this when I traded a .357 for a 9mm and took it to the range. The steel plates laughed at the 9mm shot. The .357 knocked them down one shot every time.
This morning I had a self-defense situation, not with a person but with an adult male black bear (that we believe was rabid), and I was very happy that I was carrying a .357 Mag (w/ StJHP). In fact, the only thing that would have made me happier was carrying my .44 Mag. It charged me and I got off 3 shots before it started to slow and pitch ~9 meters away, and then I emptied the revolver into the target and reloaded with a speed loader. The shot that made the difference was a hit right above its right eye, I believe it was the 2nd, that fully penetrated into its skull. I'm not sure a 9mm would have been enough to stop it before it reached me. BTW, practice, practice, practice combat reloads. I was pleased that I reloaded smoothly (for me) without even really thinking about it, due to lots of practice.
Glad you survived to tell the tale. I have been trying to decide what firearm would be best for my first. Still undecided but the information is very helpful. Thank you!
@@IluvinortheIneffable For a first gun? Yes, hard to say, if you want a one and done gun, yea, a 9mm or higher, but if you plan on getting more guns, a 9mm is good for learning how to shoot, it's a middle ground, ammo isn't as expensive, and you get decent training with recoil and so on, but, there's also .22s out there, you won't really learn how to shoot bigger guns, but if you want to have fun or throw a million round down range to learn how to aim and how to deal with malfunctions(I've never had a many malfunctions as i do on my 22s) and not lay awake at night thinking about your wallet, you'll definitely get what you want there
Lol dude my guy you’re talking about a full grown adult bear that’s 10×20 times stronger than the average adult male that’s like talking about a primate a monkey they’re a lot stronger than the average male and a little stronger than I physically and shape mail anyways the average objective that you would really be up against in risky defensive bad situation is an adult male or female you don’t really need a real powerful gun like that to stop a wimpy objective pretty much one shot from any gun. The average purple if it can hit the target depen what person has heha lol but hey I love mr my negs bby^ and ong so I ight mad at u
I've watched this particular presentation a few times. Still as informative and entertaining. The issue that strikes me as having high significance is defining the parameters of performance for the elements of focus- The specific firearms utilized; cartridge configuration, strategy or tactics, ad astra. Paul and very few others across the YT universe provide the viewers with objective information with attention retaining presentation. Subjective views are kept to a minimum and are primarily used to fill in gaps that data or statistics can not adequately address. I've been impressed as to how Mr. H. and his crew manage to produce presentations on a regular basis when many other production 'companies' run out of ways to grow the audience after a few dozen episodes.
I don't own a firearm. It's a consideration though. I find your videos to be the most informative and helpful in my considerations. I love how you call stupid, "stupid" without using the word "stupid" too. I think in consideration of firearms for home protection in apartments or in neighborhoods you have to think about just enough power to stop an intruder or bad guy with minimal pass through of a projectile. Protecting your own with minimal risk to others.
Proper defensive ammunition and shot placement will help to mitigate much of that risk. In a nation ripe with litigation I do understand your point. It’d be a tragedy to defend your life only to find that you injured or killed another by accident. Train and create a plan of action. My advice is to get the gun; better to have it and not need it.
357 mag edges the Sig pretty handily in the 125 gr load but where the comparison ends are the heavier loads of 158 to 180. 357 mag all day, every day. However in terms of the high capacity auto loader design of the Sig, it wins the comparison in the long run due to speed of use and shootability. IMHO.
btube325 ~ oh right! The old “only on paper” argument. I can tell you facts, hard ones at that. Underwood’s 180 gr hard cast gas check 357 load clocks a tick over 1400 FPS from my 4” 686+. This is making a crushing 780lb ft of energy. Am I missing something? Do you know of a comparible 357 Sig load? On paper maybe? Get real, son...
So, if i did that, when SHTF I'd not be sure if the gun in my hand has a safety or not. Pick one great gun that you, your wife, your adult children love, buy everyone that model, pick one bullet, buy everyone a box. When SHTF , your family may all hunker down in one house and all will know how to operate everyone's piece. Like armies do it. One gun only ? That's all the nam sgt gave me , i gave it back a year later.
