CaliberAtlas › Compare › .380 ACP vs 9mm Luger

.380 ACP vs 9mm Luger — Ballistics Compared

9mm Luger shoots flatter with these representative loads: 33.2" vs 36.3" of drop at 150 yards. 9mm Luger carries more energy downrange: 200 vs 110 ft-lb retained at 150 yards. 9mm Luger drifts less in a 10 mph crosswind: 10.3" vs 14.5" at 150 yards. Expect noticeably more recoil from 9mm Luger in comparable firearms — its muzzle energy is 55% higher.

Figures use each cartridge's representative factory load, computed with our validated G1 model at standard conditions. Full tables and every load are on the cartridge pages: .380 ACP ballistics · 9mm Luger ballistics.

Pick .380 ACP if…

you're recoil-sensitive or shooting high volume

Pick 9mm Luger if…

you want the flatter trajectory (33.2" vs 36.3" at 150 yd)
you want more retained energy at distance (200 vs 110 ft-lb at 150 yd)
your focus is target
your focus is tactical

Side-by-Side Specifications

	.380 ACP	9mm Luger
Representative load	95gr Norma Range & Training FMJ	147gr Speer Gold Dot 9mm Luger 147gr GDHP
Muzzle velocity	984 fps	985 fps
Muzzle energy	204 ft-lb	317 ft-lb
G1 BC	0.118	0.164
Case length	17.3 mm	19.15 mm
Overall length	25 mm	29.69 mm
SAAMI max pressure	21,500 PSI	35,000 PSI
Common twist	1:16"	1:10"

Drop Comparison (inches)

	.380 ACP	9mm Luger
50 yd	-1"	-0.9"
100 yd	-11.8"	-10.9"
150 yd	-36.3"	-33.2"

Retained Energy (ft-lb)

	.380 ACP	9mm Luger
50 yd	164 ft-lb	270 ft-lb
100 yd	133 ft-lb	231 ft-lb
150 yd	110 ft-lb	200 ft-lb

Wind Drift — 10 mph Full-Value (inches)

	.380 ACP	9mm Luger
50 yd	1.6"	1.2"
100 yd	6.4"	4.6"
150 yd	14.5"	10.3"

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