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9mm Luger vs .357 Mag. — Ballistics Compared

.357 Mag. shoots flatter with these representative loads: 20.9" vs 33.2" of drop at 150 yards. Expect noticeably more recoil from .357 Mag. in comparable firearms — its muzzle energy is 69% higher.

Representative loads use different bullet constructions (Gold Dot Hollow Point (bonded) vs Jacketed Hollow Point) — this is a ballistic comparison, not a terminal-performance comparison.

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: 9mm Luger ballistics · .357 Mag. ballistics.

Pick 9mm Luger if…

you're recoil-sensitive or shooting high volume
your focus is tactical — it has the longer track record there

Pick .357 Mag. if…

you want the flatter trajectory (20.9" vs 33.2" at 150 yd)
your focus is hunting — it has the longer track record there

Side-by-Side Specifications

	9mm Luger	.357 Mag.
Representative load	147gr Speer Gold Dot 9mm Luger GDHP	158gr Winchester Super-X JHP (X3574P)
Muzzle velocity	985 fps	1235 fps
Muzzle energy	317 ft-lb	535 ft-lb
G1 BC	0.164	0.17
Case length	19.15 mm	32.8 mm
Overall length	29.69 mm	40.4 mm
SAAMI max pressure	35,000 PSI	35,000 PSI
Common twist	1:10"	1:18.75"

Drop Comparison (inches)

	9mm Luger	.357 Mag.
50 yd	-0.9"	-0.1"
100 yd	-10.9"	-6.1"
150 yd	-33.2"	-20.9"

Retained Energy (ft-lb)

	9mm Luger	.357 Mag.
50 yd	270 ft-lb	416 ft-lb
100 yd	231 ft-lb	345 ft-lb
150 yd	200 ft-lb	295 ft-lb

Wind Drift — 10 mph Full-Value (inches)

	9mm Luger	.357 Mag.
50 yd	1.2"	1.5"
100 yd	4.6"	5.7"
150 yd	10.3"	12"

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