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MLeake · July 6, 2009, 11:54 PM

The .40 has a heavier projectile (155gr-200gr in standard loadings) with more frontal area, moving at higher speed than the .38 special. Ballistically, it is better in all ways.

The .357 outperforms the .40, but you asked about .38 special.

I would reach for a GP100 loaded with .357 before I would reach for a Cougar .40, but that has more to do with the fact that I like GP100's and shoot them well, and I don't have adequate background with the Cougar (I tried a rental .40 once, when it was still a Beretta - I don't consider 2 boxes of ammo at the range to be a valid point of reference).

For the same reason, I'd be torn between the GP100 with .38s as opposed to the Cougar .40 - I'm instinctive with the GP, and would have to think about the Cougar. OTOH, the Cougar would offer a lot more rounds, and each round would have better stopping power than the .38's in the GP.

Ah, looks like Doc Intrepid beat me to the punch.

My ultimate answer was going to be to let your wife shoot each, and see which one feels better to her.

July 6, 2009, 11:54 PM	#3
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	The .40 has a heavier projectile (155gr-200gr in standard loadings) with more frontal area, moving at higher speed than the .38 special. Ballistically, it is better in all ways. The .357 outperforms the .40, but you asked about .38 special. I would reach for a GP100 loaded with .357 before I would reach for a Cougar .40, but that has more to do with the fact that I like GP100's and shoot them well, and I don't have adequate background with the Cougar (I tried a rental .40 once, when it was still a Beretta - I don't consider 2 boxes of ammo at the range to be a valid point of reference). For the same reason, I'd be torn between the GP100 with .38s as opposed to the Cougar .40 - I'm instinctive with the GP, and would have to think about the Cougar. OTOH, the Cougar would offer a lot more rounds, and each round would have better stopping power than the .38's in the GP. Ah, looks like Doc Intrepid beat me to the punch. My ultimate answer was going to be to let your wife shoot each, and see which one feels better to her.