9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum or .45 ACP: which caliber for which event
Published on · Updated on · 7 min read · Anthony Baillon
A handgun caliber is chosen on the event and the price per round: from €0.13 in .22 LR by the case to €0.56 in .45 ACP. 9mm is the cheapest centerfire caliber and is admitted in TAR, in TSV and, with lead bullets, at ISSF 25 m.
At a glance
| Caliber | Price per round | Events |
|---|---|---|
| .22 LR | €0.13 by the case | ISSF 25 and 50 m |
| 9mm | €0.26 | TAR, TSV, ISSF 25 m with lead bullets |
| .38 Special | €0.44 | TAR, ISSF 25 m centerfire |
| .357 Magnum | €0.50 | TSV Revolver; TAR loaded with .38 Special |
| .45 ACP | €0.56 | TAR, TSV |
Lowest prices surveyed on 24 September 2026, box of 50 for centerfire calibers.
- Budget: at 3,000 rounds a year, €780 in 9mm against €1,680 in .45 ACP.
- .357 Magnum revolver: it also fires .38 Special, the only ammunition admitted for it in TAR.
Budget: the caliber moves a round from €0.13 to €0.56
Price per round, from .22 LR to .45 ACP
Cheapest practice ammunition surveyed on 24 September 2026; box of 50, except .22 LR, by the case of 400 to 500
Price of the cheapest reference, divided by the number of rounds1234. By the box of 50, .22 LR costs €0.11 to €0.20 a round depending on the brand.
View the data
| Caliber | Box of 50 | Price per round |
|---|---|---|
| .22 LR | €5.50 to €12; case of 400 to 500: €45 to €89 | €0.13 by the case |
| 9mm FMJ | €12.90 to €16 | €0.26 |
| .38 Special | €21.90 to €28 | €0.44 |
| .357 Magnum | €24.90 to €28 | €0.50 |
| .45 ACP | €27.90 to €32 | €0.56 |
9mm costs half as much per round as .45 ACP: €0.26 against €0.56 for the cheapest box of 501. .38 Special and .357 Magnum sit in between12. .22 LR drops to €0.13 by the case of 400 to 50034.
Ammunition cost by the number of rounds fired
At the lowest price per round surveyed on 24 September 2026: €0.13 in .22 LR by the case, €0.26 in 9mm, €0.44 in .38 Special, €0.56 in .45 ACP
.357 Magnum, at €0.50 a round, costs €500, €1,000 and €1,500 for 1,000, 2,000 and 3,000 rounds1. The quota of 3,000 rounds per firearm per year covers Category B, not .22 LR5.
View the data
| Rounds | .22 LR | 9mm | .38 Special | .357 Magnum | .45 ACP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | €130 | €260 | €440 | €500 | €560 |
| 2,000 | €260 | €520 | €880 | €1,000 | €1,120 |
| 3,000 | €390 | €780 | €1,320 | €1,500 | €1,680 |
The Category B quota caps purchases at 3,000 rounds per firearm per twelve-month period5. At that volume, the caliber takes the bill from €780 in 9mm to €1,680 in .45 ACP. See Category B quotas and the cost of the first year.
Events: which caliber for TAR, ISSF and TSV
| Caliber | TAR | ISSF 25 m centerfire | TSV (IPSC) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9mm | Admitted | Admitted with lead bullets | Admitted |
| .38 Special | Admitted | Admitted | Admitted in Revolver |
| .357 Magnum | Loaded with .38 Special | Excluded | Admitted in Revolver |
| .45 ACP | Admitted | Excluded | Admitted |
| .22 LR | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
TAR, service-firearm shooting, admits centerfire handguns from 7.62 to 11.60 mm, with jacketed or plated projectiles; bare lead and wadcutters are prohibited7.
The ISSF limits 25 m centerfire to calibers from 7.62 to 9.65 mm, prohibits magnum-type ammunition and admits only lead or soft-material projectiles6. 25 m pistol, standard, rapid fire and 50 m are shot in .22 Long Rifle6.
TSV, practical shooting, follows the IPSC rules, which require a cartridge of at least 9 × 19 mm and a bullet of at least 9 mm in diameter8. The divisions are detailed in our article on IPSC and TSV.
Energy: .357 Magnum ahead, 9mm and .45 ACP level
Muzzle energy, by centerfire caliber
Manufacturer figures; the test barrel length changes from one caliber to another, and energy depends on it
9mm 124 grains, 150 mm barrel; .357 Magnum 158 grains, 150 mm; .45 ACP 230 grains, 127 mm9101112. The 158-grain .38 Special is measured with a 190 mm barrel13: in a revolver with a shorter barrel, it gives less.
View the data
| Caliber | Bullet | Energy | Test barrel |
|---|---|---|---|
| .357 Magnum | 158 grains | ≈ 760 J | 150 mm |
| 9mm | 124 grains | ≈ 518 J | 150 mm |
| .45 ACP | 230 grains | ≈ 504 J | 127 mm |
| .38 Special | 158 grains | ≈ 376 J | 190 mm |
9mm and .45 ACP deliver the same energy, around 500 joules, by two opposite routes: a 124-grain bullet at 360 m/s, a 230-grain bullet at 260 m/s91012. .357 Magnum reaches about 760 joules911.
That power comes from pressure: 3,000 bar in the CIP tables for .357 Magnum, 2,350 for 9mm, 1,500 for .38 Special and 1,300 for .45 ACP14151617. In sport shooting, energy scores no points: what changes is the feel of the recoil, sharp for 9mm, broader for .45 ACP.
Power factor: Major in .45 ACP and .357 Magnum
Calculated power factor, and the Minor and Major thresholds
Bullet weight in grains × velocity in feet per second ÷ 1,000, on manufacturer velocities
Thresholds from the January 2026 edition: Minor 125 in every division; Major 160 in Open, 170 in Standard, Classic and Revolver; no Major in Production, Production Optics and Optics8. In a match, the factor is measured by chronograph, in the shooter's own firearm8.
View the data
| Caliber | Load | Factor | Possible scoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| .357 Magnum | 158 grains at 395 m/s (1,296 fps) | ≈ 205 | Major in Revolver |
| .45 ACP | 230 grains at 260 m/s (853 fps) | ≈ 196 | Major in Standard and Classic |
| 9mm | 124 grains at 360 m/s (1,181 fps) | ≈ 146 | Minor; Major in Open with a hotter load |
| .38 Special | 158 grains at 271 m/s (889 fps) | ≈ 140 | Minor |
In TSV, power is measured by the power factor: bullet weight in grains multiplied by velocity in feet per second, divided by 1,0008. Minor starts at 125 in every division. Major, which scores more points on peripheral hits, starts at 160 in Open and at 170 in Standard, Classic and Revolver8.
In Standard and Classic, Major also requires a bullet of at least 10 mm8: .45 ACP qualifies, 9mm does not. In Open, no minimum caliber is set for Major8.
Caliber by caliber: pros and cons
9mm
Pros
.38 Special
Pros
.357 Magnum
Pros
.45 ACP
.22 LR
Pros
A .22 LR pistol remains a Category B firearm; only its ammunition is in Category C19. The detail is in our comparison 9mm or .22 LR.
.357 Magnum: a revolver that also fires .38 Special
The two cartridges share the same bullet diameter, .357 inch, and the same case head, 11.18 mm1516. The .357 Magnum case is about 3 mm longer18: a .357 Magnum revolver chambers .38 Special, a .38 Special revolver does not chamber .357 Magnum.
The TAR rulebook draws the consequence: « Les armes chambrées en 357 Magnum sont autorisées si elles utilisent la munition de 38 Spécial » [firearms chambered in .357 Magnum are allowed if they use .38 Special ammunition]7.
Which caliber for your event
What you gain, what you give up
For TAR and TSV with a single firearm, 9mm brings the lowest centerfire price per round. In return, it stays Minor in Standard and Classic.
For Major in TSV Standard or Classic, .45 ACP brings the required 10 mm bullet. In return, each round costs twice as much, and the ISSF is closed to it.
For precision revolver shooting, .38 Special brings the softest recoil and the ISSF wadcutter. A .357 Magnum revolver fires both rounds, at the price of a heavier firearm.
For the ISSF 25 and 50 meter events, .22 LR is the required caliber, at the lowest cost.
Three misconceptions about handgun calibers
- "9mm hits less hard than .45 ACP." Both deliver about 500 joules according to the manufacturer sheets1012.
- ".45 ACP is an Olympic caliber." 25 m centerfire is capped at 9.65 mm, and the other ISSF events are shot in .22 LR6.
- "A .357 Magnum revolver means shooting magnum loads." It also chambers .38 Special, the only ammunition admitted for it in TAR718.
Sources 19 references
Event rules come from the ISSF, TAR and IPSC rulebooks in the edition stated; pressures and dimensions from the CIP tables; energies from manufacturer sheets; prices from dated surveys at several French gun shops, flagged ⚠️ as commercial data. Click a note call in the text to highlight the corresponding source.
- Armurerie Centrale — surveys of 24 September 2026 from the product pages (in French), boxes of 50: 9x19 — Fiocchi FMJ 124 grains €12.90, STV Scorpio FMJ €13.90, Geco FMJ €14.49, STV Scorpio case of 1,000 €259.00; .38 Special — Geco FMJ 158 grains €21.90, Geco Wad Cutter €22.50, Fiocchi Wad Cutter €22.90; .357 Magnum — Fiocchi SJSP 158 grains €24.90, Geco FMJ €25.90; .45 ACP — Fiocchi FMJ 230 grains €27.90, Geco LRN €31.90. ⚠️ Commercial data.
- Armurerie de la Bourse — munitions de catégorie B (in French), survey of 24 September 2026, boxes of 50: 9x19 FMJ €15.00 to €16.00; .38 Special Geco €24.00, Magtech WC €24.00, Sellier & Bellot FMJ €27.00; .357 Magnum Fiocchi €26.00, Geco and Sellier & Bellot €28.00; .45 ACP Fiocchi and Magtech €29.00, Geco €32.00. ⚠️ Commercial data.
- Armurerie Loisir — balles .22 LR (in French), survey of 24 September 2026: cases Magtech 500 €54.90, Winchester M22 500 €59.90, CCI Blazer 500 €74.90; boxes of 50 from €5.65 (Fiocchi TT Soft) to €9.90 (ELEY Club). ⚠️ Commercial data.
- Armurerie de la Bourse — munitions de catégorie C (in French), survey of 24 September 2026: boxes of 50 from €5.50 (Aguila) to €12.00 (ELEY Club); Winchester M22 €45.00 per 400, SK Magazine €89.00 per 500. ⚠️ Commercial data.
- Service-public.gouv.fr — armes de catégorie B pour un tireur sportif (in French), factsheet F2250 checked on 20 March 2025: « Vous pouvez acheter au maximum 3 000 cartouches par arme autorisée pour le tir sportif, par période de 12 mois consécutifs » [you may buy at most 3,000 rounds per firearm authorized for sport shooting, per 12 consecutive months].
- Fédération française de tir — Règles Pistolet ISSF, mise à jour 08/2026 (PDF, in French; translation of the 2025 edition, second print in force at 1 July 2026), reread on 24 September 2026: 8.4.3.2 and 8.4.3.4, 25 m rimfire and 50 m pistols in .22 Long Rifle; 8.4.3.3, centerfire « de calibre compris entre 7,62mm et 9,65mm » [caliber between 7.62 mm and 9.65 mm]; 8.4.4, projectiles « uniquement en plomb ou matériau tendre similaire » [only of lead or similar soft material], « Les projectiles chemisés ne sont pas autorisés » [jacketed projectiles are not permitted], ammunition "de type " magnum "" [of magnum type] prohibited.
- Fédération française de tir — Règlement TAR, saison 2025-2026 (PDF, in French, circulated 12 January 2026), reread on 24 September 2026: centerfire handguns « d'un calibre compris entre 7,62mm et 11,60mm » [of a caliber between 7.62 mm and 11.60 mm]; « les balles plombs, Wad-cutter sont interdites » [lead bullets and wadcutters are prohibited], projectiles « chemisés, pelliculés (cuivre, laiton, nickel) » [jacketed, plated (copper, brass, nickel)]; permitted calibers including .38 Special, 9mm Parabellum, .45 ACP; « Les armes chambrées en 357 Magnum sont autorisées si elles utilisent la munition de 38 Spécial » [firearms chambered in .357 Magnum are allowed if they use .38 Special ammunition].
- IPSC — IPSC Handgun Competition Rules, Jan 2026 Edition, Final 29 Dec 2025, link published by the official IPSC Rule Books page, reread on 24 September 2026: 5.1.2, minimum cartridge 9x19 mm and 9 mm bullet; 5.6.3, "Power Factor = bullet weight (grains) x average velocity (feet per second)", divided by 1,000; appendices D1 to D6 — Minor 125 everywhere, Major 160 in Open, 170 in Standard, Classic and Revolver, not applicable in Production, Production Optics and Optics; minimum 10 mm bullet for Major in Standard and Classic, no minimum in Open. TSV follows these rules (FFTir, Règlement administratif du TSV 2019-2020, in French, article I).
- Sellier & Bellot — ballistic table of the pistol and revolver catalog: 9mm 124 grains 518 J (150 mm barrel), .357 Magnum 158 grains 760 J (150 mm), .45 Auto 230 grains 504 J (127 mm). ⚠️ Manufacturer technical data.
- GECO — 9 mm Luger Full Metal Jacket 8.0 g: 124 grains, 360 m/s, 518 J, 125 mm barrel. ⚠️ Manufacturer technical data.
- GECO — .357 Magnum FMJ Flat Nose 10.2 g: 158 grains, 395 m/s, 796 J, 150 mm barrel. ⚠️ Manufacturer technical data.
- GECO — .45 Auto Lead Round Nose copper-plated 14.9 g: 230 grains, 261 m/s, 508 J, 150 mm barrel. ⚠️ Manufacturer technical data.
- Sellier & Bellot — .38 Special FMJ 158 grains: 10.25 g, 271 m/s, 376 J, 190 mm test barrel. ⚠️ Manufacturer technical data.
- C.I.P. — TDCC table, 9 mm Luger: maximum pressure 2,350 bar, bullet diameter 9.03 mm.
- C.I.P. — TDCC table, .38 Special: maximum pressure 1,500 bar, case head 11.18 mm.
- C.I.P. — TDCC table, .357 Magnum: maximum pressure 3,000 bar, same case head as .38 Special.
- C.I.P. — TDCC table, .45 Auto: maximum pressure 1,300 bar.
- Wikipedia — .357 Magnum: a .357 Magnum revolver also chambers and fires .38 Special; case about 3 mm longer. ⚠️ Secondary source.
- Légifrance — article R311-2 du code de la sécurité intérieure (in French), version in force since 7 September 2025: Category B, handguns; at 10°, « Munitions à percussion centrale et leurs éléments conçus pour les armes de poing » [centerfire ammunition and its components designed for handguns], except those classified in Category C by arrêté.
The discipline's rulebook prevails. Permitted calibers, projectiles and power-factor thresholds change with the edition of the rules: the club's range officer confirms the rule in force before buying a firearm or a batch of ammunition.
Frequently asked questions
Which handgun caliber for sport shooting?
It depends on the event. 9mm is the cheapest centerfire caliber, €0.26 a round, and is admitted in TAR, in TSV and, with lead bullets, in ISSF 25 m centerfire. .38 Special serves precision revolver shooting, .45 ACP TAR and TSV, .22 LR the ISSF 25 and 50 meter events.
Is 9mm the cheapest caliber?
Among centerfire calibers, yes: €0.26 a round, against €0.44 in .38 Special, €0.50 in .357 Magnum and €0.56 in .45 ACP, by the entry-level box of 50. .22 LR drops to €0.13 by the case of 400 to 500, and €0.11 to €0.20 by the box of 50.
Can you shoot .45 ACP in ISSF 25 m centerfire?
No. The event admits only calibers from 7.62 to 9.65 mm; .45 ACP, at 11.43 mm, is excluded. Magnum-type ammunition is prohibited there, which also rules out .357 Magnum. .45 ACP remains admitted in TAR and TSV.
Can a .357 Magnum revolver fire .38 Special?
Yes. The two cartridges have the same bullet diameter and the same case head; the .357 Magnum case is about 3 mm longer. A .357 Magnum revolver therefore chambers .38 Special; the reverse is impossible. In TAR, a .357 Magnum revolver is admitted only with .38 Special ammunition.
What is the power factor?
In TSV, which follows the IPSC rules, it is the bullet weight in grains multiplied by the velocity in feet per second, divided by 1,000. The Minor threshold is 125 in every division; Major, which scores more points on peripheral hits, is 160 in Open and 170 in Standard, Classic and Revolver.
Which calibers are admitted in service-firearm shooting (TAR)?
Centerfire handguns from 7.62 to 11.60 mm, in their original caliber: 7.65 Browning, .38 Special, 9mm Parabellum, .45 ACP and others. Projectiles are jacketed or plated; bare lead and wadcutters are prohibited.