.38/9mm/.357/38super/9x23= the same bullet size--not weight-- the ballistics change with each and witheach loading of the same caliber.
Do ballistics Kill? This may be the real question we are asking!
Blessings
I think in the FMJ class Ballistics are the way to compare one against the next and pick one for a job at hand. The Ballistics only show what a bullet will do out of a specific barrel length. Compact guns will act differently.
Once we get into self defence loads a lot of the comparison goes out the window.
Bullet design, design velocity, and barrel length all change things when shooting into a medium.
Years ago in a field in Strousburg France they took a bunch of ammo and one or two pistol designs (both were duty size) and they shot goats and timed how long it took each bullet design to kill the goat with the same hit. If the hit was off thye shot the goat with something else to kill it quickly. (this drives the PETA people nuts if you bring it up to them)
This is a practicle test that showed the bullet hitting real bone and mussle.
As Dee said he has seen and knows that bullet designs with the flatest nose to bullet diameter works. Dee says the penetration is good but, over penetration is not.
The three ways to get someone on the ground is to either hit a blood bearing organ that will deflate the blood pressure and turn off the brain.
The second is to break structural bone.
The third is to interupt the nervous system signals.
With that said, I have not shot someone, hope I never do. I have chased a robber out of the house with a 22 Target pistol and at the time did not think I was under armed. Now that I have other items, I would grab something else that I am confidant I can shoot well, and think will work with what is in the gun.