9mm vs 30 Super Carry

The .30 Super Carry, launched in early 2022, was made specifically for concealed carry. Engineers and ballistic experts at Federal wanted to create the perfect cartridge for concealment, one that could deliver reliable ballistics and steady recoil, while also giving users a higher magazine capacity.

Considering that it was made for compact concealment and personal protection, the .30 Super Carry, also stylized as the “.30 Super” and “.30 SC,” naturally encroached on the king of the concealed carry realm: the 9mm Luger.

Also known as the 9mm Parabellum and 9mm NATO, this is the most popular handgun round in the United States. It gives users manageable recoil, affordable shooting, and deadly performance; it does all this with some of the most comfortable compact handguns on the market.

Can the .30 Super dethrone the king? Can it even take a portion of the 9mm’s kingdom? More importantly, should you adopt this new round over the classic cartridge? By analyzing their characteristics, market status, and performances, you can make the right choice.

9mm Luger vs .30 Super Carry: Specs

Size and Shape

These two rounds are not terribly different in size. The bullet diameters are close, although the 9mm Luger is wider. The case is also wider, but the .30 Super has a longer case with lighter bullets.

Speaking of bullets, this is one area where there is a distinct difference. With the .30 Super, you are limited to rounds of 100 to 115 grains. The 9mm has a vast assortment of options, but most are either 115, 124, or 147. The 9mm, which is not considered a heavy round, packs a larger load.

Market Conditions

For market conditions, meaning availability, weapon options, and pricing, there is a chasm of difference between the 9mm and the .30 Super. 9mm ammo has massive consumer and manufacturer adoption, with countless ammo and firearm choices. The .30 Super is limited to a handful of ammo makers and, as far as we know, only one handgun manufacturer.

Smith & Wesson is the only major manufacturer currently offering handguns chambered for the .30 Super Carry. They have four basic models, which are encompassed in the Shield Plus Z and Shield EZ brands. They are all micro-compact handguns made for concealed carry. The handgun options for a 9mm Luger, are practically too large to count. When writing this article, Cabela’s website listed 356 handguns chambered for the 9mm; they had zero .30 Super Carry choices.

For ammo, the situation is better. The .30 Super Carry has support from some of the larger manufacturers, including Federal, Remington, Blazer, and Hornady. The classic round, by contrast, is available in countless options from virtually all makers. If you choose this cartridge, you are more likely to find ammo that you can use for practice and protection.

Capacity

You can find 9mm handguns with a far larger capacity than 16+1, which is currently the biggest load for the .30 Super. However, if we look only at micro-compact handguns, which are the only main options for the .30 Super, we find that the new round has a slight advantage.

Most 9mm micro-compact weapons carry 8 to 13 rounds, with some packing 15. In an apples-to-apples comparison, the .30 Super, has one to three more rounds. In a life-threatening situation, one more round could be critical.

9mm Luger vs .30 Super Carry Ballistics

Velocity

Speed impacts so many factors that it remains an important issue no matter how you use the cartridge. In this comparison, we see an overall velocity advantage for the .30 Super Carry. It’s not a massive advantage, but all of the .30 Supers were at or above 1,130 feet per second (fps) for muzzle velocity, while the fastest 9mm products were at 1,125 fps.

Some of the ammo options are close, but the averages show a clear speed advantage or the .30 Super.

Faster Cartridge: 30 Super Carry

Energy

If you are using a round for personal protection, energy is critical. In this comparison, we see a virtual draw. The muzzle energy difference, for example, is only two foot-pounds (ft-lbs), while the difference in 25-yard stats was only ten ft-lbs.

The .30 Super largely set out to give shooters a greater capacity with a performance that mirrors or excels the 9mm Luger. Judging by this quick look, it achieves the goal.

For what it’s worth, most shooters don’t feel a difference between 9mm and 30 Super Carry recoil. (We previously sampled both calibers in this blog post.)

Terminal Performance

Federal Ammunition offers penetration and expansion data for HST products in both the 9mm and .30 Super Carry. Although this is an extremely small sample (only one product for each cartridge) we once again see similar results.

The 100-grain .30 Super penetrated 15.5 inches and expanded to a diameter of 0.53 inches. A 124-grain 9mm Luger HST had shorter penetration at 14.5 inches, but larger expansion, which was 0.571 inches.

Final Verdict: 9mm Luger or .30 Super Carry?

Advantages of the 9mm Luger…

• An established cartridge with numerous ammo options.
• A more affordable round for high-volume shooters.
• A trusted, capable round for self-defense and target shooting.

Advantages the .30 Super Carry…

• With a thinner cartridge, .30 Super Carry handguns can hold more rounds.
• Performance and terminal ballistics meet or excel the 9mm Luger.

For many the choice is easy: if you want an established, affordable, trusted handgun round, the 9mm Luger is your best choice. But don’t overlook the new cartridge. If you want to try a new round that can give you more capacity with similar ballistics, you should try the .30 Super Carry.

From the Target Range to the Concealed Holster, We Have the Ammo You Need

No matter what cartridge you pack for personal protection and hobby shooting, you’ll find great deals on quality ammo right here. Visit our site and we’ll make sure you get the best prices and unbeatable service!