In firearms, innovation often does battle with practicality, like the Standard Manufacturing S333 Thunderstruck revolver. This 8-round revolver, firing two rounds of .22WMR with each pull of the trigger, has certainly drawn its share of attention due to its rather unusual design; however, as a weapon for self-defense, it is quite questionable.
The S333 Thunderstruck has a 1.25-inch barrel, so the overall barrel length comes out to about 3 inches with the cylinder added. Admittedly, .22WMR out of a 3-inch barrel isn’t a complete waste, it still provides around 100-110 ft/lbs of energy, but the revolver’s performance is plagued by a pretty major problem: keyholing. When bullets emerge from the barrel, this phenomenon, essentially, tumbling, significantly reduces their penetration and effectiveness. In testing, seven of eight bullets fired from the S333 at 5 yards exhibited keyholing. This seemed to be the case for many reviewers.
Other than the problem it attempts to solve, there are more complicated concerns inherent in the design of the S333 by Standard Manufacturing. For example, this gun weighs 18 ounces and has dimensions comparable to most compact 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistols, which pack much more powerful cartridges and come with higher capacities. Additionally, the two-finger S333 trigger and its long, heavy pull make the weapon less intuitive to be used in self-defense situations, most of which involve quick actions.
Whereas its greatest rival, the 9mm Parabellum, was introduced by Georg Luger as early as 1902, this has certainly proved itself as one of the most versatile and reliable cartridges. Having found its way into the military, law enforcement agencies, and civilian shooters, it gives a pretty good balance of power, accuracy, and controllability. Its moderate recoil, allowing fast follow-up shots, in addition to its high capacity, makes it most favored for self-defense and competitive shooting applications.
The history of the 9mm is not short on milestone events. One major point was its adoption by the German Navy in 1904 and the German Army in 1908. The popularity of the caliber gained some steam throughout the 20th century, becoming the standard sidearm caliber for NATO forces in 1955. High-capacity 9mm pistols invented in the 1980s further changed how the concealed-carry market operated.
Performance-wise, it clocks 1,000 to 1,200 fps with 115-grain bullets and 950 to 1,150 fps with 124-grain bullets. It provides 300-400 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle, which is plenty for effectual stopping in self-defense situations. Being a tapered-case cartridge allows it to feed and extract nicely from semi-automatic firearms.
Barrel length has a serious effect on the performance of the 9mm. Longer barrels provide higher velocities due to more complete powder burn, and shorter barrels enhance concealability. For example, a 3-inch subcompact barrel will turn in about 1,000 fps, while a 5-inch full-size barrel may yield as much as about 1,180 fps.
The versatility alone of 9mm runs the gamut from self-defense and law enforcement to competitive shooting and military applications. Given its ready availability and low cost, it would be very practical for target training or just plain practice. Beyond that, 9mm firearms are available in various formats: full-size, compact, and subcompact pistols, along with pistol caliber carbines—each suited for different requirements and preferences.
On the other side of the coin, the S333 Thunderstruck holds a singular way forward in its take on revolver design; however, keyholing and handling problems limit this gun’s practical use as a self-defense weapon. On the other hand, the 9mm Parabellum is an all-rounder cartridge that well balances power, control, and versatility for having a sure place in a great many military and civilian applications.