
38 special exist today as manufacturers target the needs of different gun users. You can also attribute the cartridge’s popularity to the manageable recoil and impressive accuracy. A bullet from this cartridge won’t expand, as is the case with others that are smokeless. The design has since been changed to a smokeless propellant, but that hasn’t changed the mechanics significantly. Thus, they had lower pressures and slower muzzle velocities.

38 special designs contained black powder. 38 special are the case length and the pressures. It was designed to pierce body armor and deliver more stopping power. 38 special did its job for a while, gun battles between the police and gangsters in the 1930s led to the development of the. 38 refers to the diameter of the whole case.Ĭool Fact: While the. 357 inches (.90678 cm), which technically makes it closer to a. 38 is a bit of a misnomer as its bullet diameter is. The improvement was necessary because the US military personnel engaged in the Philippine-American War quickly saw how the Long Colt was ineffective against the Morro Warriors. 38 special was an improvement on the existing. It was also the round of choice for sidearm handguns used by the US military in major wars, including the First and Second World Wars, the Vietnam War, and the Korean War. This round was common within the US police department between 1920 and the 1990s. It is one of the most common types of ammunition for revolver owners, but you can also find it in semiautomatic pistols and carbines. 38 Special is a rimmed centerfire cartridge launched by Smith & Wesson. 38 today is most likely talking about the. 38 Smith and Wesson hit the shelves in 1877, anyone referring to a. However, with the advancements seen since the first. 38 cartridge had to be a bit more specific on the cartridge they were looking for (typically using the gun type).

There are quite a few cartridges in this category. Think of it as a category for cartridges that can fire. So, let’s discuss the differences between the. Just click here to see their latest inventory. They are well-respected in the community and provide a 100% lifetime warranty on every weapon they sell. I recommend buying firearms, ammo, and accessories at a reputable online dealer, like my top pick, Palmetto State Armory. I’ll look a bit more closely into both of them and help you clear up the confusion. 357 inch bullet diameter, while the latter is a cartridge variant under the. I often hear a common question and there seems to be some confusion around the. It’s a popular category that has seen many cartridges come and go over the years. 38 is a caliber that has been around for more than 100 years.
