.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special) Ballistics

Ballistics and Drop for the .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)

Cartridge Type: Handgun
Height: 1.155"
Width: 0.44"
Average FPS: 876
Average Energy: 235
Average Gr: 138
Recoil: 0.53
Power Rank: 2.42 of 7

The .38 Special is a round designed by Smith & Wesson in 1898. The 38 Special cartridge packs a decent punch, and it was used most law enforcement up until the 1970s and 80s when revolvers were faded out in favor of higher capacity magazines with rounds like the 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45 Auto. It can still be found today, and is often used in little snub nosed 5 round conceal carry 38 specials like the popular Smith & Wesson Air Lite. The guy at my local coin shop likes to hang the handle out of his pocket to let people know he's no pushover, and like you might have guessed he's not been robbed yet. If you want a little more pop you may want to research the 38 Special +p over pressurized rounds as well.

So why with all these other new rounds would you choose an old school revolver cartridge with only medium "stopping power"? There are a few reasons really #1 being revolver preference. If you want a conceal carry revolver you will have to look at a 38 Special at some point, it may not be your final choice but it very well may be. #2 the round fills the gap between the 380 Auto, and the 9mm in that it has more energy and power than the 380 but slightly less power than the 9mm, but..it is slower than both the 9mm and the 380 and while this my sound like a bad thing it isn't. The 9mm is known for over-penetration meaning that it sometimes passes through a person or barrier and so the target does not absorb all the energy. So a 38 Special will deliver more power than a 9mm that has over penetrated it's target, but less on average than a 9mm that has not over-penetrated. #3 If you own a .357 Magnum it most likely accepts the 38 Special and the 38 Special is much cheaper than the .357 so you can use the 38 Special to target practice with a Win Win. Ballistic drop chart and videos below enjoy!

*Casing image above is an artist rendering and not a real photo of .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special) Ballistics cartridge. While we have went to great lengths to make sure that it's as accurate as possible this rendering should not be used to generate specs for casings.

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Handpicked .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special) Ballistics Videos from YouTube

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Known Rounds

.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Remington Lead (Round Nose), .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Winchester Jacketed Flat Point, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Remington Semi-Jacketed Hollow Point + P, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Fiocchi FMJ, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Winchester Lead Wad Cutter, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Sellier & Bellot LRN, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Winchester Jacketed Flat Point, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Cor-Bon Glaser Safety Slug + P, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Sellier & Bellot Non-Tox SP, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Magtech SJSP Flat, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Magtech LSWC, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-PMC EMJ NT + P, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Magtech FMJ, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Magtech SJHP +P, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Winchester Lead Round Nose,

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Other Cartridges with Similar Widths (cartridges not bullets)

.17 Mach 2, .338-378 Weatherby, .470 Nitro Express, .45 Auto (.45 ACP), .224 Weatherby Magnum, .338 Lapua Magnum, 8x57mm Mauser JS, .32 H&R Magnum, .222 Remington, 6mm Remington, 7mm Dakota, .405 Winchester, .25 Winchester Super Short Magnum (WSSM), 10mm Auto, 7.82mm (.308) Lazzeroni Warbird,

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Other Cartridges with Similar Length

.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special), .44 Smith & Wesson Special, .45 Winchester Magnum, .44 Colt, .45 Smith & Wesson Schofield,

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Bullet Database

Image	Cartridge	Type	FPS	Energy	Power	Recoil	Length
	.17 Aguila	rifle	1850	152	0.37	0.16	0.618
	.17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire	rifle	2483	246	0.45	0.19	1.06
	.17 Mach 2	rifle	2078	163	0.35	0.17	0.714
	.17 Remington	rifle	4145	877	0.95	0.45	1.796
	.204 Ruger	rifle	3935	1272	1.46	0.6	1.84
	.218 Bee	rifle	2760	778	1.27	0.56	1.345
	.22 Hornet	rifle	2719	706	1.17	0.54	1.017
	.22 Long	rifle	898	52	0.26	0.14	0.613
	.22 Long Rifle High Veloci	rifle	1341	152	0.51	0.22	0.613
	.22 LR	rifle	1061	99	0.42	0.19	0.613
	.22 Short	rifle	896	52	0.26	0.13	0.421
	.22 Winchester Magnum Rimf	rifle	2000	342	0.54	0.34	1.055
	.22-250 Remington	rifle	3787	1624	1.93	0.9	1.912
	.220 Swift	rifle	3845	1674	1.96	0.9	2.205
	.221 Remington Fireball	rifle	3097	958	1.39	0.67	1.4
	.222 Remington	rifle	3167	1091	1.55	0.74	1.7
	.222 Remington Magnum	rifle	3525	1241	1.59	0.79	1.85
	.223 Remington (5.56x45mm	rifle	3148	1254	1.79	0.8	1.76
	.223 Winchester Super Shor	rifle	3766	1826	2.18	0.95	1.67
	.224 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3650	1627	2.01	0.9	1.92
	.225 Winchester	rifle	3570	1556	1.96	0.9	1.927
	.240 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3396	2432	3.23	1.46	2.5
	.243 Winchester	rifle	3179	1952	2.77	1.25	2.045
	.243 Winchester Super Shor	rifle	3198	2228	2.55	1.37	1.67
	.25 Auto (ACP)	handgun	814	68	0.74	0.17	0.615
	.25 Winchester Super Short	rifle	3155	2387	3.41	1.57	1.67
	.25-06 Remington	rifle	3123	2360	3.4	1.57	2.494
	.25-20 Winchester	rifle	1460	407	1.26	0.57	1.33
	.25-35 Winchester	rifle	2230	1292	2.61	1.18	2.043
	.250 Savage	rifle	2820	1765	2.82	1.27	1.912
	.257 Roberts	rifle	2790	2039	3.29	1.47	2.233
	.257 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3408	2836	3.75	1.76	2.549
	.260 Remington	rifle	2856	2282	3.6	1.73	2.035
	.264 Winchester Magnum	rifle	3170	2766	3.93	1.91	2.5
	.270 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3335	3333	4.5	2.05	2.549
	.270 Winchester	rifle	3536	3775	4.81	1.82	2.54
	.270 Winchester Short Magn	rifle	3238	3166	4.4	2	2.1
	.280 Remington	rifle	2896	2793	4.34	1.95	2.54
	.284 Winchester	rifle	2880	2762	4.32	1.93	2.17
	.30 Luger (7.65mm)	handgun	1210	296	2.2	0.52	0.85
	.30 M1 Carbine	rifle	1987	964	2.19	0.99	1.29
	.30-06 Springfield	rifle	2815	2920	4.67	2.19	2.494
	.30-30 Winchester	rifle	2373	1888	3.58	1.6	2.04
	.30-378 Weatherby	rifle	3382	4520	6.02	2.55	2.908
	.300 Dakota	rifle	3183	4206	5.95	2.6	2.55
	.300 H&H Magnum	rifle	2880	3314	5.18	2.34	2.85
	.300 Remington Short Actio	rifle	3034	3494	5.19	2.36	2.015
	.300 Remington Ultra Magnu	rifle	3066	3610	5.3	2.64	2.85
	.300 Savage	rifle	2518	2280	4.08	1.78	1.871
	.300 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3229	4074	5.68	2.63	2.811
	.300 Winchester Magnum	rifle	3026	3517	5.23	2.39	2.62
	.300 Winchester Short Magn	rifle	3078	3576	5.23	2.36	2.1
	.303 British	rifle	2540	2406	4.27	1.98	2.222
	.307 Winchester	rifle	2510	2518	4.52	1.93	2.015
	.308 Winchester (7.62mm NA	rifle	2681	2617	4.4	1.95	2.015
	.32 Auto (7.65mm Browning)	handgun	957	136	1.28	0.29	0.68
	.32 H&R Magnum	handgun	998	197	1.78	0.42	1.075
	.32 Short Colt	handgun	745	99	1.2	0.27	0.65
	.32 Smith & Wesson	handgun	680	88	1.16	0.27	0.605
	.32 Smith & Wesson Long	handgun	758	124	1.48	0.35	0.92
	.32 Winchester Special	rifle	2250	1911	3.83	1.95	2.04
	.32-20 Winchester	rifle	1210	325	1.21	0.55	1.315
	.325 Winchester Short Magn	rifle	2213	2174	4.43	2.78	2.1
	.327 Federal Magnum	handgun	1427	452	2.86	0.67	1.2
	.330 Dakota	rifle	2925	4369	6.73	3.11	2.74
	.338 Lapua Magnum	rifle	2927	4831	7.43	3.33	2.774
	.338 Winchester Magnum	rifle	2819	3916	6.26	2.93	2.5
	.340 Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3033	4615	6.85	3.3	2.825
	.35 Remington	rifle	2120	1876	3.99	1.87	1.92
	.35 Whelen	rifle	2638	3538	6.04	2.64	2.494
	.356 Winchester	rifle	2460	2687	4.92	2.22	2.015
	.357 Magnum	handgun	1294	528	3.68	0.89	1.29
	.357 SIG	handgun	1379	515	3.36	0.76	0.865
	.38 Special (.38 Smith & W	handgun	876	235	2.42	0.53	1.155
	.38-55 Winchester	rifle	1320	986	3.37	1.51	2.085
	.380 Auto (9mm Browning Sh	handgun	980	194	1.78	0.41	0.68
	.40 Smith & Wesson	handgun	1074	423	3.54	0.74	0.85
	.41 Remington Magnum	handgun	1276	763	5.38	1.23	1.29
	.44 Remington Magnum (Pist	handgun	1317	897	6.14	1.45	1.285
	.44 Smith & Wesson Special	handgun	911	361	3.58	0.81	1.16
	.44-40 Winchester	rifle	1060	499	2.12	1.07	1.305
	.45 Auto (.45 ACP)	handgun	937	403	3.88	0.93	0.898
	.45 GAP (Glock Automatic P	handgun	959	414	3.9	0.92	0.76
	.45-70 Government	rifle	1680	2274	6.1	2.43	2.105
	.470 Nitro Express	rifle	2134	5055	10.67	4.84	3.25
	10mm Auto	handgun	1199	546	4.1	0.96	0.992
	6.17mm (.243) Lazzeroni Sp	rifle	3618	2470	3.08	1.37	2.05
	6.53mm (.257) Lazzeroni Sc	rifle	3750	3122	3.75	1.69	2.8
	6.5mm Remington Magnum	rifle	3118	2655	3.84	1.72	2.17
	6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser	rifle	2673	2078	3.5	1.72	2.165
	6.5x57 Mauser	rifle	2543	1881	3.33	1.62	2.232
	6.8mm Remington SPC	rifle	2600	1696	2.94	1.41	1.686
	6mm Remington	rifle	3156	2145	3.06	1.4	2.233
	7-30 Waters	rifle	2700	1942	3.24	1.46	2.04
	7.62x39mm Russian	rifle	2363	1587	3.02	1.29	1.528
	7mm Remington Magnum	rifle	3024	3106	4.63	2.06	2.5
	7mm Remington Ultra Magnum	rifle	3121	3330	4.81	2.13	2.85
	7mm STW (Shooting Times We	rifle	3239	3494	4.86	2.31	2.85
	7mm Weatherby Magnum	rifle	3199	3476	4.89	2.2	2.549
	7mm Winchester Short Magnu	rifle	3134	3314	4.76	2.06	2.1
	7mm-08 Remington	rifle	2827	2448	3.9	1.8	2.035
	7x57mm Mauser	rifle	2602	2255	3.9	1.68	2.235
	7x64mm Brenneke	rifle	2818	2662	4.26	1.85	2.51
	8mm Remington Magnum	rifle	2900	3734	5.8	2.77	2.85
	8x57mm Mauser JS	rifle	2466	2511	4.59	1.81	2.24
	9mm Luger (9mm Parabellum)	handgun	1138	357	2.82	0.65	0.754
Cartridge	Image	Type	FPS	Energy	Power	Recoil	Length

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Power Rank

The PowerRank is an estimation of the cartridge power. The first number is the value of this cartridge, and the last number is the value of the most powerful round in our bullet database.

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