.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
Known Rounds
.38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Sellier & Bellot WC, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Fiocchi FMJ, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Cor-Bon JHP + P, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Ultramax RNL, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Magtech LFN, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Winchester Jacketed Hollow Point + P, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Cor-Bon Glaser Safety Slug + P, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Fiocchi LRN, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Sellier & Bellot FMJ, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-USA (Winchester) Jacketed Hollow Point, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-American Eagle (Federal) Lead Round Nose, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Ultramax SWC, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-UMC (Remington) Lead Round Nose, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-Magtech SJFP + P, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special)-American Eagle (Federal) Full Metal Jacket,
Other Cartridges with Similar Widths (cartridges not bullets)
.270 Weatherby Magnum, .338 A Square, .577 Nitro Express 3-Inch, .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR), 7mm Weatherby Magnum, .475 Linebaugh, .32 H&R Magnum, .25 Winchester Super Short Magnum (WSSM), .308 Winchester (7.62mm NATO), .458 Lott, 9mm Makarov (9x18mm), .30 M1 Carbine, .338 Winchester Magnum, .470 Nitro Express, .32 Winchester Special,
Other Cartridges with Similar Length
.45 Smith & Wesson Schofield, .45 Winchester Magnum, .44 Smith & Wesson Special, .38 Special (.38 Smith & Wesson Special), .44 Colt,
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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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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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