.38 refers to the type of firearm and firearm cartridges.
The .38 is considered a large caliber firearm cartridge; Anything larger than .32 is considered a large caliber, and one of the most common handguns manufactured in the United States.[1] The .38 caliber revolver is the standard sidearm of police in the United States, seconded by the .357 Magnum revolver.[2]
CAUTION: The following information is only as accurate as sources quoted, and the transcription thereof. DO NOT use these figures as the basis for any loading data without independent verification.
| Cartridge name | Bullet diameter |
Case length |
Cartridge length |
Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .380 ACP (.380 Auto, 9 mm Kurz, 9mm Browning Short, 9x17 mm) | .356 in (9.0 mm) | .680 in (17.3 mm) | .980 in (24.9 mm) | Rimless | Barnes 1997, p. 274 |
| .38 Casull | .356 in (9.0 mm) | .933 in (23.7 mm) | - | Rimless | [1] |
| .38 Short Colt | .357 in (9.1 mm) | .762 in (19.4 mm) | 1.052 in (26.7 mm) | Rimmed | Barnes 1997, p. 274 |
| .38 Long Colt | .357 in (9.1 mm) | 1.030 in (26.2 mm) | 1.320 in (33.5 mm) | Rimmed | Barnes 1997, p. 274 |
| .38 Special | .357 in (9.1 mm) | 1.16 in (29 mm) | 1.550 in (39.4 mm) | Rimmed | Barnes 1997, p. 274 |
| .38 AMU (.38 Army Marksmanship Unit) | .357 in (9.1 mm) | 1.15 in (29 mm) | - | Rimless | [2] |
| .38 ACP (.38 Auto, 9x23 mmSR) | .358 in (9.1 mm) | .900 in (22.9 mm) | 1.280 in (32.5 mm) | Semi-rimmed | Barnes 1997, p. 274 |
| .38 Super | .358 in (9.1 mm) | .900 in (22.9 mm) | 1.280 in (32.5 mm) | Semi-rimmed | Barnes 1997, p. 274 |
| .38 Super Comp | .358 in (9.1 mm) | .896 in (22.8 mm) | 1.280 in (32.5 mm) | Rimless | Starline cartridge dimensions |
| .38 S&W (.38 Colt New Police, .380 Rim, .38 S&W Corto, .380-200 British Service) | .359 in (9.1 mm) | .780 in (19.8 mm) | 1.200 in (30.5 mm) | Rimmed | Barnes 1997, p. 274 |
| .380 Revolver Short [British Webley pattern from 1860s, copied by Colt to produce .38 Short Colt] | .375 in (9.5 mm) | 0.700 in (17.8 mm) | 1.100 in (27.9 mm) | Rimmed | Barnes 1997, p. 274 |
| .380 Revolver Long [British Webley pattern from 1860s] | .375 in (9.5 mm) | 1.000 in (25.4 mm) | 1.400 in (35.6 mm) | Rimmed | Barnes 1997, p. 274 |
| .38-40 Winchester (.38-40 WCF) | .401 in (10.2 mm) | 1.300 in (33.0 mm) | 1.590 in (40.4 mm) | Rimmed | Barnes 1997, p. 92 |
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