Practice & target
Full-metal-jacket, plated, lead, and wadcutter bullets describe different constructions. Grain weight is projectile mass; it does not state a powder charge or guarantee recoil.
THE CARTRIDGE LIBRARY · RIMMED CENTERFIRE
.38 Special
A rimmed revolver cartridge offered in target wadcutters, general-purpose bullets, and expanding factory loads. Standard-pressure and +P ammunition must be identified separately.
2A Ledger reference desk · Sources checked October 18, 2026
Read the dimensions
- Overall · min–max
- 1.275–1.550 in
32.385–39.370 mm - Case length · max
- 1.155 in
29.337 mm - Jacketed max
- 0.358 in
9.093 mm - Lead max
- 0.359 in
9.119 mm - Rim diameter · max
- 0.440 in
11.176 mm
Know the exact name
At a glance
- Cartridge family
- Rimmed centerfire
- Bullet specification
- 0.3580 in / 9.093 mmJacketed max
0.3590 in / 9.119 mmLead max - Factory examples
- 23 loadsSelected, sourced examples below
- Weight in cited examples
- 90–158 grGrains measure mass, not powder charge
.38 Special is identified by its complete cartridge designation. The resource-table alternative is 38 Spl. A caliber number, bullet diameter, or family resemblance on its own does not identify ammunition compatibility.
.38 Special, .38 S&W, and .38 Super are distinct cartridges. +P use depends on the specific firearm's authorization.
Dimensions: open the exact dimensional drawing ↗. The displayed number is jacketed max; lead max, rather than an assertion that every manufactured projectile or barrel has this exact diameter.
Origins & evolution
Background & development
The .38 Special developed around the turn of the twentieth century as the revolver and ammunition industries sought an improvement over earlier .38-caliber service cartridges. It became closely tied to Smith & Wesson’s Military & Police revolver line. The longer case and revised performance established a new identity within a confusing family that also included the .38 Long Colt and .38 S&W.
Its most important later chapter was institutional use. Police departments made it a familiar duty cartridge for much of the twentieth century, while target shooters valued its accuracy in full-size revolvers. Those two markets supported a wide range of ammunition, from mild wadcutter target cartridges to more powerful service offerings. The later .357 Magnum grew from the same broad lineage, but did not erase the .38 Special’s role. Its history is a combination of service adoption, target shooting and the longevity of the revolver itself.
Historical sources: Smith & Wesson: original Military & Police history ↗ · Sierra: .38 Special service and target-shooting background ↗
Construction changes the story
Loads, variations & specialty offerings
Expanding factory bullets
JHP, XTP, FTX, HST, and similar product names refer to particular designs. Muzzle energy alone does not show expansion, penetration, or reliability in a particular firearm.
Specialty load families
Reduced-recoil, subsonic, monolithic, and heavier-bullet offerings are product-specific. A +P marking is a pressure category where standardized, not simply a heavier bullet. Follow the maker’s exact product and firearm guidance.
The expanded factory selection spans 90–158 grains. Exact products and source conditions appear in the table.
Bullet construction background: Hornady: anatomy of a bullet ↗. Exact product descriptions and velocities are cited in the factory table.
The table also distinguishes ordinary factory loads. Published test conditions and product-specific notes accompany each addition; no velocity curve is inferred from one muzzle specification.
From the factory catalog
90 grains
1,200 fps
FTX®
120 grains
1,000 fps
JHP · +P
129 grains
950 fps
HYDRA-SHOK · +P
Compare all 23 cited factory load records
| Maker / product | Bullet mass | Published construction | Muzzle velocity | Test barrel | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hornady90300 | 90 gr 5.83 g | FTX® | 1,200 fps 366 m/s | 4 in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| FederalPD38HS3 | 110 gr 7.13 g | HYDRA-SHOK | 980 fps 299 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| Hornady90310 | 110 gr 7.13 g | FTX® | 1,010 fps 308 m/s | 4 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| Hornady90311 | 110 gr 7.13 g | FTX® +P | 1,090 fps 332 m/s | 4 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| FederalPD38P1 | 120 gr 7.78 g | JHP +P | 1,000 fps 305 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| Hornady90324 | 125 gr 8.10 g | XTP® | 900 fps 274 m/s | 4 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| FederalP38HS1 | 129 gr 8.36 g | HYDRA-SHOK +P | 950 fps 290 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| FederalAE38K | 130 gr 8.42 g | FMJ | 890 fps 271 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗ |
| FederalC38130A | 130 gr 8.42 g | FMJ | 890 fps 271 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗ |
| FederalP38HSD1 | 130 gr 8.42 g | HYDRA-SHOK JHP +P | 900 fps 274 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| FederalGM38A | 148 gr 9.59 g | LW MATCH | 690 fps 210 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗ |
| FederalAE38B | 158 gr 10.24 g | LRN | 770 fps 235 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗ |
| FederalTP38VHP1 | 158 gr 10.24 g | SWHP | 830 fps 253 m/s | 4-V in | Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗ |
| Hornady90362 | 158 gr 10.24 g | XTP® | 800 fps 244 m/s | 4 V in | Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗ |
| Fiocchi38B | 158 gr 10.24 g | JHPStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 850 fps 259.1 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 28 ↗ |
| Fiocchi38E | 148 gr 9.59 g | JHPStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 750 fps 228.6 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 28 ↗ |
| Fiocchi38F | 125 gr 8.10 g | JHPStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 1,000 fps 304.8 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 28 ↗ |
| Fiocchi38A | 130 gr 8.42 g | FMJStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 950 fps 289.6 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 31 ↗ |
| Fiocchi38C | 158 gr 10.24 g | LRNStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 880 fps 268.2 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 31 ↗ |
| Fiocchi38G | 158 gr 10.24 g | FMJStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 730 fps 222.5 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 31 ↗ |
| Fiocchi38LA | 148 gr 9.59 g | LWCStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 730 fps 222.5 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 31 ↗ |
| Fiocchi38CA | 158 gr 10.24 g | LFPStandard factory load. Its published velocity is not a guarantee of subsonic performance in every firearm or temperature. | 640 fps 195.1 m/s | Not stated | Fiocchi · PDF p. 32 ↗ |
| Magtech38T | 130 gr 8.42 g | Standard · FMJ flat | 800 fps 243.8 m/s | 4-V in | Magtech · PDF p. 6 ↗ |
Explore the published data
Ballistics you can inspect
Select a legend entry to add or remove its line. Hover or tap a plotted point, or use the position slider. With the graph focused, arrow keys move the inspector. Solid dots identify source points; dashed connectors show estimates between them. Load construction, pressure category, and test setup can differ even at the same grain weight.
Read the original values as accessible tables
.38 Special: velocity by barrel length
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| Cor Bon 110 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 675; 3: 851; 4: 1,013; 5: 1,009; 6: 1,021; 7: 1,095; 8: 1,105; 9: 1,162; 10: 1,163; 11: 1,200; 12: 1,181; 13: 1,151; 14: 1,187; 15: 1,220; 16: 1,298; 17: 1,211; 18: 1,243 |
| Cor Bon 125 gr. JHP | BBTI | 2: 723; 3: 854; 4: 996; 5: 1,045; 6: 1,014; 7: 1,069; 8: 1,092; 9: 1,129; 10: 1,135; 11: 1,144; 12: 1,164; 13: 1,182; 14: 1,180; 15: 1,210; 16: 1,261; 17: 1,209; 18: 1,190 |
| Cor Bon 110 gr. DPX | BBTI | 2: 814; 3: 963; 4: 1,084; 5: 1,129; 6: 1,106; 7: 1,171; 8: 1,214; 9: 1,230; 10: 1,232; 11: 1,232; 12: 1,298; 13: 1,311; 14: 1,274; 15: 1,301; 16: 1,388; 17: 1,298; 18: 1,332 |
| Federal 125 gr. Hydra-shok JHP | BBTI | 2: 700; 3: 831; 4: 954; 5: 1,029; 6: 1,052; 7: 1,094; 8: 1,119; 9: 1,144; 10: 1,182; 11: 1,178; 12: 1,192; 13: 1,199; 14: 1,214; 15: 1,231; 16: 1,252; 17: 1,233; 18: 1,247 |
| Speer 135 gr. Gold Dot HP | BBTI | 2: 756; 3: 892; 4: 1,027; 5: 1,101; 6: 1,115; 7: 1,145; 8: 1,189; 9: 1,209; 10: 1,217; 11: 1,242; 12: 1,233; 13: 1,247; 14: 1,264; 15: 1,255; 16: 1,315 |
.38 Special: factory velocity downrange
| Exact load | Source / publisher | Published points |
|---|---|---|
| 90 gr Hornady FTX® | Hornady | 0: 1,200; 50: 1,037; 100: 938 |
| 110 gr Federal HYDRA-SHOK | Federal | 0: 980; 25: 943; 50: 911; 75: 882; 100: 855 |
| 120 gr Federal JHP +P | Federal | 0: 1,000; 25: 949; 50: 907; 75: 869; 100: 835 |
| 125 gr Hornady XTP® | Hornady | 0: 900; 50: 856; 100: 817 |
| 129 gr Federal HYDRA-SHOK +P | Federal | 0: 950; 25: 926; 50: 904; 75: 884; 100: 865 |
| 130 gr Federal FMJ | Federal | 0: 890; 25: 870; 50: 852; 75: 834; 100: 817 |
| 148 gr Federal LW MATCH | Federal | 0: 690; 25: 650; 50: 610; 75: 570; 100: 540 |
| 158 gr Federal LRN | Federal | 0: 770; 25: 758; 50: 745; 75: 733; 100: 722 |
| 110 gr Hornady FTX® | Hornady | 0: 1,010; 50: 939; 100: 882 |
| 110 gr Hornady FTX® +P | Hornady | 0: 1,090; 50: 996; 100: 928 |
| 130 gr Federal FMJ | Federal | 0: 890; 25: 870; 50: 852; 75: 834; 100: 817 |
| 130 gr Federal HYDRA-SHOK JHP +P | Federal | 0: 900; 25: 877; 50: 856; 75: 836; 100: 816 |
| 158 gr Federal SWHP | Federal | 0: 830; 25: 816; 50: 802; 75: 789; 100: 776 |
| 158 gr Hornady XTP® | Hornady | 0: 800; 50: 775; 100: 751 |
| 158 gr Fiocchi JHP | Fiocchi | 0: 850 |
| 148 gr Fiocchi JHP | Fiocchi | 0: 750 |
| 125 gr Fiocchi JHP | Fiocchi | 0: 1,000 |
| 130 gr Fiocchi FMJ | Fiocchi | 0: 950 |
| 158 gr Fiocchi LRN | Fiocchi | 0: 880 |
| 158 gr Fiocchi FMJ | Fiocchi | 0: 730 |
| 148 gr Fiocchi LWC | Fiocchi | 0: 730 |
| 158 gr Fiocchi LFP | Fiocchi | 0: 640 |
| 130 gr Magtech Standard · FMJ flat | Magtech | 0: 800 |
How to interpret the comparison
Changing bullet weight also often changes bullet design and propellant choice. Two curves are comparisons of the listed products, not a controlled experiment proving that bullet weight alone caused the difference. Catalog downrange points are projections under the maker’s conditions; barrel-study points are recorded observations in the study firearm.
Direct answers
Common questions
What is .38 Special?
A rimmed revolver cartridge offered in target wadcutters, general-purpose bullets, and expanding factory loads. Standard-pressure and +P ammunition must be identified separately.
What diameter does .38 Special use?
The cited dimensional standard lists 0.3580 inches (9.093 mm), jacketed max; 0.3590 inches (9.119 mm), lead max. This drawing convention is different from a casual caliber nickname.
Are similarly named cartridges interchangeable?
.38 Special, .38 S&W, and .38 Super are distinct cartridges. +P use depends on the specific firearm's authorization.
Are the graph values measured or estimated?
Factory datasets show manufacturer specifications and any published downrange projections. Chronograph and barrel-study datasets identify recorded measurements and the original test source. Dashed connectors and intermediate inspector values are labeled linear estimates; single source points are not extended into invented curves. Energy is calculated from bullet mass and velocity.
Does higher energy mean the best load?
Energy is calculated from mass and velocity. It does not establish accuracy, expansion, penetration, pattern density, recoil, or suitability for a particular firearm. Use the exact product documentation and firearm manual.
Trace the facts
Sources & methodology
Skives & petals: read the jacket construction →
Compiled by 2A Ledger from the linked standards, manufacturer publications, and identified test records. Checked October 18, 2026. Historical tests and older catalogs retain their original dates; a listing here does not establish current availability.
- SAAMI: dimensional drawing · PDF p. 48 ↗
- Sierra: .38 Special cartridge background ↗
- Hornady · PDF p. 191 ↗
- Federal · PDF p. 60 ↗
- Federal · PDF p. 61 ↗
- Ballistics by the Inch: archived measured barrel data (2020 archive) ↗
- BBTI: study index and source records ↗
- Smith & Wesson: original Military & Police history ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
- Additional factory specification / original test ↗
Diameter figures preserve the cited drawing convention. Inch–millimeter conversion uses exactly 25.4 mm per inch. Factory specifications describe the maker’s test setup; your firearm, ammunition lot, temperature, and measuring method can produce different results. This is an educational factory-ammunition reference, not a reloading manual.