Tag: .38 Special

The .38 special, also known as the .38 Colt Special, has been designed by Smith & Wesson. This centerfire cartridge was introduced for the use of the military and police in 1902. It was originally designed as a replacement for the unsatisfactory performance of the .38 Long Colt used by the Army during the Philippine-American War. The cartridge was originally loaded with black powder, but because of its growing popularity, it was loaded with smokeless gunpowder a year after it was introduced. From the 1920s to the 1980s, it was the standard cartridge used by most police departments in the US.

Its name could be misleading though, because the caliber of the .38 is actually .357 – .358. Its feature is almost similar to that of the .38 Long Colt, except for its length. The .38 Special is very effective and highly accurate when used with a high-quality revolver. However, it can also be used in some semi-automatic pistols as well as some carbines. Because it produces little to moderate recoil, the average shooter or a beginner can learn to shoot using the .38 Special in a short period of time.

Considered as one of the best all-around handgun cartridges, the .38 Special is normally used for target shooting, target competitions, self-defense, and hunting small game. To this day, the .38 special remains to be one of the most widely-produced and most popular revolver caliber in the world.