- \n
- One of the lowest pressure handgun rounds still commonly used for self-defense, with a mediumweight bullet and slow muzzle velocity. Shooters often prefer overpressure rounds for self-defense.<\/li>\n
- Less powerful and more affordable than the 357 Magnum, and furthermore compatible with the larger cartridge\u2019s firearms. (But not the other way around.)<\/li>\n
- Favored for personal protection owing to its accuracy and reasonable recoil. 38 SPL is also popular for casual target shooting and hunting small game.<\/li>\n
- American troops faced off against fearsome fighters during the Philippine-American War. The Moro warriors in particular, who had a centuries-long tradition of resisting foreign rule and took powerful drugs before battle, proved especially resistant to the effect of the 38 Long Colt. Smith & Wesson thus introduced a new round in 1898 to replace it: the 38 Special, with a 100-150 fps faster muzzle velocity that would enable it to overpower both the Moro warriors\u2019 shields and hearty constitutions.<\/li>\n
- Not to be confused with the great Southern rock band, 38 Special ammo<\/a> is one of the most popular revolver cartridges in the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n
![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/7\/a\/7a71d96bff70442616652d342a6de732.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n\n $29.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n![\"logo\"](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/themes\/atg\/assets\/img\/mc-logo-gray.svg\")
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 50rds - 38 Special Federal American Eagle 158gr. LRN Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/f\/e\/fe1ce5a672be3c87e116d9dc16f19699.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n\n $29.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 50rds - 38 Special Fiocchi 158gr. Full Metal Jacket Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/6\/a\/6ad5aac624eb8d4a3a017e6f32a64aff_4.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n\n $28.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 50rds - 38 Special Remington UMC 130gr. FMJ Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/4\/3\/43f785f922802c4a8210af4718c3cff9_5.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n\n $28.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 50rds - 38 Spec Remington UMC 158gr. Lead Round Nose Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/4\/6\/464df80c8b7588928a1748f42a9b10fb.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n\n $529.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 1000rds - 38 Special Magtech 158gr. SJHP Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/f\/5\/f52e180d64e6dedc4781fd6f50d46e78.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n\n $29.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 50rds - 38 Special Magtech 158gr. SJHP Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/e\/b\/eb9257a3a50bca0bcfc23251fddf97af_4.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n\n $30.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 25rds \u2013 38 Special +P Hornady Critical Defense 110gr. FTX Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n\n![\"left](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/themes\/atg\/assets\/img\/mc-arrow-left.svg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n\n 1 <\/div>\n\n 2 <\/div>\n\n 3 <\/div>\n\n 4 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n![\"right](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/themes\/atg\/assets\/img\/mc-arrow-right.svg\")
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n38 Special Ballistic Table<\/h2>\n\n
\n\n
\n\t \n<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t Ammo Name<\/td> Barrel Length<\/td> Muzzle<\/td> 25 yds.<\/td> 50 yds.<\/td> 75 yds.<\/td> 100 yds.<\/td> <\/td> Muzzle<\/td> 25 yds.<\/td> 50 yds.<\/td> 75 yds.<\/td> 100 yds.<\/td> <\/td> Muzzle<\/td> 25 yds.<\/td> 50 yds.<\/td> 75 yds.<\/td> 100 yds.<\/td> <\/td> (G1)<\/td> (G7)<\/td> Sect. Density<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Fiocchi - 148 Gr. LWC<\/a><\/td> 5<\/td> 730<\/td> <\/td> 648<\/td> <\/td> 576<\/td> <\/td> 175<\/td> <\/td> 138<\/td> <\/td> 109<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> -2.1<\/td> -8.88<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 0.053<\/td> <\/td> 0.166<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Federal American Eagle - 130 Gr. FMJ<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 890<\/td> 870<\/td> 852<\/td> 834<\/td> 817<\/td> <\/td> 229<\/td> 219<\/td> 209<\/td> 201<\/td> 193<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -2<\/td> -7<\/td> -15.1<\/td> <\/td> 0.174<\/td> <\/td> 0.146<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Tula - 130 Gr. FMJ<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 890<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 229<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 0.146<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Remington UMC - 130 Gr. FMJ<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 800<\/td> 787<\/td> 775<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 185<\/td> 179<\/td> 173<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> -0.3<\/td> -1.7<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 0.146<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Fiocchi - 130 Gr. FMJ<\/a><\/td> 7.71<\/td> 950<\/td> <\/td> 899<\/td> <\/td> 856<\/td> <\/td> 260<\/td> <\/td> 233<\/td> <\/td> 211<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> -1.23<\/td> -5.03<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 0.153<\/td> <\/td> 0.146<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Federal American Eagle - 158 Gr. LRN<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 770<\/td> 758<\/td> 745<\/td> 733<\/td> 722<\/td> <\/td> 208<\/td> 201<\/td> 195<\/td> 189<\/td> 183<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -2.9<\/td> -9.8<\/td> -20.7<\/td> <\/td> 0.206<\/td> <\/td> 0.177<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Remington Performance - 148 Gr. TMWC<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 710<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 110<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 0.166<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Federal HST Micro - 130 Gr. HST<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 890<\/td> 866<\/td> 844<\/td> 823<\/td> 803<\/td> <\/td> 229<\/td> 217<\/td> 206<\/td> 196<\/td> 186<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -2<\/td> -7.1<\/td> -15.3<\/td> <\/td> 0.143<\/td> <\/td> 0.146<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Federal - 158 Gr. +P LSWCHP<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 900<\/td> 883<\/td> 866<\/td> 851<\/td> 836<\/td> <\/td> 284<\/td> 273<\/td> 263<\/td> 254<\/td> 245<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -1.9<\/td> -6.7<\/td> -14.5<\/td> <\/td> 0.2<\/td> <\/td> 0.177<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Winchester Super X - 148 Gr. WC<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 710<\/td> 671<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 166<\/td> 148<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Winchester USA - 130 Gr. FMJ<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 800<\/td> 782<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 185<\/td> 177<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 0.146<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Blazer - +P 125 Gr. JHP<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 945<\/td> 915<\/td> 888<\/td> 863<\/td> 840<\/td> <\/td> 248<\/td> 232<\/td> 219<\/td> 207<\/td> 196<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -2.6<\/td> -7.9<\/td> -16.2<\/td> <\/td> 0.132<\/td> <\/td> 0.14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Blazer - 158 Gr. LRN<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 755<\/td> 742<\/td> 729<\/td> 716<\/td> 704<\/td> <\/td> 200<\/td> 193<\/td> 186<\/td> 180<\/td> 174<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -3.9<\/td> -12<\/td> -24.3<\/td> <\/td> 0.181<\/td> <\/td> 0.177<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Magtech - 158 Gr. LRN<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 755<\/td> 739<\/td> 723<\/td> 708<\/td> 693<\/td> <\/td> 200<\/td> 191<\/td> 183<\/td> 176<\/td> 168<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -4<\/td> -12.1<\/td> -24.6<\/td> <\/td> 0.147<\/td> <\/td> 0.177<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Black Hills Cowboy - 158 Gr. CNL<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 800<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 225<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 0.177<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Sellier & Bellot - 158 Gr. FMJ<\/a><\/td> 7.5<\/td> 889<\/td> 831<\/td> 773<\/td> -<\/td> 670<\/td> <\/td> 278<\/td> 242<\/td> 210<\/td> -<\/td> 158<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -2.4<\/td> -<\/td> -18.8<\/td> <\/td> 0.048<\/td> <\/td> 0.177<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Remington HTP - 125 Gr. SJHP<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 945<\/td> 921<\/td> 898<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 248<\/td> 235<\/td> 224<\/td> -<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> -0.3<\/td> -1.3<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 0.14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Black Hills - 125 Gr. +P JHP<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 1050<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 306<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 0.14<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Speer Lawman - 158 Gr. +P TMJ<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 900<\/td> 880<\/td> 861<\/td> 844<\/td> 826<\/td> <\/td> 284<\/td> 272<\/td> 260<\/td> 250<\/td> 240<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -1.9<\/td> -6.8<\/td> -14.7<\/td> <\/td> 0.176<\/td> <\/td> 0.177<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t PMC - 132 Gr. FMJ<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 917<\/td> 897<\/td> 879<\/td> 860<\/td> 844<\/td> <\/td> 232<\/td> 236<\/td> 226<\/td> 217<\/td> 209<\/td> <\/td> 0<\/td> 1.4<\/td> 0<\/td> -4.8<\/td> -13.3<\/td> <\/td> 0.187<\/td> <\/td> 0.148<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Hornady XTP - 158 Gr. JHP<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 800<\/td> 787<\/td> 775<\/td> 762<\/td> 751<\/td> <\/td> 225<\/td> 217<\/td> 211<\/td> 204<\/td> 198<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -3.5<\/td> -10.6<\/td> -21.5<\/td> <\/td> 0.206<\/td> <\/td> 0.177<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Federal Hydra Shok Low Recoil - 110 Gr. JHP<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 980<\/td> 943<\/td> 911<\/td> 882<\/td> 855<\/td> <\/td> 235<\/td> 217<\/td> 203<\/td> 190<\/td> 179<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -1.5<\/td> -5.7<\/td> -12.6<\/td> <\/td> 0.123<\/td> <\/td> 0.123<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Hornady Critical Lite - 90 Gr. FTX<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 1200<\/td> 1103<\/td> 1032<\/td> 976<\/td> 931<\/td> <\/td> 288<\/td> 243<\/td> 213<\/td> 190<\/td> 173<\/td> <\/td> -<\/td> 0<\/td> -1.8<\/td> -5.6<\/td> -11.7<\/td> <\/td> 0.095<\/td> <\/td> 0.101<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Federal Hi-Shok - 125 Gr. +P HP<\/a><\/td> 4<\/td> 950<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> 250<\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n 38 Special’s Role in History<\/h3>\n
![\"38](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/uploads\/38-special-revolver.jpg\")
<\/p>\nAs the 38 Special was initially a black powder cartridge, its pressure remains comparatively low at 17,000 psi. Its common 158 grain bullet achieves a velocity of only 755 feet per second out of a 4-inch barrel, delivering 200 ft lbs of energy at the muzzle. This puts a standard 38 Special cartridge just on the threshold of what is commonly considered adequate for neutralizing a human-sized threat. In comparison, the typical 45 ACP cartridge has a 230 grain bullet and 830 fps muzzle velocity. This produces around 75 percent more muzzle energy.<\/p>\n
The 38 Special\u2019s relative weakness is not made better by the fact that it is commonly implemented in snub-nose revolvers. These short-barreled firearms are often too small to utilize the full potency of gunpowder during ignition. Ammo manufacturers must take this into account when designing jacketed hollow point bullets for the 38 Special. In this case, the bullets require less energy to produce a mushrooming terminal effect.<\/p>\n
Effective for Self-Defense?<\/h4>\n
Shooters may also choose wadcutters for self-defense, which do not require terminal expansion to create wider wound channels. They may also select overpressure rounds<\/a>. These can give the same 158 grain bullet an approximately 33 percent faster muzzle velocity and 75 percent greater muzzle energy.<\/p>\n
![\"Testing](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/uploads\/38-special-ammo.jpg\")
<\/p>\n