What's the difference between 38 and 38 special?

There's no difference between a . 38 and a 38 special. The former refers to a caliber with a . 357 inch bullet diameter, while the latter is a cartridge variant under the .

Why is it called a 38 Special?

Despite its name, the caliber of the . 38 Special cartridge is actually . 357 inches (36 caliber/9.07 mm), with the ". 38" referring to the approximate diameter of the loaded brass case.

Can you shoot 38 S&W in a 38 Special revolver?

These two cartridges, because of their length and diameter differences, do not and should not interchange. . 38 S&W and . 38 Spl.

Is 38 Special and 357 the same?

38 Special and . 357 Magnum are exactly the same in width. It's only when looking at their length that you'll notice a difference. Many handgun owners shoot one or both of these rounds, and while the cartridges have a common heritage, these bullets perform in strikingly different ways.

Is 38 Special more powerful than 9mm?

Standard pressure . 38 Special only produces 264 foot-pounds of force (147-grain bullet at 900 feet per second out of a 4-inch barrel), while standard pressure 9mm can produce 365 foot-pounds of force (124-grain bullet at 1,150 feet per second). This is 38.25% more energy at the muzzle in favor of the 9mm.

38 S W compared to the 38 Special

Is .38 the same as 9mm?

38, . 357, . 380 auto and 9mm ammunition are all the same caliber. (Caliber is the size of the projectile, or bullet.)

Do all 357 shoot 38 Special?

No; . 357 Magnum was specifically designed so it cannot be fired from handguns chambered in . 38 Special, but you can shoot . 38 Special in a gun chambered in .

Is a 38 Special good for home defense?

38 Special cartridge, the revolver is a good home defense handgun. It takes a great deal of time, money, and training to be appreciably better armed with a handgun.

Is .38 bigger than 9mm?

Both bullets are equal in bullet diameter, the 9mm case is about 3/8 of an inch shorter than the . 38 Special but boasts double the pressure.

Can a 38 Special stop an attacker?

Well, with the right loads the . 38 Special will still stop a fight in a hurry. Even the vintage Remington police cartridges pictured above would put an aggressor down with a good shot.

What is the best revolver to own?

Is a 9mm more powerful than 357?

The 357 Magnum round loaded with a 125-grain projectile reaches almost 1,500 feet per second and strikes targets with 585 foot-pounds of energy. Needless to say, ballistically, it outperforms the 9mm. The 357 Magnum also has no problems reaching the FBI standards and even exceeding them.

What is the difference between a 357 and a 357 Magnum?

357 Magnum wins, because full power ammo pushes a 125-grain bullet 100 f.p.s. faster than the . 357 SIG in barrels of the same length. It's that simple. Comparing full power .

What ammo can be used in a 38 Special?

The . 38 Special fires a . 357-caliber bullet and is loaded to an industry-standard maximum average pressure (MAP) of 17,000 psi. Loads designated as +P are available at 20,000 psi, but not all .

Why do cops carry Glocks?

The Glock's large capacity and light body gave it advantages over other guns. "Police departments were amazed when they took their officers out to the range and found out not only could they learn to use the Glock pretty quickly, but the Glock also made them more accurate as marksmen," he says.

Can you shoot a 380 out of a 9mm pistol?

While both of them share a lot of similarities from same rimless design to almost same diameter, 9mm tube is simply not made to fire an ACP. While you can fire an . 380 ACP through the 9mm barrel, you shouldn't. . 380 ACP simply won't be able to generate as much pressure as a 9mm would.

Which is better 45 ACP or 357 mag?

Target Penetration

The . 357 Magnum can penetrate distant targets better. It's also lighter and faster because it doesn't have a metal exterior to hold its shape after firing since it's a magnum round. On the contrary, the 45 ACP penetrates nearby targets better because it's heavier and larger.

What gun did Dirty Harry use?

In the 1971 movie Dirty Harry, actor Clint Eastwood introduced the world to the double-action Smith & Wesson Model 29 . 44-cal. Magnum revolver—"the most powerful handgun in the world." It was a crown S&W wore proudly, albeit briefly.

What is the most powerful hand gun?

The Smith & Wesson Model 500 has held its rank as the world's most powerful handgun since it was first introduced in 2003.

What is the best handgun caliber for self-defense?

Capacity. The 9mm offers greater magazine capacity than virtually any other pistol caliber carried for personal defense. If the wounding capabilities of 9mm and the other cartridges are nearly identical, it would seem to be that having more rounds in you magazine will give you a better opportunity to stop an attacker.

What handgun has the most stopping power?

Ruger 1707 GP100

The GP100 can hold . 357 Magnum rounds, giving it high honors for stopping power.

What is the most popular revolver in America?

Smith and Wesson 442

This small revolver is one of the most popular you'll find being carried (especially for concealed carry).

Is a revolver or a pistol better?

To many though, revolvers feel better in their hands and are easier to grip and control. Something else to consider is the trigger. A single-action revolver may have the smoothest trigger in the handgun world.

Are revolvers better for home-defense?

After the shot, the cylinder rotates, making the gun ready to fire again. For a first home-defense firearm, a revolver is hard to beat. And if you're looking for a firearm you might choose to carry concealed sometime down the road, a revolver won't leave you disappointed.