.38 caliber

.38 caliber is a frequently used name for the caliber of firearms and firearm cartridges.

The .38 caliber is a large firearm cartridge (anything larger than .32 caliber is considered a large caliber).^[1]: 42 Before 1990, the standard sidearms of police in the United States were revolvers that fired the .38 Special cartridge, seconded by revolvers firing the .357 Magnum, a lengthened version of the .38 Special.^[1]: 68

Handgun cartridge table

Main article: List of handgun cartridges

Cartridge name	Bullet diameter	Case length	Cartridge length	Type	Source
.380 ACP	.355 in (9.0 mm)	.680 in (17.3 mm)	.980 in (24.9 mm)	Rimless	Barnes 1997,[missing long citation] p. 274
.38 Casull	.356 in (9.0 mm)	.933 in (23.7 mm)	–	Rimless	[2]
.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)	1.15 in (29 mm)	1.550 in (39.4 mm)	Rimmed	Barnes 1997, p. 274
.38 ACP	.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	.355 in (9.0 mm)	.896 in (22.8 mm)	1.280 in (32.5 mm)	Rimless	Starline cartridge dimensions
.38 S&W	.361 in (9.2 mm)	.780 in (19.8 mm)	1.200 in (30.5 mm)	Rimmed	Barnes 1997, p. 274
.38 TPC	.355 in (9.0 mm)	.720 in (18.3 mm)	1.169 in (29.7 mm)	Rimless, tapered
.380 Revolver Short	.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	.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	.401 in (10.2 mm)	1.300 in (33.0 mm)	1.590 in (40.4 mm)	Rimmed	Barnes 1997, p. 92

See also

• 9 mm caliber
• 38 (disambiguation)