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| .38 Smith & Wesson | ||
|---|---|---|
A box of WWII-dated .380" Revolver Mk IIz cartridges (and separate cartridges) | ||
| Type | Revolver | |
| Place of origin | File:US flag 38 stars.svg United States | |
| Production history | ||
| Designer | Smith & Wesson | |
| Designed | 1877 | |
| Manufacturer | Smith & Wesson | |
| Variants | .38/200 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Bullet diameter | .361 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Neck diameter | .3855 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Base diameter | .3865 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Rim diameter | .440 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Rim thickness | .055 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Case length | .775 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Overall length | 1.240 in (Script error: No such module "Math". mm) | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 158 gr (Script error: No such module "Math". g) L SWC | 767 ft/s (Script error: No such module "Math". m/s) | 206 ft·lbf (Script error: No such module "Math". J) |
| 195 gr (Script error: No such module "Math". g) L RN | 653 ft/s (Script error: No such module "Math". m/s) | 185 ft·lbf (Script error: No such module "Math". J) |
| 200 gr (Script error: No such module "Math". g) LRN | 620 ft/s (Script error: No such module "Math". m/s) | 176 ft·lbf (Script error: No such module "Math". J) |
The .38 S&W is a revolver cartridge developed by Smith & Wesson in 1877. Though similar in name, it is not interchangeable with the later .38 Smith and Wesson Special due to a different case shape and slightly larger bullet diameter.
The British military adopted a loading of this cartridge as the Cartridge, S.A., Revolver Ball, 380 in, MkI .38-200, with the "200" referring to the weight of the bullet in grains. In 1937, this cartridge was replaced in British Service by the Cartridge, S.A., Revolver Ball, 380 in, MkII. The main difference between it and the previous round was that that it had a 178 gn. FMJ bullet.
U.S. Variants[]
The .38 Colt New Police was Colt's Manufacturing Company's proprietary name for what was essentially the .38 S&W with a flat-nosed bullet.
The U.S. .38 S&W Super Police cartridge was nearly identical to the British .38/200 Mk I, using a 200 grain (13 g) lead alloy bullet with a muzzle velocity of 630 ft/s (189 m/s) and a muzzle energy of 176 ft·lbf (239 J), and was supplied by several U.S. manufacturers to the British government as equivalent to the Mk I loading.
The .38 S&W is also called the .380 Rim and .38 S&W Corto.
Current Status[]
Currently no revolvers are made in this caliber, and only a few companies still manufacture ammunition. The majority that do offer it in only a 145 grain Lead Round Nose bullet, Although Fiocchi still markets FMJ rounds. No known hunting or self-defense rounds are known to be manufactured today.
See also[]
- Colt .38/200 Revolver
- Colt Police Positive Revolver
- Enfield No. 2 Mk I Revolver
- 9 mm x 19 caliber
- S&W Victory Revolver
- .38 S&W Special
- Webley Mk IV revolver
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