Is a 38 caliber the same as a 380?

38 Special and . 380 Automatic are two pistol cartridges that are each over 100 years old. Both of them are still quite common for self-defense purposes. While they are similar, the two cartridges are not interchangeable.

Is a .38 the same as a 9mm?

380 auto and 9mm ammunition are all the same caliber. (Caliber is the size of the projectile, or bullet.) The different names are for marketing reasons or because of where the cartridge was developed. 38 is 0.38 of an inch; Europe uses the metric system, so 9mm.

What caliber does a 38 shoot?

.357 inches
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.

What is a 38 caliber gun?

The . 38 caliber revolver is a six-shot handgun, made with two and four-inch barrels, manufactured by Colt, Ruger, and Smith & Wesson. The two-inch barrel weapons are used by Criminal Investigation Division and counterintelligence personnel.

Is a 38 special more powerful than a 380?

38 special is more powerful than 380 if you are referring to a per bullet power. Especially once you start using +p loads. However, typically a 38 special is going to be a 5 shot revolver, and almost never more than 6 shots.

Is a 9mm more powerful than a 38 special?

The 9mm is ballistically superior to the . 38 Special, there’s no doubt about that. 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).

Why is 38 special so popular?

The . 38 Special became popular with police in the Depression era, when a heavier round that could penetrate the car bodies of motorized bandits was needed. The round was soft-shooting and easy to train police recruits on.

How good is a 38 special for self-defense?

38 Special are that it’s effective in a self-defense capacity in service-size pistols. It doesn’t produce excessive recoil, so most shooters can accurately shoot it. That made it very popular with police departments and civilians. Simply load, point, shoot and repeat.

What kind of gun is a.38 caliber?

The .38 is considered a large firearm cartridge; anything larger than .32 is considered a large caliber, and one of the most common handguns manufactured in the United States. Prior to 1990, the standard sidearm of police in the United States was a revolver that fired the .38 Special cartridge, seconded by the .357 Magnum revolver.

How big is A.38 special bullet compared to a.380?

Bullet calibers are kind of like engine sizes—what’s advertised isn’t always what you get. A .38 Special bullet and a .380 bullet are not the same diameter. Caliber designation is not strictly determined by its ‘mathematical number.’ A .38 Special bullet is 0.357″ in diameter; a .380 is 0.355″ in diameter.

Why does A.38 special fit in a.357 Magnum?

This is why “.38 Special “ cartridges fit in a .357 Magnum revolver- the Bullets and cartridge cases are the same diameter. The .357 Magnum was developed by putting more powder into a standard .38 Special; the case was made longer to prevent the MUCH hotter .357 Magnum from fitting into a…

What’s the difference between.38 and.44 caliber bullets?

38 caliber bullets are actually 36 hundredths of an inch in diameter – “caliber” means “hundredth of an inch” in this application. The names usually are related to the diameter of the bullet, but not exactly. Both 44 Special and 44 Magnum use 44 caliber bullets which are about 429 thousandths in diameter.