The 38 Special is a U.S. rimmed centerfire revolver cartridge tied to Smith & Wesson's late-1890s Military & Police revolver context and developed as an improvement over 38 Long Colt. SAAMI and C.I.P. publish dimensional and pressure standards for the cartridge, while current Federal, Winchester, and Remington listings show standard-pressure and +P factory loads for target shooting and self-defense.
SAAMI and C.I.P. provide complementary standards context for the 38 Special cartridge. SAAMI distinguishes standard-pressure 38 Special, 38 Special +P, and 38 Special Match names, while C.I.P. records U.S. origin and metric cartridge dimensions.
SAAMI lists 17,000 psi MAP for standard 38 Special and 20,000 psi MAP for 38 Special +P; C.I.P. lists Pmax at 1500 bar.
C.I.P. lists 29.34 mm maximum case length, 39.37 mm maximum overall length, 11.18 mm rim diameter, and 9.12 mm projectile diameter.
SAAMI lists .357 Magnum firearms as generally accepting 38 Special ammunition; Winchester explains why the higher-pressure .357 Magnum should not be fired in 38 Special revolvers.
The 38 Special family includes SAAMI-recognized standard, +P, and match designations; .357 Magnum is handled as a related cartridge rather than a 38 Special variant.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| 38 Special +P | Higher-pressure loading designation | SAAMI lists 38 Special +P / 38 Spl +P separately from standard-pressure 38 Special and gives it a 20,000 psi maximum average pressure. Sources: SAAMI Z299.3-2022 - SAAMI |
| 38 Special Match | Match cartridge designation | SAAMI lists 38 Special Match / 38 Spl Match as a distinct recognized designation in the centerfire pistol and revolver standard. Sources: SAAMI Z299.3-2022 - SAAMI |
Documented 38 Special firing weapons include wartime Smith & Wesson Military & Police Victory Model revolvers; Federal's handgun ammunition catalog supports the broader handgun-category link.
| Firing weapon | Weapon type | Firing evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Double-action revolver | American Rifleman identifies U.S. Navy and Ordnance Victory Model revolvers chambered for .38 Special and describes Remington-made 38 SPL ammunition issued with those revolvers; British .38-200 Victory Models were a different chambering. Sources: "V" Is For Victory: The Smith & Wesson Victory Model Revolver |
 | Handgun and pistol platform | Federal lists 38 Special among its handgun calibers, supporting a broad handgun-category link alongside the more specific revolver relationship. Sources: Shop By Caliber | Handgun - Federal |
The 38 Special and .357 Magnum share a close chambering relationship, but the safe direction is one-way.
| Compatible item | Item type | Compatibility evidence |
|---|---|---|
 | Longer, higher-pressure related cartridge | Winchester and SAAMI both describe .357 Magnum firearms as accepting 38 Special ammunition; the reverse is not supported because the .357 Magnum case is longer and loaded to higher pressure. Sources: The 38 Special Vs. the .357 Mag, Generally Accepted Firearms and Ammunition Interchangeability - SAAMI |
Current factory listings show the cartridge across target and self-defense roles. These examples are product snapshots, not a complete load catalog.
| Maker | Load | Listed data |
|---|---|---|
| Federal | American Eagle AE38K | 38 Special, 130-grain FMJ, 890 fps from a 4-inch vented test barrel, 50-round package, target-shooting use. |
| Federal | Personal Defense Punch PD38P1 | 38 Special +P, 120-grain JHP, 1000 fps from a 4-inch vented test barrel, 20-round package, self-defense use. |
| Federal | Hydra-Shok Deep P38HSD1 | 38 Special +P, 130-grain Hydra-Shok Deep JHP, 900 fps from a 4-inch vented test barrel, 20-round package, self-defense use. |
| Winchester | USA White Box Q4171 | 38 Special, 130-grain, 50-round box, marketed for target and range use. |
| Remington | UMC 23730 | 38 Special, 130-grain FMJ, 800 fps, 50-round package, target-shooting use. |
Speer describes the 38 Special as designed and first produced by Smith & Wesson in 1898, while Winchester identifies 1898 as the original development date.
Smith & Wesson says the .38 Military & Police, later known as the Model 10, was introduced in 1899 and became its most successful revolver line.
SAAMI lists the 38 Special / 38 Special +P cartridge and chamber drawing as issued on May 29, 1979 and revised on July 8, 2021.
C.I.P.'s 38 Special tabulation is dated June 14, 1984, with a U.S. country of origin and 2000 revision.
Federal published a revolver-cartridge video covering updated loads including 38 Special, 32 H&R, and 45 Colt.
