One of the oldest surviving centerfire revolver cartridges. Historically significant as British military sidearm ammunition (.380/200) in WWII. Distinct from and not interchangeable with .38 Special despite similar naming.
Type: Revolver
Introduced: 1877, United States
Parent case: None
Standardization: SAAMI
Bullet diameter: 0.361" (9.17 mm)
Case length: 0.775" (19.69 mm)
Overall length: 1.24" (31.5 mm)
Max pressure: 14,500 PSI
Rim type: Rimmed
Primer: Small Pistol
Typical twist rate: 1:18.75
Muzzle velocity: 620–767 fps
Muzzle energy: 176–206 ft-lbs
Effective range: 50 yd
Common bullet weights: 145, 158, 195, 200 gr
Primary use: Self Defense
Production status: Active
Also known as: .38 Smith & Wesson · .38 Smith and Wesson · .380/200 British
History: Introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1877 for their top-break revolvers. Widely adopted in civilian and law enforcement use through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The British military adopted a variant — the .380/200 — as their standard revolver cartridge in the Webley and Enfield No. 2 revolvers during WWII, using a 200gr lead bullet at modest velocity. Still manufactured today in small…
Notable firearms: S&W .38 Hand Ejector, Webley Mk VI, Enfield No. 2 Revolver, Iver Johnson Safety Hammerless
Military use: {"country":"United Kingdom","years":"1932-1945","conflicts":["WWII"]}, {"country":"British Commonwealth","years":"1930s-1950s","conflicts":["WWII"]}
Similar cartridges: .38 Special, .380 ACP, .32 S&W Long