Lindcott Armory Compare / .38-44 Heavy Duty vs .38 Special
Cartridge comparison
.38-44 Heavy Duty vs .38 Special
.38-44 Heavy Duty is faster (1,200 vs 1,000 fps); .38-44 Heavy Duty carries more energy (505 vs 310 ft·lb); .38 Special recoils less.
.38-44 Heavy Duty →Representative trajectory · 25 yd zero0–200 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
.38 Special →Representative trajectory · 25 yd zero0–200 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
| .38-44 Heavy Duty | .38 Special | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Revolver | Revolver |
| Introduced | 1930 | 1898 |
| Bullet ⌀ | 0.357″ | 0.357″ |
| Case length | — | 1.155″ |
| Velocity | 1,100–1,200 fps | 710–1,000 fps |
| Energy | 424–505 ft·lb | 200–310 ft·lb |
| Max pressure | 25,000 psi | 17,000 psi |
| Recoil | 8–12 ft·lb | 6–10 ft·lb |
| Eff. range | 50 yd | 50 yd |
FAQs
- Is .38-44 Heavy Duty faster than .38 Special?
- .38-44 Heavy Duty is faster — up to 1,200 fps versus 1,000 fps.
- Does .38-44 Heavy Duty hit harder than .38 Special?
- .38-44 Heavy Duty carries more muzzle energy (505 vs 310 ft·lb).