Cartridge comparison
.38 AMU vs .38 Special
.38 AMU and .38 Special are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| .38 AMU | .38 Special | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Pistol | Revolver |
| Introduced | 1960 | 1898 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.359″ | 0.357″ |
| Case length | 1.155″ | 1.1551″ |
| Max pressure | 18,130 psi | 17,000 psi |
| Recoil | 3.2–3.3 ft·lb | 3.2–3.3 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 50 yd | 50 yd |
| SAAMI | Not SAAMI standardized | SAAMI standardized |
| CIP | CIP standardized | CIP standardized |
| Obsolete | Obsolete | — |
Highlighted cells hold the clear edge where both sides have a number. Every figure is a range maximum from the reference; typical loads run lower.
Case profiles, to scale
Drawn to the same scale, so the proportions are true. Physical size varies with your screen.
