Cartridge comparison
.38 Long Colt vs .38 Short Colt
.38 Long Colt and .38 Short Colt are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| .38 Long Colt | .38 Short Colt | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Revolver | Pistol |
| Introduced | 1875 | 1875 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.3591″ | 0.375″ |
| Case length | 1.035″ | 0.765″ |
| Max pressure | 13,000 psi | 13,000 psi |
| Recoil | 2.5–4 ft·lb | 2.5–4 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 25 yd | 25 yd |
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.