Lindcott Armory Compare / .38 Rimfire vs .41 Short
Cartridge comparison
.38 Rimfire vs .41 Short
.38 Rimfire is faster (850 vs 500 fps); .38 Rimfire carries more energy (289 vs 72 ft·lb).
.38 Rimfire →Representative trajectory · 25 yd zero0–200 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
.41 Short →Representative trajectory · 25 yd zero0–200 yd Open in Ballistic Compare ↗
| .38 Rimfire | .41 Short | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Pistol | Pistol |
| Introduced | 1861 | 1863 |
| Bullet ⌀ | 0.375″ | 0.406″ |
| Case length | 0.775″ | 0.528″ |
| Velocity | 700–850 fps | 425–500 fps |
| Energy | 163–289 ft·lb | 52–72 ft·lb |
| Max pressure | 12,000 psi | 12,000 psi |
| Recoil | 1.5–2.5 ft·lb | 1.5–2.5 ft·lb |
| Eff. range | 25 yd | 15 yd |
FAQs
- Is .38 Rimfire faster than .41 Short?
- .38 Rimfire is faster — up to 850 fps versus 500 fps.
- Does .38 Rimfire hit harder than .41 Short?
- .38 Rimfire carries more muzzle energy (289 vs 72 ft·lb).