Cartridge comparison
.38 Short Colt vs .38 Special
.38 Short Colt and .38 Special are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| .38 Short Colt | .38 Special | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Pistol | Revolver |
| Introduced | 1875 | 1898 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.375″ | 0.357″ |
| Case length | 0.765″ | 1.1551″ |
| Max pressure | 13,000 psi | 17,000 psi |
| Recoil | 2.5–4 ft·lb | 6–10 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 25 yd | 50 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.