Cartridge comparison
.38 Short Colt vs .380 Short
.38 Short Colt and .380 Short are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| .38 Short Colt | .380 Short | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Pistol | Revolver |
| Introduced | 1875 | 1870 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.3591″ | 0.3602″ |
| Case length | 0.765″ | 0.7047″ |
| Max pressure | 13,000 psi | 9,863 psi |
| Recoil | 1.6–2.5 ft·lb | 2.7–2.9 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 25 yd | 50 yd |
| SAAMI | SAAMI (not in current Z299) | Not 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.
