Cartridge comparison
.38 Special vs .38 Special +P
.38 Special and .38 Special +P are both in the reference; see the full spec comparison below.
Side by side
| .38 Special | .38 Special +P | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Revolver | Revolver |
| Introduced | 1898 | 1970 |
| Bullet diameter | 0.357″ | 0.357″ |
| Case length | 1.1551″ | 1.1551″ |
| Max pressure | 17,000 psi | 20,000 psi |
| Recoil | 3.2–3.3 ft·lb | 3.5–12.1 ft·lb |
| Effective range | 50 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.
