.38 Special

About this caliber

.38 Special is a long-standing centerfire revolver cartridge known for mild recoil and a strong history in self-defense and target shooting.

Commonly used for

Self-defenseHome defenseConcealed carryRange / target

.38 Special is one of the most established American revolver cartridges, valued for low-to-moderate recoil that most shooters find easy to control, especially in medium-frame revolvers. It has a long history in self-defense, concealed carry, and target and practice shooting. Ammunition is widely available and affordable in standard and +P loads. It can also be safely fired in revolvers chambered for .357 Magnum, though not the reverse. It suits new and experienced revolver shooters who prefer a soft-shooting defensive or practice round.

General information about this caliber — not a recommendation for this specific firearm.

Load	Type	Purpose	Grain	Velocity	Energy
Aguila Target & Range	FMJ	Defense	130 gr	950 fps	261 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Buffalo-Barnes	JHP	Defense	110 gr	1125 fps	309 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Standard Pressure	JHP	Defense	110 gr	1000 fps	244 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Heavy	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1050 fps	306 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Standard Pressure	JHP	Defense	125 gr	900 fps	225 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Standard Pressure	WC	Defense	150 gr	850 fps	241 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Standard Pressure	JHP	Defense	158 gr	850 fps	253 ft·lb
CCI Blazer	JHP	Defense	125 gr	945 fps	248 ft·lb
CCI Blazer Brass	FMJ	Defense	125 gr	865 fps	208 ft·lb
CCI Blazer	LRN	Defense	158 gr	755 fps	200 ft·lb
CCI Blazer	FMJ	Defense	158 gr	850 fps	253 ft·lb
DoubleTap Ammunition Tactical	LRN	Defense	110 gr	1200 fps	351 ft·lb
DoubleTap Ammunition Home Defense	WC	Defense	148 gr	875 fps	251 ft·lb
Federal Premium	JHP	Defense	110 gr	980 fps	235 ft·lb
Federal Punch	JHP	Defense	120 gr	1000 fps	266 ft·lb
Federal Premium	JHP	Defense	129 gr	950 fps	258 ft·lb
Federal American Eagle	FMJ	Defense	130 gr	890 fps	229 ft·lb
Federal Premium	JHP	Defense	130 gr	900 fps	234 ft·lb
Federal American Eagle	LRN	Defense	158 gr	770 fps	208 ft·lb
Federal Train + Protect	JHP	Defense	158 gr	830 fps	242 ft·lb
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1000 fps	278 ft·lb
Fiocchi Range Dynamics	FMJ	Defense	130 gr	950 fps	260 ft·lb
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics	JHP	Defense	148 gr	750 fps	185 ft·lb
Fiocchi Range Dynamics	WC	Defense	148 gr	730 fps	175 ft·lb
Fiocchi Defense Dynamics	JHP	Defense	158 gr	850 fps	254 ft·lb
Fiocchi Range Dynamics	FMJ	Defense	158 gr	730 fps	187 ft·lb
Fiocchi Range Dynamics	LRN	Defense	158 gr	880 fps	272 ft·lb
FORT SCOTT MUNITIONS Tumble Upon Impact (TUI)	—	Defense	80 gr	1190 fps	—
FORT SCOTT MUNITIONS Tumble Upon Impact (TUI)	—	Defense	81 gr	1362 fps	333 ft·lb
G2 Research Telos	JHP	Defense	105 gr	1170 fps	319 ft·lb
Hornady Critical Defense	SP	Defense	90 gr	1200 fps	288 ft·lb
Hornady Critical Defense	SP	Defense	110 gr	1090 fps	290 ft·lb
Hornady Critical Defense	SP	Defense	110 gr	1010 fps	249 ft·lb
Hornady American Gunner	JHP	Defense	125 gr	900 fps	225 ft·lb
Hornady Custom	JHP	Defense	158 gr	800 fps	199 ft·lb
Liberty Ammunition Civil Defense	JHP	Defense	50 gr	1500 fps	250 ft·lb
Magtech Cowboy Action	LRN	Defense	125 gr	920 fps	235 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	FMJ	Defense	125 gr	938 fps	244 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	JHP	Defense	125 gr	938 fps	244 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	SP	Defense	125 gr	938 fps	244 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	LRN	Defense	125 gr	686 fps	131 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	FMJ	Defense	130 gr	800 fps	185 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	WC	Defense	148 gr	810 fps	216 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	WC	Defense	158 gr	755 fps	200 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	SP	Defense	158 gr	755 fps	200 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	SP	Defense	158 gr	886 fps	275 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	JHP	Defense	158 gr	886 fps	275 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	FMJ	Defense	158 gr	755 fps	200 ft·lb
PMC Bronze	FMJ	Defense	132 gr	917 fps	232 ft·lb
PPU Handgun	FMJ	Defense	130 gr	1017 fps	298 ft·lb

PPU Handgun	LRN	Defense	145 gr	689 fps	152 ft·lb
PPU Handgun	LRN	Defense	158 gr	902 fps	285 ft·lb
PPU Handgun	WC	Defense	158 gr	902 fps	285 ft·lb
PPU Handgun	WC	Defense	158 gr	902 fps	282 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition HTP	JHP	Defense	110 gr	995 fps	242 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition HTP	JHP	Defense	110 gr	950 fps	220 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition Golden Saber	JHP	Defense	125 gr	975 fps	264 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition HTP	JHP	Defense	125 gr	945 fps	248 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition UMC	JHP	Defense	125 gr	945 fps	248 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition UMC	JHP	Defense	125 gr	945 fps	248 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition UMC	FMJ	Defense	130 gr	800 fps	185 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition HTP	JHP	Defense	158 gr	890 fps	278 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition UMC	LRN	Defense	158 gr	755 fps	200 ft·lb
Sellier & Bellot Handgun	WC	Defense	148 gr	699 fps	161 ft·lb
Sellier & Bellot Handgun	FMJ	Defense	158 gr	889 fps	277 ft·lb
Sellier & Bellot Handgun	LRN	Defense	158 gr	997 fps	349 ft·lb
Sellier & Bellot Handgun	SP	Defense	158 gr	889 fps	277 ft·lb
Sellier & Bellot Handgun Non-Tox	FMJ	Defense	158 gr	873 fps	267 ft·lb
SINTERFIRE INC Special Duty (SD)	FRG	Defense	110 gr	—	—
Speer Ammo Gold Dot	JHP	Defense	135 gr	860 fps	222 ft·lb
UNDERWOOD AMMO Xtreme Defense	—	Defense	100 gr	1300 fps	375 ft·lb
UNDERWOOD AMMO XTP	JHP	Defense	125 gr	1250 fps	434 ft·lb
UNDERWOOD AMMO Underwood Ammo 732 38Special 150gr Hard Cast Wadcutter 20 Per Box/10 Case	WC	Defense	150 gr	1000 fps	333 ft·lb
UNDERWOOD AMMO Gas Check	WC	Defense	158 gr	1160 fps	472 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Silvertip	JHP	Defense	110 gr	945 fps	218 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Silvertip	JHP	Defense	125 gr	945 fps	248 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Super X	FMJ	Defense	125 gr	775 fps	167 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	JHP	Defense	125 gr	945 fps	248 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Defender	JHP	Defense	130 gr	950 fps	260 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	LRN	Defense	150 gr	845 fps	238 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Super X	LRN	Defense	158 gr	800 fps	224 ft·lb
Atomic Pistol	JHP	Hunting	148 gr	1000 fps	328 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Heavy	JHP	Hunting	158 gr	1000 fps	351 ft·lb
Buffalo Bore Ammunition Outdoorsman	LRN	Hunting	158 gr	1250 fps	548 ft·lb
CCI Big 4	—	Hunting	84 gr	1000 fps	186 ft·lb
CCI Pest Control	—	Hunting	100 gr	1050 fps	222 ft·lb
Federal Premium	WC	Hunting	148 gr	690 fps	156 ft·lb
Fiocchi Cowboy Action	LRN	Hunting	158 gr	640 fps	143 ft·lb
Sellier & Bellot Handgun	LRN	Hunting	158 gr	938 fps	309 ft·lb
Speer Ammo Lawman	FMJ	Hunting	158 gr	900 fps	284 ft·lb
UNDERWOOD AMMO Underwood Ammo 734 38Special+P 158gr Hi-Tek Coated Hard Cast 20 Per Box/10 Case	LRN	Hunting	158 gr	1250 fps	548 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	SP	Hunting	125 gr	850 fps	201 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Hunting	130 gr	800 fps	185 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Hunting	130 gr	800 fps	185 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Super X	WC	Hunting	148 gr	710 fps	166 ft·lb
ARMSCOR USA	FMJ	Target	158 gr	891 fps	278 ft·lb
Atomic Match	WC	Target	148 gr	800 fps	210 ft·lb
Federal American Eagle IRT	LRN	Target	100 gr	1110 fps	191 ft·lb
Federal Champion	FMJ	Target	130 gr	—	—
Federal Range & Target	FMJ	Target	130 gr	890 fps	229 ft·lb
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC38SP+P3 38Special+P 148gr Jacketed Hollow Point 20 Per Box/10 Case	JHP	Target	148 gr	1100 fps	336 ft·lb
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC38SP+P9 38Special+P 148gr Full Metal Jacket Flat Point 20 Per Box/10 Case	FMJ	Target	148 gr	—	—
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC38SP7 38Special 158gr Semi Wad-Cutter 50 Per Box/10 Case	—	Target	158 gr	900 fps	284 ft·lb
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC38SP8 38Special 158gr Round Nose Flat Point 50 Per Box/10 Case	LRN	Target	158 gr	900 fps	284 ft·lb
HSM Cowboy Action	LRN	Target	158 gr	840 fps	248 ft·lb
Magtech Cowboy Action	LRN	Target	158 gr	800 fps	225 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	JHP	Target	158 gr	807 fps	229 ft·lb
Magtech Range/Training	LRN	Target	158 gr	755 fps	200 ft·lb
PMC Bronze	FMJ	Target	132 gr	917 fps	232 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition UMC	FMJ	Target	130 gr	800 fps	185 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition Performance WheelGun	—	Target	148 gr	710 fps	166 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition Performance WheelGun	LRN	Target	158 gr	755 fps	200 ft·lb
Remington Ammunition Performance WheelGun	WC	Target	158 gr	755 fps	200 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	JHP	Target	125 gr	1240 fps	427 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Service Grade	FMJ	Target	130 gr	800 fps	185 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo USA	FMJ	Target	130 gr	800 fps	185 ft·lb
CCI Pest Control	—	—	—	—	—
DoubleTap Ammunition Snake Shot	—	—	130 gr	—	—
DoubleTap Ammunition DoubleTap Ammunition 38SP148CE 38Special 148gr Controlled Expansion JHP 20 Per Box/50 Case	JHP	—	148 gr	1050 fps	362 ft·lb
Fiocchi CovertX	JHP	—	125 gr	1100 fps	—
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC38SP3 38Special 148gr Jacketed Hollow Point 20 Per Box/10 Case	JHP	—	148 gr	1100 fps	336 ft·lb
GRIZZLY AMMO (RINTOUL) Grizzly Ammo GC38SP9 38Special 148gr Full Metal Jacket Flat Point 20 Per Box/10 Case	FMJ	—	148 gr	—	—
HSM Cowboy Action	WC	—	148 gr	850 fps	237 ft·lb
NORMA AMMUNITION (RUAG) Self Defense	—	—	80 gr	—	—
Wilson Combat Wilson Combat LA38SP100XD 38Special+P 100gr 20 Per Box/10 Case	—	—	100 gr	1050 fps	245 ft·lb
Wilson Combat Wilson Combat LA38SP125CF 38Special+P 125gr 20 Per Box/10 Case	—	—	125 gr	1020 fps	289 ft·lb
Winchester Ammo Winchester Ammo WB38ST125X 38Special 125gr 100 Per Box/10 Case	JHP	—	125 gr	—	—

.38 Special

Firearms chambered in .38 Special · 82

Ammunition in .38 Special · 127

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