38 SPECIAL - Confusing History:

When I was asked by a "newby" what is special about the .38" S&W Special? - I couldn't answer apart from lamely commenting that it was actually .357" diameter and not .380" at all. - This was because historically it was a development from a cartridge shell (38 Short Colt)measuring .380" (approx.) that used a heeled bullet similarly to that which our current .22RF Long Rifle cartridge uses.

When this later developed  38 LONG COLT was designed they used a straight-sided .357" diameter slug that fitted inside the .38" dia. brass case. - The different smaller size being caused by the wall-thickness of the brass - about 12 thousands of an inch.

Hand Ejector Model 1899.

The 38 Special was an up-powered .38 Long Colt (US service round) developed at the wish of D B  Wesson of S&W - from around 1896 and released in 1898/1899. The first revolver made for it - The Hand Ejector Model was sometimes marked on the barrels ".38 S&W Special and US Service Ctg."

This double-action revolver was later known as the 'Smith & Wesson Military and Police' and also called the 'S&W Victory Model' and became the 'S&W Model 10'.

Life gets complicated - as the .38 Short Colt (heeled bullet) is also known as the .38 S&W (- and I'm no expert) - But basically the .38 S&W Special is a suped-up .38 Long Colt  that was loaded with a heavier 158gn (150gn) bullet and a bigger black powder charge of 21.5gns (18gn). In a few years the powder charge was changed to white-powder (nitro). - It was itself later lengthened and suped-up into the .357 Magnum by Elmer Keith! - There is a long line or series of cartridges called '38's that lead forward to the .357 Magnum and Maximum.

The 38 Long Colt is the military round that was found lacking in 'stopping power' in the conflict between American forces and the Moro warriors in the Philipine-American War.

What was the .380 Long? - some sort of British version of the 38 loaded with a heavier 200gn slug (the 38-200) - I think!

So - now you know- Clear as mud eh!

So - what was Special , was that the .38 S&W SPECIAL was meant to work better against fanatical Moro tribesmen trying to defend their lands from invaders.

My Ruger GP100 .357 Magnum also uses 38 S&W Specials.

Probably the main factor explaining the continuing popularity of the 38 Special is that as a slightly shorter and gentler round than the .357 Magnum round it is great for a less stressful shooting session in the same Magnum revolvers..

The power level of current SAAMI rated +P  38 Specials is similar to the pre-SAAMI standard loads.

- I think (- I wasn't there)

Marty K