The .38 Smith & Wesson Special (commonly .38 Special, .38 Spl, or .38 Spc, pronounced “thirty-eight special”) is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round. The .38 Special was the standard service cartridge of most police departments in the United States from the 1920s to the early 1990s, and was also a common sidearm cartridge used by soldiers in World War I.
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special commonly known as .38 Special, .38 Spl, or .38 Spc is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. The .38 Special was the standard service cartridge of most police departments in the United States from the 1920s to the 1990s. Outdoor Limited is your source for cheap ammo online. Browse our great selection of .38 Special Ammo in your favorite brands and styles. We carry 38 Special FMJ, .38 Special Hollow Point and .38 Special Lead Ammo target, plinking and range use.
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Smith & Wesson introduced .38 Special ammo back in 1898 to feed their new revolver, which the U.S. military adopted for their standard-issued sidearm. Like most firearm products, the military handgun and cartridge became popular among civilian shooters and police. Although the military rarely uses revolvers nowadays, they’re still extremely popular in the civilian world, especially for concealed carry.
Today, .38 Special is one of the most common revolver cartridges available. Part of the reason is that early popularity and a nearly 70-year preference by police, but another reason is its size. The 38 Special bullet is actually .357 caliber, so it’s very common for gun makers to chamber their revolvers up for the more powerful .357 Magnum. Constructing a handgun for the heavier load will ensure the less expensive 38 Special round works just fine for target practice. However, revolvers designed only for 38 Special ammo will not fire .357 Mag loads.
Find .38 Special ammo by major handgun ammo brands like Remington, Winchester, and more on OpticsPlanet. The cartridge is available in a variety of grains, loads, and bullet tips. If you’re unsure about what you need, check out our guide on How to Buy Ammo and then get a box today!
Other categories you might be interested in are 9mm Luger Ammunition, 380 ACP Ammunition, 40 S&W Ammunition, 410 Gauge Ammo, 44 Magnum Ammunition.