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Common uses: Self-Defense
| Type | pistol (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 110gr Hornady Critical Defense FTX |
| Muzzle velocity | 1090 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 290 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.131 |
| Case length | 29.3 mm |
| Overall length | 39.4 mm |
| SAAMI max pressure | 18500 PSI |
| Common twist rate | 1:18.75" |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1090 | 290 | -1.5 |
| 50 | 995 | 242 | -0.5 |
| 100 | 926 | 210 | -8.3 |
| 150 | 871 | 185 | -26.3 |
The listed uses do not identify an explicit big-game hunting role, so deer- and elk-sized energy references aren't shown. Evaluate the named load using its available source data and any displayed trajectory, then verify the result for the listed target, competition, defensive, tactical, or duty context.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own firearm.
The .38 Special +P is best known as a defensive revolver load, most commonly paired with compact and snub-nosed wheelguns carried for concealment and backup. Raising chamber pressure above the standard .38 Special gives it a meaningful gain in velocity and energy while keeping recoil manageable, which is why it became a longtime favorite of police and civilian carriers before the shift to higher-capacity autos. Its main limitation is that it must only be fired in revolvers rated for +P pressures; older or lightweight guns not marked for it can suffer accelerated wear or damage. In practice it is valued for its balance of controllability, reliability in double-action revolvers, and adequate terminal effect from short barrels, rather than for range or raw power.
The .38 Special was introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1898, developed from the .38 Long Colt to deliver better performance after the earlier round proved inadequate in U.S. military service during the Philippine-American War. Dimensionally it is essentially a lengthened .38 Long Colt case. The +P designation is a later, higher-pressure loading of that same case, standardized to run above the original cartridge's pressure ceiling in order to boost velocity and terminal performance without changing the external dimensions. It emerged during the mid-20th century as ammunition makers sought more stopping power from the platform, particularly for law enforcement, and it remains a standard offering in modern defensive lines.
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