2007-11-25 09:45:32 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
This goes back to cap and ball days, in the 1850's. Colt came out with a very popular revolver called the .36 Navy. It sold like crazy. It fired a .36 (.357 inch) round ball. At that time, you wrapped the round ball in a circular piece of cloth to keep the bullet tight in the cylinder. To fire a .36 inch round ball, you actually had to have a barrel diameter of .38 in order to permit clearance for the cloth patch. When Colt switched to cartridge revolvers, there was no need for the extra clearance for the patch, and the barrels became the actual diameter of the bullet which was .357.
2007-11-25 10:03:50 · answer #1 · answered by Jack Flanders 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The .38 is not considered a .380; the .380 acp is actually a .355 diameter, not .357. The .38 Special is a .357 but is known as a .38 Special for the reason Jack Flanders gave you. The .357 Magnum is known as a .357 to not be confused with the older .38 caliber cartridges.
Best.
H
2007-11-25 20:38:55 · answer #2 · answered by H 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm not sure about the .380, but the .38 Special was named as a matter of marketing. The outer diameter of the case is .379"--rounding it up gets you .38. It also connected it to early "38" caliber rounds. When Remington developed the .357 Magnum they apparently couldn't use the .38 designation due to trademark restrictions (Remington didn't want to pay Smith and Wesson). To further complicate matters, the nominal diameter of both the .38 Special and .357 Magnum is .358". The nominal diameter of the .380 ACP and the 9mm Parabellum is .356".
2007-11-25 20:31:12 · answer #3 · answered by John T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a 38 is not considered a 380.a 380 is a smaller bullet.a 38 can be fired in a 38 or 357. a 380 can not be fired in either gun.
----retired texas deputy sheriff----
2007-11-26 02:04:25 · answer #4 · answered by charlsyeh 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jack Flanders is correct. When cartridge conversions became available, after the expiration of Smith and Wesson's patent, there was briefly a cartridge that was mushroom-shaped, with the base .357" and the rest about 38 caliber, and outside-lubed, very much like a 22 rimfire is. That went away in a hurry as handguns actually designed to shoot cartridges became widespread.
2007-11-25 19:38:03 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paul, the 38 and 380 are the same bullet diameter, or very close, but no, the cartridges are not interchangeable because of case length.
2007-11-25 18:45:17 · answer #6 · answered by seeitmiway32 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Caliber used to be measured from the bottom of a grove to the bottom of the opposing grove. Now it's measured land from land. .38 was measure in the old way, therefore is significantly larger than the bullet being used.
2007-11-25 17:48:45 · answer #7 · answered by fishtrembleatmyname 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Actually, a .38 and a .380 are NOT the same - I know of someone who owns both, and the ammunition is not interchangeable - the sizes are different.
2007-11-25 17:49:04 · answer #8 · answered by Paul Hxyz 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
a 357 can shoot both bullets however the casing is much longer and hotter than a 380..30-06 was based on the date it was invented 1906 and 30 caliber..maybe it was introduced in 38??
2007-11-25 17:54:26 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
It's true that .38 rounds can be used in a .357 pistol , but .357 rounds can't be used in a .38 pistol.
The .357 carries a bigger punch because it's longer round (won't fit into a .38 weapon) , and is packed with more gun powder.
2007-11-25 17:52:12 · answer #10 · answered by Danny 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋