<Tr> <Td> 6.48 g (100 gr) Cor - bon PB + P </Td> <Td> 1,150 ft / s (350 m / s) </Td> <Td_colspan="2"> 294 ft ⋅ lbf (399 J) </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> Test barrel length: 4 in (vented) Source (s): </Td> </Tr> <P> 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 1990s, and was also a common sidearm cartridge used by soldiers in World War I. In other parts of the world, it is known by its metric designation of 9 × 29.5 mmR or 9.1 × 29mmR . </P> <P> Known for its accuracy and manageable recoil, the . 38 Special remains the most popular revolver cartridge in the world more than a century after its introduction . It is used for target shooting, formal target competition, personal defense, and for hunting small game . </P>

Is 38 s&w special the same as 38 special