.38 caliber

.38 caliber is a frequently used name for the caliber of firearms and firearm cartridges.

The .38 is a large firearm cartridge (anything larger than .32 is considered a large caliber). Before 1990, the standard sidearms of police in the United States were revolvers that fired the .38 Special cartridge, seconded by revolvers firing the .357 Magnum, a lengthened version of the .38 Special.

Handgun cartridge table

 * {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left"

! Cartridge name || Bullet diameter || Case length || Cartridge length || Type || class="unsortable"|Source
 * .380 ACP|| .355 in || .680 in || .980 in || Rimless || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38 Casull|| .356 in || .933 in || – || Rimless ||
 * .38 Short Colt|| .357 in || .762 in || 1.052 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38 Long Colt|| .357 in || 1.030 in || 1.320 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38 Special|| .357 in || 1.15 in || 1.550 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38 ACP|| .358 in || .900 in || 1.280 in || Semi-rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38 Super|| .358 in || .900 in || 1.280 in || Semi-rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38 Super Comp|| .355 in || .896 in || 1.280 in || Rimless || Starline cartridge dimensions
 * .38 S&W|| .361 in || .780 in || 1.200 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38 TPC|| .355 in || .720 in || 1.169 in || Rimless, tapered ||
 * .380 Revolver Short|| .375 in || 0.700 in || 1.100 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .380 Revolver Long|| .375 in || 1.000 in || 1.400 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38-40 Winchester|| .401 in || 1.300 in || 1.590 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 92
 * }
 * .38 Super Comp|| .355 in || .896 in || 1.280 in || Rimless || Starline cartridge dimensions
 * .38 S&W|| .361 in || .780 in || 1.200 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38 TPC|| .355 in || .720 in || 1.169 in || Rimless, tapered ||
 * .380 Revolver Short|| .375 in || 0.700 in || 1.100 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .380 Revolver Long|| .375 in || 1.000 in || 1.400 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38-40 Winchester|| .401 in || 1.300 in || 1.590 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 92
 * }
 * .380 Revolver Short|| .375 in || 0.700 in || 1.100 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .380 Revolver Long|| .375 in || 1.000 in || 1.400 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 274
 * .38-40 Winchester|| .401 in || 1.300 in || 1.590 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 92
 * }
 * .38-40 Winchester|| .401 in || 1.300 in || 1.590 in || Rimmed || Barnes 1997, p. 92
 * }
 * }