If a 38 has a bore of .357, why is it called a 38?

[TIRANTE420]

It is my understanding that a .38 Special has a bore of .357 inches. That is why a .357 Magnum can fire a .38 round. The .38 Special round is just shorter. If the .38 Special has a bore of .357 inches, why is it called a 38?

Am I correct on the bore?

[BattleRifleG3]

You are correct.
There are three possibilities for this discrepancy:
1. Beer
2. Wine
3. Whiskey

[Oxford]

It would appear that BR3's response could have been the result of either too much beer, wine or whiskey...but I doubt it. Don't know where he came up with that answer.

I have't done a research paper on why gun designers named.357's 38's, but I suppose they simply rounded off the three digit number for brevity. It's faster to say.

Ok BR3, put down your glass and give us the real reason.

[BattleRifleG3]

But 357 rounded to the nearest one hundredth is 0.36, not 38.

[Oxford]

Duh! You're right. Where's Klaus when we need his comment? I thought you were the unofficial expert on things such as this?(ha)

[BattleRifleG3]

I know some things, and am oblivious to other things. But I seemed not to notice that this is Tirante420's first post. Welcome to GunandGame! Please check out all our forums and ask any questions you like, and please share whatever knowledge you come here with! Even if you just like to shoot the breeze, we have a Gun Room just for that.

[jerry]

The 38 Long Colt hails from 1875 and was loaded with an outside lubricated, heeled bullet of .375" diameter. The Army adopted it in 1892, but found it unsatisfactory. In 1902 Smith & Wesson, in hope of an Army contract came out with the 38 Special which used an inside lubricated bullet of smaller diameter, .357". This was because they kept the same diameter cartridge case as the 38 Long Colt just making it a little longer. The idea was that the .375" lead bullet of existing stocks of 38 Long Colt would swage down when fired in 38 Special revolvers and could be used for practice. The Army chose to go to an automatic pistol in 45 caliber but the 38 Special caught on with police and civilians.

[TIRANTE420]

Jerry,

Good info. The bottom line as to why a 38 is called a 38, even though it is a .357 bore, is that it was marketable?

Sorry, I still don't understand. Why didn't they call it the 36?

Walt

[jerry]

I'm under the assumption that the original .375 was closer to .38 and it stuck. My own theory.

[ScottD]

It is also known as 38 Colt Special and I wonder if it is not a carry over from the 38 Colt Short and Long that are now obsolete and came before the Special.

Anyway that's what it says in Cartridges of the World 9th edition.

[savparts]

But Dan Wessons dia is .355 and S&W dia is .356
think about it .357 is larger to seal the groovies and the lands cut into the lead to give it it's spin. The term .38 is from size of chamber .357 size of chamber. can shoot .38 from .357 but not .357 from .38 cylinder

[Oxford]

From what I'm reading above it sounds like a "38" is merely a name. Coulda been called anything else, too, not relating to bore diameter. One name's as good as another I suppose. :nod:

[Indy]

The original .38 bullet was made of lead. Lead bullets tend to be slightly larger than their jacket brothers. The .38 lead projectile was .358 in diameter.
Indy

[Shaun]

Old cartridges did get some of their caliber names from the amount of powder the case would hold for instance a 44-40 got its name because it was a 44 cal bullet with 40 grains of powder

[TIRANTE420]

Goodness Gracious!!

The question I posted would, I thought, have an easy answer from among such a knowledgeable group. I am still confused that there is not a definitive answer. All cartridges have a somewhat reasonable definition as to their naming, not so the 38.

It still is an un-answered Q. I am a new member, and do not want to cause any debate by my Q. But, it has always puzzled me. There must be a definitive answer.

Walter

[Oxford]

TIRANTE420 (Walter) You had a good question, and it has created a lot of interest. Why not keep it open till the 38 guru out there somewhere clarifies this once and for all? :nod:

[TIRANTE420]

Oxford,

You are right. Perhaps I am too impatient. I am sure we will have a good answer.

It is just one of those things that have stuck in my mind many years and bugs the heck out of me.

Sorry if I may have appeared rude and demanding, especially as I am a new member. I am just darn curious.

Walter

[ScottD]

Ok maybe I can put to rest and elaborate further on my original post.

...One of the first things a novice realizes after a few years of reading about guns is that a)nothing is as it seems to be and b)many "new" introductions have their roots somewhere in the past. For instance, the .38 Special was introduced at the turn of the century. It utilizes a true .357 caliber bullet. Why call it a .38 caliber then? Well, the .38 Special has roots that go back to the 1880's in the .38 Long Colt, which underwent a major redesign (but no name change) from a 375 thousandths of an inch bullet to about a .363 caliber bullet. When Smith redesigned the cartridge, they used an even smaller bullet about .357 caliber. In order to capitalize on the name of the well-known military pistol round they had just redesigned, they kept the "38" part of the name....

and added the word "Special"

It's called, "MARKETING". OK 'nough said. Now if you want to further your education read at the following site. Sometimes names are just names and have no relation to squat.

http://members.aol.com/vaquero760/ammo/apart4.htm

[jerry]

Here ya go dude.
http://www.38special.com/38specfr.htm

[ScottD]

Lov'em!