.38 rimfire
Firearm cartridge / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The .38 rimfire refers to a family of cartridges that have been in service in the United States since the mid-19th century. The cartridges are produced in short, long, and extra long variants.
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Quick Facts Type, Place of origin ...
.38 Long rimfire | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Rifle and handgun | |||||||
Place of origin | United States | |||||||
Service history | ||||||||
Used by | US Army | |||||||
Production history | ||||||||
Variants | Short, Long, and Extra Long | |||||||
Specifications | ||||||||
Case type | Rimmed, straight | |||||||
Bullet diameter | .374 in (9.5 mm) | |||||||
Neck diameter | .376 in (9.6 mm) | |||||||
Shoulder diameter | .376 in (9.6 mm) | |||||||
Base diameter | .378 in (9.6 mm) | |||||||
Rim diameter | .433 in (11.0 mm) | |||||||
Rim thickness | .051 in (1.3 mm) | |||||||
Case length | 0.874 in (22.2 mm) | |||||||
Overall length | 1.382 in (35.1 mm) | |||||||
Primer type | Rimfire | |||||||
Maximum pressure (CIP) | 13,000 psi (90 MPa) | |||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||
| ||||||||
Test barrel length: Rifle |
Close
Quick Facts Type, Place of origin ...
.38 Extra Long rimfire [1] | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Type | Rifle and handgun | |||||||
Place of origin | United States | |||||||
Specifications | ||||||||
Case type | Rimmed, straight | |||||||
Bullet diameter | .374 in (9.5 mm) | |||||||
Neck diameter | .376 in (9.6 mm) | |||||||
Shoulder diameter | .376 in (9.6 mm) | |||||||
Base diameter | .378 in (9.6 mm) | |||||||
Rim diameter | .433 in (11.0 mm) | |||||||
Rim thickness | .051 in (1.3 mm) | |||||||
Case length | 1.48 in (38 mm) | |||||||
Overall length | 2.025 in (51.4 mm) | |||||||
Primer type | Rimfire | |||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||
| ||||||||
Test barrel length: Rifle |
Close
Much like the smaller .32 rimfire, the rounds were originally manufactured loaded with black powder. In the early 1900s, manufacturers switched to the "new" smokeless powder.
The .38 rimfire was preferred to the .32 rimfire for hunting and self-defense purposes because of its larger diameter bullet and increased muzzle energy.