.38 Short Colt Ammo
Professionally Reviewed by:
Nathaniel Boos
Nathaniel Boos is a lifelong firearms enthusiast and shooter, renowned for his experience as a long-range shooter, ammunition importer/exporter, and firearms manufacturer. With years of hands-on experience, he is a trusted authority in the ammunition and firearms industry.
Credentials:
- • 2x Team Safari Competitor
- • KRG Training Level 1, 2, and Force on Force CQB certified
- • Licensed Texas Conceal Carry Holder
- • Kranz Firearms Training Group Advanced Carbine Certified
.38 Short Colt: At a Glance
| Key Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Firearm Type | Revolver |
| Primer Type | Small Pistol |
| Used For | Self-defense, Target shooting |
| Case Design | Straight-walled, Rimmed |
| Year Introduced | 1875 |
.38 Short Colt: At a Glance: Pros and Cons
Pros
- ✔ Low recoil, suitable for novice shooters
- ✔ Compatible with many .38 Special revolvers
- ✔ Historically significant cartridge
- ✔ Adequate for close-range self-defense
- ✔ Relatively inexpensive to manufacture
Cons
- ✘ Limited stopping power compared to modern cartridges
- ✘ Shorter range than .38 Special
- ✘ Less common, may be harder to find
- ✘ Outdated by modern ammunition standards
- ✘ Limited bullet weight options
.38 Short Colt: A Comprehensive Overview
The .38 Short Colt is a historic centerfire pistol cartridge developed by Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1875. It was designed for use in Colt's single-action revolvers and was one of the earliest successful centerfire revolver cartridges. The .38 Short Colt played a significant role in the evolution of handgun ammunition, bridging the gap between black powder and smokeless powder cartridges.
History and Development
The .38 Short Colt was introduced in 1875 by Colt's Manufacturing Company. It was developed as an improvement over the .38 Long Colt, which had been introduced in 1871. The .38 Short Colt was designed to be used in Colt's single-action revolvers, particularly the Colt Model 1877 'Lightning' double-action revolver.
Initially, the .38 Short Colt used black powder as a propellant. The cartridge typically fired a 130-grain lead bullet at a muzzle velocity of around 770 feet per second. This performance was considered adequate for self-defense purposes in its time, though it was less powerful than many of its contemporaries.
The .38 Short Colt saw use in both civilian and military applications. It was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1892 as a standard-issue cartridge, alongside the .38 Long Colt. However, its relatively weak performance led to its eventual replacement by more powerful cartridges.
With the advent of smokeless powder, the .38 Short Colt was updated to use the new propellant. This increased its performance slightly, but it remained a relatively low-powered cartridge compared to newer designs.
Production of .38 Short Colt ammunition continued well into the 20th century, primarily for use in older revolvers. However, its popularity waned as more powerful and efficient cartridges were developed. Today, it is primarily of interest to collectors and historians, though some manufacturers still produce ammunition for this caliber.
Timeline of .38 Short Colt Development and Usage:
.38 Short Colt Performance Characteristics
The .38 Short Colt's performance characteristics reflect its design as a low-powered cartridge for self-defense and military use in the late 19th century.
| Characteristic | Performance |
|---|---|
| Bullet Weight | 130 grains Lead round nose bullet |
| Muzzle Velocity | 770 feet per second With original black powder load |
| Muzzle Energy | 170 foot-pounds Calculated based on 130-grain bullet at 770 fps |
| Effective Range | 50 yards Practical accuracy limit for self-defense purposes |
| Case Length | 0.775 inches Shorter than the .38 Long Colt |
Bullet Weight vs. Muzzle Velocity
This chart shows how bullet weight affects muzzle velocity for common .38 Short Colt loads.
.38 Short Colt: Effective Range for Different Applications
This table provides estimated effective ranges for .38 Short Colt ammunition in various applications. Ranges are based on typical bullet weights and velocities for this historical cartridge.
| Application | Effective Range (yards) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Historical Reenactment | 0-25 | Primarily used for authenticity in period-correct firearms |
| Self-Defense | 0-15 | Limited effectiveness due to low velocity and energy |
| Target Shooting | 0-50 | Suitable for short-range target practice with antique firearms |
| Cowboy Action Shooting | 0-25 | Used in some Cowboy Action Shooting events for period correctness |
Note: The .38 Short Colt is an obsolete cartridge with limited modern applications. Its performance is significantly lower than contemporary self-defense or target shooting cartridges. Always use appropriate safety measures and adhere to local laws when handling historical firearms.
Applications for .38 Short Colt
The .38 Short Colt is primarily of historical interest, with limited modern applications:
Caliber Comparisons
To understand the .38 Short Colt's place in the handgun world, it's helpful to compare it to similar cartridges. Click on each comparison to see more details:
Recoil Energy Comparison
Compare the estimated recoil energy of .38 Short Colt with other similar handgun cartridges. (Based on a 2 lb handgun)
Ballistic Trajectory Comparison
This chart compares the ballistic trajectory (bullet drop) of .38 Short Colt with other similar handgun cartridges over distance.
Wind Drift Comparison
This chart compares the wind drift of .38 Short Colt with other similar handgun cartridges in a 10 mph crosswind.
Energy Retention Comparison
This chart compares the energy retention of .38 Short Colt with other similar handgun cartridges over distance.
Sectional Density of .38 Short Colt
The .38 Short Colt is a low-pressure cartridge developed in 1875 for Colt's New Line and House revolvers. It was later used in various other revolvers.
| Cartridge | Bullet Weight (gr) | Sectional Density |
|---|---|---|
| .38 Short Colt | 125 | 0.156 |
| .38 Short Colt | 130 | 0.162 |
| .38 Short Colt | 145 | 0.181 |
Note: The .38 Short Colt has a bullet diameter of 0.361 inches. Sectional density is calculated as (bullet weight in pounds) / (bullet diameter in inches)². While the .38 Short Colt has relatively low sectional densities compared to modern cartridges, it was considered adequate for its intended use in short-range self-defense situations during its era of prominence.