{"id":5051,"date":"2023-05-05T22:07:34","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T22:07:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/?p=5051"},"modified":"2023-05-05T22:27:57","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T22:27:57","slug":"38-special-vs-357-magnum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/38-special-vs-357-magnum\/","title":{"rendered":".38 Special vs. .357 Magnum &#8211; Caliber Comparison"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>When talking about revolvers, shooters often compare the .38 Special vs. .357 Magnum cartridges. Both are centerfire, rimmed revolver rounds using a .357&#8243; diameter bullet. Some revolvers can even shoot both rounds. But while they share a number of similarities, there are also some important differences between the two rounds.<\/p>\n<p>Keep reading to see our comparison of the .38 Special vs. .357 Magnum.<\/p>\n<h2>.38 Special vs. .357 Magnum Specifications<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5071 size-full\" title=\".38 special vs. .357 magnum ammo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spvs357mag.jpg\" alt=\"a round of .38 special next to a round of .357 magnum\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1064\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spvs357mag.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spvs357mag-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spvs357mag-1024x545.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spvs357mag-768x409.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spvs357mag-1536x817.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spvs357mag-200x106.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spvs357mag-750x399.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spvs357mag-1140x606.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>The basics of .38 Special vs. .357 Magnum:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Both cartridges are revolver rounds<\/li>\n<li>Revolvers chambered for .357 Magnum can shoot both .38 Special and .357 Magnum cartridges; revolvers chambered for .38 Special can not shoot .357 Magnum cartridges<\/li>\n<li>Both rounds fire a .357&#8243; diameter bullet<\/li>\n<li>The .357 Magnum is more powerful than the .38 Special<\/li>\n<li>A .357 Magnum will have much more recoil than a .38 Special<\/li>\n<li>.38 Special ammo is typically cheaper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-42\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-42\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><\/td><th class=\"column-2\">.38 Special<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">.357 Magnum<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Designed<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1898<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1934<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Designer<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Smith &amp; Wesson<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Elmer Keith, Phillip B. Sharpe, Douglas B. Wesson<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Place of Origin<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">United States<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">United States<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Parent Cartridge<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">.38 Long Colt<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">.38 Special<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Case Type<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">Rimmed, straight<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Rimmed, straight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Bullet Diameter<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">.357\"<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">.357\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Rim Diameter<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">.44\"<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">.44\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Case Length<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.155\"<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1.29\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Overall Length<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.550\"<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1.59\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Common Bullet Weights<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">100 to 147 grains<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">110 to 158 grains<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-12\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Maximum Pressure (SAAMI)<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">17,500 psi<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">35,000 psi<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-42 from cache -->\n<p>As we said above, both the .38 Special and .357 Magnum rounds are rimmed revolver rounds that use a .357&#8243; diameter bullet. The .357 Magnum is slightly taller and packs a lot more punch than the .38 Special.<\/p>\n<h2>.38 Special vs. .357 Magnum History<\/h2>\n<p>Next, let&#8217;s take a look at the history behind each round.<\/p>\n<h3>.38 Special History<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5079 size-full\" title=\".38 special ammo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spammo-1.jpg\" alt=\"three .38 special rounds\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1142\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spammo-1.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spammo-1-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spammo-1-1024x585.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spammo-1-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spammo-1-1536x877.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spammo-1-200x114.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spammo-1-750x428.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spammo-1-1140x651.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The .38 Special is derived from the .38 Long Colt round. Due to the .38 Long Colt\u2019s poor performance in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, the US government enlisted Smith &amp; Wesson\u2019s help in designing a new revolver cartridge. Smith &amp; Wesson\u2019s answer was the .38 Special. The cartridge\u2019s bullet was the same diameter as the .38 Long Colt, but with a heavier bullet and hotter black powder charge. Smith &amp; Wesson soon offered the round in a smokeless powder loadings due to its popularity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout the 1920s through 1980s, the .38 Special was the chosen service revolver caliber among American law enforcement. It also saw use in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>.357 Magnum History<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5072 size-full\" title=\".357 magnum ammo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magammo.jpg\" alt=\"three rounds of .357 magnum ammo\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1188\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magammo.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magammo-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magammo-1024x608.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magammo-768x456.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magammo-1536x912.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magammo-200x119.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magammo-750x446.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magammo-1140x677.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the 1930s, there was a need for a revolver round that offered better penetration than the .32- and .38-caliber revolvers in use by law enforcement. Smith &amp; Wesson\u2019s light-framed Military &amp; Police revolvers could not handle much hotter loads, so the company took its heavy .44 frame and chambered it in .38 Special. This new 5-inch revolver, called the .38\/44 Heavy Duty, could handle much hotter .38 loads.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, gun writers Philip Sharpe and Elmer Keith both felt that the load could have better performance, specifically in terms of higher velocities. Smith &amp; Wesson\u2019s then Vice President Douglass B. Wesson teamed up with Sharpe to develop the new load which was completed in 1934. The new .357 Magnum was .125\u201d longer than the .38 Special, and had a 158-grain bullet that traveled at 1,515 fps out of an 8 \u00be\u201d barrel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Over the years, the .357 Magnum cartridge has been a popular high-velocity round for hunting, law enforcement, and self-defense.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can you shoot .38 Special out of a .357 Magnum revolver?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5074 size-full\" title=\".357 magnum revolver\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magcylinder.jpg\" alt=\"a .357 magnum revolver cylinder being held open at the range\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magcylinder.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magcylinder-300x173.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magcylinder-1024x589.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magcylinder-768x442.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magcylinder-1536x883.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magcylinder-200x115.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magcylinder-750x431.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magcylinder-1140x656.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can shoot .38 Special ammo out of .357 Magnum revolvers. In fact, you can also safely shoot .38 Long Colt and .38 Short Colt out of a .357 Magnum revolver. However, the opposite is not true. You can not shoot .357 Magnum ammo out of a revolver designated for .38 Special. The designers of the cartridge actually lengthened it by approximately \u215b\u201d to prevent it from fitting in a revolver cylinder designed for .38 Special only.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is .357 Magnum more powerful than .38 Special?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The .357 Magnum cartridge can be twice as powerful as the .38 Special. Revolvers chambered in .357 Magnum are designed to handle a maximum pressure up to 35,000 psi according to SAAMI standards. Revolvers chambered in .38 Special have a maximum pressure of 17,500 psi by SAAMI standards. This means that .357 Magnum revolvers are built to withstand pressures double that of the .38 Special.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>.38 Special vs. .357 Magnum Recoil<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When debating between .38 Special vs. .357 Magnum for self defense, recoil must be considered. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While felt recoil is influenced by a number of different factors, even the most experienced shooters will tell you that the .357 Magnum has more kick and muzzle flash than the .38 Special. This heavy recoil will often cause flinching, which can have a negative effect on follow up shots.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>.38 Special vs. .357 Magnum Ballistics<\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5075 size-full\" title=\"chronographing\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/chronographing.jpg\" alt=\"the author shooting rounds through a chronograph on a bench at the range\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1364\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/chronographing.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/chronographing-300x205.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/chronographing-1024x698.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/chronographing-768x524.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/chronographing-1536x1048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/chronographing-200x136.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/chronographing-750x512.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/chronographing-1140x777.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Now let&#8217;s look at how the .38 Special and .357 Magnum stack up ballistically.<\/p>\n<p>We decided to check velocities of a few different loads of each caliber, as well as shoot two rounds of each in ballistic gelatin. To measure muzzle velocity, we shot five rounds of each loading through a chronograph to get an average velocity.<\/p>\n<p>To see how each round might perform in a self defense-scenario, we shot two rounds of each loading through Clear Ballistic&#8217;s 10% synthetic ballistic gel with a 4-layer fabric covering as barrier from a 10-foot distance. We then measured penetration depth and bullet expansion for each round. The .38 Special rounds were fired from a revolver with a 1.87&#8243; barrel and the .357 Magnum rounds were fired from a revolver with a 2.25&#8243; barrel.<\/p>\n<p>The FBI&#8217;s standards for ballistic testing call for penetration between 12 and 18 inches. This correlates with rounds that will adequately penetrate soft tissue. When looking at expansion, experts generally look for an expanded diameter of 1.5 times the original diameter of the bullet. That&#8217;s because you want your defensive round to create a wide wound channel, which occurs when the bullet expands as it travels through the target.<\/p>\n<p>Before we jump into the results, keep in mind that these brief tests are used to give an idea of how these rounds might perform and should not be the sole factor in selecting a round for self defense.<\/p>\n<h3>.38 Special Ballistics<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5070 size-full\" title=\"38 special ballistics\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spballisticgel.jpg\" alt=\".38 special ammo in ballistic gel\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1068\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spballisticgel.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spballisticgel-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spballisticgel-1024x547.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spballisticgel-768x410.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spballisticgel-1536x820.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spballisticgel-200x107.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spballisticgel-750x401.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/38spballisticgel-1140x609.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-43\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-43\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Cartridge<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Average Velcoity (fps)<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Average Penetration (inches)<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Average Bullet Expansion (inches)<\/th><th class=\"column-5\">Average Muzzle Energy (ft\/lbs)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Hornady 125gr XTP<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">842<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">19.59\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">0.351\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">197.09<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Federal 158gr. HP SWCHP<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">770<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">17.63\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">.352\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">208.34<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/hornady-critical-defense-38-special-ammunition-25-rounds-of-p-110-grain-ftx.php\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hornady Critical Defense 110gr. +P FTX<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">962<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">14\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">0.453\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">226.4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/hornady-custom-38-special-ammunition-25-rounds-of-158-grain-xtp.php\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Hornady Custom 158gr. XTP<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">674<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">17.69\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">.371\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">159.63<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-43 from cache -->\n<p>Unsurprisingly, all of the .38 Special rounds tested clocked in under 1,000 fps muzzle velocities. In the ballistic gel, all reached the minimum penetration of 12 inches, but one round over penetrated. As for expansion, we&#8217;re looking for about .54&#8243; expansion, which none of the rounds adequately reached.<\/p>\n<p>Often, the issue with .38 Special ammo out of short-barrel revolvers is that they don&#8217;t gain enough velocity to expand upon impact. This usually leads to over-penetration. While we didn&#8217;t see too much over-penetration in this data set, we did see a lack of expansion.<\/p>\n<h3>.357 Magnum Ballistics<\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5073 size-full\" title=\".357 magnum ballistics\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magballisticgel.jpg\" alt=\".357 magnum ammo in ballistic gel\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1022\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magballisticgel.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magballisticgel-300x153.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magballisticgel-1024x523.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magballisticgel-768x392.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magballisticgel-1536x785.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magballisticgel-200x102.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magballisticgel-750x383.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/357magballisticgel-1140x583.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-44\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-44\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Round<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Average Velcoity (fps)<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Average Penetration (inches)<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Average Bullet Expansion (inches)<\/th><th class=\"column-5\">Average Muzzle Energy (ft\/lbs)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/hornady-critical-duty-357-magnum-ammunition-25-rounds-of-135-grain-ftx.php\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Critical Defense 135gr. FlexLock<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1200<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">19.75\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">.445\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">432.35<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/federal-personal-defense-357-magnum-ammunition-20-rounds-of-125-grain-jhp.php\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Federal 125gr. JHP<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1235<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">14.5\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">.494\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">424.01<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Remington 180gr. SJHP<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1061<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">19.19\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">.401\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">450.65<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\">Speer Gold Dot 135gr. GDHP<\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1082<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">12.94\"<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">.535\"<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">351.5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-44 from cache -->\n<p>The .357 Magnum cartridge is known for its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/stopping-power\/\">stopping power<\/a>. So, as expected, it performed well in our gel test, showing high velocities and having no trouble penetrating to desired depths. While none of the rounds tested expanded to the .54&#8243; that we were looking for, as a whole, the .357 Magnum expanded better than the .38 Special.<\/p>\n<h2>.38 Special vs. .357 Magnum Ammo Price<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When shopping for .38 Special and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/357-mag-ammo.php\">.357 Magnum ammo<\/a>, you\u2019ll find that, generally, .38 Special is cheaper per round than .357 Magnum.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, you can find some .38 Special ammo that is more expensive than .357 Magnum. For example, a .38 Special round using a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/jacketed-hollow-point\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">jacketed hollow point bullet<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, like the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/federal-premium-personal-defense-38-special-ammunition-20-rounds-of-p-129-grain-hydra-shok-jhp.php\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Federal Premium .38 Special +P 129gr. Hydra-Shok JHP<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will be over double the cost per round as the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/357mag-fiocchi-142gr-fmj-1000.php\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fiocchi .357 Magnum 142gr. FMJ<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> round.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.38 Special vs. .357 Magnum: Which should you choose?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5076 size-full\" title=\"shooting ruger lcr\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shooting38sp.jpg\" alt=\"the author shooting a ruger lcr 38 special at the range\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shooting38sp.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shooting38sp-300x181.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shooting38sp-1024x617.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shooting38sp-768x463.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shooting38sp-1536x926.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shooting38sp-200x121.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shooting38sp-750x452.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shooting38sp-1140x687.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both the .38 Special and .357 Magnum offer adequate ballistics for self defense. Many shooters lean towards the .357 Magnum for its strong ballistic performance, however, you should determine if that extra power is worth the added recoil and muzzle blast.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr. Gary Roberts, a leading researcher in ballistics, gives some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ar15.com\/ammo\/project\/Self_Defense_Ammo_FAQ\/#.38spl\/.357mag\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">good insight<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere is no reason to go with .357 Mag in a J-frame, as the significantly larger muzzle blast and flash, and harsher recoil of the .357 Magnum does not result in substantially improved terminal performance compared to the more controllable .38 Special bullets when fired from 2\u201d barrels.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/357-mag-ammo.php?utm_source=Blog&amp;utm_medium=banner&amp;utm_campaign=38vs357357mag\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5086 size-full\" title=\"shop 357 magnum rounds\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shop357magnum.jpg\" alt=\"shop top 357 magnum rounds\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1140\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shop357magnum.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shop357magnum-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shop357magnum-1024x584.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shop357magnum-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shop357magnum-1536x876.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shop357magnum-200x114.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shop357magnum-750x428.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shop357magnum-1140x650.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction\">\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction--text b-share-calltoaction-text\">\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction-text__header\">\n<h2>Share this article with your friends!<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"b-social-icons clearfix\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/38-special-vs-357-magnum\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon facebook\">&nbsp;Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/home?status=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/38-special-vs-357-magnum\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon twitter\">&nbsp;Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&#038;url=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/38-special-vs-357-magnum\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon linkedin\">&nbsp;LinkedIn<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/38-special-vs-357-magnum\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon pinterest\">&nbsp;Pinterest<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When talking about revolvers, shooters often compare the .38 Special vs. .357 Magnum cartridges. Both are centerfire, rimmed revolver rounds&hellip;<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item-meta\"><span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/clock.svg\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\" alt=\"\"><time class=\"published\" datetime=\"2023-05-05T22:07:34+00:00\">May. 05, 2023<\/time><\/span><span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/comment.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\">No comments<\/span><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/38-special-vs-357-magnum\/\"><span>Read more <\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/chevron-right.svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" alt=\"\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":5078,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5051","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-range-training","category-self-defense"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5051","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5051"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5051\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5087,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5051\/revisions\/5087"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5078"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5051"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5051"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5051"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}