38 special is only a revolver caliber. that's like saying a 44 magnum revolver or a 500 special revolver. a revolver is a revolver
The .38 Special is a specific cartridge. In addition to the .38 Special, there are perhaps a dozen different .38 cartridges. Most of them are fairly obscure/ obsolete today, but include the shorter, fatter, less powerful .38 S&W, the .38 Long and Short Colts, the .38 rimfires, .38 Merwin & Hullbert, etc. Sort of like "What is the difference between a Ford Mustang and a Ford?"
Overall length The 38 special is a stronger cartridge. If you have a .38 Special revolver it can still shoot a .38 S&W but not the other way around.
While there ARE specialized target auto pistol that are in caliber .38 Special, they are quite rare. The .38 Auto, and the .38 Super are both different cartridges from the .38 Special, and do not interchange. For everyday purposes, the .38 Special is a revolver cartridge, and the .38 Auto a semi auto pistol cartridge.
What years did they make the 38 top break revolver? How can you know how old one is?
Your Rossi revolver fires the .38 special cartridge.
No difference. CTG is the abbreviation for cartridge. A revolver marked 38 Special CTG, or .38 S&W Special CTG is simply indicating that it is chambered for a .38 Special cartridge. This IS different from .38 S&W, and older, shorter, fatter, less powerful cartridge.
A ".38 +P revolver" is simply a .38 Special revolver which is rated to fire +P loads. It's still a .38 Special, and the +P doesn't change the dimensions of the round itself.
No, the rimless .38 Super is not compatible with the rimmed .38 Special.
38 special
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38 special.