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Can anyone tell me why a cartridge with a bullet diameter of .357 is called a .38 Special and a cartridge with a .401 bullet diameter is called a .38-40??
Doug
Doug
and hand grenades!Close only counts in horse shoes....![]()
The .38 special is derived from the .38 Long Colt which used a heeled bullet. The .38 special uses the same diameter case but with an inside lubed bullet. Why the 38-40 is called that is anybody's guess.Can anyone tell me why a cartridge with a bullet diameter of .357 is called a .38 Special and a cartridge with a .401 bullet diameter is called a .38-40??
Doug
Close only counts in horse shoes....![]()
and nukes.and hand grenades!
Actually take it back to the 1851 Colt where a .36 caliber ball was pressed into a smaller chamber. With the Colt .38 was a "social" promotion. The .38 S&W was originally a .361 externally lubricated bullet..38-40 I have no clue. .303 (.312) was a land-to-land measurement. The .44-40 is .425, later .44's are .429. My .401 Powermag oddly is .401.