- .38 ACP
Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name=.38 ACP
caption=
origin=flagcountry|United States
type=Pistol
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=John Browning
design_date=1900
manufacturer=Colt
production_date=
number=
variants=
is_SI_specs=
parent=
case type=Rimless, straight
bullet=.356
neck=.384
shoulder=
base=.384
rim_dia=.406
rim_thick=.050
case_length=.900
length=1.280
rifling=
primer=Small pistol
is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=115
btype1=FMJ
vel1=1150
en1=338
bw2=125
btype2=JHP
vel2=1100
en2=336
bw3=130
btype3=FMJ
vel3=1040
en3=312
bw4=
btype4=
vel4=
en4=
test_barrel_length=
balsrc= "Cartridges of the World" cite book | last = Barnes | first = Frank C. | editor = Skinner, Stan | title = Cartridges of the World | edition = 11th Edition | origyear = 1965 | year = 2006 | publisher = Gun Digest Books | location = Iola, WI, USA | pages =328,338 | isbn = 0-89689-297-2] The .38 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) also known as the .38 Auto was introduced at the turn of century for the Browning designedColt M1900 . It had first been used in his Model 1897 prototype, which Colt did not produce. The metric designation for the round is 9x23mmSR (SR - Semi Rimmed) (not to be confused with the modern 9x23mm Winchester).History
One of the least successful of Browning's pistol cartridges, it was too powerful for a blowback pistol and not powerful enough to be considered for the United States Military. However, it did see small but steady sales up until the introduction of the more powerful .38 Super. Europe would eventually favor the 9 mm Para cartridge developed from the
7.65 mm Parabellum . The Luger was ballistically similar to the .38 ACP but utilized a smaller case and higher pressures. Browning himself was not done with 9 mm cartridges and would soon introduce the9 mm Browning Long (9x20mm) in 1903 and the.380 ACP (9x17mm Short) in 1908..38 ACP pistols
*
Colt M1900
*Colt M1902
*Colt M1903 Pocket Hammer
*Star Model AS
*Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver Notes
Even though .38 ACP and .38 Super are the same size, it can be potentially dangerous to use .38 Super ammunition in a firearm intended for .38 ACP, as firearm damage my result.
There are over a dozen autoloading pistol cartridges, both semi-rimmed and rimless, in this caliber. Often, foreign or ambiguous headstamps make identification impossible. When in doubt, it is best not to fire suspicious cartridges in any firearm.
ee also
*
.38 Super
*List of handgun cartridges
*9 mm caliber References
* [http://www.chuckhawks.com/subscribers/handgun_cartridge_page/38super.htm The .38 Super Auto and .38 Auto (.38 ACP) by Chuck Hawks (subscription req)]
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