.38-40 Winchester

Infobox Firearm Cartridge
name=.38-40 Winchester


caption=.40 S&W, .38-40 Winchester .44 S&W Spl, and .45 ACP cartridges.
origin=United States
type=Pistol
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=Winchester Repeating Arms Company
design_date=
manufacturer=
production_date=1874 to 1937, now in production again.
number=
variants=
is_SI_specs=
parent=.44-40 Winchester
case_type=rimmed, bottlenecked
bullet=.401
neck=.416
shoulder=.4543
base=.465
rim_dia=.520
rim_thick=.058
case_length=1.30
length=1.59
case_capacity=
rifling=
primer=
max_pressure=
max_cup=
filling=
filling_weight=
detonation=
yield=
is_SI_ballistics=
bw1=180
btype1=SP
vel1=1160
en1=538
bw2=
btype2=
vel2=
en2=
bw3=
btype3=
vel3=
en3=
bw4=
btype4=
vel4=
en4=
bw5=
btype5=
vel5=
en5=
test_barrel_length=
balsrc=Cartridges of the World, 11th edcite 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 = 92
isbn = 0-89689-297-2]

The .38-40 Winchester was introduced by Winchester in 1874 and is derived from their .44-40 Winchester. Though this cartridge was introduced for rifles, it is a better pistol cartridge than rifle cartridge. It is not particularly well suited to hunting game but it is excellent for self defense. Current loadings are intended for pistols.

Design & History

It is unclear why this cartridge was introduced since it is very similar to the .44-40 from which it was derived, differing only .026" in bullet diameter and convert|20|gr in standard bullet weight. The goal may have been to reduce recoil while maintaining a similar bullet sectional densitycite book
last = Waters
first = Ken
editor =
title = Pet Loads, volume 2
edition = 5th Edition
origyear = 1980
year = 1990
publisher = Wolfe Publishing
location = Prescott, AZ, USA
pages = 443-447
isbn = 0-935632-33-6] . One unusual design element of this cartridge is that factory ammunition was loaded with a different case profile than the standard chamber for this cartridge, factory ammunition having a much longer neck than the standard chamber. Most reloading dies are designed to size fired brass to the chamber specification rather than that of the original factory ammunition case profile.

The renewed interest in this caliber can be explained by the increasing popularity of Cowboy action shooting. Several handguns have recently been chambered for this cartridge, including Ruger Vaqueros. Most modern reloading data for this cartridge is found in the handgun section of reloading manuals.

Performance

Though introduced as an "all-around" cartridge, the .38-40 is a marginal performer on deercite book
last =
first =
editor = Jones, Allan
title = Speer Reloading Manual
edition = 13th Edition
origyear =
year = 1998
publisher = Blount, Inc.
location = Lewiston, ID, USA
pages = 394-400, 542-542
isbn = ] . Ballistically, it is remarkably similar to the much newer .40 S&W, sharing the same bullet diameter, bullet weight and velocity, making the .38-40 as suitable for self defense as the newer cartridge if similar bullets are used.

ynonyms

*.38-40
*.38-40 WCF

ee also

*10 mm caliber
*.44-40 Winchester

References