.38 rimfire

.38 rimfire cartridges are a type of ammunition that have been in service in the United States since the mid-nineteenth century. The cartridges are produced in short, long and extra long variants.

.38 Long rimfire
Type	Pistol, rifle
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Used by	US Army
Production history
Variants	short, long, extra long.
Specifications
Bullet diameter	.375 in (9.5 mm)
Neck diameter	.376 in (9.6 mm)
Shoulder diameter	.376 in (9.6 mm)
Base diameter	.376 in (9.6 mm)
Rim diameter	.435 in (11.0 mm)
Rim thickness	.052 in (1.3 mm)
Case length	0.873 in (22.2 mm)
Overall length	1.380 in (35.1 mm)
Primer type	rim
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 150 gr (10 g) External lube 980 ft/s (300 m/s) 320 ft⋅lbf (430 J)
Test barrel length: Rifle

.38 Extra Long rimfire [1]
Type	Rifle
Place of origin	United States
Specifications
Base diameter	.378 in (9.6 mm)
Case length	1.48 in (38 mm)
Overall length	2.025 in (51.4 mm)

Much like the smaller .32 rimfire, the rounds were originally manufactured loaded with black powder. In the early 1900s, manufacturers switched to the "new" smokeless powder.

The .38 rimfire was preferred to the .32 rimfire for hunting and self-defense purposes because of its larger size and increased power.

History

The .38 rimfire cartridge was a common round for many antique revolvers and rifles from the 1870s to the early 1900s. It was a common self-defense round for a small revolver that was often kept in a vest pocket through the 1890s. Production in the United States of rimfire calibers larger than .22 ceased upon the country's entry into World War 2 and was never resumed by the major manufacturers. Factory loaded ammunition is no longer available except as collector items.

Uses and variants

The .38 rimfire cartridge was available in short, long, extra long, and also shotshells. Most of the revolvers and rifle which were produced were chambered for either .38 short rifle , or .38 long rifle. While there were a few different rifles produced for the .38 extra long cartridge and a few rolling block, falling block, and bolt action rifles had smooth bore barrels which had a slight choke which enabled it to shoot the .38 RF shotshells, which was good for hunting small game at close ranges. Hopkins & Allen produced revolvers and rifles chambered for the .38RF. Rifles of this caliber were produced by Remington (the revolving rifle of 1866), Ballard, Stevens and Frank Wesson, and revolvers by Enterprise, Favorite, Forehand & Wadsworth, and Colt.[2]

See also

• Hopkins & Allen
• Revolvers
• Rifles
• Rimfire ammunition
• American Civil War

References

1. Barnes, Frank C. (2012). Richard A. Mann (ed.). Cartridges of the World (13th ed.). p. 0. ISBN 978 1 4402 3059 2.
2. Barnes, Frank C. (2012). Richard A. Mann (ed.). Cartridges of the World A Complete Illustrated Reference for over 1500 Cartridges. Gun Digest. p. 500. ISBN 978-1-4402-3059-2.

• http://www.oldammo.com/august04.htm%5B%5D
• Walter, John (2006). The Guns That Won the West: Firearms on the American Frontier, 1848-1898. p. 251: Greenhill Books. ISBN 1853676926. Retrieved 2013-11-20.CS1 maint: location (link)