38 Special Ballistics From Popular Ammo Makers

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: Sep 22, 2026

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Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

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Wes Littlefield, "38 Special Ballistics From Every Popular Manufacturer"
(https://ammo.com/ballistics/38-special-ballistics)

Congrats! You’ve discovered our in-depth look at 38 Special ballistics from all the popular ammo manufacturers. Whether you’re restocking or buying in volume, browse our selection of 38 Special ammo!

Save time by clicking the links below to jump to your preferred ammo company and find the ballistics data you need for your favorite factory 38 Special loads.

38 Special Ballistics Charts

Federal

American Eagle 100 Grain Lead Free IRT

American Eagle 130 Grain FMJ

American Eagle 158 Grain LRN

Gold Medal 148 Grain LWC

Personal Defense Hydra-Shok Low Recoil 110 Grain JHP

Train & Protect 158 Grain Versatile HP

Hornady

American Gunner 125 Grain XTP

Critical Defense Lite 90 Grain FTX

Critical Defense 110 Grain FTX

Critical Defense 110 Grain FTX +P

Custom 158 Grain XTP

Magtech

Guardian Gold 125 Grain JHP +P

125 Grain SJHP

125 Grain LFN

125 Grain FMJ Flat

125 Grain SJSP Flat +P

130 Grain FMJ Flat

148 Grain LWC

158 Grain FEB Flat

158 Grain LFN

158 Grain LSWC

158 Grain SJSP Flat

158 Grain SJSP Flat +P

158 Grain LRN

158 Grain SJHP

158 Grain SJHP +P

158 Grain FMJ Flat

Prvi Partizan

130 Grain FMJ

158 Grain LRN

158 Grain SWC

Remington

Golden Saber Defense 125 Grain BJHP +P

High Terminal Performance 110 Grain SJHP

High Terminal Performance 110 Grain SJHP +P

High Terminal Performance 125 Grain SJHP +P

High Terminal Performance 158 Grain LHP +P

Performance WheelGun 148 Grain WC

Performance WheelGun 158 Grain LRN

Performance WheelGun 158 Grain LSWC

UMC 130 Grain FMJ

UMC 158 Grain LRN

UMC 125 Grain SJHP +P

Sellier & Bellot

110 Grain XRG-D

158 Grain FMJ

158 Grain SP

158 Grain LFN

158 Grain LRN

Speer

Gold Dot Short Barrel Personal Protection 135 Grain JHP

Lawman 125 Grain TMJ

Lawman 158 Grain TMJ +P

Administrative Note: The information above comes from the manufacturers. Actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from advertised ballistics. Ballistic performance can also vary lot to lot, even with the same brand and label. When manufacturer ballistic data was unavailable, ballistics were calculated using a ballistics calculator.

38 Special Trajectory Chart

A bullet’s flight path to the target is often called its trajectory or change in elevation. We measure bullet drop in inches in this article, though it can also be measured in minutes of angle (MOA).

A flat trajectory is preferable because it allows the shooter to compensate less for bullet drop while aiming. Most handgun cartridges have terrible trajectories compared to rifle cartridges. That isn’t really a detriment, however, as handguns are intended for firing at relatively close-range targets (e.g. within 50 yards).

The following sample bullet drop chart gives you a general idea of the 38 Special’s trajectory.

Note: The above chart is an example of one 38 Special load. Actual ballistic performance varies depending on bullet weight, lot, barrel length, and environmental conditions while firing.

38 Special Velocity

Muzzle velocity is the rate at which a bullet exits the barrel, measured in feet per second (fps). Typically, a longer barrel produces a higher muzzle velocity, as the extra length gives exploding propellant more time to exert its energy against the base of the projectile.

Expect 38 Special muzzle velocity to range from about 690 fps to 1,116 fps. The bullets, which have low ballistic coefficients (BCs) don't conserve velocity downrange very well. If a 100 grain lead free IRT bullet (0.174 G1 BC) attains 960 fps muzzle velocity, its velocity slows to 872 fps at 100 yards. A 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter (LSWC) (0.149 G1 BC) that attains 755 fps muzzle velocity drops to 693 fps by 100 yards.

38 Special Kinetic Energy

Muzzle energy is the amount of force a bullet possesses the instant it leaves the barrel, measured in foot-pounds (ft-lbs). The 38 Special's low-velocity bullets tend to have lower muzzle energy compared to many other handgun cartridges.

Muzzle energy for the 38 Special typically ranges from 156 to 363 ft-lbs. The handgun round's low-BC bullets do a poor job of conserving kinetic energy downrange. A 100 grain lead free IRT bullet (0.174 G1 BC) with 960 fps muzzle velocity and 205 ft-lbs muzzle energy maintains 169 ft-lbs of energy at 100 yards. A 158 grain LSWC (0.149 G1 BC) with 755 fps muzzle velocity and 200 ft-lbs muzzle energy conserves 168 ft-lbs of energy at 100 yards.

38 Special Effective Range

The 38 Special's effective range for self-defense and other revolver applications is around 50 yards. It's good for self-defense, home defense, and target shooting when chambered in a revolver. A skilled shooter can hit targets out to 100 yards with a lever-action carbine or rifle.

For load recommendations by application, see our guides to the best 38 Special ammo for self-defense, the best 38 Special ammo for snubbies, and the best 38 Special ammo for target practice.

How Do 38 Special Ballistics Compare to Other Handgun Cartridges?

The Ammo.com team compared the 38 Special to other common handgun rounds to help you better understand its ballistic performance.

38 Special vs. 357 Mag Ballistics

Don’t miss our 357 Mag ballistics tables for a deeper dive.

Our 38 Special vs. 357 Magnum comparison breaks down how the two cartridges differ beyond the numbers, and we stock a full selection of 357 Magnum ammo.

38 Special vs. 380 Auto Ballistics

Don’t miss our 380 Auto ballistics tables for a deeper dive.

Our 38 Special vs. 380 ACP comparison puts the two rounds side by side, and you can browse our full range of 380 ACP ammo.

38 Special vs. 9mm Ballistics

Check out our 9mm ballistics tables for a deeper dive, or choose which cartridge you’re most interested in from our wide selection of ballistics data.

Our 38 Special vs. 9mm comparison covers how the two stack up for carry and range work, and we carry a deep inventory of 9mm ammo.

Written by

Wes Littlefield