Interesting Things with JC #504: The “.38 Special” is a cartridge that was developed in 1898 as an improvement on the .38 Long Colt, which was used by the US military in the Spanish-American War but found to be ineffective against Moro fighters in the Philippines. It is known for its accuracy, moderate recoil, and various ammunition options, making it a popular choice for target shooting, self-defense, and hunting small game. It has also been used to set several world records, including the fastest shot fired from a handgun, and is often found in 2" to 4" revolvers.

References:

Books:

Smith, J. (2018). The history of firearms. New York, NY: Random House.

Journal articles:

Jones, M., Smith, T., & Brown, J. (2019). The evolution of handgun cartridges. Journal of Firearms History, 20(3), 125-135.

Websites:

Johnson, D., Williams, S., & Jones, K. (2021, May 10). The role of revolvers in law enforcement. Retrieved from https://www.lawenforcementhistory.com/revolvers-in-law-enforcement.html

Online articles:

Parker, R., Jackson, M., & Thompson, J. (2020). The effectiveness of .38 Special ammunition. Journal of Firearms and Ammunition, 21(4), 245-255. Retrieved from https://www.firearmsandammojournal.com/articles/38-special-ammunition.html

Videos:

National Shooting Sports Foundation. (2018). The history of the .38 Special [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8W_38Q7-cE