Best .38 Special Ammo
Compare loads for defense, target, competition & more
The .38 Special stands as one of the most enduring and versatile handgun cartridges ever developed. Introduced by Smith & Wesson in 1898, it set the standard for reliable, accurate handgun performance throughout the 20th century. Today, it remains a popular choice for both new and experienced shooters, prized for its mild recoil and excellent accuracy potential.
While no longer the primary choice for law enforcement, the .38 Special continues to excel in several roles. Its moderate power, manageable recoil, and ability to be fired in any .357 Magnum revolver make it an excellent option for training, recreational shooting, and self-defense. Modern ammunition developments have enhanced its performance while maintaining the cartridge's characteristic shootability and reliability.
All .38 Special Loads
Compare ballistics and prices across 29 products
| PRODUCT ↕ | GRAIN ↕ | VELOCITY ↕ | ENERGY ↕ | BC ↕ | USE CASE ↕ | BEST PRICE ↕ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Armscor .38 Special 158gr FMJ Ammo
158gr
• 891 fps
• Target & Range
|
158gr | 891 | 278 | .159 | Target & Range | $0.52/rd |
|
Black Hills .38 Special 148gr HBWC
148gr
• 700 fps
• Target & Range
|
148gr | 700 | 161 | .059 | Target & Range | $1.33/rd |
|
Black Hills Cowboy .38 Special 158gr CNL
158gr
• 800 fps
• Competition
|
158gr | 800 | 225 | .15 | Competition | $1.25/rd |
|
CCI Blazer .38 Special +P 125gr JHP
125gr
• 945 fps
• Self-Defense
|
125gr | 945 | 248 | .132 | Self-Defense | $0.42/rd |
|
Federal .38 Special American Eagle 158gr LRN Ammo
158gr
• 770 fps
• Target & Range
|
158gr | 770 | 208 | .206 | Target & Range | $0.88/rd |
|
Federal American Eagle .38 Special 130gr FMJ Ammo
130gr
• 890 fps
• Target & Range
|
130gr | 890 | 229 | .174 | Target & Range | $0.51/rd |
|
Federal Hydra-Shok Deep .38 Special +P 130gr JHP
130gr
• 900 fps
• Self-Defense
|
130gr | 900 | 234 | .145 | Self-Defense | $2.42/rd |
|
Fiocchi Range Dynamics .38 Special 130gr FMJ Ammo
130gr
• 950 fps
• Target & Range
|
130gr | 950 | 260 | .153 | Target & Range | $0.43/rd |
|
Fiocchi Range Dynamics .38 Special 158gr FMJ Ammo
158gr
• 730 fps
• Target & Range
|
158gr | 730 | 187 | .159 | Target & Range | $0.50/rd |
|
Hornady .38 Special 158gr XTP JHP
158gr
• 800 fps
• Self-Defense
|
158gr | 800 | 225 | .206 | Self-Defense | $1.24/rd |
|
Hornady American Gunner .38 Special 125gr XTP JHP
125gr
• 900 fps
• Self-Defense
|
125gr | 900 | 225 | .151 | Self-Defense | $1.00/rd |
|
Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special 110gr FTX
110gr
• 1010 fps
• Self-Defense
|
110gr | 1010 | 249 | .131 | Self-Defense | $1.28/rd |
|
Hornady Critical Defense .38 Special +P 110gr FTX
110gr
• 1090 fps
• Self-Defense
|
110gr | 1090 | 290 | .131 | Self-Defense | $1.24/rd |
|
Hornady Critical Defense Lite .38 Special 90gr FTX
90gr
• 1200 fps
• Self-Defense
|
90gr | 1200 | 288 | .099 | Self-Defense | $2.06/rd |
|
HSM Cowboy Action .38 Special 158gr RNFP Ammo
158gr
• 840 fps
• Competition
|
158gr | 840 | 248 | .159 | Competition | $0.64/rd |
|
Magtech .38 Special 130gr FMJ
130gr
• 800 fps
• Target & Range
|
130gr | 800 | 185 | .181 | Target & Range | $0.44/rd |
|
Magtech .38 Special 158gr LRN
158gr
• 755 fps
• Target & Range
|
158gr | 755 | 200 | .149 | Target & Range | $0.42/rd |
|
Magtech .38 Special +P 125gr SJHP
125gr
• 938 fps
• Self-Defense
|
125gr | 938 | 244 | .163 | Self-Defense | $1.01/rd |
|
PMC Bronze .38 Special 132gr FMJ Ammo
132gr
• 917 fps
• Target & Range
|
132gr | 917 | 232 | .187 | Target & Range | $0.43/rd |
|
Remington Golden Saber .38 Special +P 125gr BJHP
125gr
• 975 fps
• Self-Defense
|
125gr | 975 | 264 | .142 | Self-Defense | $2.42/rd |
|
Remington UMC .38 Special 130gr FMJ Ammo
130gr
• 800 fps
• Target & Range
|
130gr | 800 | 185 | .145 | Target & Range | $0.50/rd |
|
Remington UMC .38 Special 158gr LRN Ammo
158gr
• 755 fps
• Target & Range
|
158gr | 755 | 200 | .165 | Target & Range | $0.55/rd |
|
Remington UMC .38 Special +P 125gr SJHP
125gr
• 945 fps
• Self-Defense
|
125gr | 945 | 248 | .14 | Self-Defense | $0.64/rd |
|
Sellier & Bellot .38 Special 158gr LRN
158gr
• 997 fps
• Target & Range
|
158gr | 997 | 349 | .17 | Target & Range | $0.46/rd |
|
Speer Gold Dot .38 Special 125gr JHP
125gr
• 865 fps
• Self-Defense
|
125gr | 865 | 208 | .141 | Self-Defense | $1.17/rd |
|
Speer Gold Dot .38 Special +P 125gr JHP
125gr
• 945 fps
• Self-Defense
|
125gr | 945 | 248 | .141 | Self-Defense | $1.17/rd |
|
Speer Lawman .38 Special 125gr TMJ
125gr
• 863 fps
• Target & Range
|
125gr | 863 | 208 | .147 | Target & Range | $0.52/rd |
|
Winchester Super-X .38 Special 148gr WC
148gr
• 710 fps
• Target & Range
|
148gr | 710 | 166 | .056 | Target & Range | $1.00/rd |
|
Winchester USA .38 Special 130gr FMJ Ammo
130gr
• 800 fps
• Target & Range
|
130gr | 800 | 185 | .145 | Target & Range | $0.50/rd |
.38 Special Trajectory Calculator
Calculate drop, velocity, and energy at any range
Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- Mild recoil for easy shooting
- Excellent accuracy potential
- Functions in all .357 Magnum revolvers
- Wide variety of ammunition available
- Proven reliability record
Cons
- Limited power compared to modern defensive cartridges
- Lower capacity than semi-automatic pistols
- Rainbow-like trajectory at longer ranges
- Slower to reload than semi-automatic pistols
- Relatively expensive compared to 9mm ammunition