NAME – 9x29mmR

NAME (COMMON) – .38 Special

TYPE –Rimmed centerfire

YEAR OF INTRODUCTION – 1902

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA

CASE TYPE – Rimmed straight

CARTRIDGE LENGTH – 39.4 mm (1.55 in)

CASING LENGTH – 29.3 mm (1.155 in)

CASE HEAD DIAMETER – 9.63 mm (0.379 in)

CASE RIM DIAMETER – 11.18 mm (0.44 in)

BULLET TYPE – Lead semiwadcutter

BULLET DIAMETER – 9.12 mm (0.359 in)

BULLET WEIGHT – 10.24 g (158 grains)

POWDER WEIGHT – 0.42 g (6.5 grains)

CASING WEIGHT – 4.05 g (62.5 grains)

TOTAL ROUND WEIGHT – 14.71 g (227 grains)

MUZZLE VELOCITY – 265 m/s (870 fps)

NOMINAL BARREL LENGTH – 15.2 cm (6 in)

MUZZLE ENERGY – 360 j (266 ft/lb)

     The 9x29mmR (.38 Special) round was developed and initially marketed by Smith & Wesson as a military cartridge. It has proven itself one of the most popular revolver rounds for law enforcement in the United States during the mid-20th Century. The extremely accurate rounds developed for the 9x29mmR have establish it as a premier match pistol round. It has been chambered in both large and small revolvers. It can also be safely used in weapons chambered for the 9x33mmR (.357 Magnum) round though the reverse is not true.