Podcast Notes:
Introduction to the .38 Special cartridge
Development of the .38 Special as an improvement on the .38 Long Colt, used in the Spanish-American War but found to be ineffective against Moro fighters in the Philippines
Initial loading of the .38 Special with a 158-grain soft-lead bullet traveling at 800 feet per second
Introduction of the .38 Special in Smith & Wesson's "Military and Police" K-frame revolvers, which became popular with American law enforcement and military
1930s development of high-pressure loads for Smith & Wesson's N-frame revolvers, known as the .38/44 Outdoorsman, leading to the creation of the .357 S&W Magnum cartridge
Versatility of the .38 Special, with its accuracy, moderate recoil, and various ammunition options for target shooting, self-defense, and hunting small game
Continued popularity of the .38 Special, often found in 2" to 4" revolvers
World records set with the .38 Special, including the fastest shot fired from a handgun by Jerry Miculek in 1979 at a speed of 1,179 feet per second, as well as records for the most shots fired from a revolver in one minute and one hour by shooters such as Tom Maverick and Jerry Miculek
Despite its limitations, the .38 Special remains a reliable and popular choice for many shooters.
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