.38 Long Colt
Encyclopedia
The .38 Long Colt is a cartridge
introduced by Colt's Manufacturing Company
in 1875, and was adopted as a standard military pistol cartridge by the United States Army
in 1892 for the Colt New Army M1892 Revolver
. It is slightly more powerful than the .38 Short Colt
, or .38 SC. The .38 Long Colt is also known as .38 LC. The .38 SC and LC differ in case length and in bullet diameter, weight and design.
of 130 gr at a nominal 770 ft/s (235 m/s) producing 171 ft·lbf (232 J) of muzzle energy
. The cylindrical "shank" or "bearing surface" of the bullet, just in front of the cartridge case mouth, is .374 or .375 inches (9.50 or 9.52 mm) in diameter, the same as the cartridge case (exactly like the .22 rimfire cartridges). A smaller-diameter portion of the bullet, the "heel," is crimped inside the case mouth, and the lubricant is outside the case, and exposed.
In contrast, the .38 Long Colt uses a .357–.358-inch bullet, the bearing surface and lubricant of which are entirely contained within the cartridge case. This keeps the waxy lubricant from collecting grit which can damage the revolver's barrel. Unfortunately Colt retained the single-diameter charge hole, so the bullet was grossly undersize as it traveled through the chamber throat. It was supposed to expand in the throat and be "swaged down," or reduced again in diameter, as it entered the barrel, but expanded unevenly producing poor accuracy. Velocity was the same 770 ft/s (235 m/s), but bullets weighed 150 gr, resulting in a muzzle energy of 198 ft.lbf.
of 1899-1902, when reports from U.S. Army officers were received regarding the .38 bullet's inability to stop charges of frenzied Moro juramentado
s at extremely close ranges. A typical instance occurred in 1905 and was later recounted by Col. Louis A. LaGarde:
Col. LaGarde noted Caspi's wounds were fairly well-placed: three .38 bullets entered the chest, perforating the lungs. One passed through the body, one lodged near the back and the other lodged in subcutaneous tissue. The fourth round went though the right hand and exited through the forearm.
As an emergency response to the round's unexpectedly dismal performance, the U.S. Army authorized officers to carry the M1873 .45 Colt Colt Single Action Army
revolvers, chambered in .45 Long Colt
, and issued from reserve stocks. Army Ordnance also purchased a number of M1902 Colt .45 revolvers (The M1902 was actually Colt's New Double Action Army Model 1878
, a .45-caliber rod-ejector double-action revolver) for issue to officers deploying overseas.
The .38 Long Colt remained in service until 1909, when the .45 M1909 cartridge was issued along with the .45 Colt New Service
revolver as the new standard military sidearm for the U.S. Army.
In civilian use, the .38 Long Colt was chambered in a number of Colt revolvers and saw some use among target shooters. Various U.S. police forces also adopted the cartridge. However, the cartridge became nearly extinct after Smith & Wesson's more powerful .38 Special
cartridge became widely popular as a civilian and police service cartridge. By 1908, even Colt was chambering their new Police Positive and New Army revolvers in ".38 Colt Special", which was nothing more than the standard Smith & Wesson .38 Special with a different headstamp.
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
introduced by Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company
Colt's Manufacturing Company is a United States firearms manufacturer, whose first predecessor corporation was founded in 1836 by Sam Colt. Colt is best known for the engineering, production, and marketing of firearms over the later half of the 19th and the 20th century...
in 1875, and was adopted as a standard military pistol cartridge by the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in 1892 for the Colt New Army M1892 Revolver
Colt M1892
The M1892 Colt Army & Navy was the first general issue double-action with a swing-out cylinder revolver used by the U.S. military.-Overview:In 1892 the gun was adopted by the Army in .38 Long Colt caliber, and the revolver was given the appellation New Army and Navy. Initial experience with the gun...
. It is slightly more powerful than the .38 Short Colt
.38 Short Colt
The .38 short colt was originally a heeled bullet cartridge intended for cartridge conversions of the .36 cal cap & ball revolvers from the American Civil War-era.Later, this cartridge was fitted with an inside-lubricated bullet in the 125–135 grains range....
, or .38 SC. The .38 Long Colt is also known as .38 LC. The .38 SC and LC differ in case length and in bullet diameter, weight and design.
Design and Ballistics
The .38 Long Colt's predecessor, the .38 Short Colt, used a heeled bulletHeeled bullet
A heeled bullet is an archaic design of bullet where the internal diameter of the barrel is the same diameter as the cartridge case, and the bullet has a step at the rear to allow it to fit inside the case...
of 130 gr at a nominal 770 ft/s (235 m/s) producing 171 ft·lbf (232 J) of muzzle energy
Muzzle energy
Muzzle energy is the kinetic energy of a bullet as it is expelled from the muzzle of a firearm. It is often used as a rough indication of the destructive potential of a given firearm or load...
. The cylindrical "shank" or "bearing surface" of the bullet, just in front of the cartridge case mouth, is .374 or .375 inches (9.50 or 9.52 mm) in diameter, the same as the cartridge case (exactly like the .22 rimfire cartridges). A smaller-diameter portion of the bullet, the "heel," is crimped inside the case mouth, and the lubricant is outside the case, and exposed.
In contrast, the .38 Long Colt uses a .357–.358-inch bullet, the bearing surface and lubricant of which are entirely contained within the cartridge case. This keeps the waxy lubricant from collecting grit which can damage the revolver's barrel. Unfortunately Colt retained the single-diameter charge hole, so the bullet was grossly undersize as it traveled through the chamber throat. It was supposed to expand in the throat and be "swaged down," or reduced again in diameter, as it entered the barrel, but expanded unevenly producing poor accuracy. Velocity was the same 770 ft/s (235 m/s), but bullets weighed 150 gr, resulting in a muzzle energy of 198 ft.lbf.
History and Usage
The cartridge's relatively poor ballistics were highlighted during the Philippine-American WarPhilippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
of 1899-1902, when reports from U.S. Army officers were received regarding the .38 bullet's inability to stop charges of frenzied Moro juramentado
Juramentado
Juramentado, in Philippine history, refers to a male Moro swordsman who attacked and killed targeted Christian police and soldiers, expecting to be killed himself, the martyrdom undertaken as an unorthodox form of personal jihad...
s at extremely close ranges. A typical instance occurred in 1905 and was later recounted by Col. Louis A. LaGarde:
"Antonio Caspi, a prisoner on the island of Samar, P.I. attempted escape on Oct. 26, 1905. He was shot four times at close range in a hand-to-hand encounter by a .38 Colt's revolver loaded with U.S. Army regulation ammunition. He was finally stunned by a blow on the forehead from the butt end of a Springfield carbine."
Col. LaGarde noted Caspi's wounds were fairly well-placed: three .38 bullets entered the chest, perforating the lungs. One passed through the body, one lodged near the back and the other lodged in subcutaneous tissue. The fourth round went though the right hand and exited through the forearm.
As an emergency response to the round's unexpectedly dismal performance, the U.S. Army authorized officers to carry the M1873 .45 Colt Colt Single Action Army
Colt Single Action Army
The Colt Single Action Army is a single action revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six metallic cartridges. It was designed for the U.S...
revolvers, chambered in .45 Long Colt
.45 Colt
The .45 Colt cartridge is a handgun cartridge dating to 1872. It began as a black powder revolver round developed for the Colt Single Action Army revolver, but is offered as a magnum level handgun hunting round in modern usage. This cartridge was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1873 and served as the...
, and issued from reserve stocks. Army Ordnance also purchased a number of M1902 Colt .45 revolvers (The M1902 was actually Colt's New Double Action Army Model 1878
Colt Model 1878
The Colt M1878 was a double action revolver manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company from 1878 to 1907. It is often referred to as the "Frontier" or the "Double Action Army" revolver.-History:...
, a .45-caliber rod-ejector double-action revolver) for issue to officers deploying overseas.
The .38 Long Colt remained in service until 1909, when the .45 M1909 cartridge was issued along with the .45 Colt New Service
Colt New Service
The Colt New Service was a double-action revolver made by Colt from 1898 until c.1940. It was adopted by the U.S. Armed Forces in .45 Colt as the Model 1909 U.S. Army, Marine Corps Model 1909, Model 1909 U.S. Navy and in .45 ACP as the Model 1917 U.S. Army...
revolver as the new standard military sidearm for the U.S. Army.
In civilian use, the .38 Long Colt was chambered in a number of Colt revolvers and saw some use among target shooters. Various U.S. police forces also adopted the cartridge. However, the cartridge became nearly extinct after Smith & Wesson's more powerful .38 Special
.38 Special
The .38 Smith & Wesson Special is a rimmed, centerfire cartridge designed by Smith & Wesson. It is most commonly used in revolvers, although some semi-automatic pistols and carbines also use this round...
cartridge became widely popular as a civilian and police service cartridge. By 1908, even Colt was chambering their new Police Positive and New Army revolvers in ".38 Colt Special", which was nothing more than the standard Smith & Wesson .38 Special with a different headstamp.