Summary: The debate between revolver cartridges like the .38 Special and semi-auto handgun cartridges such as the 9mm is often considered pointless by enthusiasts due to their distinct differences.

The 38 Special enjoys the popularity that’s common with all military cartridges. Developed at the end of the 19th century and chambered by Smith & Wesson in their Military & Police revolver, early 38 ...

They are two of the most famous and popular cartridges for personal defense and law enforcement, one in the wheelgun world and one in the semi-auto world. They are often compared because they both ...

The .38 Special is one of those cartridges that could have simply faded away into firearms history, but there has been a recent resurgence in popularity. Most of the interest has been driven by new ...

Truth be told I tend to shy away from comparing any revolver cartridge to any semi-auto handgun cartridge. It’s an apples-to-oranges type of comparison — there’s no practical reason for it, so ...