.38 Short Colt Load Data

Caliber Overview

The .38 Short Colt is a classic and historically significant cartridge that can trace its origins back to the mid-19th century. Introduced by Colt’s Manufacturing Company around 1875, the .38 Short Colt was designed for their early double-action revolvers, such as the Colt New Line and later the Colt Police Positive. It was developed during a transitional period in firearms history, as the industry began shifting from percussion cap and ball to metallic cartridge ammunition. The .38 Short Colt used a heeled bullet, a feature it shares with other early cartridges, and played a notable role in law enforcement service and civilian use during its time. While it was eventually overshadowed by more powerful cartridges like the .38 Long Colt and .38 Special, the .38 Short Colt remains a point of interest for collectors, competitive shooters, and reloaders.

In terms of applications, the .38 Short Colt was primarily intended for use in personal defense and police duty. Its manageable recoil and moderate stopping power made it suitable for urban and close-quarters situations. In modern times, the cartridge enjoys a resurgence within competitive shooting circles, particularly among participants of Cowboy Action Shooting who seek historically accurate loads. The cartridge’s inherently lower power and pleasant shooting characteristics make it especially attractive for training, recreational shooting, and introducing new shooters to revolvers. Ammunition reloaders often appreciate the .38 Short Colt for its forgiving nature and versatility in both black powder and smokeless applications, provided that proper attention is given to case dimensions and bullet fit.

When it comes to target species, the .38 Short Colt is best suited for small game and varmints. Its limited ballistic performance restricts it to animals such as squirrels, rabbits, or similarly sized pests at short distances. In its day, it was not uncommon for the .38 Short Colt to serve as a defensive round against human threats, but by modern standards, it would be considered underpowered for personal protection. Its soft-shooting profile, however, makes it ideal for metal target shooting or plinking, and it is a popular choice for period-correct competitions where authenticity and historical accuracy are prioritized over maximum stopping power.

Typical bullet weights for the .38 Short Colt fall in the range of 125 to 130 grains, although lighter bullets in the 110-grain class and heavier versions closer to 150 grains have been produced. The original design typically used a round-nosed, outside-lubricated heeled lead bullet, while later versions transitioned to inside-lubricated, non-heeled designs that are compatible with more modern manufacturing techniques. The cartridge generally produces a muzzle velocity in the 650 to 730 feet-per-second range from a standard-length revolver barrel. The .38 Short Colt case is rimmed and straight-walled, measuring roughly 0.765 inches in length, making it distinct from the longer .38 Long Colt and .38 Special cases. Reloaders should pay close attention to case length and diameter, as well as bullet dimensions, to ensure safe and reliable function, especially given the transition from heeled to non-heeled bullet designs in modern supplies. Additionally, many reloaders enjoy the .38 Short Colt as a parent case for wildcatting or for use in modified or custom revolvers, adding to its appeal among experimental and historical enthusiasts alike.