.38 ACP

The '.38 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) also known as the .38 Auto was introduced at the turn of century for the Browning designed Colt M1900. It had first been used in his Model 1897 prototype, which Colt did not produce. The metric designation for the round is 9 x 23 mm SR (SR - Semi Rimmed) (not to be confused with the modern 9 x 23 Winchester).

History

The Colt Model 1900 introduced the .38 ACP commercially
Photo by Adam Guns

One of the least successful of Browning's pistol cartridges, it was too powerful for a blowback pistol and not powerful enough to be considered for the United States Military. However, it did see small but steady sales up until the introduction of the more powerful .38 Super. Europe would eventually favor the 9 mm Para cartridge developed from the 7.65 mm Parabellum. The Luger was ballistically similar to the .38 ACP but utilized a smaller case and higher pressures. Browning himself was not done with 9 mm cartridges and would soon introduce the 9 mm Browning Long [9 x 20 mm] in 1903 and the .380 ACP [9 x 17 mm Short] in 1908. Today, the .38 ACP is obsolete.

.38 ACP pistols

• Colt M1900
• Colt M1902
• Colt M1903 Pocket Hammer
• Star Model AS

Notes

Even though .38 ACP and .38 Super are the same size, it can be potentially dangerous to use .38 Super ammunition in a firearm intended for .38 ACP. There are over a dozen autoloading pistol cartridges, both semi-rimmed and rimless, in this caliber. Often, foreign or ambiguous headstamps make identification impossible. When in doubt, it is best not to fire suspicious cartridges in any firearm.

See also

• .38 Super
• List of handgun cartridges
• 9 mm caliber

References

1. ^ Barnes, Frank C. [1965] (2006). in Skinner, Stan: Cartridges of the World, 11th Edition, Iola, WI, USA: Gun Digest Books, 328,338. ISBN 0-89689-297-2. 

• The .38 Super Auto and .38 Auto (.38 ACP) by Chuck Hawks (subscription req)

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