.38 Special Barrel Length vs Velocity

By Cole Harlan, Editor·Data checked Nov 4, 2026·How we verify·Editorial standards·Corrections

.38 Special velocity by barrel length

Velocity at every published length

Muzzle velocity in feet per second. Longest barrel first. A dash means not tested/published at this length.

Velocity lost per inch

This is how many fps each load loses for every inch cut off, between two lengths. Figures marked “calculated by GunReleases” are (fast velocity − slow velocity) ÷ (long length − short length) from the published points, to 1 decimal. “Tester’s stated avg” figures are the tester’s own.

Best barrel length for .38 Special: the trade-offs

We don’t pick one length. Here is what the test measured in each common range, and what each choice costs.

• Snub-nose length (2 in). At 2 in the loads measured 675 to 814 fps.
• Service revolver length (4 to 6 in). At 4 in the loads measured 954 to 1084 fps. At 6 in the loads measured 1014 to 1115 fps.
• Carbine length (16 in). At 16 in the loads measured 1252 to 1388 fps.

Going from 16 in to 18 in, 4 of 4 loads measured no faster at 18 in. Example: Cor Bon 110 gr JHP measured 1243 fps at 18 in and 1298 fps at 16 in. These are single test series, and three shots per length leaves room for noise.

• Handling: a longer barrel adds length and weight out front; a shorter one is easier to carry and swing.

BBTI’s Encore pistol frame has no cylinder gap, so a revolver will usually read lower than these numbers. BBTI ran separate cylinder-gap tests; we have not charted them.

Box velocity vs measured

SAAMI’s Z299.3 (centerfire pistol and revolver) sets the velocity test barrel for .38 Special at 7.710 in solid / 4.000 in vented, measured at 15 ft. SAAMI’s 4.000 in vented barrel is for revolvers with a cylinder gap. SAAMI notes that your gun will not exactly duplicate test-barrel velocities.

How this was measured

• Test setup. Thompson/Center Encore pistol frame with custom barrels cut down 1 in at a time from 18 in to 2 in; 3 shots of each load at each length; two chronographs; barrel length measured from muzzle to breech face (no revolver cylinder gap).
• Where the BBTI page lives. BBTI’s live site returned an error when we checked on Nov 4, 2026, so we link its Internet Archive copy. The original address is http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/38special.html (plain text, not linked). BBTI is an archived project that has not been updated since 2020.
• Our part. We copied each published number exactly. We did not average, smooth, estimate or fill in any length. A dash means the tester did not publish that length. The underlying measurements belong to the testers credited above; our compilation is CC BY 4.0.
• Limits. This is one test series with one rifle or pistol frame, one chronograph and one day’s weather. Your results will differ.

Download the data

barrel-length-velocity-38-special.csv has every number on this page with its source and test conditions. The combined file for all calibers and the barrel length vs velocity hub have the rest. Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0.

Frequently asked questions

Related

• Barrel length vs velocity: all calibers
• 9mm Luger barrel length vs velocity
• .380 ACP barrel length vs velocity
• .40 S&W barrel length vs velocity
• .357 SIG barrel length vs velocity
• .45 ACP barrel length vs velocity
• 10mm Auto barrel length vs velocity
• .357 Magnum barrel length vs velocity
• .44 Magnum barrel length vs velocity
• .45 Colt barrel length vs velocity
• .22 LR barrel length vs velocity
• .22 WMR (.22 Magnum) barrel length vs velocity
• 5.56 NATO / .223 Rem (AR-15) barrel length vs velocity
• .224 Valkyrie barrel length vs velocity
• 7.62x39 barrel length vs velocity
• .300 Blackout barrel length vs velocity
• .308 Win / 7.62 NATO barrel length vs velocity
• 6.5 Creedmoor barrel length vs velocity
• .243 Winchester barrel length vs velocity
• 7mm Remington Magnum barrel length vs velocity
• .300 Winchester Magnum barrel length vs velocity
• .38 Special ammo 2026
• .357 Magnum vs .38 Special
• New ammo for 2026
• All GunReleases data

Sources

1. Ballistics By The Inch (BBTI), .38 Special test (Internet Archive copy)
2. Ballistics By The Inch: how the tests were done (Internet Archive copy)
3. SAAMI Z299.3 (centerfire pistol and revolver)