The 38 S&W (38 Smith & Wesson) was introduced as a blackpowder cartridge in 1877. Colt and S&W were already fierce competitors, each doing its own thing with its own cartridges. The 38 S&W thus uses a unique .361-inch bullet with a short .7752-inch case. Although no current handguns are so chambered the 38 S&W was extremely popular and ammunition is readily available. By today's standards it is a very mild cartridge, but its 200-grain load, though slow at 630 feet per second, remains a legendary personal defense round. A lighter 145-grain load at 685 fps is also manufactured.
