38 Special VS 45 ACP – Basic Comparison

In this 38 Special VS 45 ACP article, lets discuss talk about these two popular calibers that have stood the test of time in terms of ballistic performance, penetration capabilities, recoil management, and overall effectiveness for various applications.

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History of the 38 Special and 45 ACP

38 Special

he .38 Special, a versatile and popular cartridge, was developed by Smith & Wesson in 1898 as an improvement over the .38 Long Colt. It gained popularity quickly for its accuracy, shootability, manageable recoil, and effective ballistics.

Specification	Measurement
Parent case	.38 Long Colt
Case type	Rimmed, straight
Bullet diameter	.357 in
Land diameter	.346 in
Neck diameter	.379 in
Base diameter	.379 in
Rim diameter	.44 in
Rim thickness	.058 in
Case length	1.155 in
Overall length	1.550 in
Primer type	Small pistol

The .38 Special has a long service history with various military and law enforcement agencies and is still used today for everyday carry and home defense.

The cartridge was developed in response to the inadequacy of the .38 Long Colt in the Philippines against the Moros, who were using shields that the Long Colt could not penetrate.

The .38 Special is 9x29mmR with a straight-walled, center-fired case, and it originally had a case capacity of 23.4 grains.

It was designed to launch a medium-weight projectile at a medium speed, with the average range round moving at about 700 feet per second.

45 ACP

The history of the .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP) cartridge dates back to the late 1800s and is closely associated with John Moses Browning's 1911 pistol. This cartridge was developed due to a perceived need for a more powerful handgun caliber to combat Moro tribesmen in the Philippine jungles.

Specification	Measurement
Case type	Rimless, straight
Bullet diameter	.452 in
Land diameter	.442 in
Neck diameter	.473 in
Base diameter	.476 in
Rim diameter	.480 in
Rim thickness	.049 in
Case length	.898 in
Overall length	1.275 in
Primer type	Large size pistol

The U.S. Army commissioned a study, led by John Thompson and a surgeon partner named Lagarde, to determine the most effective caliber for stopping human threats. The study involved shooting live cows, horses, and human cadavers to measure the impact of various calibers.

Based on the study, the .45 caliber was deemed the minimum required to neutralize a human threat. This led to the development of the .45 ACP cartridge, which gained popularity during World War I.

Despite being a powerful and effective bullet at close range, the .45 ACP has some inherent flaws when compared to the .40 Smith & Wesson and the 10mm cartridge.

The .45 ACP has a slower velocity and lower energy output than the .40 S&W and 10mm cartridges. While it was once considered one of the most powerful handgun calibers available, newer options now surpass it in terms of ballistic performance.

The .45 ACP's popularity is primarily due to its association with the 1911 pistol, rather than any superior stopping power.

38 Special VS 45 ACP - Ballistic Characteristics

When comparing the ballistics of the .38 Special and the .45 ACP, it's important to consider their respective advantages and applications.

Here is a brief comparison chart for all popular 38 special and 45 ACP rounds:

38 Special Load	Bullet Grain	Bullet Style	Muzzle Velocity	Muzzle Energy
Speer Gold Dot	135	JHP	860 fps	222 ft-lbs
Hornady Critical Defense	110	FTX	1,010 fps	249 ft-lbs
Federal Hydra-Shok	129	JHP	950 fps	258 ft-lbs
Winchester PDX1 Defender	130	JHP	950 fps	260 ft-lbs
Remington Golden Saber	125	JHP	975 fps	264 ft-lbs
Sellier & Bellot FMJ	158	FMJ	889 fps	277 ft-lbs

Popular 45 ACP personal defense rounds and FMJ:

45 ACP Loads	Bullet Grain	Bullet Style	Muzzle Velocity (fps)	Muzzle Energy (ft-lbs)
Federal Premium HST	230	Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)	890	404
Speer Gold Dot	230	Gold Dot Hollow Point (GDHP)	890	404
Hornady Critical Duty	220	FlexLock	975	464
Winchester Ranger T-Series	230	Jacketed Hollow Point (JHP)	890	404
Remington Golden Saber	185	Brass Jacketed Hollow Point (BJHP)	1,015	423
Winchester White Box (FMJ)	230	Full Metal Jacket (FMJ)	835	356

The .38 Special, a low-pressure handgun round with a medium-weight bullet and slow muzzle velocity, is a popular choice for self-defense. However, some shooters prefer overpressure rounds for their defensive needs.

More affordable and less powerful than the .357 Magnum, the .38 Special is compatible with firearms chambered for the larger cartridge. Its accuracy and manageable recoil make it ideal for personal protection, casual target shooting, and small game hunting.

On the other hand, the .45 ACP boasts a .451" diameter bullet that creates a devastatingly wide wound channel, even with non-expanding FMJs. Its 230-grain bullet offers the mass necessary for deep penetration through soft tissue.

Ballistically, the .45 ACP's relatively low 830 fps muzzle velocity allows for manageable recoil and muzzle blast for experienced shooters (It's a push like recoil sensation), leading to accurate but slow paced firing. Its low chamber pressure helps prevent excessive wear on a weapon, crucial for those who may rely on the same firearm for extended periods.

Bullet Weight

The most common grain weights for 38 special are:

95 grains (lighter bullet)
110 grains
125 grains
130 grains
148 grains
158 grains (most common)
200 grains (heavier bullet)

The most common grain weights for 45 ACP are:

165 grains (lighter bullet)
185 grains
200 grains
230 grains (most common)
255 grains (heavier bullet)

45 ACP VS 38 Special - Bullet Velocity

The .45 ACP, being a heavier and slower round, often exhibits greater penetration, particularly when it comes to misses that only pass through drywall.

Defensive hollow point 185 grain 45 ACP bullet at around 936 - 1000 ft/s is designed to expand upon impact can still struggle to lose their momentum when they merely make contact with drywall.

A Speer Gold Dot 125 grain 38 special JHP at around 945 ft/s is similar to a defensive 45 ACP round with less overall penetration. Its light bullet weight can yield reduced barrier penetration inside a home.

45 ACP VS 38 Special - Accuracy & Range

The effective range of the .45 ACP, when fired from a 5-inch barrel, is approximately 120 yards. At this distance, the bullet experiences its most significant drop, impacting both accuracy and terminal performance. This caliber is often used in full-sized handguns, such as the classic 5" barrel 1911 pistol.

On the other hand, the .38 Special, when fired from a 4-inch barrel revolver like the Ruger GP100, demonstrates a reliable effective range of around 25 yards. Within this range, shooters can achieve a consistent 3-inch shot group, making it an ideal choice for personal defensive revolver.

38 Special VS 45 ACP Recoil Performance

A standard 185 gr 38 special recoil feels like a 9mm on a full steel frame pistol and revolver. It doesn't have any slap to the hand sensation like a 40 SW or a push sensation.

A standard 230 grain 45 ACP feels like a slow push on a full frame handgun. It kicks, but it kicks way less than a 40SW.

On a subcompact 45 gun like the Glock 36, the recoil and hand slap sensation will be much more noticeable.

Cost

Just like most calibers have different loads. Different loads cost differently.

On average 230 grain 45 ACP FMJ ball ammo costs about $0.4 - $0.54/round

Higher end personal defense 45 ACP like the 185 gr Hornady FTX critical defense costs about $1 - 1.15/ round

On the other hand, a standard 125 gr 38 special cost about $0.5 - $0.56 / round.

On the 38 special personal defense ammo category, it's about $1 / round

In addition, both calibers can be reloaded. However, 45 ACP empty shells are much easier to spot and collect at any indoor and outdoor range due to its mass popularity across the country.