38 S&W is shorter, fatter, older and less powerful than 38 Special.
The two cartridges do NOT interchange.
.38 special
A firearm chambered to fire 38 special ammunition
A type of handgun ammunition.
A type of handgun ammunition.
yes
It depends on what you mean. A .38 revolver may be a .38 special, but there are other types of .38 besides just the special round.
.357
A pistol rated to fire .38 +P ammunition is still going to be a .38 Special pistol, and can use regular .38 Special ammunition. .357 Magnum revolvers are also capable of chambering and firing .38 Special loads - regular, +P, and +P+ included.
NO, a 38 Special is actually .357 caliber. NO, a 38 Special is actually .357 caliber. A 38 special is NOT a 357 magnum. Both bullet heads are about .357 in diameter. The difference between the 38 and 357 is the length of the brass case. The 357 brass case is a bit longer then the 38 special case, and the gun powder load is a bit higher then the 38 special load...... Further, you can shoot a 38 special case in the 357 magnum revolver, however, you cannot fire a 357 magnum round in the 38 special. The 38 special cylinder is too short for the 357 round......
1902
Most say 38 special on the barrel
It will accept 357 magnum or 38 special ammunition.