.38 Long Colt | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||||||||||
Type | Revolver | |||||||||||
Place of origin | United States | |||||||||||
Service history | ||||||||||||
In service | 1892–1909 | |||||||||||
Used by | United States Army | |||||||||||
Production history | ||||||||||||
Designer | Colt | |||||||||||
Manufacturer | Colt | |||||||||||
Produced | 1875 | |||||||||||
Specifications | ||||||||||||
Parent case | .38 Short Colt | |||||||||||
Case type | Rimmed, straight | |||||||||||
Bullet diameter | .357 in (9.1 mm) | |||||||||||
Neck diameter | .381 in (9.7 mm) | |||||||||||
Base diameter | .381 in (9.7 mm) | |||||||||||
Rim diameter | .445 in (11.3 mm) | |||||||||||
Rim thickness | .060 in (1.5 mm) | |||||||||||
Case length | 1.031 in (26.2 mm) | |||||||||||
Overall length | 1.360 in (34.54 mm) | |||||||||||
Maximum pressure (CIP) | 13,000 psi (90 MPa) | |||||||||||
Ballistic performance | ||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||
Source(s): Hodgdon Reloading Data Center[1] |
The .38 Long Colt, also known as .38 LC, is a black powder cartridge introduced by Colt's Manufacturing Company in 1875. In 1892, it was adopted as a standard military pistol cartridge by the United States Army for the Colt M1892 revolver. The metric designation for the .38 Long Colt is 9.1×26mm. It is slightly more powerful than the .38 Short Colt, also known as .38 SC. The original .38 SC and .38 LC differ in case length, bullet diameter, weight, and design and are not interchangeable; however, modern production .38 SC ammunition is now loaded with a smaller, internally-lubricated bullet which can be fired from firearms chambered in .38 LC or .38 Special. The modern .38 LC can be fired from a .38 Special firearm, but not from a firearm designed for the .38 SC, since the case length is too long.[2]