What Is .38 Super Police

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Last updated: April 10, 2026

Quick Answer: The .38 Super Police is a higher-velocity variant of the .38 Special cartridge, designed specifically for law enforcement use with improved penetration capabilities. Introduced in the 1930s, it features a 200-grain round-nosed lead bullet with a muzzle velocity of 630 ft/s (190 m/s), designed to overcome the limitations of standard .38 Special rounds when penetrating barriers like automobile bodies and body armor.

Key Facts

Introduced in the 1930s as an enhancement to the .38 Special, which had been in service since 1898
Uses a 200-grain round-nosed lead 'Lubaloy' bullet with muzzle velocity of 630 ft/s (190 m/s) and energy of 176 ft⋅lbf
Nearly identical to the British .38/200 Mk I cartridge, reflecting international law enforcement standardization
Designed to penetrate automobile bodies and protective barriers that standard .38 rounds could not reliably defeat
The heavier, slower 200-grain bullet created a tumbling effect ('keyhaling') for increased shock effect against unprotected targets

Overview

The .38 Super Police is a specialized ammunition cartridge developed in the 1930s to address the penetration limitations of earlier .38 Special revolver rounds. This loading was created when law enforcement agencies recognized that standard police ammunition could not reliably defeat barriers commonly encountered in the field, such as automobile bodies, reinforced walls, and protective gear. The cartridge represents a significant evolution in police weaponry, bridging the gap between traditional revolver cartridges and the higher-powered options that would emerge later in the twentieth century.

This ammunition was part of a broader trend in law enforcement modernization, where agencies sought to improve their operational capabilities without completely overhauling their existing revolver-based armories. The .38 Super Police became a standard-issue loading for many police departments, particularly those operating in urban environments where barrier penetration was a genuine tactical concern. Its development coincided with the rise of organized crime and increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics, necessitating more effective law enforcement tools.

How It Works

The .38 Super Police cartridge operates through several key mechanical and ballistic principles:

Bullet Construction: The cartridge uses a 200-grain (13 gram) round-nosed lead bullet with a special 'Lubaloy' alloy composition that provides both durability and controlled deformation upon impact.
Velocity and Energy: With a muzzle velocity of 630 feet per second (190 meters per second), the round delivers approximately 176 foot-pounds of force (239 joules) at the muzzle, providing sufficient energy for barrier penetration.
Tumbling Effect: The heavier, slower-moving 200-grain bullet exhibits a tendency to 'keyhole' or tumble upon impact with barriers and soft tissue, creating a more dramatic wound channel than traditional round-nosed bullets.
Powder Charge: The cartridge uses a carefully calculated powder charge optimized for revolver chambers, avoiding the high-pressure requirements of semi-automatic platforms while still achieving superior velocity to the standard .38 Special.
Case Design: The .38 Super Police uses the same case dimensions as the .38 Special, ensuring compatibility with existing law enforcement revolvers without requiring new weapons procurement.

Key Comparisons

Understanding how the .38 Super Police fits within the broader landscape of police cartridges is essential for appreciating its role in law enforcement history:

Cartridge	Bullet Weight	Muzzle Velocity	Primary Use
.38 Special	158 grains	850 ft/s	Standard police revolver (1898-1980s)
.38 Super Police	200 grains	630 ft/s	Enhanced barrier penetration (1930s-1950s)
.357 Magnum	125-158 grains	1,400+ ft/s	High-velocity police revolver (1935+)
.38 Super ACP	130 grains	1,300 ft/s	Semi-automatic pistol, competition (1920s+)

Why It Matters

Barrier Penetration Innovation: The .38 Super Police represented the first systematic effort by law enforcement to address the barrier penetration problem, directly leading to development of more advanced cartridges like the .357 Magnum.
Police Equipment Evolution: This cartridge exemplifies how law enforcement adapted existing platforms to meet emerging tactical needs, a strategy that proved more cost-effective than complete equipment replacement.
International Standardization: Its near-identical specifications to the British .38/200 Mk I reflect early attempts at international law enforcement standardization and cooperation in the interwar period.
Tactical Legacy: The emphasis on barrier penetration established a principle that remains central to modern law enforcement ammunition development, where stopping power and penetration are balanced against safety and over-penetration concerns.

The .38 Super Police ultimately proved to be a transitional cartridge in law enforcement history. While it successfully addressed some of the limitations of standard .38 Special ammunition, the introduction of the .357 Magnum in 1935 provided superior performance with higher velocity and energy. By the mid-twentieth century, the .357 Magnum had largely superseded the .38 Super Police in police service, though many departments continued to use the older cartridge well into the 1950s. Today, the .38 Super Police serves primarily as a historical reference point, illustrating how law enforcement agencies have continuously adapted their tools to meet evolving operational demands.