.38 rimfire

.38 rimfire cartridges are a type of ammunition that have been in service in the United States since the mid-nineteenth century. The cartridges are produced in short, long and extra long variants.

Much like the smaller .32 Rimfire, the rounds were originally manufactured loaded with black powder. In the early 1900s, manufacturers switched to the "new" smokeless powder.

The .38 rimfire was preferred to the .32 rimfire for hunting and self-defense purposes because of its larger size and increased power.

History
The .38 rimfire cartridge was a common round for many antique revolvers and rifles from the 1870s to the early 1900s. It was a common self-defense round for a small revolver that was often kept in a vest pocket through the 1890s. Nowadays the only known company that still produces the .38 rimfire is the Navy Arms Company. in Union City, New Jersey.

Uses and variants
The .38 rimfire cartridge was available in short, long, extra long, and also shotshells. Most of the revolvers and rifle which were produced were chambered for either .38 short, or .38 long. While there were a few different rifles produced for the .38 extra long cartridge and a few rolling block, falling block, and bolt action rifles had smooth bore barrels which had a slight choke to it so you could shoot the .38 RF shotshells out of it which was good for hunting small game at close ranges. a very common company that had revolvers and rifles chambered for the .38RF was Hopkins & Allen.