Of course it has, if you are comparing only with yesteryear's 38/44 loads. But it is not appropriate to make that comparison. The 38/44's were designed to be fired in an all steel N frame that would pull your pants down if hung on a belt. Today's .38 Specials are largely intended to be fired out of J frame mouse guns, many of which have alloy frames. In the actual comparisons I have done, there is not much difference between today's standard loads and standard loads of years ago.