I'm looking at carry guns and would greatly appreciate some help with understanding the rounds involved. I see guns that say 38 special or 38 special +P or 380 or .357 mag but I don't understand these rounds. It seems to me that the 357's also shoot the 38 specials (kind of like a 44 mag and a 44 spl) but how can that be when .38 does not equal .357??? I'm pretty sure I understand the 380 acp but would it shoot in a 38 special gun? .38 specials look a lot like a .357mag but are they similar in power or is the 357 a much more stout round? Is a "38" the same as a 38 special?

I'm leaning on buying a small .357 with the expectation that I can run lighter loads in it (38 special?) to practice most of the time. Unfortunately, I don't understand enough about this size round to know what I don't know and what else I might want to consider.

Any help and comments would be appreciated.

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18-4, 15-4