The .38-72 Winchester cartridge, introduced in 1895, was designed for the Winchester Model 1895 lever-action rifle. It is a rimmed, bottleneck rifle cartridge with a bullet diameter of .377 inches and a case length of 2.57 inches. Primarily intended for hunting medium to large game, the .38-72 Winchester offered respectable stopping power and effective range for the time.
The cartridge became less popular with the advent of smokeless powders and more modern, efficient cartridges. Today, it is considered obsolete and mostly of interest to collectors and enthusiasts of vintage firearms. Ammunition for the .38-72 Winchester is not commonly available, and those who own rifles chambered in this cartridge often resort to handloading.