Initially, .38 Special was one of many Southern rock bands in the vein of the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd; in fact, .38 Special was led by Donnie Van Zant, the brother of Skynyrd's leader, Ronnie Van Zant.
.38 Special revamped its sound to fall halfway between country-fried blues-rock and driving, arena-ready hard rock, after releasing a couple of albums of straight-ahead Southern boogie.

The result was a string of hit albums and singles for .38 Special in the early '80s, highlighted by "Caught Up in You," "If I'd Been the One," "Back Where You Belong," and "Like No Other Night."

.38 Special's popularity dipped in the late '80s as MTV-sponsored pop and heavy metal cut into their audience. Though .38 Special had its biggest hit in 1989 with the ballad "Second Chance," it proved to be their last gasp - .38 Special faded away in the early '90s, retiring to the oldies circuit.

Donnie Van Zant (vocals) formed the Jacksonville, FL-based ..38 Special in 1975 with Jeff Carlisi (guitar), Don Barnes (guitar, vocals), Ken Lyons (bass), Jack Grondin (drums), and Steve Brookins (drums). Two years later, ..38 Special signed with A&M Records and released its eponymous debut.

Neither .38 Special nor its follow-up, Special Delivery, received much attention, but .38 Special began to build up a following through its constant touring. Bassist Lyons left before the recording of 1979's Rockin' Into the Night, the album that demonstrated a more melodic, driving sound; he was replaced by Larry Junstrom.Rockin' Into the Night became a moderate hit, but 1981's Wild-Eyed Southern Boys was a genuine hit, going platinum and generating the Top 40 "Hold On Loosely."

Special Forces, released in 1982, was even more popular, spawning the Top Ten single "Caught Up in You" and "If I'd Been the One." Tour de Force (1983) and Strength in Numbers (1986) were both successes, and .38 Special continued to be a popular touring outfit. Barnes and Brookins left in 1987; Barnes was replaced by Danny Chauncey.

While .38 Special's Strength in Numbers had been popular, it didn't stay on the charts as long as its predecessors. Flashback, the 1987 greatest-hits album, was moderately successful, but .38 Special took precautions to retain its audience by recording the polished Rock & Roll Strategy.

Released in 1989, the album slowly became a hit on the strength of "Second Chance," an adult contemporary-oriented ballad that reached the Top Ten. Rock & Roll Strategy became .38 Special's final big hit.

Barnes returned to .38 Special in 1991 and the group added drummer Scott Hoffman and keyboardist Bobby Capps. Even with the extensive retooling and the support of a new label, Charisma, 1991's Bone Against Steel failed to gain much attention.

.38 Special didn't release another album for six years. In the summer of 1997, .38 Special released a comeback effort titled Resolution on Razor & Tie Records. Live at Sturgis followed on CMC in 1999.

.38 Special released 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of .38 Special in 2000.

.38 Special released A Wild-Eyed Christmas Night (2001).

.38 Special released Drivetrain (2004).

.38 Special continues to tour in 2006.