RIA 38 super and ammo.
- Thread starter poorfolks
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Johnny Guest
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A partial answer
Yes, if the pistol is marked .38 Super or Super .38, it's good with +P ammo. In reality, Super .38 is the Plus P version of the old .38ACP cartridge. The two are dimensionally identical. The old .38ACP, loaded so as to be safe for the older, parallel rule lock, double link pistols, was much like the 124 gr. 9mm Luger cartridge in power.
With the advent of the Super .38, in 1929, the ammo was a couple of hundred FPS faster than the .38 ACP. Full power Super ammo might or might not BLOW UP the older design pistol, but it would certainly ruin it in short order.
If the ammo is marked "Super," then the "+P" means nothing, really. In recent years, Super .38 ammo has sometimes been marked as such, and sometimes as ".38 Auto +P." If you run across some old "Standard" .38 ACP ammo, you can shoot it in the Super .38 pistol - - It's kind of like shooting .38 Special in a .357 Magnum revolver. It's just unsafe to go the other direction.
As to the finish on the current RIA pistols, I doubt they use a "Hard Chrome" on them. Far more likely it is conventional nickel plating. Sorry, though - - I have no first hand experience with the silver-colored RIA pistols.
Best,
Johnny
Yes, if the pistol is marked .38 Super or Super .38, it's good with +P ammo. In reality, Super .38 is the Plus P version of the old .38ACP cartridge. The two are dimensionally identical. The old .38ACP, loaded so as to be safe for the older, parallel rule lock, double link pistols, was much like the 124 gr. 9mm Luger cartridge in power.
With the advent of the Super .38, in 1929, the ammo was a couple of hundred FPS faster than the .38 ACP. Full power Super ammo might or might not BLOW UP the older design pistol, but it would certainly ruin it in short order.
If the ammo is marked "Super," then the "+P" means nothing, really. In recent years, Super .38 ammo has sometimes been marked as such, and sometimes as ".38 Auto +P." If you run across some old "Standard" .38 ACP ammo, you can shoot it in the Super .38 pistol - - It's kind of like shooting .38 Special in a .357 Magnum revolver. It's just unsafe to go the other direction.
As to the finish on the current RIA pistols, I doubt they use a "Hard Chrome" on them. Far more likely it is conventional nickel plating. Sorry, though - - I have no first hand experience with the silver-colored RIA pistols.
Best,
Johnny
Curiousity
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Hey i just bought one, its on Lay-away. I cannot wait to get it....
I asked here like 4 months ago which gun i should get CZ75b/SA or RIA .38 Super Nickel I couldn't decide so i got both!!!!
YES!!!!!!!!!!
Get it man you won't be disapointed...
I asked here like 4 months ago which gun i should get CZ75b/SA or RIA .38 Super Nickel I couldn't decide so i got both!!!!
YES!!!!!!!!!!
Get it man you won't be disapointed...
No info on the Nickle plateing. It is not chrome though.
I have shot exclusivly the agulia 38 super 130 gr fmj ammo. My gun likes it enough. Box says 1200 fps but it is really some super hot ammo its going 1450 fps very consistantly my accuracey from a bench rest at 25 yards is 3 inch groups. My reloads slowed down to 925 fps with 135 gr fmj tightens right up to 1.25 inches at 25 yards from a bench rest. cant really complain about that.
I have shot exclusivly the agulia 38 super 130 gr fmj ammo. My gun likes it enough. Box says 1200 fps but it is really some super hot ammo its going 1450 fps very consistantly my accuracey from a bench rest at 25 yards is 3 inch groups. My reloads slowed down to 925 fps with 135 gr fmj tightens right up to 1.25 inches at 25 yards from a bench rest. cant really complain about that.
Beagle-zebub
Member
Eric F, what pistol are you using to do that shooting?
ftierson
Member.
A friend of mine just purchased a RIA M1911 in .38 Super...
I had a chance to look it over pretty carefully and I was very impressed...
It's put together a lot more carefully and tightly than many others that sell for much more...
As a matter of fact, I was so impressed that I'm going to pick up one in .45ACP...
Forrest
I had a chance to look it over pretty carefully and I was very impressed...
It's put together a lot more carefully and tightly than many others that sell for much more...
As a matter of fact, I was so impressed that I'm going to pick up one in .45ACP...
Forrest
Cocked & Locked
Member
I've had three RIA Super .38 pistols. All three would digest any .38 Super ammo except for Winchester Silvertips. That includes several brands of factory ammo, plus handloads with FMJ, JHP, and cast lead bullets.
All three were NIB when I bought them (different times.) The 1st one was supposedly, as publicized by RIA, polished hard chrome.
The 2nd one was park'd.
The 3rd one, as publicized by RIA, was supposedly nickel.
The "nickel" one did have a yellowish look (typical for nickel) and the "polished hard chrome" one was a brighter mirror like finish.
Were they two different finishes? Only RIA knows.
Here is the "polished hardchrome" one. I kept it because I liked the looks of the finish better than the "nickel" Plus, this one had a ramped barrel, the other did not.
All three were NIB when I bought them (different times.) The 1st one was supposedly, as publicized by RIA, polished hard chrome.
The 2nd one was park'd.
The 3rd one, as publicized by RIA, was supposedly nickel.
The "nickel" one did have a yellowish look (typical for nickel) and the "polished hard chrome" one was a brighter mirror like finish.
Were they two different finishes? Only RIA knows.
Here is the "polished hardchrome" one. I kept it because I liked the looks of the finish better than the "nickel" Plus, this one had a ramped barrel, the other did not.
Deanimator
Member
I don't think they "blow up" so much as the locking wedge holding the slide on crystallizes and eventually breaks. Since unlike the 1911, the slide comes off to the rear, that could be a VERY bad thing for you... although your imitation of a unicorn with a Colt 1900 slide for a horn ought to be a hit at cocktail parties...
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