.38 super??

[Rogelio]

Hi:

Here in Peru we are only entitle to carry guns up to .380 acp (pistols) and .38 spl (revo's), but there has been an opening for the .38 super.

Is this really better than the .380acp?? CAn anyone give me some information or comments?? Thanks a lot!

The only guns that are for sale in that caliber can be found here:

http://www.gunsupply.net/Main.asp?T=2777&P=119

and the one I am thinking of buying is this one:

http://www.gunsupply.net/Main.asp?T=2777&I=8

[Archie]

I hope you can obtain ammunition for it.

The Tanfoglio guns are typically good in function. The price shown is about what one would pay in the U. S.

[Mike Irwin]

Depending on the loading, the .38 Super approaches .357 Magnum ballistics.

[Rogelio]

Ok...ammo is available (hey, it is a major jump here in Peru) and it only costs 1-2 USD more than .380 acp..really worth the extra $$

Now, do you think that the pistol I chose will have more stopping power that my Glock 25??

How strong is the recoil of Super 38? Harder than .380acp?

[Standing Wolf]

...capacidad 13 tiros...

Does that mean what I think it does? Does that pistol carry thirteen rounds of ammunition? We should be so lucky in the U.S.!

[Rogelio]

Yes, here in Peru we have absolutely no restrictions about how much bullets can a magazine carry. I actually have a hi cap 30 round magazine for my glock. The only restriction here are about caliber and full auto.

If you can get a 1 zillion round mag, it is ok to use it!

[Navy joe]

I promise I'll tell you that thirteen rouds of .38 Super beat the pants off off how many ever rounds of .380 if you promise to carry your new gun with one in the pipe.

Trying to compare .380 to .38 sup is like comparing .22 short to .22 WMR.

[Zak Smith]

As others have said, .38 Super is way better than .380.

In fact, .38Super has ballistics superior to 9x19mm Parabellum.

A "standard" .38Super load is approximately equivalent to the "+P 9x19" or "9mm NATO" loads -- a 124gr @ 1250fps.

In a well-constructed pistol with the proper chamber support, I think a 124gr bullet at 1350 fps should be possible.

-z

[Mike Irwin]

"capacidad 13 tiros"

Yep, standard capacity.

Let's see, given that tirar means "to shoot" in Spanish, I'd have to say that the above means 13 shot capacity....

[Dr.Rob]

38 super is a very serious pistol cartridge. better than 9mm, just shy of 357.

It's also very LOUD.

[Navy joe]

I've looked and I can't seem to find a comprehensive ammo specs page for .38 Sup. I'm guessing that a 90-95 gr HP of the .380 class could get jacked out of a Super safely at well plus 1600fps.

1350 for a 124 has got to be possible, it just does make USPSA major. The old higher power factors were also made with .38 Super.

A 115gr has to go at least 1450 to make Pf.

From the open guys I've talked to most are using the lighter bullets due to case capacity and OAL issues. The things they do are hotter than factory .38 Super though. If the Mag ban dies I may have to see if I can get one of those Tangs.

[Zak Smith]

For the smokin' hot loads, you want a gun with full chamber support, which means a ramped barrel in a 1911.

90gr @ 1600 is definitely possible, since you can almost get there with 9x19.

-z

[eerw]

if I recall..I thought the EAA line of guns came with ramped barrels...

what I remember when smithing my springfield p9 years ago...

[Rogelio]

better than 9mm?? That is great news!! Did you know that we are not allowed to carry 9mm (unless you hold a special license) but we can now carry a superior bullet?? YEAH!!!

Ok, down here we can only get FMJ (by law) so is the gun still effective as the 9mm???Ok, I am really looking forward on buying the gun and have the cash, but as there are no guns in that caliber for rent, could anyone give me a report or review on the recoil?? Harder than .380 auto??

[natedog]

I'm confused. Is the restriction on barrel diameter, or energy level. Is it only named calibers?

[Zak Smith]

As far as "stopping power" against beasts (human or animal), a good JHP will be better than FMJ. But if FMJ is all you can get, the .38Super will be better than .380Auto.

If you compare the recoil of a .380 in a PPK or Makarov-size gun to recoil of a .38Super in a 1911, the 1911 will have less recoil.

-z

[Rogelio]

Natedog:

According to the discamec (similar to your BATF), the maximum power in a handgun that a civilian can legally own is up to 40 kg/m. Don´t know how much lb/f is that, but as stated by the gunshop, the .38 SA is only 37 kg/m, so it is legal.

There is an catual ban on any "Parabellum, Luger or Magnum cartridge, excepting rimfire ones"

Also, no full auto or any other ammo that FMJ (again, except for rimfire)

No reloading, posession of any reloading components or gus above described is punished with 5-10 years of jail.Considered aggraviated terrorism ifthe beforementioned guns are used in a crime. 25.40 years if that is the case

[Matthew_Q]

Rogelio,

Sounds like you can't go wrong with the .38 Super. The Tangfolio pistols should be GREAT quality. I have a CZ75, which is what the Tangfolio pistols are based on, and it's GREAT. Yes, the .38 Super is more powerful than .380, and a bit more than 9mm, but recoil might be a little hard to compare.

Most .380 guns are straight blowback. Recoil can be pretty hard in a straight blowback pistol, whereas the 9mm or .38 Super uses a locked breech, which will absorb a lot of the recoil impulse.

My CZ75 in 9mm has snappy but not hard recoil. Muzzle flip (the muzzle rising when you fire it) is pretty small. I can bet the .38 super would be a little more, but not too bad.

As long as you're not very thin or frail or weak, you could handle a .38 super with no problems. Good luck with it, and let us know how it goes!

(I personally like hearing from people in other countries... It's interesting to see how the laws are and how owning a gun is. )