38 Super Bullet Choices

I generally load 130 FMJs that are designed for 38 Super. In the past, jacketed bullets, more recently, plated. I believe they are .356" diameter

They work for me for plinking.

I had, actually still have but it is not installed any more, a barrel that allowed me to shoot 357 Magnum 158 SWC (.358" diameter). These were a very accurate. I believe this barrel was a Series 70, Mark IV barrel. I purchased it new in the mid eighties. It did head space on the rim.

I replaced the barrel with one that head spaces on the case mouth and the SWC's would no longer chamber.

I'm sure I have shot other bullets in my 38 Supers but for my purposes, I do not need to spend the extra dollars.

Barrels that head space on the case mouth are more accurate than those that head space on the rim.

Generally I load 130 grain FMJs that are .356" (Remingtons are usually fairly easy to find.). I have loaded all kinds of 9mm/.355 bullets with very good results. Some really hot loads with itty-bitty 90 grain HPs were a lot of fun to shoot and surprisingly accurate at nearly 1,500 FPS.

.38 Super is a lot of fun. Being a hand loader, you should really enjoy it. It is true that early Supers did headspace on the rim and if yours does, you should definitely get yourself a barrel that headspaces on the case mouth. I've had both and my present Kimber Pro Carry (headspaces on case mouth of course) is a wonderful gun. Very accurate, and very reliable. Factory loads are somewhat anemic, but you can hand load these cartridges to give you the performance this caliber deserves. Have fun!

My Super is one of my main carry guns. Someone always comes up to you at the range too, wondering what it is.

My .38 dies would not give adequate bullet pull on .355" 9mms.
.356" was ok, .357" likely better.

Reloadron said:

Thanks Chuck and I had read about the barrels head spacing off the case mouth being more accurate.

Click to expand...

I believe that after market manufacturers started to get really going on barrels head spacing on the case mouth during the 1980s.

The gun manufacturers finally jumped on the band wagon sometime in the 1990s or so.

This might give you some time frames to consider.

My first 38 Super Colt M1911 had been converted to 38 AMU. Unfortunately, i did not know what I had and I converted it back to 38 Super. It is not really a looker anyway. Time frame was the early 1980s.

I find 38 Super no more difficult to load than other cartridges like 9x19.

Enjoy your new project.

cfullgraf is correct on all counts. I agree that .38 Super isn't any harder to load than anything else, in fact it's probably easier than some simply because the case is bigger and easier to manipulate. The only hassle is picking up your brass at the range! I spend a lot of time making sure I get all I can, as it's too expensive to leave behind. It's best to take along the wife/gf/kid/brass-catcher so you don't lose any!

R.