SalchaketJoe
Member
Any thoughts, opinions on it? Trying to look outside the box a little for a pistol.
.38 Super for protection
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belus
Member
Assuming you wont be loading your own defensive ammo, your choices will be more limited.
http://38super.net/Pages/Factory2.html
But some of those loads out preform 357mag (125gr @ 1400fps).
Is this in a 1911 platform? I've heard from USPSA shooters that the single stack super is the most reliable version due to the aspect ratio of the round (very unlikely to nose dive).
I would personally be reluctant carry one, but that's more of a reservation about the large size and relatively heavy weight of the guns available than the round.
http://38super.net/Pages/Factory2.html
But some of those loads out preform 357mag (125gr @ 1400fps).
Is this in a 1911 platform? I've heard from USPSA shooters that the single stack super is the most reliable version due to the aspect ratio of the round (very unlikely to nose dive).
I would personally be reluctant carry one, but that's more of a reservation about the large size and relatively heavy weight of the guns available than the round.
I have often wondered why they came up with the .357sig since the 38 super has been around for a long time and it is very similar in velocities to the .357sig.
Other than the selection of self defense rounds is there any real advantage of the .357sig over the 38 super? At least as long as the pistol involved headspaces the 38 super on it's case mouth instead of that semi rim?
Other than the selection of self defense rounds is there any real advantage of the .357sig over the 38 super? At least as long as the pistol involved headspaces the 38 super on it's case mouth instead of that semi rim?
Tim L
Member
Short version, .357sig fits into a frame designed for the 9mm round which is much shorter than a .45acp which is the same length as a 38 super.
Fred Fuller
Moderator Emeritus
This one will do better in Autoloaders than S&T, I think...
lpl
lpl
I have 3 .38 Supers - a custom j-frame (actually 9x23), an AMT Backup, and a 1911. I like the caliber a lot, it's easy shooting, accurate, and, in the Corbon offerings, plenty powerful. Their 100gr Pow'rball has a muzzle velocity of 1525fps, that's smoking in anybody's book! Also, with practice ammo in the $17-$20 range and hot defense ammo in the .45acp/357sig price range, there's no reason not to carry one. Of course that's just my opinion, YMMV.
ak-kev
Member
I've been shooting the Super for a couple of years now and simply love it. I have my defense loads loaded up with 125gr Speer Gold Dot @ 1445fps out of my 2 Cot Government models. That's .357 magnum performance with 10 rds to boot. It has a loud report but not much recoil. Earlier this year I found a Commander MKIV in Super but havent clocked the Gold Dots in it yet. I suppose I'll lose some velocity with the shorter barrel. People carry Commanders all the time (although I dont) so this makes it possible to carry a Super CCW. I also just found a Detonics in .38Super and its VERY small. Once I get it proofed, I may carry it on occasion. Once Buffalo Bore introduces their .38 Super+P defense round (they keep promising me they'll make on as soon as the ammo rush slows abit) then that will be yet another option for us. Kevin.
Texas Colt
Member
Like others have stated, I too think the 38 Super is a great defensive cartridge. I have Colt Lightweight Commander in 38 Super that I frequently carry.
The difference in recoil between the 45 ACP and 38 Super is dramatic. The 38 Super packs a punch but has light recoil. That combination is one of the reasons it's still around after 80 years.
If there is a downside, it would be that factory ammo options are limited. If you reload, the world gets much bigger. My current load is the 124 grain Speer Gold Dot @ 1250 fps out of my Commander. The results on water jugs are very impressive. I have recovered Gold Dots from water jugs and they mushroom completely.
The difference in recoil between the 45 ACP and 38 Super is dramatic. The 38 Super packs a punch but has light recoil. That combination is one of the reasons it's still around after 80 years.
If there is a downside, it would be that factory ammo options are limited. If you reload, the world gets much bigger. My current load is the 124 grain Speer Gold Dot @ 1250 fps out of my Commander. The results on water jugs are very impressive. I have recovered Gold Dots from water jugs and they mushroom completely.
bestseller92
Member
I'd choose a more common caliber (9mm, .40, .45, .357 SIG) for a primary defense pistol and then get a .38 Super later on as a "fun gun" if I felt the urge.
Chuck Warner
Member
...
I highly recommend it for what its worth.
Blue gun...9X23,Gray Gun .38 Super
I have carried .38 super since the 80s and 9X23 since its inception,by John Ricco.
Just my $.02 CW
I highly recommend it for what its worth.
Blue gun...9X23,Gray Gun .38 Super
I have carried .38 super since the 80s and 9X23 since its inception,by John Ricco.
Just my $.02 CW
edSky
Member
I say go for it. I have pistols in 9mm, .38 Super and .45 ACP. So why not? (I also want a .40 S&W.) If you have the itch for a .38 Super you must scratch it.
My only hesitation is the reliability of the gun you choose to shoot it in.
My Baer .38 Super is a honey, but it took a while to get it 100%. Turned out to be a burr in the wrong spot, and now it runs 100%.
All that said, the Super is my favorite caliber to shoot and for reloading. You get near .357 magnum levels of power with recoil like a 9mm.
My Baer .38 Super is a honey, but it took a while to get it 100%. Turned out to be a burr in the wrong spot, and now it runs 100%.
All that said, the Super is my favorite caliber to shoot and for reloading. You get near .357 magnum levels of power with recoil like a 9mm.
The Lone Haranguer
Member
There is nothing it can do that the more plentiful and much cheaper 9mm Luger and .40 S&W ammunition will not.
weisse52
Member
That is a great package, If one went by me I would be tempted to pick it up.
plumbernater
Member
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If im not misstaken the super 38 came out back during the gangster days to be able to shoot through cars for affect.
ak-kev
Member
Here's the Detonics in .38Super. Once proofed, it will be put into the winter carry rotation.
earlthegoat2
Member
I heard it was brought out for competition shooting. It had similar ballistics to the 45 ACP with less recoil. It had to have similar ballistics because of the rules of the competion organization. They basically just hopped up the 38 ACP. Yes it did come out in the 20s I believe. Im sure enough gangsters and LEOs alike carried them during the organized crime waves of the time. I believe there were some on hand during the assassinations of Bonnie and Clyde.
Chuck Warner
Member
....handful...lol, love it
There was a time before all the new designs hit the stores that Maj. George Nonte - a man highly respected in gun circles and still relevant years after his death - considered the ideal defense pistol to be the S&W Model 39 in .38 Super. He backed his opinion by carrying that exact combination.
Anything the 9mm Luger cartridge can do performance wise, the .38 Super can do better... a lot better.
Years ago a study was done on one-shot fight stopping incidents involving police. The results showed that the .357 Magnum with a 125 grain HP bullet was the most effective. The .38 Super can pretty much duplicate that performance level.
You could do a LOT worse than the .38 Super as a SD cartridge.
Anything the 9mm Luger cartridge can do performance wise, the .38 Super can do better... a lot better.
Years ago a study was done on one-shot fight stopping incidents involving police. The results showed that the .357 Magnum with a 125 grain HP bullet was the most effective. The .38 Super can pretty much duplicate that performance level.
You could do a LOT worse than the .38 Super as a SD cartridge.
Where were you guys when I was being raked over the coals for saying the 38 super was in the class of a 357 mag? Alot of officers back in the day went to the 38 super cause it would shoot through cars, back when the BG would rob a bank and jump in the get away cars.
Texas Colt
Member
The 38 Super was developed during the gangster era. It was introduced in 1929 with the primary purpose of giving the lawman more punch. The 38 Special and 45 ACP round nose ammo would not penetrate the heavy steel car bodies of the era. This is back when cars were made of real steel.
The 38 Super offered a 130 grain FMJ bullet at 1450 fps out of a 5" Colt Government model. This magnum-level performance predates the 357 magnum by 6 years.
If I'm not mistaken, when the 38 Super was introduced it was the most powerful handgun cartridge in the world.
Chuck Warner
Member
...correct
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