Tell me about a 38 super........

The bad: Not sure it's still relevant now that the .357Sig is here.

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I don't see it that way.
If you like 1911s, the Super is an easy choice.
If you like poly pistols or Sigs, the 357sig is probably the better choice.

The good - Cost less than a 45 ACP 1911.

The bad - nice ballistics (but not as good as the 357 Sig at 1,350 fps)

The ugly - hard to find ammo

Good, I have one (Witness elite match)

Bad, seems like most Supers are blinged out with chrome and stuff so finding a "normal" looking gun like I like is hard to do down here.

Ugly, the semi rim can cause some grief.

Bottom line? great round, lots of fun and perfect if you reload.

I have found Aquila and Federal .38 Super at some of the local gunshows, and online as well. Price usually ranges between $20 to $25 a box. I also like the fact that in M1911 type guns, it's very easy to convert your .38 Super over to 9mm. for cheaper practice ammo.

Everything .357SIG can do the .38 Super can do too and give you a few more shots in the process.

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I don't know about that...

Maybe if you load your own ammo, but if you buy what's commercially available the .357Sig is typically more powerful than the .38 super.



I don't think that you get more shots either....

The Para Ord. .38 super 1911's give you 9+1 rounds.
The S&W .38 super 1911 gives you 10+1 rounds.
But most full-sized .357Sig pistols offer around 15+1.

If you like 1911s, the Super is an easy choice.

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True.
I think that's about the only thing the .38 super has going for it.

.38 Super

John Dillinger and his associates were wrong but not about the Super .38. It is still a fine caliber. My cases do tend to get a slight bulge near the rim, but they still chamber, so what the heck! WB

You won't find much .38 Super brass at the range

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That includes your own - my Colt hurls brass about 15-20 yds back & to the right. If you're on line on a range, unless you have one of those giant brass catchers, you're lucky to pick up half of what you fire. On the other hand, it's a great pistol, a great round, and despite the aggravation, it's worth it. I haven't seen loaded ammo in years, but that's a mox nix since I reload and besides jacketed bullets I cast a 150 gr LRN for it...

Bad, seems like most Supers are blinged out with chrome and stuff so finding a "normal" looking gun...

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I resemble that statement

The bad - nice ballistics (but not as good as the 357 Sig at 1,350 fps)

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Cor-bon and Georgia Arms both offer 125gr .38 Super loads at 1350fps.

The ugly - hard to find ammo

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The interweb is your friend. Super ammo may be hard to find locally but I haven't had any trouble finding it on line.

The Super has other advantages for the handloader, no lubing the cases, or cleaning them off afterwards, plus any 9mm or .356" bullet is usable including the basic 9mm 115 ball. With the 357sig, you need specific bullet shapes to deal with the short neck and limited cartridge length.

You won't find much .38 Super brass at the range

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That's a plus for me, I don't pick up range brass, I like my own because I know where it's been. When I find Super brass, I know it's mine.
I don't find 357 Sig brass either though. Neither round is very popular at either of my two ranges.
The Sig is a good round, but I like my 1911 and I like the Super. It's kind of like driving a classic muscle car.

I think it is also fun to shoot a cartridge in the firearm it was designed for, as in the case of a .38 super in a 1911. I also carry (I call it my "Dressin' Up" gun, I wear it for formal wear) Colt 1903 in .380. That was the gun that .380 was designed for. Mine was shipped to my family's shop here in Central TX in 1940. I've yet to have it fail on me in any way, with proper care and maintenance of course.

My 38 Super in the Witness Elite Match, also my 45ACP.
They run with the best.
Floydster

Mr. Eick:

To find a normal gun, I suggest gunbroker. I carry a .38 Super Combat Commander in Satin Nickel, but my father carries one that is blued.

But yes, there are a lot of guns around here that appeal to some rather flashy sensibilities.

The bad - nice ballistics (but not as good as the 357 Sig at 1,350 fps)

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Cor-bon and Georgia Arms both offer 125gr .38 Super loads at 1350fps.

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But Cor-bon offers the 125g .357Sig at 1425fps.


Of course speed isn't everything.

Opps.

My brother and I both found nice .38 supers this last month. He picked up a 1947 production Colt Government in about 95% condition, with a Colt Ace .22 conversion kit in the original box. I found an early Series 70 Commander in about 98% condition. No pics available yet but they are both beautiful pistols.

You won't find much .38 Super brass at the range

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That's a plus for me, I don't pick up range brass, I like my own because I know where it's been. When I find Super brass, I know it's mine.
I don't find 357 Sig brass either though. Neither round is very popular at either of my two ranges.

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The problem at our club is separating the .38Super brass from all the 9mm that you are walking on. About impossible to shoot 9mm and not come home with more brass than you've shot.

I don't reload max loads so I don't worry much about the brass history.

It's a fine time proven round that can still get the job done. Harder to find than your standard 9mm, .45ACP, .40 S&W etc but it can be found. The internet is where I find my .38 Super ammo. It a heck of a good shooting round in a 1911 platform.

I don't think many guys debate AGAINST the .38 Super, only those that haven't enjoy the cartridge yet. My Dad introduced me to the .38 Super via his Colt 1911 pre-series 70 Commercial. It was such an easy recoiling gun to a 12 year old kid. From that early exposure about 40 years ago, I continue to count the Super as one of my all time favorite cartridges.

I like my 1911s in .45 Auto and .38 Super. You realize John Browning made the first 1911s in .38 Auto don't you?

And then came the Glock and the .357 Sig. Great round. I think of it as a modernized .38 super! Since Glock doesn't make their gun in a .38 Super, I have the .357 Sig.

AMT backup in .38 super seems about the perfect combination to me.

I must say, I HATE all the chromed up and blinged out (Taurus 1911, .38 Super, are YOU listening?). Why can't we get a Taurus 1911 in a decent utilitarian finish with subtle control contrasts, not a shiney blue gun with GOLD accent controls!

easyg: Talk to reloaders with a compensated gun. 22rd mags (or more), and some are very fast.

Now this is getting confusing. I thought the .38 Super came from the .38 ACP bullet of the 1930s (.356 in) not the 9 mm bullet (.355 in) or the 38 Spl bullet (.357 in).

And here I thought the true 9mm mag was the 357 Sig which is a true .355 bullet like this.



But I guess I could be wrong.

Jim

Nice looking 1911s by the way

Here is my Series 70 Super .38. I picked up this Colt which was NIB, for a song! The owner inherited it and didn't want the odd ball caliber!!! His loss was my gain!!!!



This is my favorite Super .38. It belonged to Texas Ranger Ralph Rohatsch, an associate of my father.....

Here's mine...not as nice as your's John but it's been around for a LONG time (ALMOST as long as yours)...
Bill

I like my 1911 and I like the Super. It's kind of like driving a classic muscle car.

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Two things I hope to have some day...

'69 Camero RS

and ....

S70 1911 in .38 Super