1911 in a 38 super?

[Flashpoint]

I've been toying with the idea of trading off my Ruger so I went to my favorite gun shop to see what he had. I asked to see a CZ but he sold the two he had, so he showed me a
Rock Island 1911 in a 38 super. I have done some research on this forum and found the general consensus to be they are good guns for the money. I really wanted something in 9mm for the cost of shooting factor. Does any one have any experience with this particular gun and caliber? How much does a box of plinkers run and is $400 too much to ask for this gun?

By the way, it looks just like the one in the link.

[edited]
He also had a used Colt Commander with about 20 rounds though it for $500. The Colt was matt stainless and had a trigger that made the RIA feel sick. I really wasn't wanting to put a whole lot of $ with the Ruger. What kind of deal is he offering on the Colt?

 

[Trsnrtr]

I don't know anything about a RRI Super, but i do shoot a lot of Super .38 by a couple of other manufacturers.

.38 Super is not a cheap round to buy off the shelf and can be hard to find at discount stores. However, it's pretty cheap to reload.

I like shooting .38 Super and I shoot a Kimber Super for IDPA ESP division. I can shoot a pretty mild load that is flat shooting and accurate.

 

[stans]

38 Super, much like 10mm and 41 Magnum, has become a handloader's cartridge. Factory ammo can be hard to find and expensive. As far as I know, there are no "white box" loads in 38 Super. It is an interesting caliber, the original 9mm +P+.

 

[Tamara]

At my local shop, Winchester .38 Super FMJ is ~$14 for a box of fifty, and Fiocchi .38 Super is $10 for fifty.

I haven't really paid any attention to Rock River, so I don't know what the going rate for one is. I love the Series 80 "Enhanced" .38 Super I picked up not too long back though. Very pleasant shooting caliber.

 

[BigG]

The 38 Super or Super 38 as it was originally called has been around since 1929. Col Colt's people came out with a higher capacity government model. I had a Series 80 Enhanced Super 38 and it was like a 9mm Plus P or 357 SIG in power. Less recoil than the 45 and glorious yellow flames emerging from the muzzle and ejection port at every shot in broad daylight.

Winchester made white box when I had mine. Around $10 a box in Plus P 130 grain. The brass is not really good for reloading as it looks like a pregnant guppy after firing. The Colt was an excellent pistol and I would get one again. No jams and accurate as a Gold Cup.

Sold for caliber reduction purposes.

 

[Trsnrtr]

As a side note, .38 Super frequently comes loaded in nickel plated cases. What's cool about that, is it's easy to find your own brass at the range or match without accidentally picking up a bunch of 9mm brass.

 

[Gerald McDonald]

Isnt there a difference in Rock River and Rock Island, I thought the RI was a philippine gun much the same as charles daley

 

[cratz2]

Yeah... Rock Island is a cheapie brand (no offence... I'd buy one for the right price) and Rock River is a high end gun built by one guy that used to work at Baer.

I have two 38 Supers (a Springfield MilSpec and a Combat Commander) and I've been shooting the Combat Commander quite a bit recently. I shoot the White Box stuff at $11/50 and carried SilverTips when I carried that gun.

The 38 Super kicks quite a bit less than the 45ACP. It's easier to get back on target with accurately and quickly than the 45ACP. The 45 isn't a brute by any stretch but shoot them both on multiple targets as quickly as you can and the difference is startling.

In general, in most parts of the country, 45ACP will be easier to find and probably slightly cheaper than 38 Super. And regarding the Colt Commander for another $100... If the only thing you don't like is the trigger, see if you can locate a local smith with any decent reputation. My local guy charges me $35 to do a perfectly crisp 4# trigger job on a 1911. You could use this as a bargaining tool to try to get the guy to lower the price on the Colt. I'd much rather spend $100 on a used Colt than a new RIA. Actually, around here, new full-size MilSpecs go for around $460 and that would be what I suggest if available.

 

[sm]

What is the gun going to be used for??

Not familar with the RR and RIA...

I like 38 super, I know some whom use for CCW, and competition.
I also like the 9X23 in the 1911 platform...especially 2 Caspians I've been playing with. I know some whom also CCW and compete with 9x23.

As others have advised 38 super is a great rd, not sure about the gun mfg, and 45ACP is just hard to beat in the 1911 platform.

I do like the single stack of 45ACP for spare mags better for CCW, but I'm biased. Biased on gun and cartridge, regardless of what compared to.

 

[Sean Smith]

A Rock River Arms gun is on par with a Baer; they are slightly more affordable, but you have to wait alot longer to get one made for you. They have a good reputation.

http://www.rockriverarms.com/

A Rock Island Armory gun (which is what the topic starter is talking about) is on par with a Chucky D, maybe. Low grade third world slag. If you are looking for a gun in that price range, a Ruger or CZ will be alot better.

As for the caliber, .38 Super is pretty neat... sorta like 9mm +P++, but with a design that feeds better in a 1911. Shop around and you can find factory ammo for about $10/50... not great, but not bad.

 

[Flashpoint]

Thanks for the feedback guys

I think for right know I going to put the .38 super on my one-of-these-days-list. Sounds like the .38 super would be a great round for defense. I would still like the have the Colt but can't justify buying one right now; I just bought a Steyr M40 to carry (about 5 months ago). I'm going to keep looking for a CZ, the owner showed me an EAA Witness clone that I liked the feel of and the trigger was nice, but it was used and a little abused. I'm really looking for something I can plink with. I'm just got a itch for something different and the only feasible way to get it right now is to trade. If I can find a 9mm in a 1911 style pistol (I know, it's not a true 1911 if it's not a 45acp, but I'm looking at cost of ammo right now) I'll probably go that route, and it might even turn into an occasional carry. Any advice on a 1911 in a 9mm, and does anyone have any experience with the EAA CZ clones in relation to the CZs?

 

[cratz2]

Had a Springfield 9mm 1911, the Stainless Loaded Target with imposter Bomar sights. Mine came with one bad magazine but after that was replaced, it ran like a champ. Maybe 2 failures total! Very nice gun.

The CZs (and EAA clones at a lower price point) are excellent guns for the money. I think for a budget out of the box gun, the CZ75B SA is the very best choice out there. The triggers are generally excellent and if you want one to make everyone that shoots it cry, get on George Smith's list. For $110, you will have one fine trigger.

The Rugers are fine guns by all counts but the ergonomics are in the extremely poor category in my opinion. The CZ75 design, on the other hand, is the absolute best I've ever experienced... better than my beloved 1911.

 

[B27]

Winchester still loads Super in their USA line of ammo and Federal still loads it in their American Eagle line. It's always available from one or more of the larger online ammo sellers.
I have a SIG P220 in Super and buy a lot of it. www.georgia-arms.com also has a couple interesting Super loads.

 

[Grayrider]

That pic of the RIA 38 Super is interesting. My dealer has a 1950s vintage Colt that looks identical. Nice to see that RIA (despite their iffy quality) has a sense of nostalgia. If it were cheap I would be tempted.

.38 Super is a neat round if you don't mind reloading or ordering your ammo via mail. It shoots flat, has more horsepower than 9mm, and really not much more recoil. I like it a bunch. Getting a .38 Super 1911 is on my to-do list--just not high on the list lately.

I have owned a bunch of Witnesses and CZs. The CZ is a better investment just because the quality control is better. A good Witness will work just as well, although I think the CZs tend to be more accurate. I have seen some problem Witnesses, although I have been lucky enough not to own one. My 10mms (one is currently for sale) were both accurate and reliable. Not sure about the current crop of 9s from EAA. I would say if the Witness is a lot cheaper than the CZ and you can look it over first, it might be worth getting.

GR