1911 question

[Revolver Ocelot]

I tried doing a search (as I'm sure someone has asked this before) but didn't have much luck, I was just curious if there was any benifit in having a 1911 chambered in 38 super rather then 45acp?

 

[Big Boomer]

ahem *cough, cough* NO

 

[1911ShooterTJ]

Ammo would be cheaper

You'd have to tell us what this is for. Defensive use? Competitive shooting? By IPSC/USPSA rules it still meets the minimum power factor to be considered as a major charge. Didn't Rob Leatham use it at one point in IPSC?

But for defensive purposes...

 

[wditto]

it is usually more expensive to shoot, which is a puzzle to me, but if you like shooting something about halfway between .38 special/.357 mag shoot, and also 1911 auto, then that is the best choice......another neat feature is fitting a 9mm barel to it and have 2-n-1 gun fun, at CHEAPER ammo.....that's what I want to do

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

I didn't have anything in mind for it i just wasn't sure what the reason for a 1911 in such a caliber was

 

[1911ShooterTJ]

Is it really more expensive? How much more just out of curiosity? Oh well I meant it in jest anyways... You probably know what caliber I think 1911s should be chambered in by my login name

 

[bannockburn]

Revolver Ocelot

I have always had a certain fondness for the Super 38, especially in the 1911. As wditto pointed out, it's very easy to drop in a 9mm. barrel assembly and magazine, and now you've got another gun that shoots the cheaper ammo as well. Add a .22LR conversion kit, and now you've got three guns in one. If you're contemplating a competition type gun, be aware that the hotter loads used would require a ramped barrel which fully supports the case. This would mean a different frame than the original 1911 type.

 

[weisse52]

just wasn't sure what the reason for a 1911 in such a caliber was

This is not a complete answer but: http://ezine.m1911.org/RIASuper38_frame.htm

If you follow the link the 38 super was developed in the late 20's to defeat the body armor of the day. It later developed a following in Latin America where they could not own calibers used for military or police.
As the link stated it is popular now for some action shooting events where it enables them to make "Major" with less recoil than a 45.

 

[MM]

.38 Super was the "357" before there was .357. It is a hi velocity, high penetration round, that shoots flat, relative to .45 acp. A nostalgia round for many, but popular in IPSC competition with those who reload. It is rumored to have been popular with gangsters who sought to defeat early iterations of body armor used by LEO in the late '20's and the early '30's. Swagger's father in the Stephen Hunter novels carried one. It was known as a "shooter's" caliber.
MM

 

[Eric F]

ahem *cough, cough* NO

Um wrong sir

38 Super can hold 10+1 with good mags or 9+1 with standard

cost is cheaper too watch this......
all figures are for IDPA power factor 45acp=cdp=165000
38sup=esp=125000
all brass comes from brassman.com bullets are jacketed from powder valley powder for both will be AA#2 primmers and powder are $16.99 and $20 respectively and shipping not included as this is a variable. oh and this calculator http://www.handloads.com/calc/loadingCosts.asp

45 acp.. brass=$70-1000 bullets=$199.95-2000 total=.202 per bullet
38 super brass=$100-1000 bullets=208.90-3000 total=.201 per bullet

the clear winner 38 Super marginal as it may be.

now folks will argue lead is cheaper ect but I refuse to shoot lead.

 

[AndyC]

The .38 Super is a higher-pressure round than the .45ACP, so in gun-games such as IPSC where compensators are common, the extra pressure gives the comp more to work with - it dampens the muzzle-flip better. It's still popular among the older guys who originally used it back when there wasn't the depth of caliber choices we have today such as 9x21, 9x23, 40S&W, 10mm, etc.

Also, some countries don't allow their citizens to use the same calibers as the military, so the Super is popular there for civilian use (IIRC, countries such as Mexico and the Phillipines).