38 Super disclaimer.

Was in two different GS recently and both had an abundance of 38 Super on their shelves but both places had signs all over proclaiming these won't work in .38 or .357 revolvers.
Would have bought some but I roll my own.

 

S&W made an 8-shot 627 in 38 Super. Moonclips rule!

 

People are funny and screwed at the same time when they try to return or exchange the ammo.

 

Well I don't know, if I bought a bunch of 38 Super by mistake I'd just be forced to find a 38 Super pistol to put it in.

 

Cartridge naming conventions... sheesh

 

They made a six shot, too. I looked hard but didn't buy. Good thing, IDPA changed their rules... again.

Inattentive customers, phooey.

 

The firearms industry has not been very good about consistent nomenclature for chamberings and cartridges. Much of it due to trying to make a buck making the guns and ammunition look like they are unique to their own products.

The Europeans seem to be a bit better, but I'm not completely familiar with all the permutations of their cartridge designations.

Early in my shooting career, I almost bought a Lee Wack-a-mole set for 38 ACP thinking it would work for my newly purchased 380 ACP pistol. Fortunately, I did a bit of research first and ordered the correct 380 ACP set.

 

brutus51

That's what I like to hear; a man with a practical solution to a "case" of mistaken identity!

 

And in some cases, ignorant, especially when it comes to firearms, which can get scary. Someone who grabs ammo just because the caliber sounds the same (at least the numbers), isn't really educated on what they have, or what they need for it. Caliber names can be confusing, some guns fit multiple cartridges (like .38 Spl. in a .357 Magnum), others don't, and the owner needs to know ahead of time what fits their gun and what won't. Just saying 9mm traditionally means 9mm Luger or Parabellum, or 9x19mm, but there is also a 9x17mm (.380 Auto or 9mm Kurz) and a 9x18mm (Makarov), none of which are compatible with each other. I don't have much sympathy for someone who buys the wrong ammo for a gun they own. It's too simple to ask questions or Google something nowadays.

 

I am on my phone and my research files are on the laptop.

.38 Super can refer to three different cartridges.
Usually the hot loaded version of the .38 automatic cartridge usually for the Colt 1911 pistol.
Less commonly either the .38 Special or the .38 S&W with a 200gr bullet for revolvers.

I can imagine folks with .38 revolvers and no ammo getting excited at finding any .38 ammo, then disappointed at being obi warned This is not the ammo you are looking for.

 

Even better are the signs near the boxes of bullets in the reloading section stating "This is NOT ammunition!". Sometimes, you do have to wonder if a minimum intelligence level is necessary for gun ownership.

 

It's unfortunate that stores have to put warning like that up and even more unfortunate that some gun owners don't educate themselves enough and just grab ammo because the number on the box is the same. The manufacturers all put big warnings in the owners manuals stating to use the correct ammo that the firearm is chambered for.

 

It sticks in my head that the revolver cartridges were listed as .38 Special and .38 S&W Super Police. And are obsolescent products anyhow.

 

Thanks OP.

I'll have to look into that locally. Loves me some Super .38!

Todd.

 

Too late for me.

 

I agree completely, that's why I think they should all be referred to as the Punybellum's

 

38 Super will chamber and fire in some 357 revolvers. Don’t ask how I know this.

 

Ditto. Mine ran for years with a colt 38 special HBWC magazine. 38 super is a darn fine round.

 

That is one really cool old Colt, best part about it is if the gun jams you can poke your assailant in the eye with that front sight.

 

I asked the clerk at my LGS for .38 Super and he handed me a box of .38 Special +P.

We told students in our NRA Basic Pistol class to purchase 200 rounds of .38 Special FMJ. Two showed up with .380.

 

Reminds me of a very recent encounter with fella with an expensive/vintage box of .45 auto- RIM in hand, He was asking how well it would shoot in his 1911 clone. Tried to explain but think he bought them anyway. Would be fun to see him loading a magazine.

 

Other than being vintage, whats the issue? Or did you mean 45 auto rim.

 

I saw a similar sign regarding 357 Sig. It was the only ammo left on the shelves, and, miraculously, still at pre crisis prices.

 

Yeah Auto-RIM ---fixed it. Still makes my head hurt as guy would not believe me. He opened box and had a round by the rim -- duh!! Made me wonder about him even owning a gun. Let me add one from long ago about the customer who came in to complain about the ammo he bought. Said they didn't fit. We explained that 9mm Largo will not work in a luger!!