38 super for self defense?
- Thread starter Doggieman
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.38 Special
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Why not? As long as you can get appropriate projectiles for it -- seems like most of it is FMJ these days -- I'd think it a fine choice.
Well, as long as it's nickeled, engraved, and has ivory grips with Mexican eagle carvings, anyway.
Well, as long as it's nickeled, engraved, and has ivory grips with Mexican eagle carvings, anyway.
BullfrogKen
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Its kinda made a niche for itself as a competition round, but I think its just fine in a capacity for such purposes.
Stephen A. Camp
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Hello. If it might be of use, here are some informal observations on some .38 Super ammunition:
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 38 Super Ammo Tests.htm
Best.
http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 38 Super Ammo Tests.htm
Best.
I have a Super and I really like shooting it. I love the extra oomph without the muzzle flip of bigger bores. My Colt fires very quickly and is a natural pointer.
Really only two choices in defensive ammo, but both are good. Winchester Silvertips (underrated IMO) and a Corbon load or two (nice'n hot).
Really only two choices in defensive ammo, but both are good. Winchester Silvertips (underrated IMO) and a Corbon load or two (nice'n hot).
I always scratch my head when people rip the .357 Sig for being "too close to a 9mm," "too expensive," "too hard to find" then turn around and tout the .38 Super, which is slower, pricier and harder to find in any decent on-the-shelf factory loads.
Having said that, it's a good round, especially if you plan to reload.
Having said that, it's a good round, especially if you plan to reload.
AK103K
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Double Tap 357SIG's are running in the 1600+ arena for 115 gr. Gold Dots, and around 1500+ for the 125 gr. Gold Dots. From the looks of things in Steve's link, the Super isnt running quite that hot.
What pistols are chambered for it in a factory gun, besides a 1911?
What pistols are chambered for it in a factory gun, besides a 1911?
Witness makes an inexpensive 38super. It's a CZ-75 style pistol.
Colt's .38 Super was a dandy police round in it's day. It's regarded more as a 'gamer's gun, but it can still do the job.
Colt's .38 Super was a dandy police round in it's day. It's regarded more as a 'gamer's gun, but it can still do the job.
Skywarp
member
I want a 38 super as well but I haven't seen commercially produced ammo as hot as you can find 357SIG.
Hand loading my extend the reach up quite bit but some of the hottest loads ive seen are 1460ish out of a 5"+ barreled 1911 platform or using special brass. Ive blasted past 1500 in my 4.5 " 226. Will the extra .5 inches give me a speed boost worth noting?
Hand loading my extend the reach up quite bit but some of the hottest loads ive seen are 1460ish out of a 5"+ barreled 1911 platform or using special brass. Ive blasted past 1500 in my 4.5 " 226. Will the extra .5 inches give me a speed boost worth noting?
atblis
Member
38 SA
9x23 Winchester is/was probably about what your looking for. Winchester may still load it. They had a 124gr defensive load.
Yes it is a good round for self defense.
I was getting 1550 out of the Witness with 9x23 brass and 115 gr XTPs.
9x23 Winchester is/was probably about what your looking for. Winchester may still load it. They had a 124gr defensive load.
Yes it is a good round for self defense.
I was getting 1550 out of the Witness with 9x23 brass and 115 gr XTPs.
Grayrider
Member
I just carry Cor-bon in my .38 Super Witness Match. I know it is not as hot as 9x23 or .357 Sig, but it is more than adequate for my needs and certainly superior to 9mm. Unlike .357 Sig, I get the higher capacity of a 9mm/38 diameter cartridge. 18 rounds of .38 Super is somewhat comforting, although I have never been fixated on magazine capacity. I also find that .38 Super is much more pleasant to shoot than .357 Sig. There is nowhere near the blast. If I want to shoot a gun that holds 15 rounds of ammunition and really has some punch, I switch to 10mm.
John
John
tipoc
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The .38 Super is a very good round for self defense. One advantage it has over the 9mm and the .357 Sig is that it will take a heavier bullet. A 140 grain round at 1200 fps is do able for handloaders and is pleasurable to shoot. This is a plus for those of us who look sideways at the current fad of lighter faster rounds, like the Pow-R-Ball.
Upon a time the Sig P220 was chambered for the Super and still turns up in the used gun market.
S&W placed it in a wheelgun.
Of course it's proper home has been the 1911 and virtually every manufacturer of that species has chambered it.
tipoc
Upon a time the Sig P220 was chambered for the Super and still turns up in the used gun market.
S&W placed it in a wheelgun.
Of course it's proper home has been the 1911 and virtually every manufacturer of that species has chambered it.
tipoc
Skywarp
member
Uhh
Caliber : .357 Sig
Bullet : 147gr. Gold Dot JHP
Ballistics : 1250fps / 510 ft. lbs. 4"bbl
3.5" barrel - 1213fps
4.5" barrel - 1296fps
We can do it too.
Caliber : .357 Sig
Bullet : 147gr. Gold Dot JHP
Ballistics : 1250fps / 510 ft. lbs. 4"bbl
3.5" barrel - 1213fps
4.5" barrel - 1296fps
We can do it too.
Winchester Silvertips?
Mr. Camp, how do you feel the Winchester Silvertips would perform as a civilian self defense load compared to others?
Sounds like Pow'RBall is your first choice with the DPX being best for LEO, but how do you rate WS as a self defense load? Thanks!
Mr. Camp, how do you feel the Winchester Silvertips would perform as a civilian self defense load compared to others?
Sounds like Pow'RBall is your first choice with the DPX being best for LEO, but how do you rate WS as a self defense load? Thanks!
Stephen A. Camp
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Hello. My choice in Super 38 would be DPX followed by the Winchester STHP followed by the PowR'Ball. The STHP will be the less costly and while an "old technology" bullet, it seems to work fine in 125 gr. FWIW, in 357 Magnum, I prefer the Winchester 145-gr. STHP for full-power magnum loads.
Best.
Best.
Great articles comparing the .38 Super and 9MM +P Mr. Camp. I find it interesting that the .357 Sig was developed instead of just uploading the .38 Super to take advantage of its full potentiail. I guess the gun companies always want to market something "new and better" even it it really isn't. I like that STI Trojan also.
The only real advantage to the .357 Sig is the bottleneck cartridge which shoud feed better than a straight walled cartridge, but you didn't seem to have any realiability issues, so this may be no big deal either. I reload, so may have to pick up a 1911 in .38 Super.
The only real advantage to the .357 Sig is the bottleneck cartridge which shoud feed better than a straight walled cartridge, but you didn't seem to have any realiability issues, so this may be no big deal either. I reload, so may have to pick up a 1911 in .38 Super.
RustyShackelford
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.38 not so super or..Nash Bridges' ".38 Colt"
I'd say the .38super isn't. LOL It may soon go the way of the Do-do bird,
I do recall Don Johnson's SFPD supercop; Captain Nash Bridges use of a 1911a1 .38super, tricked out by the gunsmiths from SEAL Beach CA or somewhere,.
Nash once told some bulldog female security guard he had a ".38 Colt"
My favorite Nash Bridges line is where he tells his father that he must of shot half the people in the city. LOL!
Rusty
I'd say the .38super isn't. LOL It may soon go the way of the Do-do bird,
I do recall Don Johnson's SFPD supercop; Captain Nash Bridges use of a 1911a1 .38super, tricked out by the gunsmiths from SEAL Beach CA or somewhere,
.Nash once told some bulldog female security guard he had a ".38 Colt"
My favorite Nash Bridges line is where he tells his father that he must of shot half the people in the city. LOL!
Rusty
trrus makes a gun in 38 super also look on gunbroker. I carry a 1911 in 38 super. I also have a fat stack of agulia factory ammo 135 gr doing 1450 fps average. Georgia arms has 124 gr defensive ammo for it doing 1250fps average. It is my game gun as well, I down load it to 925fps for idpa. If you buy one you will want to reload. Saves a ton of cash.
That is a way old school term for the 38 colt automatic the predasesor of the 38 super. I say no foul there. BTW cool gun none the less wish I had a comp on my gun.
tipoc
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I've had good results for years with the Colt mags, Wilson and McCormick's are also good.
The shorter oal of the .357 Sig allows it to be chambered in guns built for the .40 S&W. The 38.Super has a longer oal. As Skywarp says the .357 Sig can match in many cases what the Super does. It does it at higher pressures. But it is a matter of shooters choice.
The .38 Super appeared in 1928 or so and until the 10mm was considered the most powerful round that could be fired from a self loader. The lack of good bullets for it hampered it some till the 80s when it was rejuvenated by competitive shooters.
tipoc
The shorter oal of the .357 Sig allows it to be chambered in guns built for the .40 S&W. The 38.Super has a longer oal. As Skywarp says the .357 Sig can match in many cases what the Super does. It does it at higher pressures. But it is a matter of shooters choice.
The .38 Super appeared in 1928 or so and until the 10mm was considered the most powerful round that could be fired from a self loader. The lack of good bullets for it hampered it some till the 80s when it was rejuvenated by competitive shooters.
tipoc
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