.38 super--good for?

[496 polara]

I am somewhat intriqued about the .38 super auto.How does it stack up for a defensive cartridge?Is it mainly for target/match shooting or viable for carry?
Any mfg to stay away from?
TIA,
George

 

[prelaw09]

well

to the best of my knowledge its ballistics are between that of the 9mm and 357 mag.

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

The .38 Super Cor-bon 125gr. round gives the .357 a run for its money in a similar sized gun (a five inch 1911 is only slightly bigger than a 3" barreled .357, and the short .357's don't get the usual 6" barreled ballistics, so that puts them even closer in package vs. power). I like the Super, but it is noisier than the .45, but does carry two more rounds.

 

[.38 Special]

To be honest, I bought my 1911 in .38 Super because I wanted to turn it into a Mexican pimp gun -- nickel plating, engraving, carved ivory grips, etc -- and .38 Super is the Mexican caliber.

As far as "what it is for", well, it's for the same thing any other "serious" handgun caliber is for: making in holes in things you want holes in.

 

[surjimmy]

It's a great caliber, very fun to shoot not a lot of recoil. Plus 1 what SharpsDressedMan said.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Mostly a target/fun gun for me. Excellent choice for reloading (easy to achieve accuracy and power without going too high on the pressure charts).

 

[MikePGS]

Its for whatever you want to use it for A lot of the current loads out there on the market don't particularly do the .38 Super justice as a defensive load, but I believe Corbon offers one thats pretty decent. Regardless, they're a dream to shoot.

 

[David E]

Another advantage of the .38 Super in a 1911 platform is, with the swap of barrels, you can also chamber 9x19 and 9x23.

The 9x23 pushes a 125 grain JHP @ an honest 1450 fps......which is the bullet weight/velocity combination the .357 made it's manstopping repuation with. BUT.......in the 9x23 or Corbon .38 Super loads, it's much, much easier to shoot than the .357 load.

Not to mention more shots, flatter/faster reloads, etc.

.38 Super rules the Open Division in IPSC shooting.

 

[JAV8000]

.38 super is what the .357 SIG wishes it could be. A high cap 1911 frame .38 super could be a hell-of-a trail gun. That is if it's as reliable as a .357 magnum revolver.

 

[makarovnik]

I prefer it over the .45 acp especially when hand loaded up to the original specs.

 

[Woodshark]

The .38 super is an excellent cartridge when loaded to its potential; if it isn't, it's a bulky expensive 9mm. Jeff cooper took it to Mexico on 'safari'. Los Angeles narcotics detectives are using the 9x23 in STI/SVI custom guns. A gun chambered in these or .38 super comp, or 38 TJ or the 9x221/2 can give you a 20 - 30 shot pistol in 1911 format with true .357 magnum ballistics (125 gr @ 1450+ fps) CorBon is probably the only one loading the .38 super to this level. But for all other purposes load your own to whatever level you like, up to a 115gr @ 1600fps. In fact there was a round called the .38 Super Cooper used by Jeff Cooper made from cut off .223 cases that would shoot 125 gr bullets at 1800 fps out of six inch barrels from a 1911. If you are thinking about doing this use rifle, not pistol primers and medium slow powders like aa#7, or n350.

 

[Clifford]

For me it's softer shooting vs a .45. But the real fun is at night, load that sucker up with 9.5 grains of blue dot and watch the flame it spits out in the dark!!!

BTW don't try that load in your gun without working your way up to it.

 

[Cowboybootnut]

It is a great caliber, fun to shoot, and accurate. It has two weaknesses;
1. Not enough gun companies make a gun in the .38 Super caliber;
2. Ammo is hard to find, and there are not enough varieties.

If you own one, expect to reload.

I have wished for many years that Glock would make a pistol in the .38 Super caliber. I think that would increase its popularity.

 

[mbt2001]

It is good for the same things the 9mm is good for, but moves faster / has a higher velocity. That equates to better penetration and with the right bullets, better stopping power.

 

[paul45]

To be honest, I bought my 1911 in .38 Super because I wanted to turn it into a Mexican pimp gun

Your money, your gun.......but, how bout a Texan BBQ gun instead? That other terminology is quite distasteful!!

 

[Gungle George]

Hey WoodShark, I'd like to hear more about the Super Cooper!

Cheers,

Gungle George

 

[Walkalong]

Good for anything from light plinker loads to some pretty hot defensive loads. Good caliber.

 

[.38 Special]

BBQ gun:



Mexican pimp gun:



HTH!

 

[tipoc]

Mexican pimp gun:



HTH!

Apparantly being examined by a couple of the same.

tipoc

 

[Loyalist Dave]

Historically the .38 super and the .38 ACP before it were popular civilian calibers where the .45 ACP and the 9mm were prohibited as police/military only rounds. South American countries seem to like it for that reason. I have heard also that Thompson Auto Ordinance made tommy-guns in the .38 super as well, for south of the border use.
LD

 

[SharpsDressedMan]

Don't tell my wife I gave her a Mexican Pimp Gun! (bottom bottom)....................................................................................................................................................

[/IMG]

 

[Texas Colt]

No matter what flavor a 38 Super is - BBQ, South of the Border, or otherwise, it is a great caliber for plinking and self defense.

My Lightweight Colt Commander launches a 124 grain Speer Gold Dot HP at just over 1200 fps. That is not quite a full power load for the 38 Super and yet it equals a 9mm +P in velocity.

 

[PRE 64 JOE]

.38 Special, I like the mexican pimp gun, but I prefer It cocked and locked, not cocked and UNLOCKED.

 

[tipoc]

A bit more on the Super...

http://www.38super.net/

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Corbon 38 Super Ammo Tests.htm

The .38 Super is a very good round. It was chambered in the Thompson Sub Machine Gun as someone above said. The OSS used it during the second world war. More powerful than the 9mm. Folks should study it some.

I never cared for the "Mexican pimp stuff" myself. The Super was developed by Colt for the U.S. and international markets. Many were sold in Asia and Latin America. In the U.S. as well.

tipoc

 

[John Wayne]

My XDM 9 launches a 124 gr. NATO round at 1150 fps from a 4.5" barrel. If the .38 Super can sling 'em faster than what the US Military uses, it ought to be fine for defense.