wanderinwalker
Member
Good morning. Pretty much what the title says, I'm looking for experiences and opinions on the .38 Super. Specifically in a 1911-pattern pistol. I'm very, very close to making the decision to purchase a stainless Colt Competition model and right now the .38 Super is beating out the 9mm and .45 ACP. For some reason it's just singing to me.
Background: I've always admired the 1911. I shoot well with them, am fairly comfortable disassembling and reassembling them, and just think it's something every dedicated handgunner should experience at some point. However, I'm having trouble deciding which caliber to get for my first personally owned one. I can't buy into the "All Fall to Hardball" mythology of the .45 ACP, but at the same time I can't bring myself to run a 9mm 1911. The 10mm Delta Elite caught my eye because it's a legendary hot rod. Again though, not enough to make me say "Yeah, this is the one."
Enter the .38 Super. I know enough of the history of the 1911 to know the Super is a classic cartridge for the platform from the Depression-era. I know enough to know it's a semi-rimmed case with an early reputation for average or less accuracy. I know enough to know .38 Super ammo is not a Wal-Mart cartridge and really shines as a reloader's round. (No worries there, I'm a reloader.) I know just enough to know it makes no rational sense to get a Super except that I now want one. It looks like I can reload it using common 9mm bullets I have on hand, with common small pistol primers I already stock, and most of the slower 9mm (or faster .357 Magnum) powders will work great in the Super.
Are there any pitfalls or intricacies I should be warned of before plunging into these waters? Warnings on magazines, parts, or other areas I may be missing? Personal stories of what makes the .38 Super?
And lastly, I'm set on a getting a Colt. Many years ago I decided my first 1911 has to have the Pony on the slide. So please don't talk me out of that!
Background: I've always admired the 1911. I shoot well with them, am fairly comfortable disassembling and reassembling them, and just think it's something every dedicated handgunner should experience at some point. However, I'm having trouble deciding which caliber to get for my first personally owned one. I can't buy into the "All Fall to Hardball" mythology of the .45 ACP, but at the same time I can't bring myself to run a 9mm 1911. The 10mm Delta Elite caught my eye because it's a legendary hot rod. Again though, not enough to make me say "Yeah, this is the one."
Enter the .38 Super. I know enough of the history of the 1911 to know the Super is a classic cartridge for the platform from the Depression-era. I know enough to know it's a semi-rimmed case with an early reputation for average or less accuracy. I know enough to know .38 Super ammo is not a Wal-Mart cartridge and really shines as a reloader's round. (No worries there, I'm a reloader.) I know just enough to know it makes no rational sense to get a Super except that I now want one. It looks like I can reload it using common 9mm bullets I have on hand, with common small pistol primers I already stock, and most of the slower 9mm (or faster .357 Magnum) powders will work great in the Super.
Are there any pitfalls or intricacies I should be warned of before plunging into these waters? Warnings on magazines, parts, or other areas I may be missing? Personal stories of what makes the .38 Super?
And lastly, I'm set on a getting a Colt. Many years ago I decided my first 1911 has to have the Pony on the slide. So please don't talk me out of that!