.38 Super vs .357 Mag

.38 Super Vs .357 Mag

  • 1911 in .38 Super

    Votes: 48 26.4%

  • SP101 in .357

    Votes: 89 48.9%

  • Both are good, doesn't matter

    Votes: 38 20.9%

  • Both suck, don't get either one

    Votes: 7 3.8%
  • Total voters
    182
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Here's my personal favorites.

The larger is a nice old U.S. Customs gun.

The smaller is for when you need a slightly lighter and more concealable gun.

Both are excellent, but the old CS-1 is better for the woods.

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But you would not go wrong with the Glock in .357 Sig or 10mm.

Choose what feels best to you......what you like best.

What you like best is always the best for you because you will use it with comfort and confidence.

I get a kick out of carrying both.....one in a shoulder holster and one inside waistband.

;)
 
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i carry my 2 1/4 inch sp101 about half the time and a glock 26 the other half. I find the ruger very easy to conceal IWB and most of the time i actually forget its there. If your going to be carrying concealed a lot the sp101 would be a good choice in my opinion. Even in summer clothing it pretty much disappears IWB.
 
"They no longer make a lightweight Commander in .38 Super due to the frames cracking. If you find one, it's more of a collector's item than a woods gun."

Dave E, you might want to check your source on this -
Click to expand...

I sure hope they changed the aluminum frame to a stronger one, or it'll have the same frame cracking problem the old ones had.

Thanks for the heads up, btw.
 
As to which gun, it really depends what the OP wants to bring the gun along for.

If for two-legged snakes, then a .38 Super loaded with Corbon 115 or 125 grain JHP's are tough to beat.

If for general purpose trail/survival use, then an accurate revolver is a better choice.

Keep in mind that "accurate" not only applies to the gun, but to the shooter. If a gun can print 1" groups @ 25 yds from a machine rest, but the shooter can't keep 'em inside a 12" circle with one gun but can shot 2-3" all day long with a different gun, then that should matter.
 
Thanks for all the input so far, please keep it coming.

I think I should clear something up...

It's not really going to be a serious "woods gun". That would be my Winchester model 94... I think .30-30 beats any handgun...

However, I recently (a year ago) moved in to a 10 acre farm in a semi-rural area of Washington State. There have been bear sightings in the area, or so I'm told. Haven't seen any bear around here with my own eyes, but I've seen coyotes and feral dogs on several occasions...

I also go on the occasional camping trip.

So the gun is really going to be for concealed carry around the farm, in town, and sometimes camping. I don't plan to open carry with it at all. I don't plan to hunt with it at all. I want it mainly for 2 legged animals but if I happen to run into a 4 legged one I don't want to feel totally un-prepared like I would with say my .25ACP

Didn't mean to make it sound like I was going bear hunting with this thing. My apologies...

Also, I was un-aware of a frame cracking problem with the 1911, does anyone know if that's been resolved?

Speaking of the 1911, I like it compared to say, a Glock, for a couple reasons. First, I don't really care for double stack autos. They feel "fat" in my hands. I like the "thin" feeling of single stacks like the 1911.

Second, I don't really care for polymer in a gun. I'm kind of old fashioned I guess, but I like my guns to be made of metal. That is one reason why I like my Makarov, it feels very "solid". I could run over it with a tank and it would probably still work.

So, long story short, I've pretty much ruled out the Glock. I know they're nice pistols but I just don't think they are my kind of gun.
 
.38 Super and .357 Magnum are my two favorites for shooting and handloading.

If I had to pick an unseen, untested gun for carry it would certainly be a revolver over a 1911.

My Super is a high end, full size model that took a full 1,000 rounds before it was reliable.
 
Maybe not work in all 38 super chambers but some can also shoot the 9x23 in those same guns and make another step up in power. The tread was also about 38super or 357 not 10mm. If someone wants to debate 10mm then by all means lets bring in 41 mag,44mag and 45 lc. Got to stop on this tread at 357 not 10mm. Always something badder around the corner.
 
The 9x23 case is different from the Super and I don't believe the two will interchange in the same barrel unless the barrel is very sloppy on tolerances.

I should have added that I voted for the Super mainly because I don't like Ruger DA revolvers. Too ugly for my taste. I'd rather have a Super 1911.


standard.jpg


Or at least a handsome 357 revolver.


standard.jpg
 
Also, I was un-aware of a frame cracking problem with the 1911, does anyone know if that's been resolved?
Click to expand...
There was no problem with frame cracking with .38 Super LW Commanders.

There was a problem with the feed ramp denting after some smart feller invented JHP ammo for them 20 years after they started making them.

The frame cracking problem was with steel frame 10mm Delta's.

And that was purely cosmetic anyway.

When a 1911 frame cracks, it generally cracks the left frame rail right above the slide stop cut. It doesn't hurt a thing except the looks when the slide is off, and it will not get any worse.

Fogedaboutit!

Unless you are going to shoot 10K-20K a year in competation, it's a non-issue.

rc
 
I only offered the Glock 29/20 because it is so very light, and has lots of capacity, since the capacity of the Super was being considered over the SP101. Yeah, it's not a ".36". But you COULD make a Glock 20, or 29, a ".36" by swapping out the barrel for a 9x25 Dillon. Now compare your ballistics to the .357 Magnum, of any barrel length.
 
Let me know when you can get a 125gr bullet going 1600fps
Click to expand...

That ain't gunna happen in an SP 101 either. A six inch revolver maybe, but not a two or three inch gun.

I consider a three inch revolver and a 5 inch Super about equal ballistically.
 
I consider a three inch revolver and a 5 inch Super about equal ballistically.
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Out of a 3" revolver Buffalo Bore's 125gr load goes 1476fps. Still above the best the .38 Super can do out of a 5" barrel. Their 158gr load goes 1398 out of a 3" revolver. Still higher than the best the .38 super can do with a 125gr bullet.

Edit: I did just find one load that pushes a 124gr to 1425 out of a 5 " barrel.
 
I got up to 1525 with 115 JHPs from a 4.25" Commander. Recoil split one grip panel (genuine ivory %#*%*#&@^!!!!) and I felt it was pushing the envelope too much. At 1400 all seems fine. My fastest 357 load is 1725 with a 125 JHP from a 5" N frame Smith. This is a very warm load.
 
There was no problem with frame cracking with .38 Super LW Commanders.
Click to expand...

Simply not true. I'm referring to the Lightweight Commanders produced circa 1950-1965.

I do not know how the new ones hold up. My comments were regarding only the original run/chambering during the above time frames.

I'd go with a steel frame, since proper holsters would support the weight easily.
 
GRIZ22 said:
A 38 super can pretty much duplicate a 357 mag in lighter bullet weights.

Between the two go for the 357.
Click to expand...

light weight bullets are not what you want for woods protection...you want heavy, solid bullets with minimal expansion...like a 158gr hard cast SWC or 180gr WFN in .357mag :)
 
Quote:
There was no problem with frame cracking with .38 Super LW Commanders.


Simply not true. I'm referring to the Lightweight Commanders produced circa 1950-1965.

I do not know how the new ones hold up. My comments were regarding only the original run/chambering during the above time frames.

I'd go with a steel frame, since proper holsters would support the weight easily.
Click to expand...

You seem quite confident. Point me to published/accepted statistics on your claim, please.
 
Love my sp101

.357 are more available not to mention the 38+p. I put a crimson trace on it and love the action and balance. It holsters nicely behind the back in the belt, or in my belster i had made for it. Ijust added a m92 rossi big loop carbine in same caliber. Im in heaven...
 
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