Is there and advantage of 38 super over 9mm?

[Lone_Gunman]

The velocity difference looks like at most about 50 fps when comparing 38 Super to 9mm +P loads.

Is there an advantage to 38 super?
Is it lower pressure?

I am looking at 1911s chambered in 9mm v. 38 Super, and so my question applies to 1911s.

 

[Guy de Loimbard]

Standard 9mm and .38 Super are almost identical in pressure, .38 may be slightly lower. 9mm +P is higher pressure. It also tends to accelerate wear in some guns, but I'm not sure about 1911's. I'd compare prices of ammunition before making a decision, if .38 Super is cheaper than 9mm +P where you live then I'd go with the .38 (that is, assuming you had the 9mm, you would shoot +P all the time).

 

[jaholder1971]

Factory .38 Super ( limited to a couple 130 grain FMJ and Winchester's 125 grain Silvertip) are about equal to 9m +P or +P+, depending on the loading.

If you reload, and have a fully supported chamber, you can easily and safely equal .357 Sig velocities with the right (VitaVouri) powders.

 

[Loomis]

Get a springfield 1911 chambered for the 38 super...or a rock island 1911.

THEN HAVE IT MODIFIED TO SHOOT 9X23 WINCHESTER!

Here is something you can read:

http://www.burnscustom.com/9x23/generalcomments.html

You get the power of hot handloaded 38 super, in factory loaded 9x23.

 

[Walkalong]

If you handload their is a big advantage. It is much more versatile. 9MM is naturally cheaper because brass is laying everywhere. You will have to buy .38 Super brass.

 

[Lone_Gunman]

This is probably a dumb question, but if you have a Super 38 1911, can you convert it to 9x19 with a barrel and magazine change?

Also, I do reload 9x19 ammo. Does Super 38 use the same bullets? I have never looked at reloading data for it.

 

[threefeathers]

I load lots of both and my 38 Super loads are the equal of hot 357 Sig.
I use the 357 Sig bullet from Montana Gold in my 38 Super. It is my most accurate 1911 and I have 9 1911's.

 

[Cowboy2]

With a fully supported chamber, .38 Super can be safely loaded to equal or surpass .357sig (especially with heavier bullets), The Lee manual shows n-105 pushing 124jhps at 1600fps. Factory ammo generally doesn't get close to the cartridge's full potential.

My Rock Island .38 Super gets fired more than my other 1911's. Its just fun to shoot.

 

[Walkalong]

if you have a Super 38 1911, can you convert it to 9x19 with a barrel and magazine change?

Yes, but you may or may not have to tweak the extractor. Ask in the Gunsmithing and Repairs section. They know all these things.

 

[Loomis]

38 super is a semi rimmed case, not rimless.

 

[Disaster]

THEN HAVE IT MODIFIED TO SHOOT 9X23 WINCHESTER!

Performance is equal to or better than the 357 Mag. John Ricco is now loading commercially a 147 gr xpt @ 1400fps and three or four other loads.

http://www.burnscustom.com/showarticle.php3?article=9x23/9x23WhereAreWe.php3

With the 223 brass Cooper was able to safely get a 124gr bullet to 1700 fps and a 90 grain bullet up to 2000 fps.

Wow. That is smoking. Wonder what kind of pressures he is toying with jamming a 147 gr. bullet in the case and further reducing the capacity.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BTT/is_151_25/ai_70380678

 

[f4t9r]

I love the 38 super. The cost of ammo is a bit steep. The 9mm would be cheaper to shoot. This is based on the fact I do not reload at this time and have to buy ammo. Because of ammo price I would go with the 9mm

 

[grendelbane]

In a 1911 type pistol the big advantage that the .38 Super has over the 9mm is that it is a full length cartridge. The 9mm is significantly shorter than the .38 Super.

The .38 Super is a slightly better performer, though some of the +p and +p+ 9mm loads will match and/or beat it.

Though nominally .356", you usually can get excellent results with most 9mm bullets.

The semi-rimmed cartridge is a holdover from the old .38 ACP. As soon as John M. Browning saw a 9x19mm cartridge, he designed all of his new cartridges to headspace on the case mouth. If he had designed the .38 ACP this way in the first place, I suspect it would be the most popular pistol cartridge in the world.

 

[Harley Quinn]

It is all smoke and mirrors the better would be a 357 Sig but the 9mm that is on the +P side is a good one, 9mm is highly available and not that expensive to shoot.

38 super is not an answer.