super .38?

[megatronrules]

I know of the .38 super automatic round that is prdominatly chambered in 1911 pistols,but what of the round I've head of called the "super .38"? Is this basicly another name for the .38 super or is it as I think just a name for a really hot .38 special revolver cartridge? I mean "super .38" being a term used for a .38 special round back in th 30's,that today would be known as a .38 special +p+? Thanks for any info guys.

 

[Nightcrawler]

They're the same thing, .38 Super and the Super .38. Basically an improved and modernized version of the .38 Automatic catridge seen in earlier Colt designs.

It was originally chambered in the Government Model in the 1930s, and is a completely different cartridge than the .38 Special (which is a rimmed revolver round).

 

[BigG]

Super .38 is actually the correct name for the round that everybody mistakenly calls .38 Super. Ask Colt why they named it that way. HTH

 

[Tamara]

BigG,

Re: .38 Super

Heck, Colt's Patent Mfg. even stamped it that way on my "Government Model". (Silly them, don't they know it's not really a GM with that rib atop the slide! )

So, what's the history on the .38 Super/Super .38 terminology, anyway, and why has the latter term dropped entirely from usage? I'm kinda curious...

 

[BigG]

I don't know Tamara. My brain is pretty tired. The old Colt's were stamped Super .38. Wish I had mine so I could show y'all a pitcher. Guess they caved to popular opinion?

 

[Tamara]

FWIW, I've also seen older sources refer to it as the ".38 Superautomatic"...

 

[BigG]

An idea: The original guns were marketed in 1929 and were chambered for the cartridge of 1900 .38 ACP, considerably warmed over. To clearly differentiate from the older .38 ACP, the dimensionally identical "new and improved" cartridge was dubbed "Colt's Super .38" in hopes that Bubba would not try to fire it in the old 1900 and 1903 model Colt's pistols. Welp, as you and I both suspect, I'm sure at least several antique Colt's were bubbaized. Today it would be a non=issue as the old funny looking Colt's have mostly disappeared or are too clearly antique for anybody to think of actually firing them. A couple years later it is noted that Smith and Wesson offered a warmed over .38 Special but wisely lengthened the case .10" to ENSURE that Bubba could not hammer one into the cylinder of a .38 Special or Long Colt. My best shot! Cheers!

 

[TheeBadOne]

Super, by any name.

 

[BluesBear]

The owners manual that came with my Father's Commander that he purchased in 1951 stated that it was produced in .45 Automatic, Super .38 Automatic and 9MM Luger.

My first Commander was a LW 4-dight serial number Super .38.

The slide markings were identical to this one.

I believe it was 1929 when Colt started advertising the "Super .38 Automatic" in addition to the "Colt Government Model".

I think it was several years before they referred to both calibers as Government Models.

 

[SMLE]

BluesBear

That picture makes me want to cry and puke at the same time. My late Mother bought a LW Commander in Super .38 back in 1966. We had the original box, papers the spare mag that Colt USED to include with their pistols. Then last summer this <insert long string of obscene invective here> that my Father was trying to help stole it. She also got my Mother's .380 Gov't Model and my Great Uncle's 1873 Peacemaker.

On the subject of the Super .38. It is a great round really, and I wish more ammo makers would work up SD ammo for it. Maybe they will, I seem to be seeing more and more new pistols chambered for it.

 

[Tamara]

SMLE,

On the subject of the Super .38. It is a great round really, and I wish more ammo makers would work up SD ammo for it. Maybe they will, I seem to be seeing more and more new pistols chambered for it.

Georgia Arms loads a 147gr JHP @ 1200fps. That's what's in my .38 Super Colt right now. I know Cor-Bon also has a loading or two for it.

 

[BigG]

Bluesbear:

I think it was several years before they referred to both calibers as Government Models.

I think you are right about that, too, bud.

Thank you for providing photographic evidence to prove that my brain is not totally dead yet. Sometimes these doubting Thomas(inas)es get me so fused I doubt if I know what I remember anymore.

 

[BHPshooter]

...just a name for a really hot .38 special revolver cartridge?

I believe that would be a .357 Magnum... It's the same projectile, but from a longer case.

Wes

 

[BigG]

Who said:

A foolish consistency is a hobgoblin of little minds

?

To prove that Colt's or Colt (both used interchangeably and on the same pistole) has as little a mind as anybody, My 9mm Luger Colt's Combat Commander TM is stamped 9mm Luger Caliber (sic). !!

So, Tamara, et al, I am going to quit trying to standardize nomenclature when the company(s) cannot decide what to call their product themselves!

 

[Stevie-Ray]

FWIW, I've also seen older sources refer to it as the ".38 Superautomatic"...

That's what's written on the ammunition boxes I see at the gun shows.