The .38 Super, is it still a viable round?

[MagnumDweeb]

Just something that I pondered on recently. The caliber as I understand it, was intended to give FBI and LEO of the 1920's a better round that could penetrate past the bullet-proof vests of the time and metal car doors that outlaws commonly used to perpetrate their crime. With rounds like the 10mm which can reach 1400+fps velocities, and other rounds like the 9mm, .40 S&W, .45 ACP(I realize came into existence before the .38 Super), does the .38 Super still have a place at the SD table.

What I have been able to find basically has said that the .38 super really can't do anything that the 9mm can't and while it can be +P loaded to exceed 1200fps, so can the .40.

The good points though is that Rock Island offers the .38 Super in a 1911 without costing an arm and a leg, generally around $400 or less before S&H and FFL transfer which is generally just another $60 or $70 bucks. Also it's a unique round that not many people carry so there is little risk brass hunting issues at the range with other people getting hostile. It's certainly a good defense round in the Winchester Silver Tip +P but from what I have found it's practice ammo is on par or slightly more expensive than .45 ACP.

Your thoughts? If anyone has any experiences to share please do.

 

[Loomis]

38 super can be handloaded to higher performance than the 9mm can be handloaded.

Factory loads on 38super are artificially low so that the antique 38super guns out there won't blow up. 9mm is not handicapped in this way.

A better cartridge is the 9x23 winchester...very similar to the 38super and any gun that shoots 38super can be modified to shoot 9x23 winchester.

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

 

[VegasOPM]

Ask the USPSA and IPSC Open shooters. .38 Super and .38 Supercomp (rimless) are pretty common in that division. The .38 Super can make major power factor pretty easily (125gr at 1320fps). It takes some pretty major VooDoo to get the 9 to make major.

 

[Hunter0924]

I believe the Super .38 is still much a viable round especially of you reload.
It can be had in personal defense ammunition it generates a lot of energy to mild target loads.

 

[makarovnik]

I think so.

 

[Arch]

I own a Tanfoglio in .38 super and love it. I had the option of going down the 9mm path, but ultimately preferred the .38sup for a few reasons.
1) To be different
2) Greater flexibility. You can load the .38 super to exceed the performance of a 9mm by a noticeable margin, or you can just push those 1thou oversize projectiles to equate 9mm performance, depending upon your need.
3) A bit subjective, but I prefer the 'shootability' of the .38 super over the 9mm. Although it probably comes down to the load, I find the .38 super to be less snappy

Probably reaching a bit now, but the aesthetics of the round is nicer too (it's longer than the 9mm).

The 9x23 is probably a little more obscure than the .38 super, and the .38 super has been revived by IPSC and Action Match, but definitely worth a look too. Although you have a much better chance of finding a factory gun in .38 super.

 

[Frog48]

Just my personal opinion, but I think the .38 Super is a better round than 9mm Luger.

Unfortunately, few guns are chambered in .38 Super nowadays, thus why I own a 9mm and not .38 Super.

 

[ClarkEMyers]

Yes, the .38 Auto +P is viable and the 9x23 is better.

But there are some caveats.

The .38 Super +P requires a 1911 or bigger to deal with a cartridge case at .900 nominal plus the bullet. For some purposes a smaller pistol in 9x19 might be preferred, or a smaller pistol in .40 S&W. Given the real need for a full size pistol a larger bore can be used in the same overall size.

The .38 Auto+P has been helped by the non-military status of the cartridge. Many countries with insecure governments outlaw military cartridges - to reduce any trickle of arms from their own army to dissidents and to hinder any flow of military surplus from another country to their own dissidents.

There are enough guns out there to keep the cartidge from going away any time soon but there may not be enough demand in the United States market to get best efforts from major manufacturers.

FREX the CorBon Barnes bullet is an application of new technology to a load in .38 Auto +P that looks great on paper - loads from other makers may continue to use bullets that work as well as they ever did but don't embody the newest technology. The prospect of non-lead demands may complicate future decision making - no shooting odd balls or cast bullets in California or Washington State looms on the horizon. Of course my carry load is Silver Tips in which I have some confidence so it's a pay your money and take your choice situation. My hands hurt but I can buy ammunition that makes major in a lighter recoiling service load.

The .38 Auto (+P) and/or the 9x23 do allow switch barrel guns with 9x19 barrels for cheaper shooting a real positive in today's markets.

 

[floydster]

I have two CZ 9mm's and a Witness Match in the 38 super, I load for both calibers, I get a little more accuracy from the 38 super then I do the 9mm--this is shooting lead.
Floydster

 

[jaysouth]

Dweeb,

The director of the FBI was so dead set against autoloaders that agents were absolutely forbade to carry them.

The limited circumstances in which agents carried .38 super autos was when undercover. They figured that carrying a .38 super autoloader was sufficient proof that they were not undercover agents given the proclivities of its colorful director.

Outside of Texas, few, very few LEOs carried any autoloader because they were considered unreliable and inaccurate. The holy grail for lawmen up into the 90s was a MAGNUM. However, most LEOs never got to carry a .357 Mag, being stuck with .38 specials.