Why not 38 Super?

[Axxe55]

the 38 super was more of a niche round it's not a bad round but just not a greatroundimo

 

[zackmars]

As I understand the story, the Super 38 came about because folks wanted a 1911 with better penetration than the old .45acp provided.
Colt reworked their .38acp round and brought the Super out before the :357mag. It gave better penetration against the then Auto Bandits. At the time LEO’s were pretty much stuck with .45acp or .38Special. Both are lousy against car doors and such.
When the real deal .357mag showed up it became wildly popular with Law Dogs everywhere. Kinda pushed the Super to the back.
The old story about the Super being popular in the Latin American countries is sort of true. For many years any caliber considered “military” was prohibited for civilians to possess. That went away 50yrs ago. It’s still popular tho. Many down there look at it like we look at the 44-40. A round from a more refined age.

Most, as in the vast majority of cops had zero interest in auto loaders until the S&W third gens, then Glocks. The 1911 was seen as "that army gun".

Even .357's weren't super popular, it was .38 special for the vast majority of cops till they got a glock 17 or 22

 

[Axxe55]

Most, as in the vast majority of cops had zero interest in auto loaders until the S&W third gens, then Glocks. The 1911 was seen as "that army gun".

Even .357's weren't super popular, it was .38 special for the vast majority of cops till they got a glock 17 or 22

honestly i don't remember a lot of factory ammo on the shelves forthe 38 super

 

[zackmars]

honestly i don't remember a lot of factory ammo on the shelves forthe 38 super

I bet more .38 super has been bought by people who thought is was .38 special than has been bought by people who know what .38 super is

 

[Texasgordo]

A short barreled 38 super will blow your ears out just like a 357 does.

Yeah but 9mm will blow your lungs out

 

[Texasgordo]

I have a Colt 1911 Government in 38 Super just for fun times at the range. It's fun for me but I really don't see any real world advantages over more common calibers.


I'd probably carry a 357SIG before 38 Super honestly.

 

[Axxe55]

I have a Colt 1911 Government in 38 Super just for fun times at the range. It's fun for me but I really don't see any real world advantages over more common calibers.


I'd probably carry a 357SIG before 38 Super honestly.

i think there was a time many years ago when 38 superwas a viable cartridge but honestly i think time has passed and there are much better cartridgesavailablewith better components!

 

[V-Tach]

.38 Super is a fun cartridge.....handloading is almost a must....have 3 1911's that are chambered for it although 1 I have never shot and never will.............

A Combat Commander in .38 Super would be a fine EDC..............imho...

 

[Axxe55]

.38 Super is a fun cartridge.....handloading is almost a must....have 3 1911's that are chambered for it although 1 I have never shot and never will.............

A Combat Commander in .38 Super would be a fine EDC..............imho...

imo the 38 super is like a 9mm on steroids!

 

[BigRed]

Would love to get my hands on one of these on 38 Super!!!!!

The Lebman 1911 Machine Pistol :: Guns.com

The Colt 1911 had seen many modifications over the past 100+ years, but one of the most interesting was by a Texas gunsmith by the name of Hyman Lebman.

www.guns.com

JMB meets Texas gunsmith!

 

[leVieux]

<>

A few years back I ran into an Old Guy @ Arcola TX Airport, who had a “fanny pack” in front with a 1911 printinng such that I‘D it from the printing.

Was a Cold .38Super his dead Buddy’s Widow had given him. According to him, the LA CA PD had equipped their Detectives with them for a few years, but then changed to something else and let the Cops keep their pistols.

Guy had shot it very little, but it really looked nice.

<>

 

[Gordo]

I had a Llama 1911 in 38 Super back in the '70s.
Was fun at the indoor range I shot at in Minneapolis.
Got a huge fire halo out the muzzle every round, none of my other centerfire pistols ever did that.
Kind of like a message from God...

But the Llama was kind of a piece of shit, so I traded it for a Marlin 30-30.

 

[BigRed]

I had a Llama 1911 in 38 Super back in the '70s.
Was fun at the indoor range I shot at in Minneapolis.
Got a huge fire halo out the muzzle every round, none of my other centerfire pistols ever did that.
Kind of like a message from God...

But the Llama was kind of a piece of shit, so I traded it for a Marlin 30-30.

I've got a buddy that shoots a 1911 in 38 Super for some steel competitions.

The "halo" is awesome!!!!

 

[innominate]

I've been tempted by a couple nice 1911's in 38 super. Never pulled the trigger because they always are from mid-high end ($$$$) builders. And I just do not want to add another caliber to the ammo shelf.

 

[TipBledsoe]

I have a 25-round box of factory Sig hollow points that I’d like to trade

 

[bbbass]

@OP,

Have you tried any of these makers:?

Custom-built guns based upon the double-stack 2011 frame are by far the most popular choice. STI/Staccato led the way with 20 percent of the shooters building upon it. Infinity was the next most popular at 14 percent, with Phoenix Trinity chosen by 12 percent. Cheely/CK arms was favored by 9 percent, LimCat came in at 8 percent, while Atlas followed at 7 percent and 6 percent choosing Akai. The remaining models were Axiom, BUL, Brazos and CZ (the only non-2011 platform), which were used by 3 percent each.

STI used to make the .38 Super guns that I saw in USPSA, but now I'm not seeing any offerings there at all.


Hmmmmm.

 

[DACMagic]

I think .38 super has some good power on paper, but not much benefit in actual use outside of the USPSA Major Power Factor requirements.

It's not quite a drop-in change for .45 for gun manufacturers, and it's not just a longer 9mm for cartridge manufacturers with it's semi-rimmed thin wall case...so it really gets no love from the gun companies, ammo companies, and service users. Plus the 9x23 came a long and stole some wind out of it's sails not helping it's popularity. .357 SIG stole even more from both.

 

[Axxe55]

I think .38 super has some good power on paper, but not much benefit in actual use outside of the USPSA Major Power Factor requirements.

It's not quite a drop-in change for .45 for gun manufacturers, and it's not just a longer 9mm for cartridge manufacturers with it's semi-rimmed thin wall case...so it really gets no love from the gun companies, ammo companies, and service users. Plus the 9x23 came a long and stole some wind out of it's sails not helping it's popularity. .357 SIG stole even more from both.

converting a 1911touse 38 super not just using drop-in parts

 

[Darqhelmet]

It’s like 9x21mm a round for people that can’t have 9x19 or .45acp. Also know as does not sell here in the US because we have better options. It’s interesting as a historical thing, but doesn’t sell so isn’t made. (Generally speaking)

 

[Coyote9]

I'm curious as to in what way do you find the 38 Super like the 45acp?

Well they are chamberings in the 1911, beyond that I see little comparison