38 super as a defense round

It has nearly the ballistics of a .357 magnum, but finding premium SD ammo could be tough.
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Actually, order on line. No tougher than getting to this forum.

Poke around here for example...
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/Bro...3&categoryId=7512&categoryString=653***691***

You see some good plinking ammo here (the Win., Remington, Fiocchi, Aguila, PMC, etc.) click on the subjects for the tech specs.

For SD try Wilson, Cor-Bon, Buffalo Bore, The 125 Gr. Win JHP is as good as any 9mm round in it's weight, the Double Tap is worth a look
 
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You guys are great!!! I never expected so much knowledgable input so fast.
I can't wait until the next gun show in my area, which will be next month(March). I'd like to be able to find a Colt Commander, but if not, do you guys
have any preference between a Kimber, Springfield, or perhaps another 1911?
Again, I really appreciate all the great info you supplied me.
 
Jim March said:
That's actually a good point. The 38Super is very good and there ARE decent factory loads for it, but not a lot. The very best 38Super+P types will have about as much recoil as most 45s:
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No they don't.

What you're overlooking (being a revolver guy and all, we 1911 folks will forgive you) is that ALL .38 Super ammunition is +P. .38 Super is the hot-rodded version of what was originally .38 Automatic Colt Pistol. Unlike .380 ACP and .45 ACP, which are still soldiering on, .38 Auto has effectively disappeared and been completely replaced by .38 Super. Whether the headstamp says "+P" or not ... it is.

In a Government or Commander size 1911, .38 Super doesn't recoil nearly as much as .45 Auto.
 
The .38 Super is a good self defense round when fired from a 5" barrel, but premium 9mm +P ammo will come real close to its performance (and sometimes surpass it) even when fired from a 4" barrel.

For example...

.38 Super +P 125g Winchester Silvertip, from a 5" barrel, has a muzzle velocity of 1240 fps and muzzle energy of 427 ft.lbs.

9mm Para +P 124g Speer Gold Dot, from a 4" barrel, has a muzzle velocity of 1220 fps and a muzzle energy of 410 ft.lbs.

9mm Para +P 125g Corbon self-defense JHP, from a 4" barrel, has a muzzle velocity of 1250 fps and a muzzle energy of 434 ft.lbs.
 
The .38 Super is a good self defense round when fired from a 5" barrel, but premium 9mm +P ammo will come real close to its performance (and sometimes surpass it) even when fired from a 4" barrel.
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it's funny that you wouldn't post cor-bon's 38 Super load of course it doesn't support your arguement as their 38 super DPX load goes 1350 fps for 506 ft lbs.
 
Not to mention Buffalo Bore which also has a 1,350 fps 124 grain hp at 504 ft lbs. The .38 super is a 500 ft lb gun and the 9mm may get to 450 ft lbs. Nothing wrong with the 9mm but the .38 Super is more gun and if the 9mm works, the .38 Super works better.
 
Commercial .38 Super ammo has been loaded down in case it ends up in a .380.

Similar problem for .45-70.

Most of the stuff is down at Trapdoor levels.

A few smaller manufacturers load both up and print warnings on the ammo boxes.
 
Arthritis

I have had the same problems and pinched nerve, but when I went to Hougue grips on all my guns I have had minimal issues. Just a thought!
 
it's funny that you wouldn't post cor-bon's 38 Super load of course it doesn't support your arguement as their 38 super DPX load goes 1350 fps for 506 ft lbs.
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Okay, but you're still only getting around 70 additional ft.lbs. of energy by using the .38 Super +P instead of the 9mm +P.
And most of that is actually due to the inch longer barrel.
And that's using the DPX solid copper hollow-points, which most folks don't prefer over the standard lead core copper jacketed hollow-points.
The Corbon .38 Super +P 125g JHP has a muzzle velocity of 1325 fps and a muzzle energy of 487 ft.lbs..
Only about 50 ft.lbs. more than the 9mm +P, and again, while using a longer barrel.


What I'm saying is that the .38 Super, while certainly not a "bad" round, really isn't that much more powerful than the 9mm +P.
And in pistols with equal barrel lengths the 9mm +P might even be more powerful (depending upon the load).
And by going the 9mm route the OP will have a much wider selection of ammo to choose from.
 
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Okay, but you're still only getting around 70 additional ft.lbs. of energy by using the .38 Super +P instead of the 9mm +P.
And most of that is actually due to the inch longer barrel.
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gee only 16% even if you lose 5% going to a commander length super (Which my commander gives up less than that) it's still better than a 10% gain.
 
gee only 16% even if you lose 5% going to a commander length super (Which my commander gives up less than that) it's still better than a 10% gain.
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I don't think you understand what I'm saying...

The .38 Super offers very little increase in performance over the 9mm +P and at the cost of much more expensive practice ammo and less ammo selection to choose from.

If one wants more power, then they can go with the 357 Sig.
And if they want more affordable practice, without sacrificing much in power, then the 9mm is the way to go.

The .38 Super just doesn't make much sense as a dedicated self-defense weapon unless one lives in a nation that prohibits 9mm ammo in the hands of civilians.
 
I don't think you understand what I'm saying...
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Oh I understand you think the 9 is a better choice than the Super.

The .38 Super offers very little increase in performance over the 9mm +P and at the cost of much more expensive practice ammo and less ammo selection to choose from.
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A: the OP didn't ask anything about the 9mm he asked about the 38 Super.
B: there are more than enough choices for SD ammo and it doesn't cost any more to reload a Super plus it's a great cartridge to reload.

If one wants more power, then they can go with the 357 Sig.
And if they want more affordable practice, without sacrificing much in power, then the 9mm is the way to go.
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again the OP didn't ask about the 357 sig.
The .38 Super just doesn't make much sense as a dedicated self-defense weapon unless one lives in a nation that prohibits 9mm ammo in the hands of civilians.
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a more powerful round in an accurate, reliable platform that's thin and very concealable for a dedicated self defense gun.:confused::rolleyes:
 
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brickeyee said:
Commercial .38 Super ammo has been loaded down in case it ends up in a .380.
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Considering that the .380 ACP case length is 17mm long and the .38 Super case is .900" (22.9mm) long, the chances of ever putting a .38 Super cartidge into a .380 pistol, by accident or intentionally, are less than zero.
 
Hey guys,
I'm starting to get a little confused about calibers.
Should I consider a 9mm(I was looking at a Glock 19 at the last show, but I'm open to suggestions on other brands).
I could practice with regular 9mm loads, and carry +P loads for SD.
Again, my main concern is reducing as much as possible the felt recoil from the 45 ACP, and yet feel comfortable about what I am carrying for SD.
 
There's nothing wrong with the 9 for SD it opens up the # of options for guns. Its cheaper to practice with if you don't reload. Is this going to be primarily home defense or CCW also? Just to trhow another wrench in your decision a 1911 38 Super is only a barrel away from being able to shoot 9mm. Some may run better with 9mm mags but usually they run good enough for practice.
 
Max007 said:
I don't reload. It would be for home defense and CCW.
Can a 38 Super 1911 be converted to fire 9MM?
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Easily. Just change the barrel. The breechface cut is the same, so a new slide isn't necessary. They even use the same recoil spring rating. Genuine 9mm magazines have an internal spacer up the spine of the mag tube to hold the shoter rounds forward, but I happen to know that 9mm will feed out of .38 Super magazines (although I wouldn't rely on it in a self defense pistol).
 
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