Colt, Rock Island, EAA and Llama all offer pistols chambered in .38 Super, as do many custom 1911 builders (such as Les Baer). 38 SUPER AUTO +P FMJ FULL METAL JACKET. regulated countries, every pistol cartridge combo has to be proofed at 130% of this maximum C.I.P. Cartridge Type: RifleHeight: 2.085\"Width: 0.506\"Average FPS: 1320Average Energy: 986Average Gr: 255Recoil: 1.51Power Rank: 3.37 of 20 The .38-55 Winchester was designed in 1884 by Ballard Rifle & Cartridge Company. The cartridge was designed for use in the M1911 pistol and was capable of penetrating automobile bodies of the late 1920s. The compensator works by diverting gases at the mu… 3 Dry Fire Drills Enhanced By G-Sight ELMS, How To Buy Or Build A Custom Precision Rifle, Best 1911 Pistol Options For Concealed Carry (2020), Power On The Cheap: Best Affordable 10mm 1911 Options, 4 Top 6.8 SPC Upper Options To Level Up Your AR (2021), Bergara BMR Delivers Precision In A Petite Package. I still enjoy both calibers. [11] A machine pistol variant of the M1911 chambered in .38 Super was also produced by Hyman S. And now looking at either carrying the govt or maybe a commander. Maj. J.S. Lehman.[12]. The 9×19mm Parabellum is however approved for higher pressure +P loadings by both SAAMI and C.I.P., which compensates for much of the case volume difference in factory-loaded ammunition. The following year. And they can be used for just about any application you can think of. Most current ammunition manufacturers label ammunition for the Super as .38 Super +P. Shooting and Showing A new Colt 1911 chambered in .38 Super! Nine shots of .357 Magnum oomph in the sweet, sleek concealment platform with a full Guv'mint grip. [8], Cor-Bon/Glaser offers the .38 Super +P in several full-power self-defense–style loads with advertised velocities such as 115 gr 1,425 ft/s (434 m/s) and 125 gr 1,350 ft/s (410 m/s). The older .38 ACP cartridge propells a 130-grain (8.4 g) bullet at 1,050 ft/s (320.0 m/s), whereas the .38 Super pushes the same bullet at 1,280 ft/s (390.1 m/s). The .357 Magnum was collaboratively developed over a period in the early to mid-1930s by a group of individuals in a direct response to Colt's .38 Super Automatic.At the time, the .38 Super was the only American pistol cartridge capable of defeating automobile cover and the early ballistic vests that were just beginning to emerge in the post-World War I "Gangster Era." pressure to be certified for sale to consumers. Colt's "Super .38 Automatic" made its debut to an exuberant crowd at Camp Perry, OH, in the fall of 1928 and the ad in the American Rifleman followed in December. Then .38 Super be good. Test Gun: 1911Barrel length: 5 inches.Ammunition: Cor Bon .38 Super 125gr +P JHP.Test media: 10% Clear Ballistics Gel.Distance: 10 feet.Chronograph: Caldwell Ballistic Precision Chronograph G2 .Five shot velocity average: 1290fpsGel Temperature 70 degrees. It also allows for a substantial increase in capacity when compared to a .40 S&W or .45 Auto. Cartridge Type: Height: 0.9" Width: 0.406" Average FPS: 1306 Average Energy: 454 Average Gr: 120 Recoil: 0.71 *Casing image above is an artist rendering and not a real photo of .38 Super Auto Colt Ballistics cartridge. The .38 Special operates at a maximum average pressure (MAP) of 17,000 PSI, the .38 Special +P at … .38 Super also appears on the television program Nash Bridges, with the series titular charecter, played by Don Johnson, carrying a modified M1911 pistol in the caliber. It was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP, also known as .38 Auto. Both the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) and Commission internationale permanente pour l’épreuve des armes à feu portatives (C.I.P.) specify a bullet diameter of 0.356 inches (9.04 mm). The story of the .38 Super cartridge starts in 1900 when Colt introduced the John Browning-designed Model 1900 .38 Automatic pistol.Interestingly, that was two years prior to … From the standpoint of the defensive handgunner, all these things are important … and this should make you wonder why the Super .38 is not more popular. This modernized cartridge had a new name—.38 Super—and the only improvement amounted to nothing more than the cartridge being loaded to a higher pressure: 36,500 psi, as compared to 26,500 psi. In 1974, the industry added the +P headstamp to the .38 Super to further distinguish it from the lower-pressure .38 ACP. The second is the reduction in recovered-bullet diameter. The story of the .38 Super starts in 1900, when Colt introduced the John Browning-designed M1900 .38 Automatic pistol. The cartridge was originally designed to headspace on the semi-rimmed case, which worked in the Colt M1900 due to the design of the feed ramp. Interestingly, this was two years prior to the introduction of the 9mm Luger. The Super not so much. Even after 100 years, those three cartridges and two firearms are still being trusted all over the world. Even so, overall, the Commanche averaged 1.5 inches for 20 five-shot groups at 15 yards. If the wedge comes out, or the slide cracks at the wedge, the slide can come off the rear of the frame when fired. This design guarantees controlled, uniform expansion. The main cause of reduced felt recoil is a compensator, or muzzle brake. Their .38 Super pistols held one or two more rounds simply due to the smaller case diameter. Using the latest ammunitions, the .38 ACP / Auto velocity can reach roughly 1,040 – 1,150 Feet Per Second. The .38 Superwasn’t introduced until 1929, some 27 years later. Double-stack magazine pistols in this cartridge holds fifteen to eighteen rounds, plus one in the chamber. At the times of its introduction, the .38 Super is capable of piercing body armor a… A 130 grain bullet from a .38 Super travels at over 1300 fps, and could penetrate the ballistic vests and car bodies of the 1930s. A former police officer and serviceman with the U.S. Army, Richard A. Mann is one of the most well-respected firearms authorities writing on the subject today. The weakness, in the Colt M1900, Colt M1902, and others derived from that design, comes from the assembly wedge at the front of the slide. I started with five, five-shot groups with each load from a sandbag rest at 15 yards. In C.I.P. The .38 Super is generally regarded as a well-balanced cartridge with a flat trajectory, good accuracy and relatively high muzzle energy; most loadings have greater muzzle energy than many factory-loaded .45 ACP loadings. Use of compensators in competition is limited to the Open Division in IPSC and USPSA. 10/22/2012. Generally speaking, .38 Super (tend to be labeled as .38 Super +P nowadays after the changes in pressure ratings) flies faster, flatter and hits harder than 9mm. Armscor 38 Super 125 Grain Full Metal Jacket Ammo Review Armscor 38 Super 125 Grain Full Metal Jacket is ideal for Range shooting. There has been an error with your Email Subscription. The .38-55 was used in the Model 1983 Marlin lever-action rifl… It does make a difference. He serves as contributing editor for several magazines, including NRA’s American Rifleman and Shooting Illustrated, Varmint Hunter, and Combat Handgunner, and is the editor for Gun Digest’s Cartridges of the World 13th Edition. From an external ballistics standpoint, the Super might not be the equivalent of a big-block V8 but is, for sure, a supercharged small block. The nearly rimless cases improve feeding reliability in these pistols but are intended to be used in firearms that headspace on the case mouth. In fact, many Colt Super 38 1911 pistols had a reputation for poor accuracy. The SAAMI pressure limit for the .38 ACP or .38 Auto is set at 26,500 psi (182.72 MPa), piezo pressure. As a result of this, observed accuracy of the .38 Super suffered until Irv Stone of Bar-Sto barrels re-designed the chamber to allow headspacing on the case mouth. Do Carbon-Fiber Barrels And Stocks Live Up To The Hype. The first is that, on average, it will out-penetrate the three most common defensive handgun cartridges (the 9mm, .40 S&W and .45 Auto) commonly chambered in semi-automatic pistols. The Super was only marginally successful until about 35 years ago, when it became a favorite of practical pistol competitors. Since the early 2000s, ammunition is available with velocities exceeding 1,400 ft/s (430 m/s). decisions, texts and tables - free current C.I.P. The SAAMI pressure limit for the .38 Super +P is set at 36,500 psi (251.66 MPa), piezo pressure.[6]. By using a barrel with a supported chamber in a 1911 pistol, competitors found they could make major with the Super. The recoil of the .38 Super is more manageable than that of a .40 S&W or .45 Auto, and it has a higher velocity than the 9mm Luger. I pretty much fell in love with the Colt 1911 38 Super I have. and SAAMI specified .38 Super (+P) has a semi-rimmed cartridge case. Sig’s ammo: http://www.sigsauer.com/Ammunition/ The .38 Super is now available from Sig Sauer, with both the proprietary SIG V-Crown for personal defense and the full metal jacket suitable for practice and range work. When Colt switched the inventory's supply of the model from the Series-70s to the Series-80s, the model fell into lesser demand. This is another way of saying the .38 Super makes a bigger “splash” than the 9mm. Part of the felt recoil reduction is due to the use of lighter-weight bullets. Since the .38 Super is dimensionally the same as the .38 ACP, an unsafe condition can be caused by firing .38 Super cartridges in a firearm designed for the much lower pressure .38 ACP. Some mistakenly assume the .38 Super is based on the 9mm Luger. Super Sleeper: Why To Consider The .38 Super For Self-Defense. Get 12 Issues a year of the country's best firearms writing. Two of the loads performed very well, and the other two delivered about average accuracy from a 4.25-inch gun at the tested distance. Competing with a “major” pistol was a huge advantage, because hits were worth an additional point. Competitors still using .45 ACP pistols attempted to keep pace, both by adding compensators and by reducing bullet weight, quickly reaching the limit at 152-155 grains. (For what it’s worth, there are only about six quality defensive loads available for the .38 Super, so I tested half of them.). About the only advantage I can see is that a near identical ballistic delivery is achieved with less pressure using the Super. I tried matching .38 Super loads with similar 9 mm loads and fired them into blocks of Clear Ballistics gelatin. I had a limited supply of .38 Super ammunition on hand from Wilson Combat and Buffalo Bore and fed it all through a Les Baer 1911 Commanche. In IPSC competitions, there’s a power factor that must be met. There has been an ongoing debate on multiple firearm forums and shooters circles on the .38 Super vs .38 Special topic. Texas Ranger Frank Hammer carried one, and my good friend and former Texas sheriff, Jim Wilson, is fond of the cartridge as well. .38 Super IPSC Loads List Compiled By: Jeff Maass, USPSA L-1192 Updated: 23 October 2003 Primers Small rifle primers are used (very nearly) universally for IPSC Major .38 Super loads, as the cup is harder and resists the hellacious pressures extant. Takes smaller manufacturer "Boutique" ammo and/or reloading to realize the Super's ballistic advantage over much of the factory 9MM ammo available. The more important question is, What kind of terminal performance can be expected from a .38 Super? But if you know what these pistols are and how they work, you might have a better chance at choosing a pistol with little to no difficulty at all. The greater the gas volume, or the higher the pressure, the greater the effectiveness of a compensator. Regardless of its performance or popularity as a defensive handgun cartridge, we have to acknowledge that it’s yet another grand invention of John Moses Browning, who also gave us the .45 Auto, .380 Auto, 1911 and the M2 machine gun. However, ammunition options in .38 Super are not limitless and, on top of that, .38 Super ammo can sometimes be hard to find. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. Accurate No. To find out, I tested three of the four loads I had on hand—one was an FMJ load—in 10 percent ordnance gelatin. Both may be accurate in short-distance shooting, but the .38 Super performs better at long-range shooting because it has a higher velocity and a flatter trajectory and than the 9mm. The compensator works by diverting gases at the muzzle. This 38 Super ammunition from Armscor is factory new ammo that is non-corrosive and reloadable with a brass case and boxer primer. According to the official C.I.P. When it comes to the .38 Super, I think there are several things to consider. The semi-rimmed case is known to cause feeding problems in some magazines, especially double stack magazines, and led to the development of new variants with reduced rims (typically only .003 inch per side). In recent years, cases such as the .38 Super Comp, .38 Super Lapua, .38 Super RL (Armscor), and .38 TJ (.38 Todd Jarrett) became available transforming the .38 Super into an almost truly rimless cartridge. The benchmark load for the .357 Magnum propels a 125 grain bullet at 1450 fps from a 4" barrel. CD-ROM version download (ZIP and RAR format)", "Voluntary Industry Performance Standards for Pressure and Velocity of Centerfire Pistol and Revolver Ammunition for the Use of Commercial Manufacturers", "Ingram Model 6 (M6) submachine gun (USA)", The .38 Super +P compared to other pistol cartridges, M1892 / 1894 / 1895 / 1896 / 1901 / 1903 / 1905, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=.38_Super&oldid=995372944, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, 115 Gr (7.5 g) full metal jacket: 1,395 ft/s (425 m/s), 124 Gr (8.0 g) full metal jacket: 1,346 ft/s (410 m/s), This page was last edited on 20 December 2020, at 18:08. The problem was traced to excessive headspace. However, ammunition options in .38 Super are not limitless and, on top of that, .38 Super ammo can sometimes be hard to find. [3] The .38 Super has gained distinction as the caliber of choice for many top practical shooting competitors; it remains one of the dominant calibers in IPSC competition.[4]. Looking at all the 9mm Luger loads I’ve tested over the years, the average penetration depth in 10 percent ordnance gelatin was about 14 inches. AIM HIGHER. At the time, 175 was the lower limit for “major class” (currently, the IPSC major power factor is 165). [8], The .38 Super round received further publicity through the single-action "Colt Combat Commander" and lightweight aluminum alloy frame "Colt Commander". The .38 Super is a very accurate cartridge, something not so well known to many shooters just a few decades ago. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Since the 38 Super has better ballistics than the 9mm, it is not surprising to learn that it was the cartridge of choice for most shooters in the open division for many years. The average penetration depth for the three .38 Super loads tested was 2.5 inches—17 percent—deeper. Then, the product is divided by 1,000. The chambers were cut too deep because the round was expected to headspace on the semi-rim. As the .38 Super runs at a higher chamber pressure than the .45 ACP, a compensator will have more recoil-reduction effect. Thank you! The .38 Super has 17.6 grains H2O (1.14 ml) cartridge case capacity. Disclosure: Some of these links are affiliate links. Caribou Media Group may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. While the 9mm is often thought of as a modern cartridge, it’s actually old enough to be the .38 Super’s father. Of course, this is well within any reasonable expectation for precision from a defensive handgun. 9mm Luger, which we’ll refer to as 9mm for the duration of this article, was introduced in 1902, and is essentially a .30 Luger cartridge that was necked up to accept a .355 diameter bullet. The 1911 and 1911A1, having a slide that is solid on front, cannot come off the frame that way. The other divisions there do not permit their use, and the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA) does not permit them at all. Back to Coronach - back in the 80's, my favorite, ideal handgun was the Colt Combat Commander in .38 Super. Due to the higher velocity, bullets fired from the .38 Super tend to deform, with a smaller frontal diameter, which averages about 1.4 times the original bullet diameter. It’s a no-brainer that as far as ballistics, the 9mm is superior.For 9mm fans and subcompact semi-auto plastic handgun aficionados, that’s … The .38 Super can produce real .357 Magnum performance from a 5" barrel, just like the 9X23 Winchester, with the right gunpowder. On average, the major difference I found when comparing the .38 Super to 9mm Luger was a substantial increase in penetration. [2] When the .357 Magnum was introduced in 1934, this advantage of the .38 Super was no longer enough to lure police departments and officers from the traditional double-action revolver. A common example is the .38 Super Comp case, which has a semi-rim extending only .003–.004 inch per side, compared to standard .38 Super which has .007–.009 inch per side. It isn’t; the .38 Super case is semi-rimmed, smaller in diameter and longer than that of the 9mm Luger. It can be used for a variety of purposes: a full powered load that lives up to the potential of the .38 Super, practical shooting competition — and an inexpensive practice round with recoil in the same range as more expensive self-defense ammunition. Distance (Yards) Velocity (FPS) ENERGY (FT/LB) Muzzle 1220 430 100 Yards 992 284 Expert Reviews “ I manage a gun range and I … The first is the increase in velocity, which is about 200 fps when compared to 9mm Luger loads with the same bullet weight. The Geco .38 Super ammunition proved to be powerful and accurate. But what about the .38 Super as a defensive handgun cartridge? Pistol cartridge designed by Colt's Manufacturing Company, LLC, Rimless .38 Super cartridge case variants, Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, Commission internationale permanente pour l’épreuve des armes à feu portatives, United States Practical Shooting Association, International Practical Shooting Confederation, International Defensive Pistol Association, "C.I.P. While we have went to great lengths to make sure that it's as accurate as possible this rendering should not be used to generate specs for casings. It was introduced as a high-velocity replacement for the 45 ACP in 1911 pistols. Part of the felt recoil reduction is due to the use of lighter-weight bullets. Hatcher, a devoted fan of the original .38 Automatic, had the opportunity to review the new gun and cartridge for the May 1929 Rifleman: The .38 Super has made a comeback in IPSC and USPSA sports shooting raceguns, particularly when equipped with a compensator, because it exceeds the power factor threshold to be considered a "major" charge, while having much more manageable recoilthan .45 ACP. As mentioned in an earlier piece comparing the .38 Super to 9x19mm, most commercially available loads are little if any hotter than 9mm +P. The .38 Super retains the original dimensions of the .38 ACP case. Even if it’s put against 9mm +P, 38 Super +P still comes out on top thanks to its longer case which could accommodate more powder. Tests with ammunition besides Cor-Bon/Glaser increases velocity by between 25 ft/s (7.6 m/s) to 50 ft/s (15 m/s) on average.[9]. But read the ballistics on the 38 Super and the info on Genitron: 1350fps with 500ftlbs in a 124 grain, half the recoil in a 1911 govt. Finding the best .38 Super Pistol might be tough. And, a 1911 in .38 Super held more ammo than one in .45 ACP. The thing is, there is no truth to this old wives’ tale. This is impressive from a semi-automatic pistol and is comparable to the .357 SIG. [7] Other improvements found in some of these cases are modified extractor grooves and increased thickness in key parts of the brass for high pressure loadings. In 1929, Colt tried again with an improved version of the .38 ACP. Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in the 2020 Concealed Carry issue of Gun Digest the Magazine. Different shooters and firearms experts have aired their opinions and views regarding the use of the two rounds and their applications. This increase in penetration is due to two factors. You might think a cartridge like that would have been a dream come true for law enforcement stuck in the arms race of … [13] Ammunition is also being manufactured in the modern hollowpoint style bullet with excellent ballistics for personal defence. It’s calculated by multiplying a cartridge’s bullet weight by its muzzle velocity. However, most people still find themselves at crossroads… For an auto-pistol cartridge, the velocity is high, and the recoil is noticeably less than you’ll feel from a .40 S&W or a .45 ACP. 1E382112. The .38 Super, also known as .38 Superauto, .38 Super Auto, or 9x23mmSR,[2] is a pistol cartridge that fires a 0.356-inch-diameter (9.04 mm) bullet. A small number of .45 ACP submachine guns were also made in .38 Super, such as the Ingram Model 6[10] and Thompson submachine gun. The .38 Super has made a comeback in IPSC and USPSA sports shooting raceguns, particularly when equipped with a compensator, because it exceeds the power factor threshold to be considered a "major" charge, while having much more manageable recoil than .45 ACP. The best apples-to-apples comparison was the 115-grain Buffalo Bore .38 Super … Because of its larger case volume, which allows for more smokeless powder and results in higher muzzle velocities at approximately similar pressure levels, the .38 Super offers higher bullet velocity potential than the 9x19mm Parabellum when handloaded and in some defense loadings. After my last test with Cor Bon some May wonder why I'm testing something form them. Now, ironically, our troops are carrying 9mm pistols. over the 45ACP, and got one. The SIG V-Crown uses a stacked hollow point bullet featuring an additional smaller hollow point cavity behind the main cavity. Learn how your comment data is processed. For a time, the Super was the king of competition. A 38 Super pistol is chambered to fire .38 caliber rounds. 38 Super ammunition cartridges distinguish themselves from other “.38” and “.357” rounds by their longer case. Appeared in the late 1920s, the .38 Super retains the profile of the 38 ACP / Auto albeit with a higher pressure loading. The .38 Super could be loaded with a bullet as light as 115 grains. 7, N105 and Power Pistol can all do that with a 5" barrel. However, the biggest advantage was the muzzle brake, allowing for faster follow-up shots, and thus faster stages and subsequent higher scores. What it is, in fact, is a mid-range 357 Magnum cartridge that will fit in a practically-sized handgun magazine. The 9x19mm Parabellum is however approved for higher pressure +P loadings by both SAAMI and C.I.P., which compensates for much of the case volume difference in factory-loaded ammu… Like the 9mm, it was designed off another cartrid… Lacking a compensator, a .38 Super, running at major, has felt recoil much like that of a .45 ACP, and more than that of a 9mm Parabellum. A standard single-stack magazine in a 1911-style semi-automatic pistol holds nine to eleven rounds, plus one in the chamber. Another c… The C.I.P. Armscor 38 Super 125… When the .38 Auto became the .38 Super, in the 1911A1, the feed ramp could no longer be used as rim support. This case allows for more propellant to be loaded behind the projectile, creating greater velocity, straight-line trajectories, and superior ballistic energy. These "rimless" cases are somewhat of a misnomer, due to the case rim not retaining the same diameter as the case wall just forward of the extractor groove. This high-pressure ... Ballistics. Available at True Shot Gun Club online at cheap, discount prices. The .38 Super +P is very popular in Australia (partly due to firearms laws prohibiting calibers over .38 caliber from use in IPSC) and Latin America in regards to competition shooting and is also finding its way back into the role of a concealed carry caliber. Vs.38 Special topic felt recoil reduction is due to the Series-80s, the model from the lower-pressure ACP... As rim support major power factor that must be met them into blocks of ballistics! Similar 9 mm loads and fired them into blocks of Clear ballistics gelatin blocks of Clear ballistics gelatin simply. Can not come off the frame that way of these links are affiliate links powerful. I started with five, five-shot groups at 15 yards Per Second, those three cartridges and firearms... Overall, the major difference I found when comparing the.38 Super is a very accurate,. 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