Does anyone know about the Colt .38 Super vs .45ACP

[RiverRat]

A terrible thing happened at the gun store. I was shopping for a 1911 for carry.......and found a beautiful Colt lightweight SS Commander in my chosen .45 caliber. I have been carrying an SS Combat Commander, but it's making me list to my strong side While the Colt lightweight SS Commander was exactly what I was looking for (I like the horsey on the grip), there was a matching lightweight SS Commander in .38 Super that also followed me home.

I know nothing about the .38 Super other than the higher ammo velocities, it's expensive, and......and it's not available at Academy. I was told that the .38 Super is a good car carry gun because it is less affected by windshields than the .45ACP in hollow point.....and the preferred 1911 by some Fed agencies.

My question is: Is there really any advantage to this round over a good ole .45ACP? It does hold 10 in the clip....

Thanks,
Cotton

[MoJo]

The .38 super is a great old round. High velocity, with the proper ammo the equal of the .357 Mag and the .357 SIG. CorBon loads some great hollow point ammo for it. I think you'll be very happy with your new gun.

[carlson1]

You might want to shoot a PM to Mr. Cotton he has all of the in's and out's of the .38 super. I have a 38 super in Wilson CQB. It also feeds the 9X23.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I haven't seen any testing on windshields, but I seriously doubt that the 38Super would perform better than a .45 ACP. However, the .38Super is a great cal. for the 1911 platform. Here is a link to a short article I did about 38Supers. http://www.texasshooting.com/blog/?p=24 It's not in the article, but as Carlson1 said, many, perhaps most, 38Super barrels will feed 9X23 rounds just fine and the performance of that round is most impressive! I would not shoot a steady diet of 9X23 in an aluminum framed pistol, but as self-defense ammo it should be fine.

Chas.

[RiverRat]

Very good article on the .38 super, Charles. Not sure I'm going to tell Mrs. RiverRat about the .38 super being a ladies gun. She likes my 1911's in .45 so well, she just bought herself a Springer loaded .45 SS Champion with night sites for her target gun.

By the way, thank you so much for this clean, easy going, informative forum . I have learned many years worth of information, without the COST of many years worth of experience. It is appreciated and enjoyed by the whole household of CHLer's here.

I'm not familiar with 9x23. I didn't find any at the common internet ammo dealers in a cursory search. It would seem to be as difficult to purchase as the super .38. Carlson1, where do you get yours?

I had never looked at the variations of 9mm, I'm overwhelmed, and glad Wallyworld sells the kind that fits my 9mm pistols.

I ran out on the web and read for about 4 hours on the .38 super after finishing your article. I have always had revolvers of only two types, trying to limit the ammo requirements at the house .38/357 and .22. From what I read, this round is somewhere in between the .38 special and .357mag with similar characteristics, plus the added advantage of being in a 1911 form. It should make for a very nice compromise, with much better performance than the 9mm.

The windshield comment....the gun dealer was talking about the ammo he sells to some Texas Rangers for their .38 supers and penetration of autos. (I thought those guys were mostly 1911 .45ACP guys). Interesting, I was reading the history of the round and it made several comments about it being adopted by Frank Hamer (Bonnie and Clyde) and gangsters of the twenties/thirties because of the penetration of autos of the day. The dealer must have read that article. I must admit, I don't foresee myself shooting any windshields, or cars for that matter, unless of course, the car or windshield REALLY DESERVES a good shooting! Then, I guess, it'll have to be with a .45ACP, cause that's all I carry with me :).

All in all, it's a beautiful pistol. Thanks for all of the info. I'm in the process of a transaction with one of the forum members to get some reloads for it. I hope to get out to the range with it someday soon and try it out.

Cheers
Cotton

[RiverRat]

Just did some more reading on the 9x23.....quite a round, quite the price. Looks like $40 for 50 rounds minimum. I understand your aluminum frame comment with the 40ish Klbs of chamber pressure. I think I'll use it as intended with the .38 super until I have a better understanding of the pistol and differences.

Cotton

[TraCoun]

River Rat,

I have a Colt 1911 FS .38 Super. I have read a bit about the round and have seen it referred to as a "9mm on steroids". It seems to be pretty effective, and I love to shoot it!

TraCoun

[rm9792]

It does hold 10 in the clip....
Thanks,
Cotton

Then it is a Garand not a 1911! Just picking.