The Super .38

[shanneba]

Elmer Keith told of its invention as well as anyone:

In Sixguns, he wrote, “About 1930, due to armored vests and bullet proof glass for autos, the various big gangs over the country gave our police and law enforcement agencies a hard time.

Colt answered the problem with their Super .38 auto on the good old model 1911 design. The new arm shot a 130 grain bullet at 1,300 feet and proved an answer to the problem.

J. Edgar Hoover’s boys promptly adopted it for their side-arm. It would penetrate bullet proof vests, armored car bodies, if not too heavy, and bullet proof glass.”

And as late as 1940, Colt marketed the Government Model Super .38 purely as a hunting gun.
“For the big game hunter and the lover of the outdoors, the Super .38 offers an arm of unsurpassed power and efficiency. …Will stop any animal on the American Continent and is a favorite as an auxiliary arm for big game hunting trips,” the company crowed in the 1940 “Shooter’s Bible.”

An Official Journal Of The NRA | The Super .38

The .38 Super has M1911 design and ergonomics, high-velocity and low recoil.

www.americanrifleman.org

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

That would be a fun round in a carbine or sbr type l! Long frame cartridge made it a bummer for me as it not fitting in the small framed semi-autos.

 

[RedGoat]

I've admired the round for decades. Even Col. Cooper had a few nice things to say about it. However, try finding a nice usable specimen to shoot at a reasonable price (and by "reasonable", I mean costing about the same as the same model in 45 ACP, or slightly more. DOUBLE the price is NOT reasonable).

I'd been on the hunt for a 38 Super that was solid, but not a "collectible", for a long, long time. I finally lucked onto a very nice new 38 Super a few years back. Nope, it wasn't a Colt, but it is made by a "reliable" manufacturer. Good enough. Price was right. It followed me home.

I've seen some very nice Colt specimens at gun shows, but the asking (demanding?) price always seems to be almost double what the same pistol in 45 ACP would cost. I want pistols to shoot, not to collect, so hard pass on those offerings.

 

[HayesGreener]

Stephen Hunter's character Bob Lee Swagger uses a .38 Super to great effect

 

[PieterCoetzee]

Back in the major/minor power classes of IPSC, 38 Super would get you in the major class with less recoil and greater mag capacity than 45acp. I owned a Colt model 70 in 38 Super. It was a great gun; but it wasnt 45...

I also note that not being a military cartridge, 38 Super is/was popular in countries where military cartridges are banned. 7mm08 is likewise popular in those places for the same reason

I remember an old Dick Tracy cartoon, where 38 Super was advocated because it would crack a cars engine block to prevent the the bad guys from getting away

 

[LDB]

One of the great rounds that never got the appreciation it should. A significant upgrade to a 1911, or any firearm.

 

[Grayfox]

I'm a big fan of the Colt Super 38 Automatic cartridge aka 38 Super. I currently own seven of them and am currently working with one that will be my new EDC.
Its a great cartridge. In its original form it fires a 130gr bullet at 1300-1350 fps. Unfortunately most current ammo makers have watered it down until it barely beats current 9mm rounds. To get true 38 Super performance, you have to either handload or buy boutique ammo from someone like CorBon.

try finding a nice usable specimen to shoot at a reasonable price

Rock Island makes several models in 38 Super at reasonable prices. I have two of them.
Just did a quick check of GB and find that Tisas and Girsan are also making 38 Supers.


Left: Colt Government Model..........................Right: RIA Government Model
Colt Combat Commander................................. RIA Tact II
1952 Colt Commander


Sig Sauer P220 .38 Super.

 

[Grayfox]

That would be a fun round in a carbine or sbr type l!

Although kinda rare, the 1928 Thompson sub-machine gun was also chambered in 38 Super.

 

[LDB]

I have a .38 Super P220 just like that one. Great pistol.

 

[SimonRL]

I picked up a 1911 in Super .38 last year and love the round. I’d like a 2011 chambered in Super .38.

 

[PieterCoetzee]

I picked up a 1911 in Super .38 last year and love the round. I’d like a 2011 chambered in Super .38.

Interesting

 

[RedGoat]

According to legend (and one or more historians), Frank Hamer armed himself with a 38 Super for his man hunt to take down Bonnie & Clyde. His choice was based upon the high likelihood that he'd need the power to penetrate the doors and / or body panels of Clyde's favorite car, the V8 Ford. Back in those days they used much heavier gage steel for car bodies than is used now, and Frank wasn't one to leave anything to chance. The 38 Super, by that time, had earned its reputation for being an effective "car penetrator" round.

 

[Gofer]

Back in the 80’s I was shooting a bunch of IPSC stuff and one of the local stores had a new Colt 38 Super for sale. I leered and lusted after it for a while but eventually passed it up because it didn’t offer a huge advantage and the ammo was rare and expensive.

 

[HayesGreener]

According to legend (and one or more historians), Frank Hamer armed himself with a 38 Super for his man hunt to take down Bonnie & Clyde. His choice was based upon the high likelihood that he'd need the power to penetrate the doors and / or body panels of Clyde's favorite car, the V8 Ford. Back in those days they used much heavier gage steel for car bodies than is used now, and Frank wasn't one to leave anything to chance. The 38 Super, by that time, had earned its reputation for being an effective "car penetrator" round.

It was popular with federal officers in the day. But he killed them with a Remington Model 8

 

[Talyn]

I've had 38 Supers since the late 80's one of which is the limited edition Gold Cup Super Elite that was the first 1911 that Colt head-spaced on the case mouth vs. the semi-rim.

I converted a RIA 9mm to 38 Super, and I have 9mm SA Loaded Target that I converted to use the 38 Super & 9x23 Winchester interchangeability.

Would like to get a Colt Commander in 38 Super.

 

[PieterCoetzee]

My 38 Super also shot 38 Auto (much lighter) It was like shooting 38 Special in a 357 Magnum. I still see 38 Super ammo but I havent seen 38Auto in years

 

[Anchorite]

The *original* 9mm 1911, and the only 9mm that needs to be in a 1911 (grin)

 

[slamr]

My late 1951 Super .38 Automatic. Originally purchased by my grandfather in early 1952.