The .38 Super Auto: History, Performance, and Legacy

[Annihilator]

Good article on the 38 super, one caliber I have never owned, article also has some history of the cartridge

The .38 Super Auto: History, Performance, and Legacy - Handguns

Born to punch through gangster body armor, the Super .38 Auto is a ballistic masterpiece. Here is the history and performance of an undying classic.

www.handgunsmag.com

 

[ECS686]

I wish the 38 Super was more popular. It’s a very underrated round and it in a Commander size is perfect! IMHO

 

[Talyn]

The Colt 38 Super Combat Commander I got earlier this year shoots great.

More info on the .38 Super from a previous posting.

Thread 'Cartridge of the Week: The .38 Super'

Aug 1, 2021

The .38 Super

The .38 Super, also known as .38 Superauto, .38 Super Auto, or 9×23mmSR, is a pistol cartridge that fires a 0.356-inch-diameter bullet. It was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP, also known as .38 Auto. The older .38 ACP cartridge propels a 130-grain bullet at 1,050 ft/s, whereas the .38 Super pushes the same bullet at 1,280 ft/s.

The .38 Super retains the original dimensions of the .38 ACP case. The cartridge was originally designed to headspace on the semi-rimmed case, which worked in the Colt M1900 due to the design of...

• Talyn
• Replies: 7
• Forum: Guns

• 

 

[Grayfox]

I love the 38 Super and currently own 8 of them. 7 1911 style pistols and a Sig P220.
Two of them started out as 9mm pistols, but I swapped barrels and now they're 38 Supers.
My current primary carry gun is a Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander converted from 9mm to 38 Super.
The 38 Super is a great caliber. Its really a shame that its fallen by the way side. More people should really discover this fine cartridge.

Current carry Ruger SR1911 LW Commander

Colt Custom Carry 2012 Talo Exclusive only 435 made.

Colt Government Model
Colt Combat Commander.............................. RIA Government Model
1952 Colt LW Commander..............................RIA TAC II

Rare Sig Sauer P220 American 38 Super

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

I'll stick with my 357sig

 

[Talyn]

I love the 38 Super and currently own 8 of them. 7 1911 style pistols and a Sig P220.
Two of them started out as 9mm pistols, but I swapped barrels and now they're 38 Supers.
My current primary carry gun is a Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander converted from 9mm to 38 Super.
The 38 Super is a great caliber. Its really a shame that its fallen by the way side. More people should really discover this fine cartridge.

Current carry Ruger SR1911 LW Commander

Colt Custom Carry 2012 Talo Exclusive only 435 made.

Colt Government Model
Colt Combat Commander.............................. RIA Government Model
1952 Colt LW Commander..............................RIA TAC II

Rare Sig Sauer P220 American 38 Super

Nice collection of "Supers".

Besides the new Colt Combat Commander I also have a limted edition Colt Super Elite from back in the 90's, and a RIA 9mm that I converted to 38 Super.

Related, I converted a SA 1911 Loaded Target in 9mm to 9x23 Winchester which is a "Super" 38 Super.

 

[RedGoat]

I've been a 38 Super fan ever since reading about it in the mid-to-late 60s gun rags. Actual specimens have, in my experience, been VERY scarce (at least in the locations I've lived) and very overpriced when found. I've personally seen more of them in the last 4-5 years than in my entire previous lifetime. I have one now that's a beauty, I think, and one of the favorites in my "collection".