The 38 Stupid in an unsupported chamber is strictly limited to factory loadings, unless you want to blow a gun. The bang, clang sound. Just about every month we had someone come to our range with a 1911 and unsupported chamber, blow the magazine out or apart and blow the grips off, their gun. We just call it the 38 Stupid.
In a handgun with a supported chamber barrel the 38 Super is a fine cartridge and capable of very good performance, approaching a 357 Mag in an auto pistol.
