Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns .38 Super...

Anybody still make one? Anybody on here shoot one?

Always though I'd want one but never bought one. Thought about having a 1911 .45ACP converted to one but don't know if that would be a smart move.

Colt, Kimber, Springfield Armory, Rock Island Armory, Fusion and several others all make .38 Supers.

I've been shooting Supers since 1980 and a better semi-auto pistol caliber would be hard to find.

Go over to GunBroker.com and put .38 Super or 38 Super in the search box and lots will come up...usually several pages.

A .45 slide can't be used in the conversion because a) the breachface cut is too big b) the extractor is wrong and the ejector is in the wrong place...

Several friends have bought the Colt XSE Commander and love the gun. Many of the .38 Super chambers will also accept 9x23 Winchester...that is a full .357 Magnum from a 1911. Also with just a barrel and magazine change you can shoot 9mms for cheap practice. The most accurate out of the box .38 Super I ever owned was a Kimber Stainless Target II. It also shot 9x23 Winchester like it was made for it...just replaced the stock Super recoil spring with a 24# Wolf..that was all it took.

Bob

Is there a 1911 made specifically for that 9x23 Winchester?

My kid shoots an STI Trubore in 38 Super , but it is a 2011 double stack - also sports an "elluminated optical sighting system"on top and a noise maker on the muzzle.
Obviously we do not see eye to eye when it comes to IPSC!! (grin)
Cat

Haven't tried the Colt web site yet, but have a Colt and the first thing you have to do is send it to a custom smith to have it re-built right. Could do that again.

I would never buy a Kimber 1911. Every one I've seen is a piece of crap, worst than Colt.

I tried Springfield Armoury's web site couldn't get through. Will try again.

Rock Island Armoury doesn't have a web site but based on the prices on dealer sites a cheap gun.

Haven't tried the Fussion site yet to see if they have one.

Thanks for the info.

I'm a real fan of the .38 Super, it's a great round. You can shoot a bullet with some weight and decent sectional density, yet still have that great 9x19 trajectory. The .38 Super has better penetration, flatter trajectory, higher magazine capacity and less recoil than the .45 ACP; yet it really doesn't give up much in the way of terminal performance.

I really love the .38 Super, but like the 10mm, it's hugely under-appreciated and a bit ignored.

I found that S&W has the 1911DK pistol for about $2500 in .38 Super. It's designed for competion right out of the box.

I have a Springfield 1911A1 National Match in 45 ACP and a Colt slide and barrel assembly in 38 Super, so that I can swap between the 2 in about 5 minutes. The 38 Super ejector works fine for both cartridges. My conversion cost about $400, including parts and labor.

Jeff

That's a good idea I might have to look into that. I have a Colt Gold Cup but the only thing left that is Colt is the frame, slide, and barrel. Everything else is Wilson Combat. I've been thinking of having Wilson finish the rest of the gun in Wilson except for the frame and slide. Maybe Wilson could fit a .38 Super barrel and slide at the same time they fit a new .45 ACP barrel and finish the gun.

I used to have one. Colt 1911 70 series (Mark IV?) in 38 Super with original cardboard box it came in. Came with 200 rounds. 500 bucks.

I shot it and loved it. Unfortunately I did not reload and 38 super requests usually ended up with 38 special from the local ammo hut.

I sold the gun. Kick myself over it too. Thing was ANIB condition when I bought it and when I sold it. 500 bucks......

I have a Combat Elite in Super 38 and it's a great shooting gun. But I still like the 10mm better.
Tomcatt

sigghh let one get away in gov't model that I bought for $125, sold it for $250, dumbazz kid thought I'd done good!


great caliber, perhaps blasphemy but in my view maybe the most suitable cartridge for the 1911 platform.

ex bro in law had one in Combat Commander guise, wonder if he still has it?

I checked Wilson Combat and they still make 1911's in .38 Super. They done all the work on my 1911. Maybe I'll see if they can't fit slide and barrel to the 1911 in .38 Super when they finish my .45ACP. One gun in both .45ACP and .38 Super that be great.

Colt used to and custom guns like from Barns Custom Guns can be had... But there is no difference between the 9mm, .38 Super and 9x23 as far as slides and parts go except for the recoil spring and barrel. Most of my Supers will run 9x23 just fine.

Having one gun that will do it all would be nice. I have a Combat Commander that will shoot .38 Super, 9mm, 9x23 and .22 Long Rifle via a Pachmayer/Peters Stahl .22 Conversion Unit... Have been looking for a 70s vintage Combat Commander slide in .45 to finish the package. I let one go on eBay...like new...and have regretted it ever since.

Bob