Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Super 38 Auto 1911 advice

Mine is tricked out exactly like Bob's (thanks to Bob) except for the switch barrel setup. It's a good carry gun.

Went back to my LGS yesterday, where I originally found the SA 38 Auto Super and got a very close look at its consignment mate. That other 1911 is SA, from the SA Custom Shop, that has been turned into a 9x23 Win with all the features of the SA Loaded model, minus the LH thumb safety - as I prefer anyway - Novak sights, etc. Ready to go.

While there spoke for a while with the GS, who while a young guy prefers, uses and carries 1911s. He sells a lot of Glocks - calls them the AK-47 of pistols, because "they are loose, but work all the time." He ought to know as he's an approved Glock & S&W armorer and also does good 1911 work.

Also heard about some DWs, arriving NIB at the LGS with significant rust on the SS surfaces. Rapid replacement by CZ, but not a great recommendation for an EDC pistol, especially at the DW price point and the humidity in my geography.

He's looked the 9x23 over and tells me it's in great shape and shot very little. Also found out he'd fit a spare 38 Auto Super barrel for not much money. I can get 9x23 dies and brass from the current owner as part of the deal and I'd plan to shoot Starline 38 Super Comp (rimless 38 Auto Super) brass in the other barrel.

So at this point, I'm in a bit of a different place than I'd been pursuing, but it would still get me the 38 Auto Super I started after and a second pretty hot 9mm. What do you all think?

Sounds like a GREAT shooter...and if you don't mind the weight a good carry gun.

As to 9x23 Winchester...one can ONLY use Winchester brass to make full 9x23 velocities, as in 1450 fps with a 125 grain bullet. That is why there are no commercial loads left on the market except for the Winchester whitebox 125 grain soft points. The other companies, CorBon, Georgia Arms, etc. all used the Starline brass and all had big smilies on their brass when shot from guns with unsupported chambers...so all have been discontinued. 9x23 runs at 55K PSI vs .38 Super at 37K. You get an extra 100 fps with a 125 grain bullet but is it worth it...to me it is not. I have two dedicated 9x23 1911s setup and a case of the Winchester Soft Points and a few boxes of Silvertips...they rarely get shot... It was a shame that the caliber wasn't introduced back in the early 1980s...it would have blown everything else out of the IPSC market.

But if you can get it right and have a Super barrel and maybe a 9mm barrel installed that gun will do everything you want it to...

Bob

^^^^^^

I learn new stuff all the time listening/reading what Mr. Super aka Bob writes.

Makes me remind myself to resist temptation, in regards to setting up a new caliber..

Bob's .38 Super 1911 collection, as well as converted wheel guns is almost too much!

Thanks Bob. What you say is in line with what I've read as well. I'll have to see what kind of brass the current owner has and then decide whether the 9x23 setup is worthwhile.

I have a TRP in 45 ACP & it's an extremely fine gun........very accurate, totally reliable, snugly fitted & one of the best out-of-the-box triggers on any 1911 I've ever owned.

Since SA would do the conversion work, I'll assume it will be reliable & fitted well so that's not a drawback.

If you want to spend the money & want a 5" gun, I can't see you going wrong with this option.

But for EDC, I prefer to go with a 4.25" gun with an alloy frame & my choice of what you are considering would be the DW Guardian.........I also have one in 45 ACP.

The DW feels way better in the hand than any Colt ever made except maybe a GC & my 45 has been an absolutely perfect gun in all respects.

Personally, I prefer the 45 ACP & really can't see the enamoration or performance on target with a Super & besides, I don't want to start in with another chambering.

JMHO, YMMV

MM

Speaking of Supers...rather than starting another thread just thought post something Super here...

Picked these grips up a few years ago on another 1911 that I bought just to get the grips...was able to find some old adds that picture this grip and they were reportedly made from Indian elephant ivory... Just put them on this old Colt to see how they match....













...and yes I do shoot it...

Bob

A pistol from the Springfield Custom Shop is going to be a nice pistol. If one of those fell on my radar and if the price was real good I'd probably buy it myself.

I'd want to know if it's a ramped barrel or not.

Either way, you might be able to get a great deal on it because of the "oddball caliber"...(even if 9x23 is the best .35 round option...just don't mention that to them...tell them you'll do them a favor and take it off their hands real cheap because ammo is hard to get.)

But I used to load Major 9, and the 9x23 is hands down the best of those 3 rounds!

If you want to load to max MV 9x23 is the way to go, and I guarantee there is no need to load it to 50k...I don't know what genius would want to do that...only the nutzo comp shooters, because they got tired of blowing up Super brass... but considering that for real world use, 9mm, Super, Largo are all going to end up in about the same ballpark as far as terminal effects go...a decent ballpark to be in, but the same ballpark, none-the-less.

The SA is a cool pistol just as it sits there, so I wouldn't want to bother with the expense and hassle to have a new barrel fitted to step-down to the 38 Super case.

That makes no sense to me, personally, but it would be your choice, and there's nothing really wrong with it, but I'd likely put that money into 9x23 brass and bullets and powder and dies, and enjoy that fine pistol just as it is already tricked out and optimized!

I could see a spare 9mm barrel for simplicity, and if I were going to use it for competition, but for the cost, if I wanted to shoot a 9mm bullet out of a case a few mm shorter, or shoot 38 Super, I would put the money toward a package deal at a great price on that other 38 Super pistol...I'd buy both of them...you can't have too many you know!

(The consignment dude probably needs the dough or he wouldn't be selling those 2 pistols...hint!!!!)

The next real step up from the nine is to the 40, and I know lots of guys that used to shoot Super that are now shooting 40 in their 1911s.

But if you don't currently have a LW Commander in your collection, I'd plan to get one sometime soon.

Personally, I'd just pick up one in plain old boring 45...there's a lot can be said about 45 for carry.

No big deal...that's actually encouraging, because it might mean they are using a tougher stainless alloy with less chromium to prevent galling.

The more stainless a steel is, the less useful it is for weapons...why they would not be shipped with an appropriate protectant coating or inside an oil soaked plastic bag like the old Colts is the real question...probably dealers whining about it.

I'd buy that DW at 50% off and bead blast it...I'd be bead blasting a stainless slide anyway, at a minimum, because you don't want to carry anything shiny...it lights up like a torch at night.

Having said that I don't actually own any stainless 1911 slides. Any of the ones I might carry might be phosphate and moly coated, but stainless or chrome moly could easily be nitrided...or just coated with Simonize Car Wax...if they still make that...or Meguiars...if not.

I've not found it difficult to prevent rust, but a little rust just adds a little character.

Thats a Bad Ass Officer's ACP.

Love the serial #.

You could probably triple your money selling that close to the border of Mexico. Seriously.

Makes me want to polish my Officer's ACP. I need to shoot that thing, as I have not done so in years that I can recall.

Whooops,

Forgot to add that the grips are smokin' cool!

Thanks...Colt made 500 of them. It is the only Officers length slide 1911 that Colt ever made in .38 Super.

As to the serial number 007...that is one of the El series guns done for Lew Horton. If you bought the first one out, the El Presidente, you got to have right of first refusal for the rest of the series with your serial number. I walked into a shop in Ct. about 2004 and some guy had traded in his whole El series...he had both 007 and 008. My shooting/teaching partner bought 008. She later sold it for a nice profit at $1300...they now start at $4K...and yea I shoot this one...

Bob

WOW, beautiful piece.........but I really love the smooth ebony grips on your TALO.

MM

...my preference also. Most of my 1911s wear all black ebony or smooth black Micarta with silver Colt medallions. Had two sets of ivory grips given to me by a girlfriend and this hand carved set picked up in a trade.

So wildcat...what are you doing on a SUPER...

Bob