.38 Super

[tombogan03884]

What can you folks tell me about the .38 Super cartridge,

[twyacht]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.38_Super

One of the more popular competition rounds out there.

Don't know much more than that, except that I held a competitor's pistol in .38 Super, "race gun" style, and it looked like something out of Star Wars.

Hope the link helps.

[ellis4538]

What info do you need?  New brass is more expensive than .45, .40 or 9mm.  Used brass is hard to come by and I'm not sure I'd trust it unless it is guaranteed once fired.  Very popular in Mexico where they cannot own military cal. ammo.  Reliable SS 10 round mags have been around a long time (Wilson or McCormick) for USPSA SS or IDPA ESP (9mm and .40 10 rounders are just coming out (quality makers but untested over the long haul).  Very popular in USPSA Open Division (read HICAP pistols).  Fairly easy to reload using 9mm bullets.  Anything else?

[jnevis]

Used brass is hard to come by and I'm not sure I'd trust it unless it is guaranteed once fired.  ...  Very popular in USPSA Open Division (read HICAP pistols). 

To add what ellis said, the used brass is suspect from the word GO.  Most USPSA Open guns don't function well on "factory" 38 Super (STI specifically calls this out on thier website) and to make "Major" the .355 125 gr bullet needs to be loaded to at LEAST 1320 fps (usually closer to 1360 to make sure it stays Major) which is over 100 fps faster than the upper load limit for 38 Super +P according to Hodgdon's website.  They do show two 38 Super 125 gr loads that are nearly that high but still at the upper end of the data.  My friend's STI is a blast to shoot but he can't use factory 38 Super in it at all.  It doesn't cycle right due to the lack of pressure bled off by the compensator.  He only uses new brass and doesn't reload the case once its fired.

[tombogan03884]

Everything I knew about it it I learned from Stephen Hunters book " Havana" Basicly that the 1911 was offered in that caliber and it was popular in South and Central America. A guy at work was asking about it and I had no real answers for him so I came to the repository of all knowledge. You guys are better than the library as a research tool, Thank you. 

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[ellis4538]

One other bit of info I believe I heard someone mention is that it was popular during the "Gansta" era because even tho it was not +P then it would punch thru car doors and get to the occupant/s inside better than the .38 spl.

Richard

[MikeBjerum]

In USPSA it has been popular, but is being replaced by 9 mm major (really hot loaded 9 mm).

As has been said, the brass is almost impossible to get used and is expensive to buy new.  As compared to 9 mm that is everywhere and cheap.

[jnevis]

http://www.atlantaarmsandammo.com/   Atlanta Arms has started selling commercial 9 Major as 355 Super.  The website doesn't have prices but they are gettinf Startline brass and pushing the hell out of it.  The ymentioned it in Front Site the USPSA magazine this month but only shot it a little and didn't do a real comprehensive test.

As for the 38 Super, besides the IPSC/USPSA side of it the readon it is so popular overseas and in the Americas is they are not allowed to have ammunition that is military in nature.  38 Super and 9x21 are not 9mm Para (9x19).

[Trevor]

It is a great cartridge.  It is, btw, the correct 9mm cartridge for a 1911.  Beyond that point, it is obsolete.  There is no reason to have it in any other type of pistol, and, now, given the advent of 9mm Major, it will probably go south as the Open cartridge of choice because of the cost of brass.  If one is not reloading it for his beautiful 1911 pistol, then nevermind.  Buy a good 9x19 or .40 Auto pistol instead.  Party on.

[2HOW]

I agree with everyone, a great shooter and plenty powerfull. But alas a dinosaur. was a beast in its day.