[PaulM]

I'm almost ashamed to admit that I have very little experience with the .38 Super...

Shoot one and you'll understand grasshopper . . . .

What state do you live in? There's gotta be an addict with a .38 Super nearby for you to try. Live near Atlanta?

It defies logic that we haven't gotten together at the range. We should fix this soon! That Coonan of yours, the Delta, and my oh so missed custom Springer should be in tow. Oh, and bring a Llama so I can understand the Forrest a little more ~

 

[JH225]

You learn something new everyday. How long did it take to get from the time you ordered it?

Delivery time varies according to the time of year. SHOT show coming up, so it's busy now. Their finish coater was also way behind for a while, don't know if that is still the case. But figure 6 months which isn't bad considering all that has to come together.

 

[EXFI]

I'm almost ashamed to admit that I have very little experience with the .38 Super...



It defies logic that we haven't gotten together at the range. We should fix this soon! That Coonan of yours, the Delta, and my oh so missed custom Springer should be in tow. Oh, and bring a Llama so I can understand the Forrest a little more ~

You should be ashamed. However, I might not be trying out ZM's Super if I were you. You WILL want to go shopping for one sooner than you might have otherwise anticipated.

I am thinking ZM's L. glama will not be like one from a random kind of parts ancestry.

 

[PaulM]

You should be ashamed. However, I might not be trying out ZM's Super if I were you. You WILL want to go shopping for one sooner than you might have otherwise anticipated.

I am thinking ZM's L. glama will not be like one from a random kind of parts ancestry.

I think I should fire all of Zoid's guns!

Without-a-doubt said experience would add to the list of firearms I need to own!

 

[ZoidMeister]

Now there is a fine idea! Once I get past all this medical crap I'm dealing with, let schedule a range trip.

The one right off 285 & 85? Riverdale Road I believe. I could sneak out for lunch one day during the week.

My hand recovery is going much better and quicker than I could have imagined. It's been four days since the surgery, but it feels like it was a month ago. The kidney stone meds accelerated the carpal tunnel recovery by about three weeks it feels.

I would stick to the 9mm / 9mm Largo guns the first trip out, but you could play with the Delta.

I think I should fire all of Zoid's guns!

Without-a-doubt said experience would add to the list of firearms I need to own!

You should be ashamed. However, I might not be trying out ZM's Super if I were you. You WILL want to go shopping for one sooner than you might have otherwise anticipated.

I am thinking ZM's L. glama will not be like one from a random kind of parts ancestry.

 

[mikegalway]

I'd be real tempted just to have a complete 38 Super "upper" . Another thought , start out with a 38 Super and get a 9mm barrel . The changes I've seen recommended in this thread would seem to make this the cheapest way to go . Me , I'd just use all this as an excuse to get another gun . LOL

 

[Trey83]

I'd be real tempted just to have a complete 38 Super "upper" . Another thought , start out with a 38 Super and get a 9mm barrel . The changes I've seen recommended in this thread would seem to make this the cheapest way to go . Me , I'd just use all this as an excuse to get another gun . LOL

I see one addict helping another along to addictism

Seriously though I went through this with black rifles and it led to about 6 years of hunting perfection. I feel like this 1911 thing is deja vu all over again.

 

[mikegalway]

I see one addict helping another along to addictism

Seriously though I went through this with black rifles and it led to about 6 years of hunting perfection. I feel like this 1911 thing is deja vu all over again.

Yes , I'm an enabler .

 

[EXFI]

It does appear that many addicts are prone to encourage the addiction of others.

 

[mikegalway]

It does appear that many addicts are prone to encourage the addiction of others.

We're just encouraging people to follow their dreams and realize their potential .

 

[Trey83]

Well I am on the fence between ordering a Valkyrie or a CCO. now I am just torn between 45 and 38 super. I see that ammo is readily available online for the 38.

 

[Bender]

Well I am on the fence between ordering a Valkyrie or a CCO. now I am just torn between 45 and 38 super. I see that ammo is readily available online for the 38.

http://ammoseek.com/ammo/38-super

 

[Trey83]

There is quite a bit of fmj available. What is the preferred carry round for this caliber? I see that Wilson Combat has a loading that uses the XTP bullet

 

[Fred_G]

WC would probably work well. I carry Underwood JHP in my 38S. I considered getting a 9mm conversion, but would up getting another 1911, as I did not have a full sized one. I had 2 AR uppers and one lower to switch between 5.56 and 6.8SPC, but I could not stand it, had to get another lower.

 

[WC145]

I have a Colt ORM 1991A1 .38 Super that has 9mm and 9x23 Winchester barrels fitted as well. In the interest of accuracy I had the 'smith fit a bushing for each barrel so when I change them out I swap the barrel, bushing, and recoil spring. He has the ejector tweaked and the extractor tuned so that all three cartridges feed/extract/eject reliably. Super and 9x23 use the same mags, I've always used 9mm mags w/9mm ammo though, as has been posted, I understand from others that 9mm will work in Super mags.

I normally use 9mm for competition, usually 115gr FMJ, and it's a freakin' ball, full size steel 1911s are smokin' fast shooters. I had been using the Super for carry and most other shooting, my carry load is Georgia Arms 124gr GDHP @ 1350fps. However, I've been stocking up on 9x23 when I can find it priced right and have been using it for carry with 125gr Silvertips @ 1450fps - it's like having 11rds of .357mag in my 1911.:grin:

A 1911 with 9mm and .38 Super barrels is a pretty darn versatile set up, even if you don't reload. You have the economy of 9mm of training, plinking, whatever, and there are some excellent self defense loads in Super out there. Plus, the hotter factory Super ammo easily exceeds 9mm +P+ ballistics while staying within pressure standards for the caliber, I've got some 115gr Corbon .38 Super that's rated at 1450fps! Nothing to sneeze at.

I still have plenty of 1911s in .45 but my Super has a permanent spot in the safe.

 

[Bender]

There is quite a bit of fmj available. What is the preferred carry round for this caliber? I see that Wilson Combat has a loading that uses the XTP bullet

Cor-Bon 125gr DPX

 

[dakota1911]

My initial exposure to the 38 Super was sort of negative. Back in the 70s I traded into a Colt Gov. in 38 Super with about 500 rounds of fired brass and the reloading dies. After about a year I traded it off with about 400 rounds of more fired brass and the reloading dies.

In 2009 I bought a lightly used XSE LW Commander in 38 Super from a friend. I was with him in the gun store when he bought it and knowing he did not reload told him 38 Super ammo was a bit pricey. Anyway I ordered a Nowlin barrel with bushing in 9mm (9x19). Advertised as a drop in (stop to laugh here), I did get it fit after some work. I bought new mags but the extractor, springs and ejector worked O.K. with the Nowlin 9mm barrel.

Of course then there was the ammo shortage where you could not find 9mm but 38 Super was all over for a couple bucks more per box of 50 than pre panic (so was 10mm). I also was impressed with the 38 Super. I found out in 86 Colt had decided to head space off the mouth of the case not the semi rim. So I bought 38 Super reloading dies and the 9mm barrel went in the parts box. EGW makes an undersize sizing die which is nice by the way (they also make one for 10mm/40S&W).

Then last year I bought a LW XSE Commander in 9mm so now I have them in 45, 38 Super, and 9mm.



Colt still likes their small diameter 9mm barrel by the way. Here the front of the 9mm compared to the 38 Super.



And I guess a picture comparing 9mm (9x19) on the left, the 38 Super (9x23SR), 45ACP, and 10mm (10x25) would be nice.

 

[Trey83]

WC would probably work well. I carry Underwood JHP in my 38S. I considered getting a 9mm conversion, but would up getting another 1911, as I did not have a full sized one. I had 2 AR uppers and one lower to switch between 5.56 and 6.8SPC, but I could not stand it, had to get another lower.

Which loading do you use from Underwood? I see they have XTP and Gold dot.

 

[Trey83]

I have a Colt ORM 1991A1 .38 Super that has 9mm and 9x23 Winchester barrels fitted as well. In the interest of accuracy I had the 'smith fit a bushing for each barrel so when I change them out I swap the barrel, bushing, and recoil spring. He has the ejector tweaked and the extractor tuned so that all three cartridges feed/extract/eject reliably. Super and 9x23 use the same mags, I've always used 9mm mags w/9mm ammo though, as has been posted, I understand from others that 9mm will work in Super mags.

I normally use 9mm for competition, usually 115gr FMJ, and it's a freakin' ball, full size steel 1911s are smokin' fast shooters. I had been using the Super for carry and most other shooting, my carry load is Georgia Arms 124gr GDHP @ 1350fps. However, I've been stocking up on 9x23 when I can find it priced right and have been using it for carry with 125gr Silvertips @ 1450fps - it's like having 11rds of .357mag in my 1911.:grin:

A 1911 with 9mm and .38 Super barrels is a pretty darn versatile set up, even if you don't reload. You have the economy of 9mm of training, plinking, whatever, and there are some excellent self defense loads in Super out there. Plus, the hotter factory Super ammo easily exceeds 9mm +P+ ballistics while staying within pressure standards for the caliber, I've got some 115gr Corbon .38 Super that's rated at 1450fps! Nothing to sneeze at.

I still have plenty of 1911s in .45 but my Super has a permanent spot in the safe.

I am finding that, much like 357 Sig, everyone who actually uses the Super loves it. I find it a bit more tempting each day.

 

[Trey83]

My initial exposure to the 38 Super was sort of negative. Back in the 70s I traded into a Colt Gov. in 38 Super with about 500 rounds of fired brass and the reloading dies. After about a year I traded it off with about 400 rounds of more fired brass and the reloading dies.

In 2009 I bought a lightly used XSE LW Commander in 38 Super from a friend. I was with him in the gun store when he bought it and knowing he did not reload told him 38 Super ammo was a bit pricey. Anyway I ordered a Nowlin barrel with bushing in 9mm (9x19). Advertised as a drop in (stop to laugh here), I did get it fit after some work. I bought new mags but the extractor, springs and ejector worked O.K. with the Nowlin 9mm barrel.

Of course then there was the ammo shortage where you could not find 9mm but 38 Super was all over for a couple bucks more per box of 50 than pre panic (so was 10mm). I also was impressed with the 38 Super. I found out in 86 Colt had decided to head space off the mouth of the case not the semi rim. So I bought 38 Super reloading dies and the 9mm barrel went in the parts box. EGW makes an undersize sizing die which is nice by the way (they also make one for 10mm/40S&W).

Then last year I bought a LW XSE Commander in 9mm so now I have them in 45, 38 Super, and 9mm.



Colt still likes their small diameter 9mm barrel by the way. Here the front of the 9mm compared to the 38 Super.



And I guess a picture comparing 9mm (9x19) on the left, the 38 Super (9x23SR), 45ACP, and 10mm (10x25) would be nice.

I think I am leaning toward sticking with 38 super rather than trying to swap parts and make one gun run both calibers. Hey that will give me an excuse later to get another 1911