.38 Super vs. .45 ACP

[Sandman511]

So I am in the market for a new handgun......

As far as caliber is concerned, I am looking for a round with a lot of stopping power, but want to keep the recoil to a minimum.

I have narrowed my next purchase down to either a :

Colt 1991A Government Pistol O2091 (.38 Super):


or:
Kimber Ultra Carry II 1911 (.45ACP)


Does anyone have any experience with these two pistols??

I have about $1100 OTD saved up . I am a civilian, and am not planning on using this for LE, or MIL purposes..... (just want something nice & reliable).

Any help on this decision would be much appreciated as always!!

[Army GI]

I'd go with the top one. Thats one sexy pistol.

[buffybuster]

What is your intended purpose of the pistol? Without knowing that, it would be difficult to advise.

Unless you reload, between the 38Super and 45ACP, the only real choice is the 45ACP.

38Super can be a nice cartridge but factory load selection is somewhat limited and they are not found eveywhere they sell ammo.

[B Strong]

Unless you already have a 1911 type platform in .45, go with the .45

I'm a big fan of the .38 Super, I have two Colt GM's and a Kimber HD pro carry in the Super, and they're great pistols.

As other posters have noted the ammo isn't always available otc, and if you want the maximum performance ammo, you have to handload or drop big money on boutique rounds.

[Tillers_Rule]

I'd go with the top one. Thats one sexy pistol.

Agreed

[Miltiades]

I'd pick .45

The Kimber picture above you posted is actually a Pro Carry with 4 inch barrel rather than an Ultra Carry with 3 inch barrel. If you click on "properties" of the picture you will see "KimberProCarryII_1911"

But that aside, I would go with the Kimber .45 over the Colt .38 super, just on the basis of ammunition availability. The .45 will give you all the stopping power you need, and the recoil in a Pro Carry is quite manageable, as the gun weighs 28 ounces empty and has a full length grip.

[Sandman511]

Thanks Mil, it is the Ultra Carry I was intending to post.


Thank you everyone for your advice. I do not plan on reloading anytime soon, and I am concerned about the availability/cost of the .38 Super.

I just want a nice handgun that is a dependable, high quality shooter. I was looking at some FN Five-Sevens that are available locally, but can't get past the $$$$ (ammo factored in).

By that logic, I am leaning towards the .45 ACP (I have a USP Full Size .45 ACP currently), but don't have a 1911. I am definately going to purchase one (when finances allow).

So the debate rages on

[Fantasma]

.38 Super is a great Round but In your case I would get a Colt .45 5" nice & reliable.

[El Gato]

So I am in the market for a new handgun......

As far as caliber is concerned, I am looking for a round with a lot of stopping power, but want to keep the recoil to a minimum.

I have narrowed my next purchase down to either a :

Colt 1991A Government Pistol O2091 (.38 Super):
or:
Kimber Ultra Carry II 1911 (.45ACP)

Does anyone have any experience with these two pistols??

I have about $1100 OTD saved up . I am a civilian, and am not planning on using this for LE, or MIL purposes..... (just want something nice & reliable).

Any help on this decision would be much appreciated as always!!

I am a huge .38 super fan... esp. in the Govt. model frame... my kimber pro-carry super wouldn't feed for anything.. after a trip to the factory I sold it.... buy the full size govt. frame super... tune it if needed.. .put on a good set of night sights.. and feed it cor-bon in your favorite flavor... for practice if you don't reload.. try the Aguila brand super ammo... I have found it to be exceptionally accurate in my old kimber... the gun wouldn't feed anything but it shot everything from Aguila into a single hole at 25 yards...and aguila has a very attractive fireball at night...

[Fantasma]

Yeah aguila is the way to go.

[Fred C Dobbs]

Personally, I like both calibers a lot and have 1911s in 45 and 9mm, but if you want a carry gun, I'd go for a lighter gun that I won't be discouraged from taking with me like a compact 9mm. With the new hot 9mm self defense ammo plus cheap 9mm to practice with, I'd probably consider one of the compact 9s. Maybe a Smith and Wesson MP compact. The Kahr guns look like good thin compact carry guns.
I don't like carrying heavy things around and if I could carry something with a CCW it probably would be a Smith and W 442 airweight with some nasty 38 P+ammo. and put it in a pocket holster. Nice and light, no one is accidentally see it, and it has a good sting. If you are in a panic situation, a revolver has less to remember and worry about. This offset by fewer rounds and slower reload. Figure the five rounds will cover you to get to your trunk gun Mini-14 in .223. (>:^)
Your pick.