What happened to the 38 super ?

[acaligunner]

I remember Pops only had 1 Colt 1911 in 38 super ( I shot it once or twice ) but then I don’t remember much about it.
Anyways why is the 38 super not a more talked about / used more in a SD role ?
I know it’s popular in shooting sports ( or was I doing really follow the round ) but it would seem to be in the 357 sig realm, in terms of power.

I know it was used in the gangster era - were they needed a powerful round to help shooting at bg’s that used cars for cover.

Wouldn’t a good Hollowpoint in 38 super bridge the gap between 9mm and 357 magnum ? A 10 round 1911 or the use of the sig 220 ( ? ) be popular in today’s search for an all around sd pistol ? Thoughts ~

[Citadelgrad87]

I pick up a TON of it at Prado when I am at IDPA, but I don't ever see anyone shooting it.

[M1A Rifleman]

Agree Acali, it always seemed like a good hot round for a 1911. Don’t know if true, but recall reading it was developed to punch through engine blocks during the 1920’s gangster times.

[The Gleam]

What happened to the 38 super ?

It married .40S&W and they had a baby called .357-SIG.

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[yacko]

It was popular for the lowest recoil round that had enough energy for major power factor in USPSA handgun comps. It also works well with a compensator for 'Open class' (unrestricted mods)

Otherwise, to make major, you shoot 45ACP which has far more recoil and less rounds in the mag-

[phil conrad]

They keep showing up at my house
😊

[ar15robert]

I wanted one years ago just never got to buying one.

iirc think it was a popular round in Mexico because it had power and something that they could not own a round the same caliber that military uses.

[Scotty]

It was popular for the lowest recoil round that had enough energy for major power factor in USPSA handgun comps. It also works well with a compensator for 'Open class' (unrestricted mods)

Otherwise, to make major, you shoot 45ACP which has far more recoil and less rounds in the mag-

Low recoil is never a concern in Open division. It's about getting enough slow burning powder into a case to get the peak pressure to occur at the compensator to drive the gun downward so it shoots flat with little to no dot lift. For a long time it was 38 Super, 38 Super Comp, and 9x23 because this weren't SAAMI regulated as required by USPSA rules.

IPSC rulebook did not have this requirement so other countries, people started stuffing a lot of powder into a 9x19 luger. For the most part they were compressed loads, i.e. the bullet compresses the powder when it is inserted into the case. Eventually USPSA changed the rules like 10-15 years ago. The round became the 9mm Major. The pressure is beyond 9mm +P+. However it isn't as much of a concern since most open guns are built around a 2011 which the barrel external dimensions is larger than a typical 9mm because the 1911 was design for a larger caliber bullet. The advantage is the casing is cheaper. The downside is the casing can only be used a few times before cracking.

Only non-competitive people, shooting open, would use rounds other than a the 9mm Major or the variants of the 38 because of the magazine capacity. Note, there's a scoring difference on the target if you use minor power factor runs like a regular 9mm. The points difference is too much to overcome which is why no competitive person would do it.

For other division like Limited, everyone competitive will shoot major power factor rounds because of the scoring difference, but no one uses 9mm/38 bullets because the rulebook prohibits that size bullet for major power factor. No one competitive would uses 45ACP because you can make major with 40S&W and have the additional mag capacity.

[smle-man]

I own a .38 super. I started with a .38 auto 1903 pocket model in in early 70s. Currently have a series 80 .38 super. It is accurate, less recoil than a .45 and higher ve!ocity than a 9mm so flatter shooting.

[BrokerB]

Its down in MeHiCo

[jarhead714]

There are so many in the San Joaquin Valley that people actually trip on them.

[k1dude]

It was mostly a competition round that has been replaced by the .40 S&W and the 9mm Major.

It was also popular in Mexico because it wasn't a banned military round.

[acaligunner]

Anyone know how effective 38 super hollow points are rated on “ one shot stops “ ?

[M1A Rifleman]

Anyone know how effective 38 super hollow points are rated on “ one shot stops “ ?

Per the Sierra manual, 38 Super is very close, within about 10 or 15 ft-lbs energy to a 357 mag. Should be fine.

[Garbcollector]

The 38 super went in the same direction as the 357sig