Best 38 super

Brutus · May 19, 2018, 08:43 AM

Want to add a super to my collection.
1911 style, fully supported barrel, locates on the case mouth.

Don't want to spend more than $2500. Any suggestions?

Jim Watson · May 19, 2018, 09:26 AM

Dan Wesson has a good reputation at the high end of production guns.
http://danwessonfirearms.com/product/pointman-38-pm-38/

Reloadron · May 19, 2018, 09:44 AM

Have to agree with Jim. The Dan Wesson (CZ) guns have a well earned and deserved very good reputation. Your budget allows you to give the Dan Wesson guns every consideration.

Ron

Brutus · May 19, 2018, 09:54 AM

Thanks, I have 2 Dans a 715revolver and a bobtail valor. Very happy with them.
Just place a bid on gunbroker for a pointman.

JDBerg · May 19, 2018, 10:48 AM

http://danwessonfirearms.com/product...man-nine-pm-9/

Agree 100% on the DW, I have the old style Black Duty Coat finish Valor myself...but I’d go with the Pointman 9 and get a 38 Super barrel fitted to the slide, with the extra recoil spring.

My other suggestion would be to look for an STI Trojan longslide in 38 Super, these are now out of production, this is probably the most accurate production gun I’ve ever shot. My own 9mm Trojan is very close to it though!

Siggy-06 · May 19, 2018, 12:44 PM

DW Guardian is a nice .38 Super. A Colt Custom is well under your budget with room to upgrade.

Bilbo463 · May 19, 2018, 09:35 PM

Push your budget up another $500 and you’re in the ballpark for a 38 super by some of the best builders (i.e. Ed Brown, Guncrafter industries and maybe a Wilson).

rc · May 19, 2018, 10:56 PM

You have lots of choices but I can say the Kimber 4" is a really nice handling gun in 38 super. I don't like short 45s but 38 super works well in the shorter platform.

44caliberkid · May 21, 2018, 08:25 PM

Posted in error, sorry

NoSecondBest · May 21, 2018, 08:35 PM

Not wanting to call anyone's baby ugly or anything, but Dan Wesson isn't in the running for a high end .38 Super. Get something like a Les Baer and have it built up from there by a quality gunsmith. I had one done by Claudio Salasa and it was built with the bells and whistles I wanted/needed for the type of shooting I was doing a few years back. It had a 28oz trigger, put five shots under an inch at twenty-five yards with ease, and was 100% reliable all the time I owned it. There's other brands equally as good, but Dan Wesson isn't one of them.

Siggy-06 · May 22, 2018, 06:41 AM

^unless he finds a used Les Baer in .38 super, they're gonna be out of his budget. Not gonna have much money left to upgrade either. Dan Wessons are some of the best 1911's for their price range. My RIA can eat a bullseye at 25 yards and it cost me under $400 bucks.

NoSecondBest · May 22, 2018, 06:01 PM

Quote:

unless he finds a used Les Baer in .38 super, they're gonna be out of his budget. Not gonna have much money left to upgrade either. Dan Wessons are some of the best 1911's for their price range. My RIA can eat a bullseye at 25 yards and it cost me under $400 bucks.

I've shot major competition for many years. You need to get out more and learn a little bit. Show me one major competitor shooting a stock Dan Wesson....or even a "built" one and winning shoots.

Siggy-06 · May 22, 2018, 09:23 PM

In all fairness, a lot of professional pistol competitors use what their sponsers give them. Lots of polymer pistols being used and not 1911's. Just saying... I hope the OP finds a .38 super he's happy with.

nagami · May 23, 2018, 01:48 PM

DW Guardian is a nice

Roughedge · May 23, 2018, 04:16 PM

I ordered one from the Colt custom shop and was disappointed, have a RIA that has better fit. Worked on it a bit and got a good shooter but not what I expected from Colt.

stephen426 · May 23, 2018, 05:01 PM

I have to agree with looking for a Les Baer. They are built extremely tight, yet are still reliable right out of the box. http://lesbaer.com/New-Calibers.html. I have a Thunder Ranch Special, a Monolith Heavyweight, and a Concept V. You can get them below MSRP on Gunbroker.com sometimes. While other companies might put out guns that can perform as well, few companies put out guns that perform so well consistently.

Brutus · May 28, 2018, 04:12 PM

Well I can't believe it I won the bid on a brand new DW Pointman PM-38.
No one else bid against me. After paying for shipping, my FFL fee, buying dies, 200rnds. of brass and a couple of boxes of Hornady XTP bullets I'm in for approx. 1600 bucks. Yes I know it's an ugly baby but that's a grand less than I was willing to pay, been real happy with my other Dan's. I'm not into competition shooting don't have the time or money, much rather spend my time fishing, hunting and working with my Springer Spaniels.

Reloadron · May 28, 2018, 04:48 PM

Well congratulations on the new addition and may it bring you many enjoyable hours on the range.

Ron

JDBerg · May 28, 2018, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brutus:

Well I can't believe it I won the bid on a brand new DW Pointman PM-38.

IMHO, You probably can’t do any better for a new production gun at twice what you spent. The Dan PM series guns are all fantastic, regardless of caliber. If you do your part, that gun will be a total tack driver once you get your reloads figured out. I’d be real anxious to see a range report once you get things sorted out!

Bilbo463 · May 28, 2018, 06:12 PM

38 Supers are just so much fun at the range. I purchased one first of the year and have over 1,000 rounds through it. I see you got some dies to reload......good move. Factory ammunition can be had, but it’s not inexpensive. I picked up 2,000 Starline new brass and have been Reloading that..... I predict you’re going to have a lot of fun with that pistol...

Rfactor · May 29, 2018, 07:13 PM

I picked up a Kimber Target Elite about a year ago. It's a pleasure to shoot, and a tac driver. Wanted a 38 Super for years, and I'm not disappointed.

boondocker385 · May 29, 2018, 10:14 PM

Kimber has absolutely no place in this discussion. Overpriced and not reliable if you shoot much.

Reloadron · May 30, 2018, 09:33 AM

boondocker385 mentions:

Quote:

Kimber has absolutely no place in this discussion. Overpriced and not reliable if you shoot much.

Interesting as the post preceding yours spoke very highly of Kimber so maybe they were an exception to your rule? I have but one Kimber, a little Kimber Ultra CDP II which I ended up with as a result of someone needing money. While I would never look for a 3" .45 ACP that little gun has proven itself through a few thousand rounds and never a failure. The gun reliably feeds 230 grain FMJ and JHP of my loads as well as a half dozen commercial brands.

Granted for the OP's price point there are better choices but for reasons unknown many people love to slam Kimber. Most shooters I know are pleased with the Kimber line. They have no issue with price or reliability.

Ron

Brutus · May 30, 2018, 09:40 AM

Boy, some folks really like to rain on the other guys parade. You could have said something like, glad you got a good one or happy you haven't had to deal with their crummy customer service, like I have.

I have two Kimbers, both are tack drivers. My problems with them are MIM parts which break frequently ( adjustable sights) and the bad magazines they first used on their 10mm. Bought some Colt magazines which solved that problem and the latest sight , third one, seems to be working O.K. but that's the reason I switched to Dan Wesson's.

stephen426 · May 30, 2018, 10:01 AM

That's awesome! Congrats on your new purchase! Hope you enjoy it!

May 19, 2018, 08:43 AM	#1
Brutus Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 1,023	Best 38 super Want to add a super to my collection. 1911 style, fully supported barrel, locates on the case mouth. Don't want to spend more than $2500. Any suggestions? __________________ Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, Winston Churchill.

May 19, 2018, 09:54 AM	#4
Brutus Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 1,023	Thanks, I have 2 Dans a 715revolver and a bobtail valor. Very happy with them. Just place a bid on gunbroker for a pointman. __________________ Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, Winston Churchill.

May 19, 2018, 10:48 AM	#5
JDBerg Senior Member Join Date: May 18, 2015 Location: PA Posts: 1,835	http://danwessonfirearms.com/product...man-nine-pm-9/ Agree 100% on the DW, I have the old style Black Duty Coat finish Valor myself...but I’d go with the Pointman 9 and get a 38 Super barrel fitted to the slide, with the extra recoil spring. My other suggestion would be to look for an STI Trojan longslide in 38 Super, these are now out of production, this is probably the most accurate production gun I’ve ever shot. My own 9mm Trojan is very close to it though! __________________ Words to Live By: Before You Pray - Believe; Before You Speak - Listen; Before You Spend - Earn; Before You Write - Think; Before You Quit - Try; Before You Die - Live

May 19, 2018, 12:44 PM	#6
Siggy-06 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 1,148	DW Guardian is a nice .38 Super. A Colt Custom is well under your budget with room to upgrade. __________________ Flicks just like a lighter, just a different kind of fire.

May 22, 2018, 06:41 AM	#11
Siggy-06 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 1,148	^unless he finds a used Les Baer in .38 super, they're gonna be out of his budget. Not gonna have much money left to upgrade either. Dan Wessons are some of the best 1911's for their price range. My RIA can eat a bullseye at 25 yards and it cost me under $400 bucks. __________________ Flicks just like a lighter, just a different kind of fire.

May 19, 2018, 09:26 AM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Dan Wesson has a good reputation at the high end of production guns. http://danwessonfirearms.com/product/pointman-38-pm-38/

May 19, 2018, 09:44 AM	#3
Reloadron Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2016 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Suburbs Posts: 1,750	Have to agree with Jim. The Dan Wesson (CZ) guns have a well earned and deserved very good reputation. Your budget allows you to give the Dan Wesson guns every consideration. Ron

May 19, 2018, 09:35 PM	#7
Bilbo463 Member Join Date: July 28, 2017 Posts: 45	Push your budget up another $500 and you’re in the ballpark for a 38 super by some of the best builders (i.e. Ed Brown, Guncrafter industries and maybe a Wilson).

May 19, 2018, 10:56 PM	#8
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,767	You have lots of choices but I can say the Kimber 4" is a really nice handling gun in 38 super. I don't like short 45s but 38 super works well in the shorter platform.

May 21, 2018, 08:25 PM	#9
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,104	Posted in error, sorry

May 21, 2018, 08:35 PM	#10
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	Not wanting to call anyone's baby ugly or anything, but Dan Wesson isn't in the running for a high end .38 Super. Get something like a Les Baer and have it built up from there by a quality gunsmith. I had one done by Claudio Salasa and it was built with the bells and whistles I wanted/needed for the type of shooting I was doing a few years back. It had a 28oz trigger, put five shots under an inch at twenty-five yards with ease, and was 100% reliable all the time I owned it. There's other brands equally as good, but Dan Wesson isn't one of them.

May 22, 2018, 09:23 PM	#13
Siggy-06 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 1,148	In all fairness, a lot of professional pistol competitors use what their sponsers give them. Lots of polymer pistols being used and not 1911's. Just saying... I hope the OP finds a .38 super he's happy with. __________________ Flicks just like a lighter, just a different kind of fire.

May 23, 2018, 01:48 PM	#14
nagami Junior Member Join Date: May 1, 2018 Posts: 7	DW Guardian is a nice

May 23, 2018, 04:16 PM	#15
Roughedge Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2011 Location: Monroe,NC Posts: 669	I ordered one from the Colt custom shop and was disappointed, have a RIA that has better fit. Worked on it a bit and got a good shooter but not what I expected from Colt. __________________ The man that die's with the most stuff win's!

May 23, 2018, 05:01 PM	#16
stephen426 Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Posts: 3,840	I have to agree with looking for a Les Baer. They are built extremely tight, yet are still reliable right out of the box. http://lesbaer.com/New-Calibers.html. I have a Thunder Ranch Special, a Monolith Heavyweight, and a Concept V. You can get them below MSRP on Gunbroker.com sometimes. While other companies might put out guns that can perform as well, few companies put out guns that perform so well consistently. __________________ The ATF should be a convenience store instead of a government agency!

May 28, 2018, 04:12 PM	#17
Brutus Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 1,023	Well I can't believe it I won the bid on a brand new DW Pointman PM-38. No one else bid against me. After paying for shipping, my FFL fee, buying dies, 200rnds. of brass and a couple of boxes of Hornady XTP bullets I'm in for approx. 1600 bucks. Yes I know it's an ugly baby but that's a grand less than I was willing to pay, been real happy with my other Dan's. I'm not into competition shooting don't have the time or money, much rather spend my time fishing, hunting and working with my Springer Spaniels. __________________ Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, Winston Churchill.

May 28, 2018, 04:48 PM	#18
Reloadron Senior Member Join Date: June 8, 2016 Location: Cleveland, Ohio Suburbs Posts: 1,750	Well congratulations on the new addition and may it bring you many enjoyable hours on the range. Ron

May 28, 2018, 06:12 PM	#20
Bilbo463 Member Join Date: July 28, 2017 Posts: 45	38 Supers are just so much fun at the range. I purchased one first of the year and have over 1,000 rounds through it. I see you got some dies to reload......good move. Factory ammunition can be had, but it’s not inexpensive. I picked up 2,000 Starline new brass and have been Reloading that..... I predict you’re going to have a lot of fun with that pistol...

May 29, 2018, 07:13 PM	#21
Rfactor Member Join Date: July 9, 2017 Posts: 23	I picked up a Kimber Target Elite about a year ago. It's a pleasure to shoot, and a tac driver. Wanted a 38 Super for years, and I'm not disappointed.

May 29, 2018, 10:14 PM	#22
boondocker385 Senior Member Join Date: March 6, 2013 Posts: 640	Kimber has absolutely no place in this discussion. Overpriced and not reliable if you shoot much. __________________ No second place finishes in a gun fight.

May 30, 2018, 09:40 AM	#24
Brutus Senior Member Join Date: September 11, 2005 Posts: 1,023	Boy, some folks really like to rain on the other guys parade. You could have said something like, glad you got a good one or happy you haven't had to deal with their crummy customer service, like I have. I have two Kimbers, both are tack drivers. My problems with them are MIM parts which break frequently ( adjustable sights) and the bad magazines they first used on their 10mm. Bought some Colt magazines which solved that problem and the latest sight , third one, seems to be working O.K. but that's the reason I switched to Dan Wesson's. __________________ Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak out, Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen, Winston Churchill.

May 30, 2018, 10:01 AM	#25
stephen426 Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2005 Posts: 3,840	That's awesome! Congrats on your new purchase! Hope you enjoy it! __________________ The ATF should be a convenience store instead of a government agency!