38 Super +P Favorite Carry Ammunition

Bilbo463 · December 9, 2017, 07:05 PM

Anyone out there carry a 1911 in 38 Super?

I’ve been carrying an all steel Commander size 1911 in 45 for years; but sadly I’ve grown tired of the recoil. Had to be honest with myself in that my accuracy was being affected by the stout 45 acp recoil.

The good news is that I picked up a new all stainless steel 1911 in 38 Super. Just took it to the range yesterday....what a sweet shooter.

My plan is to transition to the new pistol after I get a thousand or so rounds thru it to smooth out the action. I was searching the internet for ballistics data on various 38 Super defensive loads and there really isn’t much out there.

I know 38 Super isn’t a common carry round, but thought maybe some folks here could help. Any recommendations?

FYI I’m 70 years old and I do reload.

Bill DeShivs · December 9, 2017, 07:36 PM

I carried a Commander in Super .38 years ago with Super Vel ammunition.
Today, Winchester Silvertip is pretty good factory stuff.
Reloading is where it's at with the Super.

mavracer · December 9, 2017, 08:14 PM

Not that I carry it often but I have some Georgia Arms 124gr gold dots for when I do

tipoc · December 9, 2017, 08:31 PM

Of commercial stuff, I've carried with Winchester Silvertip in 125 gr.

I've also carried Buffalo Bore's 147 gr. Outdoorsman and Double Tap's 147 gr. JHP.

I'm also looking to try out Sig's new 125 gr. stuff.

You can do quite a bit hand loading.

Buffalo Bore, Underwood, Double Tap all make decent 38 Super ammo in JHP. Winchester does well with the Silvertip. Others make good practice ammo in FMJ ammo.

I've heard good things about Georgia Arms.

tipoc

74A95 · December 9, 2017, 09:12 PM

If you're looking for high performance ammo:

Buffalo Bore, Doubletap, Georgia Arms, Wilson Combat, Underwood.

If you want high speed handloads:

http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloadi...-the-38-super/

tipoc · December 9, 2017, 10:18 PM

There are a number of excellent sources for loading data on the 38 Super.

Here are a few alternatives from knowledgeable sources. If you are interested in reloading for the Super consult any loading manual to begin.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/wilsoncomba...ombat-auto.pdf

http://www.k8nd.com/documents/hl38sup.pdf

https://americanhandgunner.com/loading-the-38-super/

https://www.riflemagazine.com/magazi...261partial.pdf

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/de...per&Weight=All

tipoc

Dan-O · December 9, 2017, 10:33 PM

Corbon Pow’r Ball

Bilbo463 · December 10, 2017, 10:33 AM

Thanks everyone for your feedback.

A special thanks to tipoc for taking the time to attach and send so much info regarding the 38 Super.

rodfac · December 11, 2017, 07:54 AM

Great caliber, Bilbo, I've carried one, off and on, for 20 years or so. Winchester Silver Tips in the magazine. Never had to use it for it's intended purpose though. Thank God! I'm 71 now and share your affinity for this fine old round.

Couple of thoughts on it... Mine was a Satin Nickel Combat Commander, originally in .45 ACP, for which I found two add'l slide and barrel assemblies. One each in .38 Super and the other in 9mm Luger. Both worked well at nearly 100% reliability with no changes to the lower aside from the ejector. The rest was stock. I found that the .38 was actually more accurate than any load I found for the .45 or 9mm.

While I like the caliber, especially those nickled' cases that show up nicely in the grass, I never pushed it to its true potential...staying, instead at top end 9mm loadings. For accuracy with selected loads & off a rest, it'd hold the X-ring on the 25 yd NRA pistol target. Can't ask for more than that!

When I gave that Commander to #2 son who'd lusted after it for years, I held on to the .38 & 9mm slides and used them on a Ruger .45 CMD. That gun did as well with them as the Colt, and every bit as accurately. One anomaly, is that neither caliber will hold the slide open after the last round is fired. Not a big factor for me as I always keep track of my expenditure while shooting.

If you're interested in the X-ring loads I used, PM me. WST on the low end, and SR4756, Unique, or WSF for upper levels worked very well, all with jacketed bullets. Though, hands down, the old Winchester Round Nose, FMJ, 130 gr bullets is the most accurate.

Best Regards, Rod

Tactical Jackalope · December 11, 2017, 09:38 PM

Corbon DPX or Federal HST.

December 9, 2017, 07:05 PM	#1
Bilbo463 Member Join Date: July 28, 2017 Posts: 45	38 Super +P Favorite Carry Ammunition Anyone out there carry a 1911 in 38 Super? I’ve been carrying an all steel Commander size 1911 in 45 for years; but sadly I’ve grown tired of the recoil. Had to be honest with myself in that my accuracy was being affected by the stout 45 acp recoil. The good news is that I picked up a new all stainless steel 1911 in 38 Super. Just took it to the range yesterday....what a sweet shooter. My plan is to transition to the new pistol after I get a thousand or so rounds thru it to smooth out the action. I was searching the internet for ballistics data on various 38 Super defensive loads and there really isn’t much out there. I know 38 Super isn’t a common carry round, but thought maybe some folks here could help. Any recommendations? FYI I’m 70 years old and I do reload.

December 9, 2017, 08:31 PM	#4
tipoc Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2004 Location: Redwood City, Ca. Posts: 4,114	Of commercial stuff, I've carried with Winchester Silvertip in 125 gr. I've also carried Buffalo Bore's 147 gr. Outdoorsman and Double Tap's 147 gr. JHP. I'm also looking to try out Sig's new 125 gr. stuff. You can do quite a bit hand loading. Buffalo Bore, Underwood, Double Tap all make decent 38 Super ammo in JHP. Winchester does well with the Silvertip. Others make good practice ammo in FMJ ammo. I've heard good things about Georgia Arms. tipoc __________________ 1. All guns are always loaded. 2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger till you are ready to shoot. 4. Identify your target and know what is beyond it.

December 9, 2017, 10:18 PM	#6
tipoc Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2004 Location: Redwood City, Ca. Posts: 4,114	There are a number of excellent sources for loading data on the 38 Super. Here are a few alternatives from knowledgeable sources. If you are interested in reloading for the Super consult any loading manual to begin. https://s3.amazonaws.com/wilsoncomba...ombat-auto.pdf http://www.k8nd.com/documents/hl38sup.pdf https://americanhandgunner.com/loading-the-38-super/ https://www.riflemagazine.com/magazi...261partial.pdf http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/de...per&Weight=All tipoc __________________ 1. All guns are always loaded. 2. Never let the muzzle cover anything you are not willing to destroy. 3. Keep your finger off the trigger till you are ready to shoot. 4. Identify your target and know what is beyond it.

December 11, 2017, 07:54 AM	#9
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	Great caliber, Bilbo, I've carried one, off and on, for 20 years or so. Winchester Silver Tips in the magazine. Never had to use it for it's intended purpose though. Thank God! I'm 71 now and share your affinity for this fine old round. Couple of thoughts on it... Mine was a Satin Nickel Combat Commander, originally in .45 ACP, for which I found two add'l slide and barrel assemblies. One each in .38 Super and the other in 9mm Luger. Both worked well at nearly 100% reliability with no changes to the lower aside from the ejector. The rest was stock. I found that the .38 was actually more accurate than any load I found for the .45 or 9mm. While I like the caliber, especially those nickled' cases that show up nicely in the grass, I never pushed it to its true potential...staying, instead at top end 9mm loadings. For accuracy with selected loads & off a rest, it'd hold the X-ring on the 25 yd NRA pistol target. Can't ask for more than that! When I gave that Commander to #2 son who'd lusted after it for years, I held on to the .38 & 9mm slides and used them on a Ruger .45 CMD. That gun did as well with them as the Colt, and every bit as accurately. One anomaly, is that neither caliber will hold the slide open after the last round is fired. Not a big factor for me as I always keep track of my expenditure while shooting. If you're interested in the X-ring loads I used, PM me. WST on the low end, and SR4756, Unique, or WSF for upper levels worked very well, all with jacketed bullets. Though, hands down, the old Winchester Round Nose, FMJ, 130 gr bullets is the most accurate. Best Regards, Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73. Last edited by rodfac; December 11, 2017 at 08:12 AM.

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December 9, 2017, 07:36 PM	#2
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,979	I carried a Commander in Super .38 years ago with Super Vel ammunition. Today, Winchester Silvertip is pretty good factory stuff. Reloading is where it's at with the Super. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

December 9, 2017, 09:12 PM	#5
74A95 Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2016 Posts: 1,564	If you're looking for high performance ammo: Buffalo Bore, Doubletap, Georgia Arms, Wilson Combat, Underwood. If you want high speed handloads: http://www.shootingtimes.com/reloadi...-the-38-super/

December 9, 2017, 10:33 PM	#7
Dan-O Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2011 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 969	Corbon Pow’r Ball

December 10, 2017, 10:33 AM	#8
Bilbo463 Member Join Date: July 28, 2017 Posts: 45	Thanks everyone for your feedback. A special thanks to tipoc for taking the time to attach and send so much info regarding the 38 Super.

December 11, 2017, 09:38 PM	#10
Tactical Jackalope Senior Member Join Date: December 5, 2010 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 6,429	Corbon DPX or Federal HST.