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38 AMU vs Super Questions

boltthrower
I have a Colt 1911 38 AMU automatic. It was my dads who used to compete. I've heard from various sources that the 38 AMU can only shoot the rimless 38 wadcutter round, and not your standard 38 wadcutter. Well, out of frustration I loaded a few empty shells of reguler 38 wadcutter into the mag, they fit fine. Then I let the slide go and loaded them into the chamber, they fit fine, (a little rough going in since the empty shell isnt crimped,) and they ejected fine....so then I took the gun out to the range with live 38 wadcutter ammo. The gun performed great, no jams, no issues, no problems, and it was dead on accurate. So my questions are, do I really have a 38 AMU, or is this really a 38 super conversion....and whats the difference between the two? The slide of course says 38 AMU but if it can only fire the rimless wadcutter, I'm wondering if thats a true statement or if it can fire both, or if I really have just a super conversion.
Thanks
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • Herschel
    I suspect that your dad had the pistol converted to handle .38 Spec. wadcutter ammo. I was unaware that could be done. Finding ammo would be difficult if it only chambered the .38 AMU round so the conversion would be logical if someone could do it, which they obviously did.
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  • Herschel
    Just found some more info so here it is.
    Colt made a pistol called the Gold Cup MKIII National Match from 1961 to 1974. It had NMR or NM suffix on the serial number. It was chambered for the .38 Special Mid-range Wadcutter cartridge. The serial number on your pistol should give you a clue to what it was originally. Maybe the slide was swapped out at some time. If your dad was a military shooter he would have had access to parts and armorers who were competent to make such changes.
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  • boltthrower
    Thanks Herschel....Yes, finding AMU ammo has been...well, pretty much impossible. I've found a total of four boxes nation wide but I havent yet figured on paying 100 dollars per box yet, but now I dont have to since it will shoot wadcutters. Yes, being a colonel in the Army he could get just about anything done to his firearms he wanted. I'll check out the serial number this evening and let you know. I know I've got some of his National Match pistols and have seen NM on bushings and at least maybe one serial number. I appreciate the info.
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  • boltthrower
    Well, there's nothing suffixed on the serial number. From what my dad can remember, Clark customized this particuler gun for him.

    On another note I have his gov model gold cup 45, its serial number is suffixed with a -C, (the c is more box like though in shape). Does that mean anything to anybody?
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  • Herschel
    According to Colt''s Dates of Manufacture by R. L. Wilson, the -C suffix was used on Colt Government models from 1950 until 1970. If I read the charts correctly, it was not used on the Gold Cup. The Gold Cup had a NM suffix. Your dad's Gold Cup may have been a Govt Model receiver that was made into a Gold Cup by Clark or some other pistolsmith. I have a .45 auto that was an Argentine model 1927, which is an exact copy of the 19llA1. Had an armorer build it into a match pistol using Colt and national match parts.
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  • Iconoclast
    Bolt, I'm an ammo guy rather than gun guru, but I think Herschel nailed it. At one time many years ago I had some boxes of .38 wadcutter factory loads with verbiage on them about being loaded specifically for some Colt semi-auto. Think these were Remington? Not AMU rounds, I am sure - 'cause I bought them thinking I was getting a steal . . . ooooops!

    "There is nothing lower than the human race - except the French." (Mark Twain) ". . . And DemoCraps" (me)
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  • geeguy
    You may also wish to contact Clark:
    clarkcustomguns.com

    They may be able to give you some information since they keep records.
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  • v35
    If I recall, the 38 Spl wadcutter conversions could only hold five rounds because or the rims stacking up in the Magazine. The rimless version could feed a full magazine.
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  • boltthrower
    Icono....yes I believe those were Remington for the special rimless round. Do you still have them? V35, as a rule I never load more than 5 anyway, but I'll try and load more than 5 2nite and see what happens. Thanks for all the input, guys. Whatever it is, Its a great shooter and I'm glad to have it. I'll always be grateful that my dad taught me a love of the sport,
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  • boltthrower
    Heres an update.....the magazines for this gun say "38 special" on the bottom of the magazine.
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