1902 colt 38 acp pistol-military

bjsgear@hotmail.com

October 03, 2002 19:52

HI, HAS ANYONE SHOT 38 SUPER AMMO THROUGH ONE OF THESE SEMI AUTOS, JUST PICKED IT UP LAST WEEK AND I'M NOT 100% ITS OK TO USE NEWER AMMO, THANKS, BRYAN.

BEEJAYYY!

0

• 

  Der Gebirgsjager

  October 03, 2002 20:00

  .38 Super Auto is incorrect for your pistol. It is a considerably more powerful round, and is different from the .38 ACP your pistol is chambered for. Do not fire .38 Super in your 1902 model.

  0
• 

  fergusonmorse392

  October 03, 2002 20:23

  As above DO NOT use 38 Super Ammo. If you reload or know someone that does you can use 38 Super cases and load to 38 ACP loads.

  0
• 

  Xracer

  October 04, 2002 04:52

  .....and just to make sure you get the word: ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!
  
  .38 ACP is a much lower pressure round than .38 Super. You have a fine old Colt there. Don't ruin it.

  0
• 

  JudgeColt

  October 04, 2002 06:51

  While the admonition not to use .38 Super in these old Colts is absolutely correct, I think an explanation of why will help you resist the temptation.
  
  While the .38 ACP and .38 Super are dimensionly the same, the .38 Super is loaded to much higher chamber pressures. The danger comes not from a potential burst chamber, but from the much higher slide velocity caused by the higher pressures.
  
  If you will look at your M1902, you will see the little slide stop bar at the front of the slide is all that keeps the slide from going off the rear of the pistol when the slide reaches the rear of its travel. The higher slide velocity resulting from shooting .38 Super rounds will eventually break the slide stop bar and you may end up with the slide in your face. I think about that everytime I shoot any of the old Colt autos with the same weak mechanism.

  0
• 

  v35

  October 04, 2002 15:53

  SAAMI lists the 38ACP as having a velocity of 1035 fps and max pressure of 29,700 psi while the 38 Super has a velocity of 1200 fps and a max pressure of 41,300; both with a 130 grain bullet.
  I would take the slide stop bar comment seriously. A slam fire
  on a 96 Mauser pistol broke the slide stop, curing me of the need to own a pistol where the slide or bolt dismounts to the rear.

  0
• 

  Xracer

  October 05, 2002 05:43

  There's also another weakness in the M1902 and subsequent models that wasn't corrected until the M1910. The locking lugs go all the way around the barrel. This was a weak point, and during military trials, this led to a number of barrels cracking at the bottom of the lugs.
  
  Starting with the M1910, the locking lugs were confined to the top of the barrel only, making this area much stronger.
  
  We're not dissing your pistol, bjs.....she's a fine old lady. Just treat her with respect for her age and design limitations.

  0
• 

  bjsgear@hotmail.com

  October 05, 2002 19:59

  THANKS FOR THE INFO GUYS, PROBABLY SAVED MY LIFE,THANKS AGAIN.
  
  BEEJAYYY!

  0

Please sign in to leave a comment.