38 spl vs 38 super vs .357
I am into shotguns and hunting rifles.I know nothing about handgun calibers .How do these compare ? I have had a .357 and I also shot 38spl out of it but that is all I know.Is the 38super a good round? How about the .45s?
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nelchris, the .38 Super is a semi-rimmed automatic pistol cartridge and cannot be fired in your .357 revolver. It was based on the old Colt .38 automatic round and has a wide following these days with "action pistol" shooters. It has alawys been very popular in Latin America where civilians are not allowed to own pistols in .45 ACP. Back in the old days lots of folks would purchase 1911's chambered in .38 Super for use, or to send home to Mexico. The cartridge is powerful and many prefer it to the .45.
Mark T. Christian0 -
Hey Mark thanks How much differance in ammo price between 38 super and .45 THANKS again I do not reload 0 -
i have heard alot of positive things about the .38 super
i have a 70 series colt auto chambered for .38 super
i never shot it.
but from i read about the round
it was first developed for the police as an alternative to the heavier
recoiling .45
but was quickly put on the back burner due to the short comings
of the pistol the round was made for
after all the problems were fixed the .38 super became best noted for accuracy i'm a .40 fan0 -
.357 Magnum is an elongated .38 Special. Same bullet, but the .357 case is longer and thus holds more powder. You can shoot .38 Special in a gun chambered for .357, but not the reverse.
.38 ACP and .38 Super have the same configuration, but the .38 Super is loaded to much higher pressures. You can shoot .38 ACP in a gun chambered for .38 Super, but NEVER try to shoot .38 Super in a gun meant for .38 ACP!0 -
I own guns in all three calibers - .357/38spec, 45ACP and 38Super and all three are very powerful cartridges and I enjoy shooting each of them but when it comes to a man stopper - in my opinion - if I had to bet my life on it - nothing is as effective as a .45ACP loaded with the right bullet.
John in PA
jmknaut@juno.com0 -
nelchris, the .38 ACP / .38 Super cases are identical and sometimes the only way one can tell the difference between the rounds before firing the ammo is the box markings . . . . This is a semi-rimmed case which headspaces (locates) on the very thin margin of the rim which protrudes beyond the body of the case. It can be tricky to reload. It owes its continued existence largely to the fact that in many nations, particularly below the Rio Grande, it is illegal for private citizens to own firearms chambered in military calibers (e.g., 9x19 or .45 ACP). It has a very limited, but loyal, following in the US, however the difficulty in obtaining ammo and reloading keep it very much in the secondary category. Because of market factors, you will be able to find .45 ammo much more easily and, usually, for significantly lower prices than .38 Super. 0 -
Dont buy a .38 because you will have a .38 if you buy a .357 Mag you have the great magnum plus you can shoot .38s in it.As far as .38super vs .45acp I would choose the 45 because ammo is limited and very pricey for the .38super,it is a very good cartridge in my opinion.
Best!!
Rugster
Toujours Pret0 -
THANKS I am thinking about a colt 38 super maybe the 45 0 -
Re .38 Super, I handled a Colt .38 Super yesterday...my first close look at one...this looked like an older pistol, with the finish dark and unevenly spotted...not rusted, just stained looking...anyway, the seller acted like it was some kind of rarety, asking $875.00 for the pistol and one clip...it's the typical good looking 1911 A-1 Colt auto, but is this a reasonable retail price? Thanks. Best, Jim
timbroman@aol.com0 -
If you are looking at the 38 super you might want to look at the 357 sig. My 2 cents 0
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