Finally gonna get a 1911, but . .
Well, I know I want a Springfield mil-spec or equivalent, but . . .45 or .38 Super.
.45 hits like a thrown brick, (I mean that in the good way, of course), but I have heard the .38 Super is a major powerhouse, and was, until the 10mm, the most powerful autoloading pistol cartridge in the world.
I also like the mystique. I think it was Pretty Boy Floyd, or another of the storied motorized bandits of the era that sang it's praises after a shootout with the "g men".
Anything I should know before deciding on the .38 Super? How is ammo price compared to .45? I can get a Lee Loader for .45 ACP (I have 2 that cover 4 of my centerfire guns), but they don't make one for the Super, so I would have to get a small press and dies
.45 hits like a thrown brick, (I mean that in the good way, of course), but I have heard the .38 Super is a major powerhouse, and was, until the 10mm, the most powerful autoloading pistol cartridge in the world.
I also like the mystique. I think it was Pretty Boy Floyd, or another of the storied motorized bandits of the era that sang it's praises after a shootout with the "g men".
Anything I should know before deciding on the .38 Super? How is ammo price compared to .45? I can get a Lee Loader for .45 ACP (I have 2 that cover 4 of my centerfire guns), but they don't make one for the Super, so I would have to get a small press and dies
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I recently decided to get into a 1911 too.
I also had ideas about wanting a mil-spec gun. And the Springfield sounded like a good cheaper option than the Colt, which I kind of wanted just because I think I need to have at least one Colt in my life.
Then I went out and handled some of them. There was a Springfield that had the worst, squishy trigger I've ever met. There was another Springfield that had a decent trigger, but by then I was sour on Springfield. There was a Rock Island with a decent trigger, but those sights! Couldn't stand them. There was a Colt with a decent trigger, except that it had a lot of pre-travel, and it just didn't knock me over the way an $950 gun ought to do. I wound up with one I hadn't considered: The Dan Wesson Commander Bobtail.
Bottom line: go handle them. If you can shoot them, do that, too.
I bought one I hadn't considered (I pick it up on Thursday). I'm really glad I bought it from a shop (where I could handle it) and not online.
I'm a bit off-topic, but I hope it helps.0 -
38 Super is a pretty good cartridge and is popular in IPSC mostly with HiCap guns. The 38 super is a rimmed cartridge and has a reputation for not being extremely reliable. I have not found this to be the case but the guns I have shot are all highly tuned. If you are going to reload then you have a better option. Starline and a few other companies have 38 Super COMP brass. This is a 38 super that has a rim like a 9mm. Nothing else changes as far as reloading (except maybe the shell holder) and is a much more reliable way to go. Your extractor may need to be tuned for this brass but in many cases it doesn't. 38 Super ammo is much harder to find and is usually double to triple what you can get 45acp for. Magazines are more exspensive as well. I am not a Springield fan I have owned several and with every one I have had to work on it to make it run correctly. I have been impressed with the several MilSpec Springfields that I have sold though. At least two of them have had trigger pulls better than Springflied models 3 times the price. Enjoy. 0 -
38 super ammo is more expensive than 45acp and you can't get it everywhere.SA makes a very good 1911,mine is about 4 yrs old and it has never had a malfunction. 0 -
I can't give any direction as far as the calibers because I have never shot a .38super and don't know much about it.
But as far as 1911's everyone knows my choice.
Springfields are also good but I get the same quality and better costomer service from my Rock Islands for about $200 less.
Also Rock Island does make a .38super if that is the direction that you choose.0 -
Me, I'm partial to my Kimber and the .45 ACP.[:)] 0 -
Take a look at the new Taurus 1911.
Has most of the trick stuff done...right from the factory. 500 bucks.
Had the 7 times Okla State Champion pistol shooter look itover...impressed him. Now...I haven't shot it yet...will go to the range as soon as time permits...but just holding it and dry firing ...mighty impressive.0 -
Boy, the gunwriters sure love the new Taurus.
For the money, you get a lot of bells and whistles. and the metallurgy is reported to be very good.
And it looks pretty butch, too.0 -
...Colt makes 38 Super too, try 'em you'll like 'em...if your going to spend the big bucks might as well get a Colt and enjoy the appreciation instead of the depreciation you'll have with all others...Colt goes up, others go down.
Take a look at one of the Colt Delta Elite's, 10mm and awesome
[;)]
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What HIGHBALL said.
Look at the new Taurus 1911a1.
Lots of features, details, and its accurate too.
Guy in the shop bought 3. Why I dont know but he did.
They are nice & tight, excellent quality for $479 in black.
I would say its quality APPEARS to be better than the Springfield Trophy Match series.0 -
I have one of the new PT-1911 Taurus and you can't beat it for the money. I haven't found another 1911 with the same features for less than $1000. It feeds everything I have tried. It has the same safety system as a 80 series Colt. It has the key lock hammer if you want to use it. I payed $464.44 for mine. 0 -
I have a 1911 in .38 super, .45acp and 9mm...I rarely shoot the 9 and 38 the .45 does it for me.
PJ0 -
In the 1911 platform I have two .45s, two Supers and one .22 LR. The 45s and one Super are Colts, the other Super is a Rock Island Armory and the 22 is a Daly lower with a Colt upper (the Dolt).
I like the Super better than the .45 ACP. I know that's heresy to some folks, but I like a little move velocity than the .45 delivers. Factory Super ammo has been downgraded so badly in the past few years (lawsuits from people so stupid as to load this ammo in their 100 year old Colt .38 ACPs) that handloading is almost required to get the cartridge to its full potential.
I load 115 JHPs to 1400 FPS and they work fine giving me nearly .357 Mag performance with a 10 round capacity and fast reloads in the auto. The 130 lead RNs at 1,000 FPS plink like champs.
BTW- The Super was developed as a high penetration round. Cops wanted something to shoot through car bodies better than the .38s and .45s they were using in the 1920s and 1930s so Colt created the Super with a pointed 130 FMC bullets at 1300 FPS. Penetrates very well. If I knew that I had to defeat a vest this is the gun and load I would carry.0 -
I would get a springfield or a colt. I have the Springfield GI Spec 5 in barrel stainless steel version. I paid 470 for it. I have seen the blued ones go for 420. I love my gun and wouldnt give it up. I dont think I would go anything cheaper than a springfield 0 -
ick. I don't like the looks of it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by BHAVIN
38 Super is a pretty good cartridge and is popular in IPSC mostly with HiCap guns. The 38 super is a rimmed cartridge and has a reputation for not being extremely reliable. I have not found this to be the case but the guns I have shot are all highly tuned. If you are going to reload then you have a better option. Starline and a few other companies have 38 Super COMP brass. This is a 38 super that has a rim like a 9mm. Nothing else changes as far as reloading (except maybe the shell holder) and is a much more reliable way to go. Your extractor may need to be tuned for this brass but in many cases it doesn't. 38 Super ammo is much harder to find and is usually double to triple what you can get 45acp for. Magazines are more exspensive as well. I am not a Springield fan I have owned several and with every one I have had to work on it to make it run correctly. I have been impressed with the several MilSpec Springfields that I have sold though. At least two of them have had trigger pulls better than Springflied models 3 times the price. Enjoy.
If the .38 super has a rim, then one I owned several years ago must have had a very small, hard to see rim.
I believe when the .38 super came out, they wanted to name it the .38 magnum because that was the power it was supposed to have. But the magnum name was not used because of possible confusion it might cause with .357 magnum.0 -
Badwrench, look at Auto-Ordnance too. Mine works well and they have several different models. 0 -
TR- Technically the Super is "semi-rimmed" having a very small amount protruding beyond the case body. Early guns head-spaced on this tiny amount of rim and they were more accurate when they started head-spacing on the case mouth like the 9 and the .45.
BTW- This small rim allows the Super to be fired in a .357 magnum revolver.0 -
quote:Originally posted by SaxonPig
TR- Technically the Super is "semi-rimmed" having a very small amount protruding beyond the case body. Early guns head-spaced on this tiny amount of rim and they were more accurate when they started head-spacing on the case mouth like the 9 and the .45.
BTW- This small rim allows the Super to be fired in a .357 magnum revolver.
Interesting. Thank you for the clarification.0 -
Bushmaster,
what make is that thing . . . . i am an absolute sucker for 1911s and i must say that looks like the kid they locked in the closet, and for a reason to. doesn't have the smooth lines that my two springers have.
by the way i have a springfield armory lightweight compact in 45. i feed it with corbon +P ammo. not many a bad guy can stand up to that kind of firepower0 -
taurus 1911 0
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