[Shinglekill]

I'm picking up a c.1933 Colt 1911 in 38 Super.

Anyone have one?
Any special thoughts?

It is semi-inherited and has not been shot much in the past 45 years.

I will have the opurtunity to shoot on Sunday, what should I look for?

Also getting a .30 caliber Luger

 

[7th Fleet]

The older .38 Supers had somewhat iffy accuracy due to the method of headspacing used back then. If you want to have an accurate .38 Super, put a Barstow barrel in it since it will then headspace like the 1911 on the case mouth.

7th

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Support Your Local Police

 

[Paveway]

This brings up something interesting to me. Why did the 357 sig come out when the 30 Luger round has been around for so long? The ballistics are almost identical, and maybe they could have done the +P treatment to the 30 Luger....? Anybody ever compare the cartridge dimensions? I dont have any data on either cases for the dimensions. This sounds like it was driven by marketing more than anything. I can imagine the board meeting at a gun company..."Gentlemen, since we've sold all the .40's we can to all the police departments, just like we did with the 9mm, lets come up with something NEW and exciting to get them to ditch the .40's!" Meanwhile, the rest of the world's police just soldiers on with .32 .380 and 9mm. Is the rest of the world just ignorant to ballistic advances or are we just so hung up on "new and improved"?

Same for 38 Super as compared to some 357 sig round ballistics. I guess I dont get it....What's the point? I would not have a problem using 38 Super as a defensive round.

 

[Jim Watson]

Paveway,
The .30 Luger is on the same casehead as 9mm, the .357 SIG is almost a .40 S&W necked to 9mm. It drives a 125 grain bullet at about the same velocity as a high end handload for a 93 grain .30 Luger, and faster than factory. I don't call a 34% increase in both energy and momentum "almost
identical."
A heavy .38 Super load (like Corbon) will do anything the SIG will; but it takes a 1911 length action to do it. The .357 SIG fits shorter actions, some of which are just beefed up 9mm P.
I tend to agree with your picture of the marketing programs of the industry, but I don't think there is zero improvement along with the changes.

 

[col132]

Prewar 38 supers are very collectable (depending on condition, etc.). If I remember correctly they were brought out in 1929?, so it may still retain some of the early features. You need to find something like Sheldons book (I think) that covers the 38 super in detail. Sound like an interesting peice. If it's a shooter, older 38 super accuracy is suspect, although as a defensive piece it should still get the job done.

 

[Ed45]

I think Paveway is right on the mark. I was a boy in New York State many years ago who had a few State Troopers as fishin buddies and heros. They were issued 357 mags as a revolutionary "car stopper" with the pointed armor piercing bullet. The actually CARRIED out of code lead semiwadcutters on a day to day basis. Then LE got the idea of over penetration and went to the 40, 10mm and 45. Now we are back to the high velocity 357 Sig, erroneously called the 357 "Magnum" by Glock who deny the existence of all other companies. LOTS of after market goodies sold in converting those 40's to 357 Sigs and we are right back to the high velocities again. Anyone want to bet the pendulum will swing back once again? The 38 super has been around for a LONG time and O.K. I'll give you slightly better ballistics in the 357 Sig but the deal is more marketing than it is practical. My $.02 (my second post on here). Thanks, Ed

 

[LW McVay]

Moving to Colt...