I used to work at a landscape company here in San Antonio, almost all of their workers or visa workers from Mexico. I’ve always been into guns so I would get into discussions with some of the guys and I always thought it was really strange that most of them had 38 supers I thought it was like a cultural thing Now it makes sense.
It's popular in Mexico because it's not a so called "military" caliber" therefore legal to own. They prize it because it's the most powerful handgun round they can legally own. It's a practicality that has morphed into cultural thing, they've exaggerated it's ability because they can get nothing else.
Back in the '70s I worked where we could carry a handgun "of no greater caliber than a standard police 38." Talk about knowledgeable legislators! I carried a brushed nickel Colt Combat Commander in .38 Super. Loved it.
In the 80s I bought a Colt Combat Commander in brushed nickel, also in 38 super. but due to the cost of ammo in my area I had a gunsmith fit a barrel in 9mm. Carried it till I caught the hi cap bug.
When I first got into guns, I meant to buy some 38 special but mistakenly bought a couple boxes of 38 super instead. I still have them. I guess that means it’s time buy another 1911!
I tossed the idea around for years of getting a .38 Super. I would read stuff that would make me rethink buying one. I finally bought one last year and I have no regrets. I bought the OC1911 Colt Classic. I installed the Wilson Combat long trigger and it shoots like a dream.
COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA 0 seconds ago GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
Ha-I have a box of super purchased accidentally as well and like you have been thinking about buying something to go along. This looks like a nice option.
I retired from IPSC several decades ago, but I still have my built, comped, stainless, Colt Super with all the competition gear including reloader and supplies ( even the primers ).
When I worked the retail side of the firearms business we sold hundreds of the Colt 1911 .38 Super in polished stainless. We retailed them for nearly $1700 and sold out as soon as deliveries were made. Who buys these 1911s. The 99% were Hispanic males. They preferred the bright stainless over the blued. I had them transferred from other store locations to the store where I worked. All Ihad to do was shine it with a microfiber rag and hand it to them. Before I know it they are forking over cash or credit card. One man bought two and cleaned us out of .38 Super ammo.
The reason why Hispanic but mainly Mexicans purchase 38 supers was because they were not allowed to own pistols that shot military calibers. 9mm Para bellum (Prepare For War) So Mexico instituted that ban and hence this is why 38 super is so popular in Mexico and South America.
I had a colt custom shop ELSEN polished SS , sold her during the crash in 08, reciently look to buy another one and they were listing for $1700. I bought mine new for $1125. Loved that gun. I have a colt government in brushed ss in 38 super now!!!
@@johnwayne2103 i must tell you man this youre explaining is not totally right we love this type of ammo combination gun only because it has earned a super reputation through the years among serious shooters and pistoleros as gun of choice due to it's flat trayectory and knock down power the main reason youre telling at the begginig could be the second of it's popularity but is unlikely acording to my point of view and even more because almost is forbiden and contradictory here in México in gun use for the legal owner of handguns for self defense and Home protection by The guachos (military)
@@alejandrobanda1822 don't forget at the time colt was the best gun manufacture of firearms and 1911 never jam so that with the 38 super being fast is perfection
SCOOTH thank you for a great review of one of my beloved rounds, I’ve had my Colt Combat Commander for over 30 years. I would just add a little history, the 38 ACP & the Colt Super 38 Auto is the exact same case, the difference is the lower pressure 38 ACP is for the weaker previous model. When the 1911 came out, they found it could handle much higher pressure. Adding more powder, got higher velcity, changed the name to Colt Super 38 Auto. The velocity got up 1300 FPS 487 FPE, from the Government Model. The Super was used by the gangster’s of the 1920’s and 1930’s. The US Postal Service as well as the FBI used it to penetrate the car door’s of the gangsters cars. Pretty boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson was known to carry and used the Super . The Super was the most powerful round until 1935 when the 357 Magnum came along after that it declined in popularity then the 9MM Parablleum put the nail in it’s coffin. You’re correct the Colt Super 38 Auto is obscure.
Also it’s popularity is due to its ability to defeat gangster body armor in the ‘20s and ‘30s as I recall. Great round for sure. The part about US postal service carrying them is an interesting fact I didn’t know about.👍
Yes Bob you are correct about the body armor, also various Law Enforcement agencies in the Western states used it. The Rail Road lines Officers also used it .
In the 1970's, we used to call the 38 Super, the "38 Stupid", as the cartridge was head spacing on the semi rim, not the case mouth and the accuracy in a stock gun was simply horrible. Colt introduced the Hot Version of the 38 Auto to compete with the then new Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum. Later when the cartridge was modernized, they modified the rim to be smaller and changed it so the cartridge head spaced on the case mouth, improving accuracy. Barsto was one of the first to sell barrels that head spaced on the case mouth. In Mexico, the 38 Super was "King", because as you stated, civilians weren't allowed to own "Military Calibers". Today Mexicans can only buy 380 Auto and 38 Special pistols and revolvers. You can still buy 38 Super Ammo, but not the guns anymore. Of course the popularity of the 38 Super followed immigrants to the United States, so much so, if you found a 38 Super Cartridge case at a crime scene, it usually indicated that the suspect was Hispanic or that Paul Harrell did it.
I have the Dan Wesson Guardian in 38 super. Love it! Sig ammo in 38 super +P is widely available. stocked up on a few thousand rounds when the shelves were empty of 9mm.
Nah not really just stick with popular cartridges, although the 38 super has been around for awhile 9mm is a more popular round and easier to find. It was years before I got my 38 super and it was because it was such a good deal I couldn't pass up on it. Now ask me how many times i have fired it? 1 box of 50 in the 15 years I have owned it.
Even into the middle of the ammo shortage it amused me to find 38 super for sale at old/good prices when everything else was gone. Great round. Accurate. Powerful. Great field gun. In hot loads it comes close to many 357 loads in shorter revolvers. It paid off to have a mix of obscure and common.
A really good combination gun, here in México has a súper good aceptation among serious shooters and pistoleros, flat trayectory and knock down power i just love mine! Saludos amigos!
I carry a 38 Super. If you reload, it is a very affordable cartridge to shoot provided you recover as much of your brass as possible. Factory ammo really does not get the full potential out of this cartridge. I have a 124 gr load that I clock at 1325 fps
Own a Colt Combat Commander Super 38. Bought back in the 80's from a policeman buddy of mine. Nice, just a hair smaller than a 45 auto. Nice for home defense on night stand or in stashed in another room. Not for carry in the summer. Very nice weapon!!!
I'm in Argentina and we have 45 ACP for civilian use. I have one! And it's all legal, even registered and all as required here. Also rifles, shotguns, I own a 357 as well. You cannot own full auto legally nor very short shotguns here. Maybe that limit is in some countries or country in particular. Never heard of 38 super before, looks cool!
The Colt .38 Super was the first gun I ever fired in the 1911 platform. My father was with me at the range as I fired it. He taught me the BRAS method of shooting. Breathe, Relax, Aim, Shoot. He was in the 82 Airborne. I had a good time shooting with the.38 Super. It didn’t have a lot of recoil and it felt good in my hand. I think Colt still makes this gun in both Government and Commander sizes. Ammunition is going to be expensive but at least there are a few manufacturers that make this ammunition. Great video.
John Dillinger preferred the .38 Super for it's capacity and penetration, as it was able to get through the body armor of the time. It's rumored that he had one converted to full auto with an extended magazine and a vertical grip from a Thompson attached to the dust cover.
.38 super is like 9mm +p+ with a 135 grain projectile. I’ve Always been fascinated about the .38 super never had the opportunity to get my hands on one. Thanks for the great review as always.
I shot one not long ago. RIA 1911 .38 Super. It was great! I can see why the Caliber has such a strong following. I love it, but wish it was more popular! 🤣
I like the .38 Super, it is a intermediate power cartridge, similar to the .40 S&W, and the .357 SIG. The nice thing about reloading this cartridge, is that .355 or .357 diameter bullets can be used, this gives one a large variety of projectiles to load. As always, keep to the published reloading data. Enjoy.
@@colt10mmsecurity68 More like WTF that go boom I run. Nobody is going to stand around and go was that a 22lr or a 45? Now if it's a determined attacker just fill him up.
My dad had a Llama that was nickle with pearl handles way back in the day. It was stolen during a home burglary in the 1970's. I remember it to this day.
😧😥😰 From experience..most Spanish made .38 Super pistols will chamber and cycle a 9mm round in an " emergency" situation where a .38 Super round is not available. This was made possible by the Spanish pistol manufacturers by slightly conforming to the 9mm Luger's shell dimensions at the barrel's chamber.
I have been looking for a 38 super for 2 years now. I have even stocked some ammunition for it, both defensive and ball, when I do finally get my hands on one. I would settle for a Rock Island but would prefer to get a Colt. I have a .45 Colt government model so I think I should keep the trend going.
I have been a big fan of the 38 super for over 30 yrs now. Really great video. You probably should have mentioned the fully ramped supported chamber barrels for it. When you start to lean on the super for speed and power it is a nice safety margin. Every person I have ever handed my 38 super to try out wants to buy one immediately.
I wanted a Colt 1911 in .38 Super for decades, but never ran across one that hadn't been molested. I finally bought a new one, and have never regretted it.
Some Philippine Veterans of the Korean War l have talked to said they preferred the .38 Super pistol and round. It had a flatter trajectory and deeper penetration on the Chinese " body armor" , beyond what the .45 was capable of. Some Old school Philippine provincial Law Enforcers choose the Super.38 as it can penetrate coconut trees, where At times,Bad elements usually wait in ambush.
I love this caliber. I have a 1911 manufactured by IMBEL for the Springfield Armory in .38 Super. Simply delicious to use. Even though ammo is scarce, I really enjoy using it. Thanks for the video.
@@blueduck9409 In all, I have three Imbel Model 1911 pistols, in the .380 ACP, 9mm and the .38 Super calibers. All of them with thousands of shots in each one, fired over several years. All are perfect and will probably last longer than my existence.
There’s a close cousin to the .38 Super called the .38 Super Comp. Basically the same round, but in a true rimless case. It will function through a standard .38 Super with no modification. Works in my Colt and my Kimber. Also, the .38 Super +P is not a more powerful round. In the mid 80’s, the +P designation was added to the name to further differentiate it from the.38 ACP. Underwood makes great .38 Super defensive ammo.
They actually didn't exist until 1929. My grandfather had one as well that he passed down to my father who passed it down to me. It's still like new as it hasn't been fired much at all. It's one of my most prized possessions.
@@JR15A2 You're right. I always remember the year wrong on it. Also one of those guns I'll never get rid of despite not really being one I use on a regular basis.
COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA 0 seconds ago GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
@@colt38superherenciamexican77 It's a shame that you're no longer allowed to own them. The communist/democrat scum in our current administration would love to do the same to us. Hopefully, their blood will run through our sewers before that happens. Are you allowed to own any rifles?
Good to see a video on this great cartridge, I still favor the 45 1911 for my use though. Now lets see a video on another obscure cartridge, the 41 magnum. I have both a S&W 5" 44 magnum, and my 25 year old S&W 657 41 magnum. I always preferred the 41 magnum.
@@arikatser1045 I always reloaded and shot lead cast bullets at the range, so the recoil wasn't bad. The 41 has less recoil the most 44 magnums. I just found I could shoot the 41 a lot better than the 44 magnum. The 41 has more recoil than the 357 magnum of course.
I really enjoyed your video! The first handgun I shot was my dads Colt 1911A1 45ACP when I was 9 yrs old. It has been my favorite handgun for 60yrs. I have always been a fan of the 38 Super, I bought a Colt 38 Super in the 70's but I had to sell it in the 80's due to divorce.Right now I have a Rock Island 1911 38 Super I have had for sometime now. I load for mine so I don't have to pay the high cost for factory and I can load up or down depending what I want at the time. I fitted a Rock Island 9mm barrel in mine, uses the same magazines, Rock Island marks some of their mags for 9mm/38 Super, but even my Metalform 38 Super mags run 9mm flawlessly. It's a great cartridge. I subscribed about a month ago and I have been catching up on your videos.
The problem was the stupid IPSC Rules and Jeff Cooper with his "Major and Minor" nonsense. The whole thing devolved into "Gamer Guns". What happened was these guys were hot rodding the 9mm in excess of their pressure ratings to make "Major". They ended up banning this, so they bought a bunch of 9x17 cases, which had no SAMMI specs and did the same thing to get around the new rules. Then they were forced to give that up and and went to an improved 38 Super which eventually got labeled 38 Super Plus P. Bottom line is that everybody would shoot 9mm, like in the real world, if not for the gamer rules and gamer guns.
The first 1911 style pistol I fired was a .38 super stainless steel at Iron Sights in Oceanside, CA. I fell in love with this sweet shooting pistol. Nearly 20 years later, I finally purchased a current production COLT 01911C Blued Government Model .38 Super with Rosewood grips and National Match barrel. Mine did not come with white dot sights, or the long standard 1911 trigger. My particular COLT has a 1911A1 style short trigger and enlarged GI sights (Really same size as white dot, but without the dots) Only mods I will likely make are to the sights, trigger and the beavertail.
Great video. Thank you. I always wondered why so many Mexicans that I know have or talk about the 38 Super. Didn't know about the Mex Gov. restrictions. Makes sense. Thanks for all the history on the 38 Super.
COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA 0 seconds ago GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
Well now this was a interesting video and I have owned a 38 super for years and it has always been one of my favorite guns to shoot. My 38 super is a pair ordinance which they no longer make, but it is a very nice 1911 and it comes with a double stack magazine that holds 18 rounds. This pistol is very accurate and extremely reliable.
1st it would have to be on a .45acp frame because of the over all length 2nd the 9x23 Winchester is rimless so it plays better with double stack mags and it ballistically a better round 3rd unfortunately demand isn't enough to get more manufacturers to make more guns in oddball calibers
I have a Glock in 38 Super and love it, also have a 9x25 Dillon, I got the conversion barrel's from lonewolf back when they still made them, use both in the G40 MOS with 6" barrel 😉
The .38 Super is like an "almost" .357 Magnum and surpasses the ol' .38 Special+P in performance. Fun to have as it's quite obscure but a shining star of a cartridge!
This gun, other Colts, and various 1911s show up regularly in classic Perry Mason episodes. It's always fun to try and identify them. Thanks for another great review, Sootch00.
SFPD Inspector Nash Bridges (Don Johnson) uses a highly customized 1911A1 pistol in .38 Super with a two port compensator. The gun was designed by Jim Zubiena, and built at Mac's .45 Shop. The pistol also featured a Colt MK IV Series 70 slide which was custom cut to Commander length and equipped with Bomar sights, with a BarSto barrel. The frame was a Springfield, which had been hard-chromed. It also has a Smith and Alexander flat mainspring with magazine well, a combat hammer, beavertail grip safety, extended slide catch, and an extended ambidextrous safety. It was used through all six seasons of the show
The .38ACP was popular in Mexico and Latin America before the .45ACP was invented. Fiocchi loads their .38 Super (129gr) to around 1200fps. Geco loads theirs (124gr) to around 1400fps. Before WWII American ammo manufacturers loaded .38ACP between 1050fps and 1190fps depending on the manufacturer. It was after the war when SAAMI fixed the velocity of .38ACP to 1040fps. The .38 Super was originally 1300fps, 1280fps after WWII. Today the velocities of .38 Super from manufacturers are all over the place.
COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA 0 seconds ago GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
I've owned and shot my Colt Combat Commander in 38 Super for over 30 years. It is a sweet pistol. And the only way anybody is getting mine is out of my cold dead hand. Love my Sig's but my Colt's are a man's best friend. Peace out
The .38 Super was extremely popular on our side of the border also, back in the 30s/40s. Many of the famous (or infamous) Texas Rangers in that period carried it as well as other agencies in that region. I'm not sure why it was so popular down here, but it may have just been familiarity by exposure to Mexican cops that used it.
@@johnmoore1290 I don't think that applied to Mexican cops, or even know if that law was a thing back then. One way or another, it was popular with law enforcement on both sides of the border. Remember, during this period is when the .357 Mag was getting all kinds of press, and the .38 Super was being pushed as the semi-auto equivalent (it isn't), so it appealed to cops along the border, which was a very wild place back then.
COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA 0 seconds ago GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
I have a Tanfoglio in 38 Super that I shoot 9x23 Winchester out of with no problems, I did have to put a 2 pound heavier recoil spring in it. 9x23 Winchester is like a Super version of 38 Super, 1460 fps with a 125 grain bullet.
38 Super is possibly one finest calibers there are. The versatility, power and accuracy are superior to the most popular round, the 9mm. The commercial ammo is underdeveloped as a result so buying a super and a box of shells from a store doesn't reflect the rounds true characteristics.
I used a custom Para Ordnance in .38 Super back in the 90's. 18 Round magazines were the best. I sadly got rid of it about 20 years ago. I got a Combat Commander in .38 Super about 4 years ago, love having one again. I remember Sig mad the P220 in .38 Super for a while in the 80's.
Just to make things clear 38 súper is not allowed for civilians in Mexico and other Latin American countries. The highest pistol caliber allowed in handguns for civilians is 380 acp and 38 special.
YOU ARE CORRECT ........COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA 0 seconds ago GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
I have 2 Colt 38 Super Gov't models, I really like it. First time I shot it outdoors on the local range it got people's attention. Somehow in the past couple of years I ended up with a butt load of ammo I bought at what were decent proces for 38 Super. Now to start reloading.
Want to be further confused? I have a Colt 1911 Super 38 Automatic, that shoots 38 special, wad cutters only. It's made for NRA National Match Course Shooting. Because of the length of the 38 special only wad cutters loaded flush to the top of the brass will fit. To make it more odd, it has a scope mounted on it. It was my dad's gun, that he used in the sixties. He was the first person to use a scope on all three guns, 22, center fire match and 45. The hard ball match required open sights so that's what he used in that match. I have his hardball gun too. It's a Remington Rand purchased through DCM program that he accurised himself. He paid $65 for that 45, about 1963.
I can't speak for anybody else but my 45 ACP rounds in my 1911 go the same F.P.S. as that 38 super, everyone says a 45 ACP is a big slow bullet, "BUT" that's not always the case, it's the rounds you carry, there out there, the hot ammo Performs well out of my s&w 1911, recoil is nothing can put every round on target no problem, that 38 super is super sexy though and a great round.. I' prefer the Conan 357. Not only a client of the wrist breaker club I'm also the president 👍
Have a Rock Island in .38 Super , Wanted one in Colt . Guess I will have to wait to have the first one I ever shot passed down . Hope my Dad lives a long time , I will wait .
This is the handgun cartridge and pistol that Frank Hamer bought to get Bonnie and Clyde. The reason was the penetration in the car doors of that era. I have a Kimber Stainless Target II which has the ramped barrel. Reloads with Lil Gun or N105 and 124 gr. Speer Gold Dots are awesome and surpass the .357 Sig and equal .357 S&W Mag in 125 gr.
As much as I love my .38 Supers, my 9x23mm Winchester gov't model clone has it beat for power, and doesn't have that silly semi-rim. That is if you don't want an even more obscure cartridge.
I’m from Central America; besides the fact that we don’t have the problem of Mexico (where 45. ACP and 9.mm are “prohibited”, not allowed for the honesty’s), .38S still, indeed a popular caliber as well!
Stock form...not really, not when modern 9x19mm that nears or practically duplicates old +P or even old +P+ like post 2005 Speer Gold Dot, Remington Golden Saber, or newer Federal or European spec 9x19mm gets into it. When you get into Underwood, Buffalo Bore, Cor-Bon then .38 Super really comes into its own. I own two pre-Kahr Auto Ordnance 1911s one of which is in .38 Super. Very nice weapon. Owned it about six years, owned its .45 counterpart for 12.
I ordered a 38 super sig barrel from cdnn 40.00. Dropped it in my kimber 10mm worked perfect and accurate. Ordered 38 super taurus mags cdnn perfection. Wish i could post a pic of accuracy my phone wont let me. I reload for it from when i had a taurus i wish ide kept but traded for 357 sig so glad i have 38 super back in action. Love super. I found a place close to me that has plenty of super.
Had a Commander in .38 Super back in the ‘70s, came complete with reloading dies. Had a custom barrel made that headspaced on the case mouth, and it performed well, up to a point. With light bullets, it could be pushed to very high velocity. Anything over 140 gr., it would start blowing out the case head at the extractor cut before acceptable velocities were reached . Sold it, didn’t look back.
My 1911 is brushed stainless and is just a fine shooter. I wish some one would make an Officer Model in 38 Supper. I enjoyed watching your take on this fine cartridge.
I used to work at a landscape company here in San Antonio, almost all of their workers or visa workers from Mexico. I’ve always been into guns so I would get into discussions with some of the guys and I always thought it was really strange that most of them had 38 supers I thought it was like a cultural thing Now it makes sense.
That's because it's popular there and South America. Out performs 9mm from what I've heard.
Una chulada esas 38 super
It's popular in Mexico because it's not a so called "military" caliber" therefore legal to own. They prize it because it's the most powerful handgun round they can legally own. It's a practicality that has morphed into cultural thing, they've exaggerated it's ability because they can get nothing else.
Actually 38 super has been banned in Mexico since around the 70s.
So it is cultural.
@@allopez8563 really? What do they go by now? Muzzle energy? Or still the bullshit military designation and just added 38 super for the lulz?
Back in the '70s I worked where we could carry a handgun "of no greater caliber than a standard police 38." Talk about knowledgeable legislators! I carried a brushed nickel Colt Combat Commander in .38 Super. Loved it.
In the 80s I bought a Colt Combat Commander in brushed nickel, also in 38 super. but due to the cost of ammo in my area I had a gunsmith fit a barrel in 9mm. Carried it till I caught the hi cap bug.
When I first got into guns, I meant to buy some 38 special but mistakenly bought a couple boxes of 38 super instead. I still have them. I guess that means it’s time buy another 1911!
I tossed the idea around for years of getting a .38 Super. I would read stuff that would make me rethink buying one. I finally bought one last year and I have no regrets. I bought the OC1911 Colt Classic. I installed the Wilson Combat long trigger and it shoots like a dream.
Any excus... uh, *_reason_* to purchase another firearm is always valid 👌🏼
COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA
0 seconds ago
GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
Ha-I have a box of super purchased accidentally as well and like you have been thinking about buying something to go along. This looks like a nice option.
@@colt38superherenciamexican77 I’ve seen your amazing collection and information! It’s the best .38 Superona collection I’ve ever seen. 🤠
I don't know why .38 Super isn't more popular. It's a fantastic round.
cuz 9mm rules
@@mikehenrybell2398 Wrong.
@@DS..69 naive
Because it's outdated you can't double stack it Because it's usually a half rimmed cartridge
Good enough for El Chopo.. I will use it
I retired from IPSC several decades ago, but I still have my built, comped, stainless, Colt Super with all the competition gear including reloader and supplies ( even the primers ).
Wow i bet its worth a bunch of money now!
I wonder if you took good care of it over the years?
I have a Colt 1911 / 38 Super built by Steve Woods
@@wapiti3750 havepicture of one a those things flat on the ground in Holland-bet you know the one
When I worked the retail side of the firearms business we sold hundreds of the Colt 1911 .38 Super in polished stainless. We retailed them for nearly $1700 and sold out as soon as deliveries were made.
Who buys these 1911s. The 99% were Hispanic males. They preferred the bright stainless over the blued.
I had them transferred from other store locations to the store where I worked. All Ihad to do was shine it with a microfiber rag and hand it to them. Before I know it they are forking over cash or credit card.
One man bought two and cleaned us out of .38 Super ammo.
Mine is a Colt 1911 i stainless. White Swede. It was polished but was very worn down so i had it beadblasted to satin and now it beautiful. :)
The reason why Hispanic but mainly Mexicans purchase 38 supers was because they were not allowed to own pistols that shot military calibers. 9mm Para bellum (Prepare For War) So Mexico instituted that ban and hence this is why 38 super is so popular in Mexico and South America.
I had a colt custom shop ELSEN polished SS , sold her during the crash in 08, reciently look to buy another one and they were listing for $1700. I bought mine new for $1125. Loved that gun. I have a colt government in brushed ss in 38 super now!!!
@@johnwayne2103 i must tell you man this youre explaining is not totally right we love this type of ammo combination gun only because it has earned a super reputation through the years among serious shooters and pistoleros as gun of choice due to it's flat trayectory and knock down power the main reason youre telling at the begginig could be the second of it's popularity but is unlikely acording to my point of view and even more because almost is forbiden and contradictory here in México in gun use for the legal owner of handguns for self defense and Home protection by The guachos (military)
@@alejandrobanda1822 don't forget at the time colt was the best gun manufacture of firearms and 1911 never jam so that with the 38 super being fast is perfection
I have a 38 super from rock island nickel plated and I always say ima get buried with it, it’s my favorite caliber.
I’ve carried .38 super ccw appendix carry in my rotation for three decades. It works great on javalena too.
SCOOTH thank you for a great review of one of my beloved rounds, I’ve had my Colt Combat Commander for over 30 years. I would just add a little history, the 38 ACP & the Colt Super 38 Auto is the exact same case, the difference is the lower pressure 38 ACP is for the weaker previous model. When the 1911 came out, they found it could handle much higher pressure. Adding more powder, got higher velcity, changed the name to Colt Super 38 Auto. The velocity got up 1300 FPS 487 FPE, from the Government Model. The Super was used by the gangster’s of the 1920’s and 1930’s. The US Postal Service as well as the FBI used it to penetrate the car door’s of the gangsters cars. Pretty boy Floyd and Baby Face Nelson was known to carry and used the Super . The Super was the most powerful round until 1935 when the 357 Magnum came along after that it declined in popularity then the 9MM Parablleum put the nail in it’s coffin. You’re correct the Colt Super 38 Auto is obscure.
Also it’s popularity is due to its ability to defeat gangster body armor in the ‘20s and ‘30s as I recall. Great round for sure. The part about US postal service carrying them is an interesting fact I didn’t know about.👍
Yes Bob you are correct about the body armor, also various Law Enforcement agencies in the Western states used it. The Rail Road lines Officers also used it .
The 38 super is the perfect cartridge for a 1911. I love mine. I want a light weight commander size now. That’s about as perfect as it gets.
I agree. I had a 1911 lightweight combat commander in .38 Super when I livedin the US, and loved it.
In the 1970's, we used to call the 38 Super, the "38 Stupid", as the cartridge was head spacing on the semi rim, not the case mouth and the accuracy in a stock gun was simply horrible. Colt introduced the Hot Version of the 38 Auto to compete with the then new Smith & Wesson 357 Magnum. Later when the cartridge was modernized, they modified the rim to be smaller and changed it so the cartridge head spaced on the case mouth, improving accuracy. Barsto was one of the first to sell barrels that head spaced on the case mouth.
In Mexico, the 38 Super was "King", because as you stated, civilians weren't allowed to own "Military Calibers". Today Mexicans can only buy 380 Auto and 38 Special pistols and revolvers. You can still buy 38 Super Ammo, but not the guns anymore. Of course the popularity of the 38 Super followed immigrants to the United States, so much so, if you found a 38 Super Cartridge case at a crime scene, it usually indicated that the suspect was Hispanic or that Paul Harrell did it.
I didn't know Paul was a super fan. I am a fan of super and a fan of Paul. "When good things come together"
Lol that was great!
RIA still makes a 38 super
Lol Paul Harrel
Love it! Yep, it's one of Paul's favorite Deer hunting pistols czcams.com/video/qDhZpV9ZBX8/video.html
I have the Dan Wesson Guardian in 38 super. Love it! Sig ammo in 38 super +P is widely available. stocked up on a few thousand rounds when the shelves were empty of 9mm.
Never even seen a 38 super cartridge in real life. Would definitely love to have one
Mine shoots very smoothly. I’m in love with it
Nah not really just stick with popular cartridges, although the 38 super has been around for awhile 9mm is a more popular round and easier to find. It was years before I got my 38 super and it was because it was such a good deal I couldn't pass up on it. Now ask me how many times i have fired it? 1 box of 50 in the 15 years I have owned it.
I’ll send you a couple
It's a great round
Spent a lot of time south of the border in the 80’s and this was the gun to have.
Where south of the border?
Even into the middle of the ammo shortage it amused me to find 38 super for sale at old/good prices when everything else was gone. Great round. Accurate. Powerful. Great field gun. In hot loads it comes close to many 357 loads in shorter revolvers. It paid off to have a mix of obscure and common.
A really good combination gun, here in México has a súper good aceptation among serious shooters and pistoleros, flat trayectory and knock down power i just love mine! Saludos amigos!
Is it true there is only one gun store and it is in Mexico city?
@@DopamineSink Yes it is... DCAM by SEDENA, a Goverment shop, for civil and military people.
@@DopamineSink actually there are 2 gun stores, one in México City and the other is located in Mty Nuevo León.
@@sergiosoutheastmx6973there is now one in Guadalajara as well.
Wow, you finally did a "38 Super" video! That's cool
I carry a 38 Super. If you reload, it is a very affordable cartridge to shoot provided you recover as much of your brass as possible. Factory ammo really does not get the full potential out of this cartridge. I have a 124 gr load that I clock at 1325 fps
Own a Colt Combat Commander Super 38. Bought back in the 80's from a policeman buddy of mine. Nice, just a hair smaller than a 45 auto. Nice for home defense on night stand or in stashed in another room. Not for carry in the summer. Very nice weapon!!!
Love the round! Low recoil like 9mm and more punch than 9mm.
I'm in Argentina and we have 45 ACP for civilian use. I have one! And it's all legal, even registered and all as required here. Also rifles, shotguns, I own a 357 as well. You cannot own full auto legally nor very short shotguns here. Maybe that limit is in some countries or country in particular. Never heard of 38 super before, looks cool!
The Colt .38 Super was the first gun I ever fired in the 1911 platform. My father was with me at the range as I fired it. He taught me the BRAS method of shooting. Breathe, Relax, Aim, Shoot. He was in the 82 Airborne.
I had a good time shooting with the.38 Super. It didn’t have a lot of recoil and it felt good in my hand.
I think Colt still makes this gun in both Government and Commander sizes.
Ammunition is going to be expensive but at least there are a few manufacturers that make this ammunition.
Great video.
John Dillinger preferred the .38 Super for it's capacity and penetration, as it was able to get through the body armor of the time. It's rumored that he had one converted to full auto with an extended magazine and a vertical grip from a Thompson attached to the dust cover.
Not a rumor at all. That gun does exist and is pretty cool.
Yeah, not a rumor at all. Very famous gunsmith. I've been to the area in downtown San Antonio where his shop used to be.
I am not sure but I believe baby face nelson had that gun
Hermosa pistola en México apreciamos mucho a la 38 Super Colt Pistol. Saludos.
Why
@@SuAmigoElilegalbest round available, not allowed to use military calibers
Es ilegal para civiles en México.
.38 super is like 9mm +p+ with a 135 grain projectile. I’ve Always been fascinated about the .38 super never had the opportunity to get my hands on one. Thanks for the great review as always.
I shot one not long ago. RIA 1911 .38 Super. It was great! I can see why the Caliber has such a strong following. I love it, but wish it was more popular! 🤣
I like the .38 Super, it is a intermediate power cartridge, similar to the .40 S&W, and the .357 SIG. The nice thing about reloading this cartridge, is that .355 or .357 diameter bullets can be used, this gives one a large variety of projectiles to load. As always, keep to the published reloading data. Enjoy.
I recall hearing a story once about a personal/business defense success involving a 38 Super. It immediately and profoundly stopped the attack.
You can find stories like that about virtually all calibers.
@@colt10mmsecurity68 Yeap even a 25 caliber has the ability to stop a thug in it's tracks.
@@johnwayne2103 Yup. Shot placement.
@@colt10mmsecurity68 More like WTF that go boom I run. Nobody is going to stand around and go was that a 22lr or a 45? Now if it's a determined attacker just fill him up.
My dad had a Llama that was nickle with pearl handles way back in the day. It was stolen during a home burglary in the 1970's. I remember it to this day.
😧😥😰
From experience..most Spanish made .38 Super pistols will chamber and cycle a 9mm round in an
" emergency" situation where a .38 Super round is not available.
This was made possible by the Spanish pistol manufacturers by slightly conforming to the 9mm Luger's shell dimensions at the barrel's chamber.
I have been looking for a 38 super for 2 years now. I have even stocked some ammunition for it, both defensive and ball, when I do finally get my hands on one. I would settle for a Rock Island but would prefer to get a Colt. I have a .45 Colt government model so I think I should keep the trend going.
I have been a big fan of the 38 super for over 30 yrs now. Really great video. You probably should have mentioned the fully ramped supported chamber barrels for it. When you start to lean on the super for speed and power it is a nice safety margin. Every person I have ever handed my 38 super to try out wants to buy one immediately.
I wanted a Colt 1911 in .38 Super for decades, but never ran across one that hadn't been molested. I finally bought a new one, and have never regretted it.
@@frankmartin8471 I got mine in one of those accidently found the deal kinds of things. Price was too good. I will have it forever now.
Some Philippine Veterans of the Korean War l have talked to said they preferred the .38 Super pistol and round.
It had a flatter trajectory and deeper penetration on the Chinese
" body armor" , beyond what the .45 was capable of.
Some Old school Philippine provincial Law Enforcers choose the Super.38 as it can penetrate coconut trees, where
At times,Bad elements usually wait in ambush.
I love this caliber. I have a 1911 manufactured by IMBEL for the Springfield Armory in .38 Super. Simply delicious to use.
Even though ammo is scarce, I really enjoy using it. Thanks for the video.
Those Imbel produced Springfields are pretty well made.
@@blueduck9409 In all, I have three Imbel Model 1911 pistols, in the .380 ACP, 9mm and the .38 Super calibers. All of them with thousands of shots in each one, fired over several years. All are perfect and will probably last longer than my existence.
There’s a close cousin to the .38 Super called the .38 Super Comp. Basically the same round, but in a true rimless case. It will function through a standard .38 Super with no modification. Works in my Colt and my Kimber. Also, the .38 Super +P is not a more powerful round. In the mid 80’s, the +P designation was added to the name to further differentiate it from the.38 ACP. Underwood makes great .38 Super defensive ammo.
Got a Colt and a Kimber in 38super. Great caliber, power with control ability. Plus a great gun platform. Easy for reloading too. 👍
One of my personal favorite defense cartridges in the 1911 platform, using Buffalo Bore 115 grain JHP potent stuff, 537 foot pounds.
Excellent. I have some Underwood 124 grain bonded 38 super in my Colt 1911. They are fast movers.
These loads must be ear cracking loud.
My great grandfather won one of these way back in 1927. It's still in the family and functioning fine with today's 38 Super Auto ammo and Wilson mags.
They actually didn't exist until 1929. My grandfather had one as well that he passed down to my father who passed it down to me. It's still like new as it hasn't been fired much at all. It's one of my most prized possessions.
@@JR15A2 You're right. I always remember the year wrong on it. Also one of those guns I'll never get rid of despite not really being one I use on a regular basis.
COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA
0 seconds ago
GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
@@colt38superherenciamexican77 It's a shame that you're no longer allowed to own them. The communist/democrat scum in our current administration would love to do the same to us. Hopefully, their blood will run through our sewers before that happens. Are you allowed to own any rifles?
Good to see a video on this great cartridge, I still favor the 45 1911 for my use though. Now lets see a video on another obscure cartridge, the 41 magnum. I have both a S&W 5" 44 magnum, and my 25 year old S&W 657 41 magnum. I always preferred the 41 magnum.
How is recoil vs 357 ,44 is more than I can handle accoartly
@@arikatser1045 I always reloaded and shot lead cast bullets at the range, so the recoil wasn't bad. The 41 has less recoil the most 44 magnums. I just found I could shoot the 41 a lot better than the 44 magnum. The 41 has more recoil than the 357 magnum of course.
Dan wesson guardian 38super commander size, great carry, an excellent shooting gun.
Thanks for the recommendation!!
I really enjoyed your video! The first handgun I shot was my dads Colt 1911A1 45ACP when I was 9 yrs old. It has been my favorite handgun for 60yrs. I have always been a fan of the 38 Super, I bought a Colt 38 Super in the 70's but I had to sell it in the 80's due to divorce.Right now I have a Rock Island 1911 38 Super I have had for sometime now. I load for mine so I don't have to pay the high cost for factory and I can load up or down depending what I want at the time. I fitted a Rock Island 9mm barrel in mine, uses the same magazines, Rock Island marks some of their mags for 9mm/38 Super, but even my Metalform 38 Super mags run 9mm flawlessly. It's a great cartridge. I subscribed about a month ago and I have been catching up on your videos.
Ah!! The super 38, was the first duty auto I carried on the Sheriff's dept, even had the Colt Ace 22lr conversion,
Went to a competition where a pro was using .38 Super hand loaded to the max. Sounded like a rifle going off. Pressures were serious for a handgun.
The problem was the stupid IPSC Rules and Jeff Cooper with his "Major and Minor" nonsense. The whole thing devolved into "Gamer Guns". What happened was these guys were hot rodding the 9mm in excess of their pressure ratings to make "Major". They ended up banning this, so they bought a bunch of 9x17 cases, which had no SAMMI specs and did the same thing to get around the new rules. Then they were forced to give that up and and went to an improved 38 Super which eventually got labeled 38 Super Plus P. Bottom line is that everybody would shoot 9mm, like in the real world, if not for the gamer rules and gamer guns.
@@jager6863 I do like the bring what you carry matches.
The first 1911 style pistol I fired was a .38 super stainless steel at Iron Sights in Oceanside, CA. I fell in love with this sweet shooting pistol.
Nearly 20 years later, I finally purchased a current production COLT 01911C Blued Government Model .38 Super with Rosewood grips and National Match barrel. Mine did not come with white dot sights, or the long standard 1911 trigger. My particular COLT has a 1911A1 style short trigger and enlarged GI sights (Really same size as white dot, but without the dots) Only mods I will likely make are to the sights, trigger and the beavertail.
Great video. Thank you. I always wondered why so many Mexicans that I know have or talk about the 38 Super. Didn't know about the Mex Gov. restrictions. Makes sense. Thanks for all the history on the 38 Super.
Cartels love that round
COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA
0 seconds ago
GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
Well now this was a interesting video and I have owned a 38 super for years and it has always been one of my favorite guns to shoot. My 38 super is a pair ordinance which they no longer make, but it is a very nice 1911 and it comes with a double stack magazine that holds 18 rounds. This pistol is very accurate and extremely reliable.
I have had my 38 super for a few years now I love it!
Glock should introduce a pistol for this cartridge and call it the 9mm Magnum. It would probably become popular again.
1st it would have to be on a .45acp frame because of the over all length
2nd the 9x23 Winchester is rimless so it plays better with double stack mags and it ballistically a better round
3rd unfortunately demand isn't enough to get more manufacturers to make more guns in oddball calibers
I have a Glock in 38 Super and love it, also have a 9x25 Dillon, I got the conversion barrel's from lonewolf back when they still made them, use both in the G40 MOS with 6" barrel 😉
My dad was a pilot in Africa during WW2. He Carried a Super 38.
The .38 Super is like an "almost" .357 Magnum and surpasses the ol' .38 Special+P in performance. Fun to have as it's quite obscure but a shining star of a cartridge!
This gun, other Colts, and various 1911s show up regularly in classic Perry Mason episodes. It's always fun to try and identify them. Thanks for another great review, Sootch00.
I lived in LA for a few years. Mexicans love the 1911 and 38 Super.
I've a 38 super 1911 for many years and love it
SFPD Inspector Nash Bridges (Don Johnson) uses a highly customized 1911A1 pistol in .38 Super with a two port compensator. The gun was designed by Jim Zubiena, and built at Mac's .45 Shop. The pistol also featured a Colt MK IV Series 70 slide which was custom cut to Commander length and equipped with Bomar sights, with a BarSto barrel. The frame was a Springfield, which had been hard-chromed. It also has a Smith and Alexander flat mainspring with magazine well, a combat hammer, beavertail grip safety, extended slide catch, and an extended ambidextrous safety. It was used through all six seasons of the show
Have had 38 super in twice in 6 months where I work, not available enough for me to add the caliber, just like 5.7, but it is interesting.
I love my RIA in .38 Super. I still talk to people that have never heard of it.
That's cause they don't know anything about rare calibers🙄
The .38ACP was popular in Mexico and Latin America before the .45ACP was invented. Fiocchi loads their .38 Super (129gr) to around 1200fps. Geco loads theirs (124gr) to around 1400fps. Before WWII American ammo manufacturers loaded .38ACP between 1050fps and 1190fps depending on the manufacturer. It was after the war when SAAMI fixed the velocity of .38ACP to 1040fps. The .38 Super was originally 1300fps, 1280fps after WWII. Today the velocities of .38 Super from manufacturers are all over the place.
COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA
0 seconds ago
GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
I have a 'plain Jane' Rock Island .38 super and I love it. Recoil is very manageable.
Me and my dads fav handgun Colt 1911 .45 ACP and .38 Super nothing else.
Us mexicans love Super38s, as well as 45 acp in the 1911 , nickel plated a must .
Love my Colt 38 Supers. Just something different than the 45 acp and I like the extra mag capacity
I've owned and shot my Colt Combat Commander in 38 Super for over 30 years. It is a sweet pistol. And the only way anybody is getting mine is out of my cold dead hand. Love my Sig's but my Colt's are a man's best friend. Peace out
Love my .38 Super. It’s a fun round to shoot.
My first firearm was a Llama 1911 in .38 Super
The .38 Super was extremely popular on our side of the border also, back in the 30s/40s. Many of the famous (or infamous) Texas Rangers in that period carried it as well as other agencies in that region. I'm not sure why it was so popular down here, but it may have just been familiarity by exposure to Mexican cops that used it.
The reason for popularity in Mexico was that it was a non-military cartridge and could be posessed by civilians.
@@johnmoore1290 I don't think that applied to Mexican cops, or even know if that law was a thing back then. One way or another, it was popular with law enforcement on both sides of the border. Remember, during this period is when the .357 Mag was getting all kinds of press, and the .38 Super was being pushed as the semi-auto equivalent (it isn't), so it appealed to cops along the border, which was a very wild place back then.
COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA
0 seconds ago
GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
How 'lucky' to find the rounds at PSA! If you believe in luck. Thanks, Don AND Thad.
It was before the crunch.... I was very lucky! lol! Thanks Dave
I love my 38 super, mine is a colt brushed stainless with rosewood grips!!
I have a Tanfoglio in 38 Super that I shoot 9x23 Winchester out of with no problems, I did have to put a 2 pound heavier recoil spring in it.
9x23 Winchester is like a Super version of 38 Super, 1460 fps with a 125 grain bullet.
The lightweight commander in 38 super is a great choice.
Know you’re talking, great cartridge, and yes major power and accurate , great for reloading 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
38 Super is possibly one finest calibers there are. The versatility, power and accuracy are superior to the most popular round, the 9mm. The commercial ammo is underdeveloped as a result so buying a super and a box of shells from a store doesn't reflect the rounds true characteristics.
I bought My Colt 1911 .38 súper el soldado in 2002 21 years with me the Best Caliber for me
I used a custom Para Ordnance in .38 Super back in the 90's. 18 Round magazines were the best. I sadly got rid of it about 20 years ago. I got a Combat Commander in .38 Super about 4 years ago, love having one again. I remember Sig mad the P220 in .38 Super for a while in the 80's.
Just to make things clear 38 súper is not allowed for civilians in Mexico and other Latin American countries. The highest pistol caliber allowed in handguns for civilians is 380 acp and 38 special.
YOU ARE CORRECT ........COLT 38 SUPER HERENCIA MEXICANA
0 seconds ago
GOOD INFO ON AMMO BALISTICS ... very bad on the "latin america" info... actually most colt super before 1971 were sold to mexico that is why is very popular and you are correct it was the biggest allowed caliber at that time from 1929 when 38 super was born till 1971 ...38 super is NOT ALLOWED ANY MORE IN" LATIN AMERICA " mexico... the only allowed caliber from 1971 till now is .380 ,25,22,32 and shoot guns calibers 12,16,20,410 .....most mexican will open carry 38 supers colt till 1971 ...most colt 38 super prewar and post war ,pre70s and some 70 series are still in underground mexico .. COLT 38 SUPER IS PART OF MEXICAN HERITAGE because have lot of good old memories..
I have 2 Colt 38 Super Gov't models, I really like it. First time I shot it outdoors on the local range it got people's attention.
Somehow in the past couple of years I ended up with a butt load of ammo I bought at what were decent proces for 38 Super. Now to start reloading.
Want to be further confused? I have a Colt 1911 Super 38 Automatic, that shoots 38 special, wad cutters only. It's made for NRA National Match Course Shooting. Because of the length of the 38 special only wad cutters loaded flush to the top of the brass will fit. To make it more odd, it has a scope mounted on it. It was my dad's gun, that he used in the sixties. He was the first person to use a scope on all three guns, 22, center fire match and 45. The hard ball match required open sights so that's what he used in that match. I have his hardball gun too. It's a Remington Rand purchased through DCM program that he accurised himself. He paid $65 for that 45, about 1963.
My favorite 1911 caliber. 38 Super shoots with authority.
I've got a ria 1911 in 38 and it's a very underrated round I like it better than 9 mil personally
In Mexico, 9mm, 38 super, 357, 45 and up. Are exclusive for police and armed forces.
NEVER A DISAPPOINTMENT WITH THIS BROTHER 🔥🔥💪🏿🔥🔥
I can't speak for anybody else but my 45 ACP rounds in my 1911 go the same F.P.S. as that 38 super, everyone says a 45 ACP is a big slow bullet,
"BUT" that's not always the case, it's the rounds you carry, there out there, the hot ammo Performs well out of my s&w 1911, recoil is nothing can put every round on target no problem, that 38 super is super sexy though and a great round.. I' prefer the Conan 357. Not only a client of the wrist breaker club I'm also the president 👍
Thank you for making another great video, I have not shot the 38 yet. I love 1911’s Have 9 , 22, and 45 I love the 45 ACP 😀
Have a Rock Island in .38 Super , Wanted one in Colt . Guess I will have to wait to have the first one I ever shot passed down . Hope my Dad lives a long time , I will wait .
Thad! Remember, Sootch is a collector and you better get that gun back ASAP or it might disappear forever! Cool video bro.
This is the handgun cartridge and pistol that Frank Hamer bought to get Bonnie and Clyde. The reason was the penetration in the car doors of that era. I have a Kimber Stainless Target II which has the ramped barrel. Reloads with Lil Gun or N105 and 124 gr. Speer Gold Dots are awesome and surpass the .357 Sig and equal .357 S&W Mag in 125 gr.
As much as I love my .38 Supers, my 9x23mm Winchester gov't model clone has it beat for power, and doesn't have that silly semi-rim. That is if you don't want an even more obscure cartridge.
$19.99 for a box of 38 super, ah the good ole days....
I knew it, Sootch is an expert. 👍🇺🇸
Nice 38 Super.😉😎
STRENGTH AND HONOR 🎖🎖
Long live The REPUBLIK of These United States of America 🇺🇸👍
The ONLY other cartridge a 1911 should be chambered for. 😁
I’m from Central America; besides the fact that we don’t have the problem of Mexico (where 45. ACP and 9.mm are “prohibited”, not allowed for the honesty’s), .38S still, indeed a popular caliber as well!
I love 1911s. I wish 38 Super ammo was more affordable and available.
Been wanting one of these for some time.
Thanks for the video
38 Super has more power than 9mm.
Stock form...not really, not when modern 9x19mm that nears or practically duplicates old +P or even old +P+ like post 2005 Speer Gold Dot, Remington Golden Saber, or newer Federal or European spec 9x19mm gets into it. When you get into Underwood, Buffalo Bore, Cor-Bon then .38 Super really comes into its own.
I own two pre-Kahr Auto Ordnance 1911s one of which is in .38 Super. Very nice weapon. Owned it about six years, owned its .45 counterpart for 12.
I love shooting my 10 colt 1911s in 38 super and my full size EAA Witness in 38 super. I carry 38 super more than my 9mms
Paul Harrell would approve of this video 👍 I do too :)
I ordered a 38 super sig barrel from cdnn 40.00. Dropped it in my kimber 10mm worked perfect and accurate. Ordered 38 super taurus mags cdnn perfection. Wish i could post a pic of accuracy my phone wont let me. I reload for it from when i had a taurus i wish ide kept but traded for 357 sig so glad i have 38 super back in action. Love super. I found a place close to me that has plenty of super.
Had a Commander in .38 Super back in the ‘70s, came complete with reloading dies. Had a custom barrel made that headspaced on the case mouth, and it performed well, up to a point. With light bullets, it could be pushed to very high velocity. Anything over 140 gr., it would start blowing out the case head at the extractor cut before acceptable velocities were reached . Sold it, didn’t look back.
My 1911 is brushed stainless and is just a fine shooter. I wish some one would make an Officer Model in 38 Supper. I enjoyed watching your take on this fine cartridge.
Colt makes a .38 Super in Commander size. I bought one.
@@jamessamuelsen8479 really! I did not know that.... I'll have to start looking for one. Thanks for the info.
I wish I could find a new blued Colt 1911 Classic model in .38 Super.
10 round
.38 super 1911
The best 1911
You may have a point
Lol, until you can’t find 38 super ammunition. I will stick to 45 auto.
Another reason the .45 may not go through cars doors is because it's wider than 9mm. (.38 Super)
It's a better caliber than 9x19mm