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Loading The .38 Super
My experience with the .38 Super goes back more than 40 years. When the ’68 Gun Control Act was announced we really did not know what effect it would have on firearms production, so one of the handguns I bought to get in under the wire was a .38 Super Colt Commander. It turned out to be a disappointment. It simply would not shoot accurately. It’s not that either the cartridge or the Colt were at fault, it was simply the way it was chambered. Most semi-auto cartridges are referred to as rimless. Of course, they do have a rim, however it’s the same diameter as the body of the cartridge. Semi-autos headspace differently as seen by the rimless .45 ACP, which headspaces on the mouth of the cartridge.
The .38 Super is neither rimless nor rimmed but actually somewhere in between; call them semi-rimmed. The rim of the .38 Super is .022″ larger in diameter than the body of the case, resulting in only .011″ of rim on each side for headspacing. Quite often this would not be enough, and often the blow of the firing pin would move the case forward far enough to cause misfires. That was the problem with my old Commander.
I finally sent it off to Bill Wilson, who installed a new barrel, cut for headspacing on the mouth of the case and the problem was solved. Groups shrunk from 12″ at 25 yards to 2″, without even searching for the best load. If you have an older .38 Super with accuracy problems this could be the solution.
WEB BLAST EXTRA
.38 Super — Special Selected Loads
Test-Fire: Wilson Combat 5″ .38 Super
| .38 Super Load | MV (fps) | 5 Shots/20 Yards (Inches) |
| RCBS #38-150KT/5.0 gr. Unique | 1,120 | 1-1/4 |
| Oregon Trail158RN/5.0 gr. Unique | 1,045 | 1 |
| Oregon Trail 147FN/5.0 gr. Universal | 1,127 | 1-3/8 |
| Oregon Trail 125RN/5.0 gr. Universal | 1,182 | 1 |
| Speer 115 GDHP/8.0 gr. HS6 | 1,179 | 1 |
| Sierra 115 FMJ/7.5 gr. Power Pistol | 1,383 | 7/8 |
| Speer 124 GDHP/7.0 gr. Power Pistol | 1,260 | 1-3/8 |
| Hornady 124 XTPJHP/7.0 gr. Power Pistol | 1,256 | 1-1/8 |
| Hornady 147 XTPJHP/6.0 gr. Power Pistol | ,064 | 1-3/8 |
Interactive Whiteboards by PolyVision
Test-Fire: Springfield Armory Mil-Spec 5″ .38 Super
| Load | MV (fps) | 5 Shots/20 Yds (Inches) |
| Lyman #358156GC/5.7 gr. Unique | 1,150 | 7/8 |
| Oregon Trail158RN/5.0 gr. Unique | 1,059 | 1-1/8 |
| Hornady 115 XTPJHP/7.5 gr. Power Pistol | 1,384 | 1-1/8 |
| Speer 115 GDHP/8.0 gr. HS6 | 1,221 | 1-1/8 |
| Sierra 115 FMJ/7.5 gr. Power Pistol | 1,361 | 1-3/8 |
Test-Fire: Colt Custom Stainless 1911 5″ .38 Super
| Load | MV (fps) | 5 Shots/20 Yards (Inches) |
| RCBS #38-150KT/5.0 gr. Unique | 1,125 | 1-1/4 |
| Oregon Trail 147FN/6.0 gr. Power Pistol | 1,186 | 1-3/8 |
| Sierra 115 FMJ/7.5 gr. Power Pistol | 1,379 | 1-1/8 |
Test-Fire: Colt Commander 4-1/4″
| Load | MV (fps) | 5 Shots/20 Yards (Inches) |
| Oregon Trail 147FN/5.0 gr. Universal | 1,150 | 1-1/8 |
| Oregon Trail 125RN/5.0 gr. Universal | 1,179 | 1 |
| Hornady 115 XTPJHP/7.5 gr. Power Pistol | 1,385 | 1 |
| Sierra 115 FMJ/7.5 gr. Power Pistol | 1,372 | 1-3/8 |
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I’ve got a 1935 Colt .38 super that is amazingly accurate, and it’s not even a match grade. The only reason I no longer shoot it is because the value has risen to the insanity level and because it’s getting harder to find .38 super ammo that’s not +p.
I’ve got a Colt Combat Commander, in .38 Super (bought in 1975) that would not shoot. Installed a Bar Sto barrel and now it will shoot inside 2″ at 25 yards, if I do my part. Been reloading for this fabulous pistol since the day I bought it and will continue to shoot 124 grain JHP at about 1100 fps. Great carry pistol.