| .38 Super | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| Type | Pistol | |
| Place of origin |  United States |
|
| Production history | ||
| Manufacturer | Colt's Manufacturing Company | |
| Produced | 1929 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | .38 ACP / .38 Auto | |
| Bullet diameter | 9.02 mm (0.355 in) | |
| Neck diameter | 9.75 mm (0.384 in) | |
| Base diameter | 9.75 mm (0.384 in) | |
| Rim diameter | 10.31 mm (0.406 in) | |
| Rim thickness | 1.27 mm (0.050 in) | |
| Case length | 22.86 mm (0.900 in) | |
| Overall length | 32.51 mm (1.280 in) | |
| Case capacity | 1.14 cm³ (18 gr H2O) | |
| Rifling twist | 406 mm (1 in 16 in) | |
| Primer type | Small pistol | |
| Maximum pressure | 251.66 MPa (36,500 psi) | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 90 gr (5.8 g) JHP | 1,557 ft/s (475 m/s) | 485 ft·lbf (658 J) |
| 100 gr (6.5 g) FMJ | 1,450 ft/s (440 m/s) | 467 ft·lbf (633 J) |
| 115 gr (7.5 g) FMJ | 1,395 ft/s (425 m/s) | 497 ft·lbf (674 J) |
| 130 gr (8.4 g) FMJ | 1,305 ft/s (398 m/s) | 492 ft·lbf (667 J) |
| 150 gr (9.7 g) FMJ | 1,148 ft/s (350 m/s) | 439 ft·lbf (595 J) |
| Test barrel length: 5" Source: Accurate Powder [1] |
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The .38 Super or .38 Super Automatic (C.I.P. designation) is a pistol cartridge that fires a 0.356 in (9.04 mm) diameter bullet. The Super was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP or .38 Auto. The old .38 ACP propelled a 130-grain (8.4 g) bullet at 1,050 ft/s (320.0 m/s). The improved .38 Super Auto pushed the same 130-grain (8.4 g) bullet at 1,280 ft/s (390.1 m/s).[2] The .38 Super has gained distinction as the caliber of choice for many top pistol match competitors; it remains one of the dominant calibers in IPSC competition.[3] In overall sales, it lags far behind most other modern pistol cartridges today.
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Design
The .38 Super is dimensionally identical to the older .38 ACP but is loaded to higher pressures. It was intended that the cartridge would headspace on the semi-rim, however all new .38 Super pistols headspace on the case mouth as with other cartridges in this class. Because the semi-rimmed case can cause some feeding trouble in magazines, especially double stack magazines, rimless variants of .38 Super like .38 Supercomp, .38 Super Lapua and .38 TJ (.38 Todd Jarrett) have been developed.
In 1974 the industry added the +P headstamp to the .38 Super to further distinguish it from the lower pressure .38 ACP. Most current ammunition manufacturers label ammunition for the Super as .38 Super +P.
The cartridge was designed for use in the M1911 pistol and was capable of penetrating the body armor and automobile bodies of the time.[4]
Even though .38 ACP and .38 Super are the same size, it can be potentially dangerous to use .38 Super ammunition in a firearm chambered for .38 ACP. There are over a dozen autoloading pistol cartridges, both semi-rimmed and rimless, in this caliber. Often, foreign or ambiguous headstamps make identification impossible. When in doubt, it is best not to fire suspicious cartridges in any firearm.
Cartridge dimensions
The .38 Super has 1.14 ml (17.6 grains H2O) cartridge case capacity.
.38 Super maximum C.I.P. cartridge dimensions.[5] All sizes in millimeters (mm).
The common rifling twist rate for this cartridge is 406 mm (1 in 16 in), 6 grooves, ø lands = 8.79 mm, ø grooves = 9.02 mm, land width = 3.07 mm and the primer type is small pistol.
According to the official C.I.P. (Commission Internationale Permanente Pour L'Epreuve Des Armes A Feu Portatives) guidelines the .38 Super case can handle up to 230 MPa (33,359 psi) piezo pressure. In C.I.P. regulated countries every pistol cartridge combo has to be proofed at 130% of this maximum C.I.P. pressure to certify for sale to consumers.
The SAAMI pressure limit for the .38 ACP or .38 Auto is set at 182.72 MPa (26,500 psi), piezo pressure.
The SAAMI pressure limit for the .38 Super +P is set at 251.66 MPa (36,500 psi), piezo pressure.[6]
The C.I.P. and SAAMI specified .38 Super (+P) has a semi-rimmed cartridge case.
Rimless .38 Super cartridge cases
In recent years rimless cases became available that transformed the .38 Super into a rimless cartridge. A reason for the development of rimless .38 Super cases was that the semi-rimmed .38 Super case did not always feed reliably from double column box magazines used in several semi-automatic pistols that are popular in practical shooting sports such as IPSC. The rimless case improves feeding reliability in these pistols. As the name suggests, the semi-rim was eliminated. The new rim diameter is close to the case wall diameter. On measured samples of cases, the rim (R1) diameter was no more than 0.18 mm (0.007 in) wider than the case wall (P1) diameter (in typical semi-rimmed cases the rim (R1) diameter is roughly 0.51 mm (.020 in) wider than the case wall (P1) diameter). The rimless cases are intended to headspace on the case mouth.[7]
Performance
The .38 Super offers higher bullet velocities than the 9x19mm Parabellum in factory cartridges. The greater case capacity allows for more powder and results in higher muzzle velocities at approximately similar pressure levels. The .38 Super is generally regarded as a well-balanced cartridge with a flat trajectory, good accuracy and capable of delivering plenty of energy. In fact some loadings will deliver more kinetic energy than most factory-loaded .45 ACP rounds.[8]
Muzzle velocity
- 7.5 g (115 Gr) Full Metal Jacket: 425 m/s : 1,395 ft/s (425 m/s)
- 8.0 g (124 Gr) Full Metal Jacket: 410 m/s : 1,346 ft/s (410 m/s)
Usage
The .38 Super has made a huge comeback in IPSC and USPSA sports shooting raceguns, particularly when equipped with a compensator, because it meets the minimum power factor to be considered a "Major" charge, while having more manageable recoil than .45 ACP.
Apart from its popularity in the shooting sports, the .38 Super is one of the most popular pistol cartridges in Latin America due to local restrictions on civilian ownership of firearms chambered for the military cartridges, such as the .45 ACP. [8]
.38 Super cartridge ballistics have been improved by the use of modern propellants. Ammunition is now available with velocities exceeding 1400 ft/s. This is impressive from a semi-automatic pistol and is comparable to the .357 SIG and similar cartridges.[9] The .38 Super +P is not only popular in Latin America and competition shooting, but is finding its way back into the role of a CCW caliber. Ammunition can now be found in the hollowpoint style bullet with excellent ballistics. A standard 1911 style semi-automatic pistol holds ten to eleven rounds (depending on magazine) with one in the chamber.
Synonyms
- .38 Colt Super
- .38 Super Auto
- .38 Super ACP
- .38 Super +P
- Super 38
- 9x23mmSR +P
See also
References
- ^ Reload data from Accurate Powder
- ^ Speer Reloading Manual #13, 1998, 1999.
- ^ Boatman, Robert H.: Living With the 1911: A Fresh Look at the Fighting Gun, page 15. Paladin Press, January 2005.
- ^ Ayoob, Massad (2001-03). ".38 Super". Guns Magazine. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_3_47/ai_70650308. Retrieved 2006-04-01.
- ^ "C.I.P. decisions, texts and tables - free current C.I.P. CD-ROM version download (ZIP and RAR format)". http://www.cip-bp.org/index.php?id=tdcc-telechargement. Retrieved 2008-10-17.
- ^ "SAAMI Pressures". http://www.leverguns.com/articles/saami_pressures.htm. Retrieved 2007-11-29.
- ^ Rimless .38 Super Brass
- ^ a b Boatman, 16
- ^ The .38 Super +P compared to other pistol cartridges
External links
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