EAA/Tanfaglio 38 Super bullet diameter?

[krs]

I've got a pistol coming that's gonna' be pretty far out of my range of experiences - an EAA Tanfaglio Elite Match in 38 super.

It's a pistol made for competition shooting mostly and it has a polygonal rifling barrel. I'm going to load for it.

There's a 125 gr 9mm lead round nose that comes .356" and .357" or there's regular 9mm 124 gr. .355".

I'm wondering id the bigger diameter is considered the hot setup for accuracy in the caliber, and if it usually is thought to be more accurate does anyone think that the poly rifling might be a problem?

I can just use .355's but hate to give away any advantage if the .356 bullet brings that to the cartridge. If it's not right for the caliber why does anyone make them?

The pistol isn't here yet - I'm trying to get ready for it.

 

[floydster]

I have over 3,000 rounds thru my 38
Super Witness Match. You should use .356 dia. bullets---you will not get good results using .355 dia.
These guns do NOT have polygonal
rifling as stated.
The .355 dia . bullets are strickly for the 9mm.
I use .356 in cast and plated with outstanding results.
The Elite Match pistols are very fine guns with match barrel and trigger.
I also have the Match in .45 acp.
Floydster

 

[krs]

Thanks Floydster.

I suspected that the .356" would be the way to go, but my manuals list more loads for .355"

The exact pistol I've bought is this one: http://www.eaacorp.com/handguns-witness-elite-limited-description.html
and the website description does specify that polygonal rifling is used.. There are four pistols in their so-called 'elite' line, each in more than one caliber.

 

[Eric F]

some people do load 9mm bullets in 38 super. I have seen 38 super parrles in .355 .356 and .357 the modt common is .356 which is what they are suposed to be. the .355 barrles are 9mm barrles rechambered to fit 38 super.

 

[floydster]

krs,
As to the rifling be polygonal, some say it is semi-poly and hammer forged,thus it is not a true polygonal barrel, but whatever they call it, it is one great shooting, accurate pistol.
I have shot many thousand rounds thru my Elite Match pistols using cast bullets (.356) 38 Super and (.452) for my .45 ACP, and I can say they are just as accurate as the plated or fmj,
and I have never had a leading issue.
I like my Match pistols better then my CZ's, and that is saying something!

I am sure you will really like your 38 Super, congrats!!!
Floyd

 

[PO2Hammer]

Congrats on the Super!

FWIW I'm shooting a ton of Rainier 130/.356" plated round nose bullets in mine (1911) with good results at 25 yards.

Here's a .38 Super website;
http://38super.net/

 

[krs]

Thanks, I'll be watching as that site develops.

I'm really looking forward to the pistol because I keep hearing great things about them. This one pops into my radar used, but the owner said he's only fired it 50 rounds or less. He said he'd no sooner got it than a Nighthawk .45 opportunity came his way so he has to unload the witness to pay for that.

Floyd, the websight shows conversion kits for Witnesses but it doesn't make it clear whether these Elite Match pistols are comvertable to other calibers. Do you know if that only applies to the standard models?

They mention that the Elite line is put together by their custom gunsmiths but I don't know if they just blow smoke for the higher priced versions. If true it could explain why the elite guns would not be convertable. It's OK with me either way although who wouldn't like the idea of a multi-caliber pistol?

 

[atblis]

355 bullets always shot fine out of my 38 SA Witness.

 

[ReloaderFred]

The standard Witnesses are readily convertable. I've got them in the following calibers:

.22 LR
9x19
9x21
9x23
9x25 Dillon
357 Sig
.38 Super
.40 S&W
10mm
.41 AE
.45 acp

They're good platforms and easy to take care of. They're also a lot of gun for the money. I don't own any of the Stock or Elite models, but may someday.

The money I was saving for a Witness Stock, went for an ANIB Colt Delta Elite today. I just couldn't pass up this deal..

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[floydster]

krs,
My son-in-law called EAA and ask about the conversion kits for the Match pistols. They said they have the conversions but they do not have the adjustible sights like the Match pistols do.
Floyd

 

[krs]

boy, I missed this one, floydster.

So I can take it that the match pistols can be converted but that the conversion slide would not have an adjustable sight? That's not necessarily a big deal but I'm wondering, now that I've got the pistol in hand (arrived Thursday but I picked it up only last night), what prevents a simple barrel change to 9mm? Extractor not having enough reach for the thicker 9mm rim?

What a fine pistol! I've had it stripped down to look it over and lube it, adjusted the two-way trigger overtravels. The innards look like they were made by Campagnola from my old bicycle racing days. Italians manufacture things with a flair.