Why does the 38 Super/ 9x23 get no respect?

[atblis]

I can't figure this out. I've been trying to sell a 38 Super Witness, and I swear that 90% of the people don't even know what 38 super is. Ammo isn't that bad. Aguilla is ~7.00 a box. 9x23 white box is under $10 bucks.

The things a freakin whoot. 1500fps+ and light recoil.

 

[wbond]

I think .38 Super is awesome...

However, I'm too recoil sensitive for that cartridge. Yet it is an awesome cartridge. I think the answer to your question might be ignorance of what it is. Possibly the problem is that people are concerned about availability of ammo?

Are they still making new guns for .38 Super? Just curious because I thought this cartridge had been abandoned by gun makers. That was my impression anyway. It's good stuff though.

 

[Herself]

Whattaya askin' for it? If it is a metal Witness, I might be interested.

--H

 

[f4t9r]

Im interested , whats the price

 

[EghtySx]

Colt still makes em.

 

[Sharps Shooter]

1500fps+?? With what ammunition? I really like the 38 Super, but I'm only getting 1245fps with Winchester 125-grain JHPs. In fact, Corbon 125-grain JHPs only average 1363fps from my gun and I thought Corbon was pretty hot.

Kimber still builds 38 Supers too.

 

[IndianaDean]

A lot of people in the US don't know about 38 Super. I just bought a Colt in the caliber.

 

[McCall911]

A 9mm by any other name...

....is still pretty darn good!

 

[IndianaDean]

A 38 Super is a much better round than the 9. It's almost comparable to the .45, and I believe rated equal to or higher than the .357.

 

[michael_aos]

Yep, I was looking at a new Colt Lightweight Commander in .38 Super the other day.

I had been drawn to the Kimber Tactical Pro II 9mm, but it's a lot heavier than I expected.

I've got a Springfield mil-spec in .38 Super that works very well for IDPA ESP.

Mike

 

[McCall911]

A 38 Super is a much better round than the 9. It's almost comparable to the .45, and I believe rated equal to or higher than the .357.

I have nothing to say.

 

[atblis]

9x23

I personally prefer 9x23 (No rim and the brass is thicker).

I have the gun listed for sale in the handguns classifieds.

 

[kentucky_smith]

I looked at one of these in a RIA the other day, can you just change out a barrel in a 1911? and get a mag?

 

[KadicDeshi]

I looked at one of these in a RIA the other day, can you just change out a barrel in a 1911? and get a mag?

Do you mean converting a 38 super to 9x23? If so, I THINK all it requires is an extractor change to accomodate the change from semi-rimmed to rimless.

Y'all feel free to correct me if I'm mistaken.

Barrett

 

[1911user]

I can't figure this out. I've been trying to sell a 38 Super Witness, and I swear that 90% of the people don't even know what 38 super is. Ammo isn't that bad. Aguilla is ~7.00 a box. 9x23 white box is under $10 bucks.

The things a freakin whoot. 1500fps+ and light recoil.

You are right, many shooters are not familar with 38 super since it was older caliber that was used by some but never to the level of 9mm, 45ACP, etc. It's kind of like 41 magnum in popularity and recognition.

USPSA/IPSC pistol shooting is partly responsible for keeping the 38 super alive. About 20 years ago, top shooters began experimenting with 38 super rounds loaded to near-rifle pressure fired from custom-made 1911-style autos with supported chambers, compensators, and eventually a red-dot sight. The "race gun" was born. This was an attempt to get a competative edge over people shooting the typical 45 auto and it worked. Also, with single-stack mags, you could get more 1-2 more 38 super rounds than 45 auto in the same size mag which was also an adavantage in pre-widebody 1911 frames.

9x23 is the Winchester "rimless solution" to the challenge of the semi-rim on 38 super rounds.

 

[kentucky_smith]

No, a .45 to .38 Super. Would it take more than a barrel change?

 

[atblis]

Most likely

it would require a different slide and barrel (and a different magazine).

Though recently I've heard that it is possible to go from a larger caliber to a smaller caliber if you use a barrel specially designed for this (not sure for which guns and calibers this works). You can possible use just a barrel to go from something larger to smaller because of the breech face. A smaller based cartridge can fit into a larger breech face, but you can't fit a larger base into a smaller breech face.