38 Super loading info and wisdom needed

[Char-Gar]

Today I "came by" a primo 38 Super upper assembly (Slide, barrel, bushing, sights, link pin, recoil guide, spring and magazine, the whole enchilada, all Colt). It will go on one of my 1911 frames. So now I have a convertible 45/Super 38. The barrel is one of those that headspace on the case mouth.

I also have a good NEI three hole mold for a 120 grain SWC that works great in the Heinie 9, so should do just as well in the American hot 38. This bullet whizing along at 1.2 - 1.3K fps with good accuracy sound like the huckleberry to me.

Any comments on alloy, powder and charges, sizing diameter, etc. are welcome.

[StarMetal]

If the frame is set up for a 45 you need a 38/9mm ejector.

Joe

[Char-Gar]

Joe..Thanks very much..That fact slipped my mind..it is important to know. Thanks again.

[Buckshot]

...........Charger, I really like WC820 in the 38 Super with heavier slugs. The Lyman 147gr (drops at 152, WW alloy) is really accurate in my Witness. I bought the Wolff 'Heavy' spring pack too, BTW. Velocities run a tad over 1200 fps with it. It's just kind of a pain to lube-size because of a bigger BB then it really should have.

Have also gotten good results with a Lee 125gr RNPB, but this much more recently. I'll drag some data out. Slug that barrel! My witness is .356" and I size .357".

..............Buckshot

[StarMetal]

Charger...Buckshot is right about running a heavier spring. I use to have a 9mm upper for my 1911 and I'm convinced that the 9mm beats the frame worse then any 45 ever will, after all look how much pressure the 9mm runs at in comparison to the 45. Your 38 Super is as hot or hotter then the 9mm. Get a stiffer spring.

Joe

[Willbird]

If memory from talking this over with a pistolsmith (medium grade, 47.00 an hour) one can use the 9mm ejector with 45, 40, and 9mm slides, but one has to machine the 45 slide to fit over the 9mm ejector, which is closer to centerline.



That done you don't have to keep swapping ejectors back and forth.

135 GR. NOS IPSC
COL: 1.265"

LIL'GUN 12.8 1357 32,400 CUP (here is what Hogden has to say, I was wondering about Lilgun in the 38 super, thats moving right along velocity wise, and non condoms seem to get more zip for the pressure, and even if you left the rear sight off StarMetal I think you could get 1400fps and oh what??? 1/2" groups at 50 yards for 10 shots ? ) I bet yaal could slide a full clip thru one of MR44mans big bore bugholes nothing but net no problem eh ?


Earl Swagger would be durn fond of that 38 super setup.

for some real butt kicking you could get a 9x21 bbl.

Bill

[StarMetal]

I wouldn't machine the slide and fit the 9mm ejector because anyone with any 1911 knowledge knows that changes the ejection angle that the empty case leaves the firearms. Wherever the ejector hits the case, the case ejections out of the gun in supposelly the 180 degree opposite direction. That 9mm ejector is going to be a tad more inboard and the ejection might not change or it might chance alot. If I was carrying the 45 for protection I sure as hell want it set up with 45 designed parts and functioning dynamics.

Joe

[StarMetal]

Willbird...back in WWII the part of the aerial shooting the Navy gave was one using BB guns with no sights. I heard they got pretty darn good at it. har har

Joe

[Willbird]

Well I know doing the 1911 up like that works fine from everything I hear......myself I'd build a whole nother pistol, but that would COST more...and stuff like that goes over like a lead ballon around these parts hehe

I have played with a marlin model 39 lever with no rear sight and you could bounce cans around fine with it.



Bill

[bobthenailer]

my 2 38 supers will shoot much better with 357 dia cast bullets i use wheel weights water dropped right from the mold ive had good accuracy with a broad rang of powders 5.7 universal clays 125 rn 1242, 6.5 WSF 125rn 1299 fps, 9.0 - WW540 125 rn fps 1359 4.5 to 5.0 tight group in the 1200 fps range with 125 rn, 5.2 WSF 1064 fps 125 rn. good luck bob