38 Super or 45 ACP

[Curt Dawson]

Next year I turn 50 and my kids are wanting to get me a pistol as a present.I have always wanted a 1911.The tough choice is between the 38 Super and the 45 acp.I realize that the cost of ammo for the super is a good bit more and availability can sometimes be a problem.But other then that what are the pro's and con's?And which is easier swapping out a 45 to 38 or vice a versa?The reason for that question is that obviously some competitive shooting disciplines require the use of the 45 acp.And,I would like to have option of at some point swapping out the upper for the other caliber as well as a Marvel 22 upper conversion.

[Questor]

Hard to say. I think you need to just pick the one you like and which fits the kind of shooting you might like to do. There are really  no disadvantages to either except ammo availability (which can be solved if you reload.)

I have 45s because I shoot bullseye and bullseye requires 45s. They are also custom guns built for the purpose of bullseye shooting. If I liked action shooting, I'd probably get the 38 super instead.

More important than either caliber is that the gun have good sights and a good trigger.

[Mikey]

Curt:  tough question but having had both and a mix of both I would say go for the 38 Super.  It is a whole bunch easier to find compatible 45 parts than 38 Super parts, I think.........

It is easier I believe to switch from 38 Super to 45 with just a change of uppers (slide, bbl, etc.).  I say that because I have modified 45 ejectors to allow 38 Super slides on a 45 but you don't usually have to fiddle with a 38 Super ejector to fit a 45 slide.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Questor]

Curt:

I may not have given you any good ideas about the 45/38 question, but since I turn 50 THIS year, you gave me the idea of asking for a new S&W M&P in 9mm. Woo hoo!!! Thanks.

[williamlayton]

Golly, I love the way a .38 super shoots and the way a .45 shoots----I am so happy with both that I have both.
I will admit too a .45 being my choice of side gun but I sure don't mind the .38.
For games, well, it seems too run the gamut, including more calibers than are mentioned, in more frames than there is space here, and some not lacking the capacity of some belt fed guns.
This gun stuff is more addicting than dope.
Blessings

[crabo]

I have both and would suggest the 45 acp for several reasons. 
1. The 45 is easy to reload for
2. The 45 shoots cast bullets well (save a lot of money on bullets)
3. The 45 brass is easier to find and to pick up
4.  You can find 45 once fired brass for sale easier and cheaper
5. A better defensive round in my opinion.

Crabo

[poncaguy]

I have both, but I  really enjoy shooting my RIA 38 Super. I just wish I could get a Ruger, XD and M&P in 38 Super, I have all those pistols, some in 9mm, some in 40 S&W  and 45AP.........

[bobthenailer]

i have about 5 45s and 2 38 supers on the 1911 format i shoot 99.9 % cast bullets out of them ! the 45  is more virsitale but i like to shoot  the 38 super , one super also has a  spare 9mm barrel,  the supers and the 9 mm like bullets sized to 0.357 dia best

[Lloyd Smale]

The super is a great self defense round. Probably as good as the 45. Only thing ive noticed through the years is they tend to be pretty finiky in the accuracy dept. Ive seen some that shot great but many that didnt and most of the ones that do take some load developement to get them there. Just about any 45acp put together right will be accurate with most loads. Ive never owned a super but allways liked the idea of one. I think though that if i was going to do it today id step up to a 10mm. There just as flat shooting and hit alot harder then either. The 10mm puts the 1911 into realistic deer hunting capabliltys. Sure the 45 acp will kill a deer but the 10 adds at least 25-50 yards to the effective range. The 10s ive shot have been just as accurate as the 45acps too.

[Dee]

Lloyd getting a barrel that headspaces on the case mouth like the 45acp, and the 38 super will shoot with the 45acp. You probably shot the older Colts that the extractor held the 38 super in place. Some shot good, and some didn't. The round in my opinion is not as good as the 357mag, but close, and certainly better than the 9mm for self defense.

[Jack Ryan]

Which one makes bigger holes?

[Dee]

12 gauge

[kenscot]

12 gauge

LOL

[Mikey]

Lloyd:  a few years back I was shooting some 38 Supers, a worked over Army match gun rebarrelled from 38 Spl to 38 Super and a new Series 70 Colt.  Both were shooting factory barrels.  Both shot 5-6" at 25 yds with 7.7 gns of Unique under a 125 gn slug and about the same with cast 158 gn rn or lighter slugs.  I bought a Bar-Sto barrel that headspaced on the case mouth and it made all the difference.  My groups with both pistols with that barrel interchanged, with every load I put together grouped around 2-2.5" at 25 yds and I even used the Series 70 with that barrel to shoot a reduced course metallic silhouette.

The right barrel in that caliber can make all the difference.  JMTCW.  Mikey.

[Jack Ryan]

12 gauge

Couldn't agree more. If it's an option, there ARE no other options.

[encore58]

45acp is the way to go if you are only going to own one. I'd like to have one in 40S&W at some point in time for several reasons. The 9mm may be worth considering instead of the super if you are worried about ammo costs, availability, etc.

[ECV Slick]

The .38 Super is a terrific caliber, but unless you're into reloading your own ammo, I say you should go with the .45acp (hands down)...

That said (from an "investment perspective") a .45acp will tend to be "worth more".  Now I'm not going to try expounding on all the aspects of firearms ownership vs. investment - but I do feel that considering the re-sale value in any piece is a subject well worth consideration.

On the other hand, if you have a deep desire to own a .38 super, this could be the pivotal event that brings you to consider becoming a reloader (if you're not already).

So while my comments are somewhat convoluted, I'd defend them simply by saying the best bet is to own both calibers and take up reloading (if you haven't already) 

[Curt Dawson]

Went with a RIA 45 that called out to me at the last local gun show.picked up a couple of McCormick 10 rd. magazines on sale at Midway.Fitted the grips to my hands.Bought a box of Winchester white box 230 grs. at wally world.Now I just have to get to the range.

[Greeenriver]

I have had in the past both a 38 Super and a 45acp in 1911 Colts.

For the last few years, the only 1911 I have had and still have is a Colt Delta in 10mm.

I wouldn't trade it for two or each of the 45's and 38's in a 1911.

Greeenriver