Author Topic: Want a .38 Super (Read 3768 times)

Dixiejack · « **Reply #30 on:** May 23, 2011, 04:09:37 PM »

That was a deal on your ammo. Let me know the brand and how it shoots.

I pick up my Colt .38 Super today and I am well pleased. Chuck, the smith and owner went over it with me and said it had been modified (which I knew) but appeared to be in great condition. He said it had been hardly used. Basically a smooth trigger job, a Bar-Sto barrel and bushing. The hammer had been bobbed and he recommended a skeleton hammer. I will try and get some pic up this week or next. Summer semester opened today, so I am kind of busy getting classes started.

While I was there he showed me the new Remington R1 that he got in Friday. It's an inventory gun he had on order for 4 months. I got to handle it and look it over close. I am not that impressed. The slide lock had to be manhandled to get it to move so the slide would close with the stock mag. He slipped in a Taurus mag. and it worked fine. The grips really look cheap and I would replace them with wooden ones. I do like the sights. Blueing is typical Remington 1100 finish.

Chuck said he had 4 or 5 .45 shooters in on Saturday, all looked at it and wanted to know when he was going to get some new Ruger 1911's in. He had it marked for sale at $649. which is about typical starting price on Gun Brokers online.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #31 on:** May 24, 2011, 12:13:08 AM »

Congratulations, I'm sure you will love it. The Barsto Barrel, (if factory installed), they gauruntee 2 inches at 25 yrds. It should be a tack driver. It is also a fully supported chamber so no problems with hot loads. Good choice.

williamlayton · « **Reply #32 on:** May 24, 2011, 01:43:48 AM »

Wonder what mods were done? Probably just better parts. I don't care for bobbed hammers either---need to be able to feel what your doing in a pinch.
I really think your gonna like the gun and did good.
Classes! Dig in and do good---your facing a different world than when I got out.
Blessings

Dixiejack · « **Reply #33 on:** May 24, 2011, 02:34:40 AM »

Students, now days, have really changed over the last 5 years. You know things are bad in higher education when states are passing laws allowing faculty to pack a sidearm in the classroom. I'm teaching two more years and I am retiring. I guess this is a subject for the pot-bellied stove.

I looked back and see you bought Winchester. I got to start looking for the right ammo for my .38 Super. Have you ever shot any HP's?

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #34 on:** May 24, 2011, 02:51:31 AM »

I have only shot American Eagle, PMC, and a few Remingtons. All of those were FMJ-RN, the Winchesters are also FMJ's but have a nice flat nose on them so will smack things harder. Since I bought 21 boxes, I should be good to go for the summer with this one.

DP

Dixiejack · « **Reply #35 on:** May 25, 2011, 01:30:49 AM »

Way to go!! You got a deal.

williamlayton · « **Reply #36 on:** May 25, 2011, 06:16:15 AM »

The darling thing about a .38 super is the different effects/affects you can create with bullet styles and reloading. It is a very adaptable round--from choices of penetration to whomp.
Blessings

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #37 on:** May 25, 2011, 05:31:36 PM »

I'm very sorry to say I have really ignored my 38 Super.

I plan on using it more this year, want to get much more proficient with a semi-auto, been using revolvers mostly. Too many toys, too much work and too little time.

William, I have read alot of your posts and enjoy learning from you, thank you. DP

CherokeeT · « **Reply #38 on:** May 28, 2011, 05:27:40 PM »

Congrats on the gun. Shoot it and get familiar before you make any changes. Super 38 is a great cartridge, been shooting and loading for it since I built my first one in 1985. Mild to wild loads, 95 gr to 147 gr jacketed and cast. I built the first one on Colt '70 frame, next one on a Para frame. If buying today, I would give the Taurus a good look:

Dixiejack · « **Reply #39 on:** May 29, 2011, 06:08:34 AM »

Very nice looking rig. If you ever decide you want to part with it, I could also use a backup.

williamlayton · « **Reply #40 on:** May 29, 2011, 06:44:37 AM »

Like a blue eyed good looking girl---easy on the eyes.
Good job. Thanksfor the eye candy.
Blessings

Dixiejack · « **Reply #41 on:** May 29, 2011, 06:18:42 PM »

No better words were ever spoken.

williamlayton · « **Reply #42 on:** May 30, 2011, 06:47:57 AM »

I do like the GI trigger---a whole bunch---shorter the better.

Taurus---well, we might disagree there.

Blessings

Dixiejack · « **Reply #43 on:** June 25, 2011, 06:36:18 AM »

Finally here is a photo of my Colt .38 Super. I want to replace the hammer with a Commander style and replace the grip safety with an extended beavertail. Also might do an ambi safety. I have just put one box of cheap ammo through it with no misfires and at 15 yds, groups averaged around 3 inches. I believe I can do better with better ammo and lots of practice.

williamlayton · « **Reply #44 on:** June 25, 2011, 07:14:54 AM »

Good looking.
I do agree with changing the hammer and you might consider a full beavertail---to prevent the "ouch."
I like the gun---but then, again, what is there not to like.
Blessings

Dixiejack · « **Reply #45 on:** June 25, 2011, 07:52:53 AM »

Good to hear from you. Hadn't had much time to talk 1911's. I'm teaching 3 classes summer semester and they are keeping me busy.

My Super does have a clean breaking trigger pull that as sweet as my S&W PC 629 in single action. It is adjustable. I want to make those changes I mention in the other post, but there are no full-time gunsmiths around that I would trust. I want a quality job. You know quality is like oats. Gotta pay the price for quality oats, but if you would be happy to run them thru the mule one time, you can get them a lot cheaper.

It's been too hot and humid to get out and do much shooting. Shoot with one hand and fight the gnats off with the other. Can't wait to retire up-north.

Mikey · « **Reply #46 on:** June 26, 2011, 02:46:17 AM »

Dixiejack: Move up north?? We have May flies, Deer flies, Horse flies and soemthing I refer to as the Swept Wing Vampire Fly that bite like a bear (very small one though). About the best thing youcan use is Deet - keeps them away, that and ear muffs and glasses and a hat - all help, hopefully.

I want you to know that you guys have so twisted my wicket with your talk about the 38 Super - one of my absolute favorites - that I went and bit the bullet and ordered 2 38 Super slides from SAMCO, two different Roto 38 Super barrels from Gun Parts, a bunch of the Aquila ammo (for break in and brass), a couple of extractors, firing pins, firing pin stops and a new ejector so I can change out my Springfield 1911A1 45 to 38 Super. All the parts fit my Springfield frame without problem and as soon as I get the new barrel in I'm goin' shootin'. I checked my supplies and found a bunchof stuff I loaded up 25 years ago and need to shoot that stuff up and I am just going to shoot up allthe 9mm slugs I have had hanging around for a bunch of years. I also need to stock up on some cast 158 - 160 gn rn or rn fp for plinkers - I like tossin' them out at around 1100'/sec.

I am so getting ready to shoot my 38 Super. I figure that I will keep the Super going during the warmer weather as a field piece but switch back to the 45 for the colder weather. So many choices, so much fun.... Thanks for inciting me.......

Dixiejack · « **Reply #47 on:** June 26, 2011, 04:51:45 AM »

Way to go, Mikey. Soon as I can find a pistolsmith, I am going to make a few upgrades to mine to suit me. The I am going to look for frame or a cheap 45 cal. pistol to put my Colt .22 conversion kit on.

I went out to a friend's farm where he has a pond that is full of turtles. Pop a few that were sunning and then they went underwater. Every once in a while one would pop its head up and made a challenging target. Blowed a lot more holes in the water than we did in turtles. We had a break in the weather (got down to 90 degrees) so it was a nice day to be out. LOL

We have deer flies, horse flies, yellow flies, no see ums, mosquitos, but the worst pest is gnats. I don't go out in my yard w/o spraying down with deet. The gnats get in you ears, nose, mouth, eyes--all the places you can't put insect spray or rub on.

We are in the worst drought in 100 years. I live in a little town of 500 people, depending on what day of the week it is. Our 555' deep well went dry last week and the town had to haul water in. Ponds are being pumped dry by irrigation systems, so that means gators are migrating, looking for water. An 8 footer was killed in a small pond about 4 blocks from me. I sure don't want to retire to Florida, used to live there. So I figure anywhere North of the gnat line would be a good place to live. Actually my wife and I are looking for a place in Southern Indiana near the Ohio River.

williamlayton · « **Reply #48 on:** June 26, 2011, 02:06:03 PM »

Where doyou live Dixie--state wise, that is?

Mikey
Thats is what so-called friends is fer---keepin you broke by enticement.
We done good boys.
Blessings

Dixiejack · « **Reply #49 on:** June 26, 2011, 03:29:21 PM »

SW Georgia about 50 miles from the Florida line. Swamp. Plantations. One of the poorest parts of the state.

Mikey · « **Reply #50 on:** June 28, 2011, 02:53:01 AM »

Dixiejack - 38 Supers work well on gators; use hardball for head shots or soft nose or cast for body shots.

Williamlayton: you bad, dangit.

Last night I got both 38 Super uppers properly fit to my Springfield frame. The mil-spec upper is the slickest with the target upper smooth, yet functional - it chambers and ejects dummy rounds. When I pull the firing pin and firing pin stop plate and close the slide I can see that on both uppers the bore appears to be centered on the same point the sights point to so I am pretty sure these two uppers will shoot right.

These 38 Super slides cost only $145 but needed some finish work. They came with a lot of sharp edges and one of my extractor holes seems to have been the last cut with a older bit and needed some 'polishing' before I could fit a standard mil-spec extractor, and both the ejectors and firing pin stop plates required 'fitting' before everything ran smoothly, manually. I think the target slide may need some breaking in but I don't think the mil-spec slide will require the same. I'll letcha all know how it goes.

Of course, once the 38 Supers are working properly I will prolly get one of those 7.62x25mm barrels, or maybe a 7.65 Luger barrel or, maybe a 9mm barrel. Yeah, you guys did it to me again even though I was the one who couldn't resist buying the parts........

williamlayton · « **Reply #51 on:** June 28, 2011, 06:56:26 AM »

&
Blessings

Dixiejack · « **Reply #52 on:** June 28, 2011, 07:09:22 AM »

Mikey--Friends have talked me into buying a gun or two and I never regretted it. Just wish I had all the guns I have sold to buy one I couldn't live without and ---then I started up grading my fly fishing equipment. My new wife of about 10 years threatened to leave if I brought another fly rod in the house so I decided to take her fly fishing up in North Georgia for trout. Now when the new Orvis catalog comes, she claims it for her own. Another reason to move up North as there is no cold water streams to wade in where I live, just sluggish black water creeks and dug farm ponds.

Williamlayton--Looks like we done a good job getting Mikey stirred up and me too. LOL

Down the road, I going to take that .22RF slide assembly and build me a 1911 .22RF. Going to start looking for a cheap 1911 .45 cal. and swap out the slide and whatever I need. First I got find me a gunsmith to change out the hammer, grip safety, and install an ambi- safety on my .38 Super. KA-CHING!!!

williamlayton · « **Reply #53 on:** June 28, 2011, 02:56:20 PM »

Dixie
There aught to be a mess of Smiths in your part of the world.
I have found one in Shreveport that pleases me.
Blessings

Dixiejack · « **Reply #54 on:** June 28, 2011, 04:04:01 PM »

We have a lot of part timers around, but I want to buy first class oats. Shreveport is about 9 hours from me.