Colt 38 Super Range report -Not Pretty

[Primer88]

I just returned from firing my New Colt .38 Super. Very disappointing perhaps (and hopefully so) just the ammo I was shooting. I shot American Eagle 115 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point (+P). After the third round in each session the gun would jam from a spent cartridge not fully ejecting. This is my first time firing the .38 Super so not much to go on here. Has anyone experienced this issue? I did not have FMJ rounds to see if it was an ammo issue.

[Kid Sopris]

I have found that the 38 super like the heavier stuff: Winchester 130gr. FMJ and Winchester 125gr. Silvertip Hollow Points.

Having said that, I did try the American Eagle 115 Gr. HP and got reasonably good Accuracy at 15 Yards unsupported:

[Primer88]

Nice shooting. I will try heavier loads first but with this report it sounds it may not be an ammo issue??? Thanks Kid

[Abe Anglin]

Nice shooting. I will try heavier loads first but with this report it sounds it may not be an ammo issue

perhaps not...

two things to be sure of;
1) is the pistol well lubricated? / a dry 1911 can cause jams
2) do you have a firm grip on the pistol? / " limp wristing " is the most common cause of 'failure to feed' in Gov Model

ymmv ~

[egg collector]

I use Remington 130 gr, with good results. I also was not too pleased with my first results. It is amazing, the more I shoot, the more my gun improves. I also noticed that the less my guns seem to recoil. I am not a accurate as Kid Sopris but I bet he has worn out guns shooting.

[Kid Sopris]

I use Remington 130 gr, with good results. I also was not too pleased with my first results. It is amazing, the more I shoot, the more my gun improves. I also noticed that the less my guns seem to recoil. I am not a accurate as Kid Sopris but I bet he has worn out guns shooting.

I wore out my eyes; I need prescription shooting to glasses to see the front sights....The guns are better built than I am .....BUT there was a time When Ol' Weaver at the Academy was going to send me off to another planet...LOL

[El Bibliotecario]

I should qualify my post by stating that I am a Super 38 affectionado. In as much as I can analyze some else's experieces, I'd guess the original posters problems stem from the weapon rather than the cartridge. I have never experienced what he describes with factory ammuniton, nor with my handloads.

//.;;;;;;""""'. (these comments are from my cat walking on the keyboard--pay NO attention; he had no experience with this round)

My four decades of experience with Colt Govt models is that they never made one which didn't need some aftermarket gunsmithing. I would wonder if this is the case with your pistol

I'd encourage you to persevere and figure out the problem...the Super 38 is a muy mas cartridge, and well worth the effort.

[Primer88]

Thanks Abe and El. (Abe BTW got the holster and it exceeded expectations) I will update the post next week after a thorough cleaning and some CLP throughout. Range report to follow. After that my LGS. Kid still some fine shootin' regardless!

[rock185]

Hello Primer88, Not to worry just yet. That Federal 115 jhp +P.38 Super ammo is the lightest factory Super ammo I can recall ever chronographing. I don't have my notes on that load in front of me right this minute, but IIRC, it only averaged approx. 1030fps from my recent production Colt Super .38 with 5" barrel. A very very light load for a Super. By contrast, the Federal 130 ball averaged approx. 1260fps and the Winchester 130 ball averaged approx. 1220fps in my gun. The Federal load you tried gave very lazy extraction and ejection in my Super. I am not at all surprised at the failures to eject. I would try ammo that is loaded more like actual Super, 130 at 1200+ fps, etc. rather than that load, which probably should have been labeled -P. Another factor is the non-extended ejector that Colt uses on current Supers. at least that's what my new Super came with. I fitted an extended, intermediate length I guess you'd say, ejector to my gun, which then gave reliable ejection with .38 Super, and when using the Bar-Sto 9MM barrel I had fitted to my gun... ymmv

[Primer88]

Thanks rock. I'll post results from Ben Avery next Saturday.