Buy it with confidence, current quality is good at a fair price.
I've had four and all were winners, the Super .38 even better.

 

If you shoot it in competition, you will spend more time trying to find your brass than concentrate on your stages. Yesterday I just shot a practical pistol match with someone shooting a 1911 in 9mm with a bomar rear sight. He did very well. 38 super or downloaded 38 acp, is twice the price of plinking 9mm. 9mm brass is free if you pick it up. Not so with 38 super/ 38 acp.
With that said, I tried someone’s raced tuned 1911 38 super once, I don’t believe I’ve ever shot a better/ smoother semi auto firearm ever.

 

My Wilson accu-comp runs like a thoroughbred

 

Here’s the image of Colt Competition 38 Super in factory configuration.




Same gun with some basic customizations.





Along side a blued competition in 45acp.

 

Hard pass for me . I’d have to change lock work barrels springs etc to get it to really shoot and that cheap rear sight just no !

 

I bought a Classic in Super .38 a couple of years ago. So far, it's been flawless in function, and it's fun to shoot. It's a pretty good shooter, not a target-grade, but good enough for me.

I also have three SA 9mm pistols with "accessory" Super barrels, that are also quite good. I like the Super a lot. I load my own ammo for it, so it's roughly the same price as 9mm ammo (just an option). The only changes I've made to those pistols, are switching to steel firing pins on them all (Colt included), and switching from flat MS housings for arched housings, which I prefer. I went to steel firing pins for reliability purposes, some SP primers can be hard, and a steel firing pin is more reliable than the lightweight titanium FP Colt and SA use as OEM. If you only shoot factory ammo, it's not necessary to swap firing pins, but I would avoid Armscor Super ammo, as it caused "blanking" in my pistol (the very soft primer would shear off a disc and plug the firing pin tunnel, rendering the gun useless until you clean that out. Stick with PMC or domestic ammo, avoid the Armscor stuff.

 

I just bought a new 01911C-ss in 38 Super. I have not fired it yet,but cleaned and lubed and I find it perfect,in and out, and I am excited to make a range trip with it. Serial # is close to my 01911C in 45ACP blue and I hope it shoots as good as my 45.

 

Mine seems to like Aguila factory ammo a LOT, and PMC is pretty good brass if you're going to reload it at reasonable levels (not HOT loads, but factory equivalent). If you buy the ammo by the case, it's fairly reasonable, for .38 Super ammo.
Of course, it will mostly depend on what you can find locally, but like I said in another post, avoid Armscor ammo like the plague, and I think you'll be happier. Remington made good ammo in the past, dunno what it's like now. Locally, I can find PMC easily. but I usually buy from SGAmmo.com, as he stocks PMC regularly at fair prices.

 

I also buy from SGAmmo and I have 100 rds. of PMC FMJ that I will shoot soon and see how I like it. Thanks for the reply.

 

Just buy a Dillon and learn to reload . Will be dollars ahead and think of all the knowledge you’ll have gained.

 

Just a comment on SGAmmo: I ordered a case of 500 rds. of PPU fmj and 5 bxs. of American Eagle 115 JHP Sunday night and it arrived today. Perfect packing and not a scratch on any box. Just wanted to comment for those who buy on line. 38 Super is difficult to find where I live.

 

Just purchased a Colt Competition Model SS in 38Super…should pick it up tomorrow and looking forward to getting some rounds through it. My first Colt .38Super 1911 purchased a few months ago was a “dud”. Too many FTF and FTE.. still working on correcting that problem. As for ammo I decided to just reload due to the cost. I did see some ammo at $22 a box. But after shipping and tax it’s a bit too expensive.

 

.38 Super and 1911 go together like Pie and Coffee