[Cambo]

Hi All,

I am thinking about getting a 1911 in .38 super. I would like to spend more than $500, but less than $1000. What would you recommend? I have heard plenty of bad things about Kimbers in 9mm, but good things about their .38s. What about the Taurus PT1911? Any other ideas?

Thanks

[fnfalman]

For that cost, RIA is the only way to go.

Yes, stay away from Taurus.

And also yes, I dig .38 Super.

[rock185]

Cambo, I have owned several Colts, to include two from the Colt Custom shop, and one Kimber Target II .38 Super. I have also owned more than one Kimber Target II in 9MM. I enjoy the Super and have done a fair amount of loading for it.
The best Super I ever owned, was the Kimber Target II, even though it cost a lot less than the Colt Custom Shop Supers I had. Accurate, totally reliable, well fitted and finished, etc. The same can be said for the Target II in 9MM. And No, none of the dreaded MIM parts ever broke. I just don't know about any "bad things" with the Kimber 9MMs. The three I have personally owned have just been excellent. Only reason i did not keep my kimber in .38 Super was because, other than with 147 grain or heavier bullets, it's ballistics were not superior to my Target II in 9MM. I believe the Kimber target II is available NIB for about $1000.00, perhaps a little less.

I have no experience with the RIA in .38 Super, but I hear they are a good gun. A friend has one of the RIAs in .45 and it appears to be well made.

[Jason D]

I have a steel framed Colt Commander in Super .38.
It's a fun gun that rarely gets shot.

[fnfalman]

I saw a guy at the range today with the RIA bright polished nickel plated .38 Super. It was a tack driver. Trigger pull was a bit gritty but the polishing was quite impressive. I couldn't find any uneven-ness at all. The damn thing was like a mirror. I hope that my favorite gun shop can hunt one up for me. It's been two weeks and they haven't found one yet.

BTW, the Colt Series 80 Government Model .38 Super in blued finish can be had for $850 brand new if you negotiate hard enough. I liked it so much that I bought the El Centauro (bright polished stainless steel model) and then I bought another blued one too. I don't quite know what to do with the second blued one yet. I may mildly modify it or something.

[Cambo]

Thanks for the responses, rock185's post has me thinking maybe I should go 9mm instead of .38 super.

[glock2740]

LOVE my .38Super 1911. Here my Kimber Target II that Chuck Rogers fitted a NM Kart barrel in .38 Super for.

[glock2740]

And after a little bit more work.




Shoots lights out.

[Cambo]

Originally Posted by glock2740

And after a little bit more work.




Shoots lights out.

Great looking gun!

[ca survivor]

stay away from Taurus.

[Cambo]

Originally Posted by ca survivor

stay away from Taurus.

Noted.

[Glolt20-91]

I have a Colt and Para in 38 Super, simply a great caliber to shoot and with N105 powder, will take 125gr XTPs (357mag bullet) to factory 357 mag velocities and 125gr Gold Dots will hold together in the mid 1400s. All this while keeping operating pressures under 33,350 psi according to VihtaVuori data.

On motivated four legged vermin, the Super gives hammer of Thor performance if you do your part; great caliber to carry in active mountain lion areas.

[Jim Watson]

If you are a handloader and don't mind a thorough search for your ejected empties, there is nothing to say against the .38 Super, it makes up into a fine versatile gun.
If you buy ammo at Cheapmart and complain about price and availability, a niche round like the Super is not for you.

[Cambo]

Originally Posted by Jim Watson

If you are a handloader and don't mind a thorough search for your ejected empties, there is nothing to say against the .38 Super, it makes up into a fine versatile gun.
If you buy ammo at Cheapmart and complain about price and availability, a niche round like the Super is not for you.

I have no time to reload, but my range sells .38 super on a regular basis for about $20 a box. I may reconsider the choice of caliber however.

[IndianaMatt]

Originally Posted by glock2740

And after a little bit more work.




Shoots lights out.

Gorgeous!!

[glock2740]

Originally Posted by Cambo

Great looking gun!

Originally Posted by IndianaMatt

Gorgeous!!

Thanks guys. Chuck does GREAT work.

[countrygun]

Despite having owned a few 1911s I've never had a .38 super and I feel terrible about that. Having seen the prices on the RIAs I am seriously considering absolving myself of this horrible guilt.

[dewidmt]

A few folks have advised you to stay away from Taurus. I agree, somewhat, they can be hit or miss. However, I too, was bitten by the .38 Super bug and wanted to scratch the itch on the cheap.
I bought one of the Taurus "pimp" guns from CDNN. High gloss blue w/gold accents. Rail on it and everything. $427 to my LGS.
And you know what? The damn thing shoots like a laser guided rail gun! Trigger is very nice, finish is starting to grow on me too! I've owned everything from Colts to Springers to Les Baer and this thing impresses me to no end. So, sometimes you can get lucky with a Taurus!

[bac1023]

38 Super is a great round.

In fact, it was the only round designed specifically for the 1911.

[Jim Watson]

Not a lot of design work involved there: "Hey, let's load the .38 Auto hotter, put it in the Government Model, and quit building those clunky old 1902s."

And it looks to me like the .45 ACP was designed for the 1911 or at least the 1910, earlier .45 automatic cartridges for pistols from 1905-1909 being discernably different from what was adopted for service.

[Jim Watson]

Originally Posted by Cambo

I have no time to reload, but my range sells .38 super on a regular basis for about $20 a box. I may reconsider the choice of caliber however.

Assuming a box of 50, that is about 60% more than 9mm econoball. If it is good quality, that is probably not a reason to change calibers.

[ca survivor]

I like the .38 super but only one gun shop in my area have it in stock and not all the time.

[Bren]

Originally Posted by Cambo

Hi All,

I am thinking about getting a 1911 in .38 super. I would like to spend more than $500, but less than $1000. What would you recommend? I have heard plenty of bad things about Kimbers in 9mm, but good things about their .38s. What about the Taurus PT1911? Any other ideas?

Thanks

Colt. I bought a new Colt 38 Super 3-4 years ago for around $800.

[MajorD]

myself, I can't understand the appeal of 38 super- brass and ammo is hard to find and significantly more expensive than mainstream calibers, is pretty much a reloading proposition to keep your ammo supplied, and when you chronograph loads (which I have) the super adds only about 100 feet per second to veloicty in similar weight bullets compared to 9mm+P loads, and even less if you go to +p+. just not worht the hassle. I'd go for a 9mm 1911 before the super. If looking at current market guns the sti trojan or spartan in 9mm is what I would look at.

[bac1023]

Originally Posted by MajorD

myself, I can't understand the appeal of 38 super- brass and ammo is hard to find and significantly more expensive than mainstream calibers, is pretty much a reloading proposition to keep your ammo supplied, and when you chronograph loads (which I have) the super adds only about 100 feet per second to veloicty in similar weight bullets compared to 9mm+P loads, and even less if you go to +p+. just not worht the hassle. I'd go for a 9mm 1911 before the super. If looking at current market guns the sti trojan or spartan in 9mm is what I would look at.

Its the nostalgia factor, in my opinion.

There's nothing nostalgic about a 9mm 1911.