Shot it and fell in love with it. The 1911 is a good home for the .38 Super. I am a reloader and shoot it all the time. Hamer was still on his feet as one of the fleeing hit men turned to shoot. First, gangsters (Dillinger, Nelson, etc.) How about compared to the .45 ACP? Like many lawmen of his era, Hamer adorned Old Lucky with carved pearl stocks,. The FBI Special Agents, the Border patrol, many Texas Rangers, St. Louis P.D.,and many leos, particularly in the South West of the U.S., favored the round due to it's superior penetration over the .45acp. His favorite longarm was a .30-30 Winchester M1894 lever-action rifle. Shortly thereafter, many Rangers adopted the platform, first in .45 Auto, later in the .38 Super. In my opinion, the 9mm has been outdated since 1911. According to one of the posters, the reason that the Texas Rangers liked the Super 38 was that it would penetrate car bodies better than other calibers. But is . Fortas advised them to make an argument to a Court of Appeals judge that they knew would quickly rule against Johnson- thereby avoiding the usual delays that occur when judges take cases under advisement- often for days and weeks- during which the deadline for getting on the ballot would be lost for LBJ. The result? Both can be purchased through the Texas Ranger Museum Gift Shop. This example comes with a handmade tooled holster from the period. Paul Harrell has good things to say about the cartridge if you look him up. 1939 Super .38 serial number 32239 - in new condition with original box, . I encourage anyone who has not shot a .38 Super to do so if given the chance, you will love the round afterwards. 2007-2023 Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore. Shot well and handled very similar to a baby eagle. Both bought new. A gentleman in Texas made the gun up for me and I am very happy with it. My carry ammo is loaded considerably hotter (think 923 Winchester level). I jumped in and took one shot just to see how the Professional handled. It can be loaded just like a 9mm with the same bullets and powder. Is the .38 ACP Super a viable personal defense and tactical combination today? The .38 Super was particularly popular in Texas and over 200,000 were produced between 1929 and 1970. Where in AZ do you live? Nor could Browning have anticipated the affinity the Texas Rangers would develop for his slab-slided handful of firepower soon after its introductionor Bill Wilsons 60 years later. I own five theyre just plain fun to shoot. Deputy Oakley fired the opening burst from his Remington Model 8. Its very accurate too, I was easily hitting a bowling pin at 50 yards repeatedly. Love my Colt 1911 in .38 super. I have that love very much I shoot it in bulleye comp at 50 feet it is great but I need brass for my gun if any body has some get me I will pay for it thank you all. Shipping, Payment & Auction Policies. My harem of 1911s that I shoot regularly include 45s, three 9mm and two 38 Supers. However, it certainly wasn't his only one. In his life he was wounded 17 times, left for dead four times and he killed between 53 and 70 people. Serial Number: NONE. I purchased a Colt Commander .38 Super in 1959 from Abercrombie & Fitch in San Francisco for $45.00. Local Storage seems to be disabled in your browser. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window). I selected it as it appeared to be the most powerful automatic pistol cartridge at the time. 9mm, 45 acp and 40 s&w. I even doubt his first efforts at pistolsmithing caused anyone to say, Hey, why dont you found a world-class pistolsmithing company? Many handgun aficionados did kitchen table pistolsmithing then, usually inspired by George Nontes Pistolsmithing. I never got around to installing a Bar-Sto barrel, so my hand loading bullet choices were limited. Calling all crime buffs: Here's your shot at history. Sheriff Henderson Jordan and his deputy, Prentiss Oakley, joined Hamer along with former Ranger Manny Gault. Talk about a tack driver, fun to shoot gun. Add to Wish List . My father removed this gun from the inside thigh of Bonnie Parker where she had it taped with white, medical, adhesive tape. It has never been used by a military. The police and the Bankers Associations refused to cooperate with Hamers investigation. I request a letter from Colt on all pre-war Super .38s as many were carried by various LEOs. Regardless, any load tested had more than enough accuracy to put paid to a miscreant. For general use, I most often practice with a FMJ loading. 1894 the family moved to Oxford in Llano County and Frank worked in his dads blacksmith shop. A wide selection of CMP surplus ammo will 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme. Great shooter with all loads but it really shines with the 124 gr. Same ballistics as .357 mag. cartridge. It was customized with Wilso Combat grip safety, skelontized trigger and green fiber optic front sight. Seller: Cliffs Guns Safes Reloading. Their deaths ended a legendary Depression-era crime spree that spanned the central U.S. and included holdups of more than a dozen banks and scores of small shops and gas stations. COLT SERIES 70 LIMITED EDITION .45 TEXAS LONGHORN . When he got to the next group, his fingers curled for the draw and poised just above the grip of his pistol. I have two .38 Supers and both are Great shooters. It is just that ammunition and handguns in this caliber are sometimes difficult to come by. The 9mm and .45 probably offer advantages over the .38 Super in many categories, but the old Super is a cartridge with plenty of panache, style, flash, and performance. After the Texas Rangers returned here safely, she (with the help of her father) gave each of the Ranger's involved an engraved Colt Commander. In 1948, Stevenson led the Democratic primary with 39.7% to 33.7% against Lyndon B. Johnson. This style of barrel also puts a bit more weight forward in the gun. Then acquired a Colt Defender and that, I thought, settled it. Known as Mr. Texas, Stevenson represented a kind of independent thinking in politics that makes it now seem inevitable that he and his old hunting partner, Frank Hamer, would be destined to walk down the streets of Alice together under the hard stares of George Parrs pistoleros most of whom were armed with rifles and shotguns. The cost of the 1911 chambered for it was a deterrant too. Colt 1911 Government Model Mark IV Series 70 38 Super Box. Look at some old gangster photos for 1911s with curiously small holes in the barrel. My father said that one reason she had the gun taped to the inside of her leg was that, in those days, no gentlemen officer would search a woman where she had it taped Sometime later, my father gave this gun to Buster Davis who had been a Texas Ranger and was, at the time, an FBI Agent.. The caliber saw extensive use in the hands of the FBI and figured into the demise of dangerous fugitives such as Baby Face Nelson. trouble getting ammo from LAX Ammo for target and The mob succeeded in breaking open the vault and dragging Hughes dead body behind a car, then hanging it from a tree where they set it on fire. The Winchester Silvertip breaks about 1,200 fps with a 125-grain bullet. Back in 71, my Dad had a Colt super .38 he called Max. In 1911, Hamer started working as a special investigator in Houston. or redistributed. Trace brought the pistol, and I furnished the ammo (except the load from Atlanta Arms, a company he routinely uses) and targets, and snapped the accompanying photos. Frank Hamer, had its serial numbers obliterated in the heyday of Bonnie and. The 38 super left a pretty gaping hole in the back of the third book. Thus, Johnson was off the ballot in the general election unless Johnson could do something quickly. Its low muzzle blast, light recoil and accuracy are hard to duplicate. Item Number: O1911C-SS38-DHM. Burley Auction Group * Caspian Arms. If you have a question about an item, please call or e-mail for more information before placing your order. Like other Hamer biographers, Boesseneker confirms the famed ranger's favorite sidearm was a Colt Single Action Army .45 with a 4-3/4-inch barrel and Type C (almost full coverage) engraving, which Hamer nicknamed "Old Lucky." A few years ago, his SAA revolver sold at auction for $165,000. Buy ammo while supplies last. Im glad for that because todays Texas Rangers, just like those hard men who came before, still work in harms way. This firearm is classified as a Curio & Relic. The 38 super is fantastic. The Wilson Combat Texas Ranger Professional on Ranger Trace McDonalds belt works, as our range outing proved. On horseback pursuing Mexican bandits or errant Comanches, or in the seat of a Crown Victoria sleuthing out a serial killer, Rangers usually carry all their equipment with them. Second, gangster use of the .38 Super to telling effect was known and thugs had even hammered the .38 Super into the extremely deadly machine pistol configuration. . I love Super 38! GA Sales: 62. In 1948, Hamer accompanied Gov. A gunman had once jumped out to prevent him from testifying in a trial. Thats my take, now take your best shot to change my mind.. I recently came across a 1929 Super .38 that also came from Texas. defense as they sell hollow points as well. The only thing that bugs me about .38 Super and 7.62 Tokarevis nobody chambers a modern weapon in them! Ted Hinton, in his book Ambush, declares that two of the Colt automatics at the ambush were .38 Supers. Can a 9mm barrel be used in a Metro Arms 1911 38 super? Adding a stainless-steel Tactical Ambidextrous Thumb Safety accommodated his left-handedness. The 38 special penetrated around 1/4 inch into the second book. The 1930 Sherman riot made Texas notorious for its racial animosity. Gun #: 999474294. It is not carried everywhere but it is easier to get than some calibers like the .50 ae. What drew me to the round was the cool history and the cool factor (and yeah, its cool, lol). I have a letter from Colt showing the shipment. Had some handloads that shot 5 out of nine kill shots on a siloute at 100 yards, back when I could see that far. All fitted with the best barrels money can buy manufacture by Fred Kart. Energy equals the current watered-down .357 Magnum. After the Hollywood version of Bonnie and Clyde, Mrs. Frank Hamer and Frank Hamer, Jr., sued Warner Bros.-Seven Arts for the defamatory manner in which the movie depicted the famous lawman. I have had the itch for a cap & ball revolver and I can't even find those (or at least not the one's I'm lookin for). The .38 Super used the same case and 130-grain FMJ bullet as the old .38 Automatic, but the brass held a heftier powder charge, zinging the bullet past the muzzle at 1,215 feet per second (fps) and 426 ft-lbs of muzzle energy, making the .38 Super, at the time of its introduction, the most powerful semi-automatic pistol cartridge in the world . Out of stock. The Texas Rangers may also have been the first law enforcement . In my shooting experience, people have either never heard of the round, remember it being mentioned in passing, or go through a few hundred rounds of it a week for USPSA or something similar. Historically, thats why it was created. In those days, Republicans had no possibility of winning a Senatorial race and the ruling ensured that Johnson was elected to the U.S. Senate from Texas. It fired a .429-inch, 200 grain lead, round-nose bullet at around 870 feet per second and 336 ft-lbs energy which equaled the .44 Russian's traditional 246 grain load. Trimming, taper crimping, careful selection of bullets, everything still resulted in many rejects that didnt chamber properly. Some nations, notably Mexico, prohibit military calibers such as the 9mm and .45, but not the .38 Super. Saw first 38 super at USPSA match. Its previous owner was a Texas county sheriff. Thanks, Matt. I usually load to USPSA Major PF using .38 Super Comp brass. I now carry the .45 ACP. COLT 1911 45 ACP STAINLESS . Please be respectful of others. Their deaths ended a legendary Depression-era crime spree that spanned the central U.S. and included holdups of more than a dozen banks and scores of small shops and gas stations. Also W.C. combat hammer. . Your gun and its caliber are a tool to be used for sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense. Colt Cobra TT 38 Special +P Rated Double Action Revolver with Black DLC Cylinder $749.00 $619.99; Notify Me When Available; Brand: Colt; Item Number: COBRA-TT2FO; Colt Cobra 38 Special Used Police Trade-in Revolver $699.99; Brand: Colt; Item Number: 169389LW; Colt Cobra 38 Special Double Action Revolver with Wood Grips . Power factors have dropped and the original power factors surely stretched a gun after a very active season. The town had seen over one hundred men killed in shootouts but the town became tame while Hamer was the city marshal. Long ago (early 1970s) I purchased a Colt Combat Commander in Super 38 from a Pawn Shop. Its used most commonly in competition teamed with a compensated 1911 (opinion). The unfortunate rarity of any sort of bulk ammunition and the corresponding magazines makes it more of a niche type of weapon but they are worth the extra effort. Love the gun and love the round. He is buried in Austin. The Starburst Pattern G-10 grips really grabbed and held onto the hand, too. Lock up okay, but gun is likely non functional. Winchester offers FMJ loadings at 1,100 fps, Sig Sauer offers a FMJ loading as well. It was always in his pocket. Colt upped the power of the cartridge but used the same length cartridge case and chambered the .38 Super in the 1911 when it dropped production of the .38 ACP pistols. The .38 Super was designed to fire a 130-grain bullet at the 1,300 feetper- second (fps) threshold while the .38 ACP was in the 1,100 fps range. I think the fact that during the 60s 38 Super kinda faded and like I said the ammo wasnt really easy to get. My 38 Super commander is my EDC. Since Capt. After catching the rustlers, Hamer led a successful effort to organize his neighbors and several other counties around Kimble County to improve the roads so that merchants and farmers could get their products to and from places like San Antonio. By any standard, the caliber and the 1911 handgun are excellent defensive or tactical choices. The guy swung the axe and Hamer blasted him. The 38 Super will never die, though, partially because it is the most popular caliber in Mexico. Have mounted a red dot as my eyes are weaker. Haha But if its your bag and you can hit what youre aiming for with it, then go for it. I urge the reader to read on with curiosity and understanding. The Democratic State Central Committee proclaimed Johnson the winner of the primary by a 29-28 vote (then a deal was consummated in which states rights Democrats were run out of the convention) while Stevenson was granted an injunction by the federal district court. But, ammo is not plentiful and 9mm+P is. While I have relegated most of my collection to the comfort of the safe, I loved the pistol and carried it for years. The posse may have fired as many as 150 rounds. 's blog. When looking for additional magazines specific for my Rock Island combo 9mm/22TCM I was told they were just 38 Super mags; 38 Super mags could be used in 9mm 1911s but not vice versa. Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. The March, 1992 issue of Guns and Ammos HANDGUNS FOR SPORT AND DEFENSE magazine contains an interview with Frank Hamer Jr. who confirmed that his fathers Colt was a .38 Super. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 100 Texas Ranger Trail Waco, TX 76706 (254) 750-8631 [email protected] 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Last guest admitted at 4:30 p.m. Interstate 35 at Southbound (from Dallas) Exit 335C or Northbound (from Austin) Exit 334B in $135.00. Serial # 16205 Manufactured in 1891. The platform allows good control for those who practice. My first handgun was a Colt Government Model in .38 Super (built in 1947) which Ive had since the mid-70s. On April 21, 1906, Hamer enlisted as a Texas Ranger. Model: Texas Ranger. Keep checking back to browse our constantly changing inventory of collectible Colt guns and Colt revolvers for sale or see a full list of our new arrivals. After I retired from a near 30 year career in emergency services (firefighter/paramedic) I got a job in a gun store. Those are Supers, and they were the better choice for a while. By Rick Cartledge. All-carbon-steel construction, excluding the hand-fitted, stainless-steel match barrel, is standard on the Professional, and a liberal coating of Armor-Tuff finish is applied to frame and slide, in matching or contrasting colors. My latest purchase was a Nighthawk Custom that I ordered, and they made me, in 38 Super. A larger group stood in the doorway of the bank where Johnsons cronies illegally kept the election records. One is the Colt Competition 1911, one is the Taurus PT and the third one is an EAA Witness, which holds 17 + 1 rounds. A black Ultralight trigger and an Ultralight burr hammer are part of the system that provides a crisp 3-1/2- to 3-3/4-pound trigger pull. Had a guy once tell me there was no such thing, he is now a believer. Hamer also owned many other guns. bullets topping 1400 fps. They cost me $35.00 a box, so $105.00 is nothing to sneeze at. Texas Rangers are an independent lotalways have beenperhaps from that time alone riding horseback across the vast expanse of Texas. The answer would be yes. Winchester makes a 124gr nickel coated brass case jacketed soft point ammo. Hamer stuffed a blue steel Colt commercial automatic in his belt and it is this gun that is most interesting to this writer. I purchased a Colt Goldcup National match 38 super elite used back in the late 1980s and still have it. RR Auction in New Hampshire received the gun this summer from a private collector and noticed that the revolver had been altered, according to ATF officials from its field office in Manchester, N.H. Hamer was a cowboy on the Carr Ranch, between Sheffield and Fort Stockton when he captured the horse thief. Shortly thereafter, many Rangers adopted the platform, first in .45 Auto, later in the .38 Super. It is possible to handload a 115-grain bullet to over 1,400 fps and a 124-grain JHP to a solid 1,350 fps. Would even use as a carry gun. You cant beat going online to find a gun that youre looking for, and I can just about guarantee that youd find 38 Supers on GunBroker, to name just one place. The Professionals groups were a little larger than I might have expected, but including this pistol, I have only test fired two .38 Super handguns. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Cheaper Than Dirt has a plethora of excellent .38 Super ammo in stock, as well as a TON of reloading stuff. Im not exactly a 9mm or .45 fan either. It is imported to the USA bu European American Arms (EAA) and is called the EAA Witness by the importer. We used to do some long-range shooting with handguns when I was in college. Thanks for your article, it helped shed some light on the history, i might try to pick up another 1911 in that caliber. Stephen F. Austin probably never anticipated the historical impact of his organizing a small civilian group to provide protection for immigrants into Tejas. I have three .38 Supers, a Star, Colt 1911 Govt and Kimber Gold Match SE II from their custom shop. GA Sales: 3370. To me, affinity for those two rounds would go hand in hand. The 9mm is not my choice short of shooting at paper. Why so popular South of the border? Colt 1911 Heritage .38 Super Full-Size Stainless Pistol with Custom Scroll Engraving Notify Me When Available; Brand: Colt; Item Number: O1911C-SS38-DHM; Colt 1911 Government 38 Super Semi-Auto Pistol with Blued Finish and Wood Grips $949.99; Notify Me When Available; Secondly, a slide short enough to help with concealment, yet long enough to reduce the whippiness found on many truly short-barreled pistols, and still providing a good sight radius. I had long suspected that this Colt was not a .45 but one of the then new .38 Supers and I had three reasons for believing this. What these stories contribute to the readers world view needs no exaggeration. I could push a 100 grain Speer JHP downrange near 1500 fps using Blue Dot though I cant recall the powder charge. His reputation as a Texas Ranger would have made him a legend even if he had not apprehended Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker in Louisiana. At the age of 24 years old, Hamer established and maintained order in Navasota. My son went from a intelegence analyst to a diplomatic security agent and was only allowed a issued 9mm for his side arm. Following the success of its initial collaboration with Vertx, Premier Body Armor announces its continued partnership. HT110, OW86, W:D71) called Old Lucky, either in a holster on his right side, or, when he was no longer required to ride a horse, simply tucked into his waistband. Throwback Thursday: Does Anyone Still Use the .38 Super? I love my 38 supers! If you are a 1911 fan, after you fire the Super 38, you will not go back to .45 ACP. Accuracy is pretty good. Lot 1183: The nickel-plated Colt Single Action Army carried by Texas Ranger Jack Dean is chambered in 38-40 WCF with factory engraving and carved steer grips. In mid-March Henry Methvins family contacted law enforcement in Louisiana. I reload for mine so ammunition is not a problem, All loads are made up in rimless Starline match brass and with a load the pistol likes I can get 2 groups at 25 yards. It features straight-to-the-rear trigger compression, a low bore axis, a grip that fits most hands well, and excellent speed into action. The crowd threw stones at the courthouse, forced the doors to the courtroom corridor and rushed toward the courtroom. colt .38 Super head space 1911forum site:www.1911forum.com - Google Search. It made an excellent weapon for aircrew members, combat medics , radiomen and machine gunners. 2 extra rounds in the magazine. Thus the six shooter was born. Texas became a proving ground and nearly the only market for Colt's revolutionary product. Great 3 cartridge pistol for defense or hunting. I have not personally owned a 38 Super as they were not a popular round during my real active shooting days and the ammo had gotten hard to find. Ive made hits with the Colt at 300 yards using Remington factory 130 grain FMJ. and quality ammo. "TEXAS RANGER" is on the left side of the barrel. Enjoy your new .38 Super! Modern ammunition is often marked .38 ACP +P. The gun shoots better than I can shoot it. The Defender is an officer-sized aluminum framed gun with a 3 inch bull barrel. Description: Metal finish is 25%, has some patina. Dallas County Sheriffs Deputy Bob Alcorn and another Dallas County deputy, Ted Hinton, had previously been involved in an attempt to ambush Barrow and Parker, in November 1933. Paras quality sometimes left much to be desired, but the best Paras are excellent handguns. I agree that the round can stand its own with the 9 and .45. By the time Bar-Sto got around to changing it to headspace on the case mouth, the market was nearly gone. I fit a Super 38 barrel to it and a 1lb. The penetration of the cartridge and reliability of the 1911 gave law officers a great advantage. Colt was discontinuing the long-serving .38 ACP automatic and wished to introduce a mid bore to replace it. This is a neat cowboy revolver from Europe! Frank Hamer, on the other hand, retired in 1949 and lived in Austin until his death in 1955. . Problem is, they are extremely hard to find now, especially the Colt Gold Cup Trophy. The testimony that the lawyers gathered- as a result of the names of voters that later testified they had never voted- and jotted down while in the bank- demonstrated, beyond any doubt, according to Robert Caro (the definitive Johnson biographer)- that Lyndon Johnson had personally conducted one of the most massive election frauds in U.S. electoral history. The third reason springs from a fortunate experiment done by a friend of mine in 1939 on a dare. Traces Professional has everything to make it distinctly his own. Barrel is marked "Texas Ranger". After that the reputation of the weapon (and my dad) seemed to quiet things down nicely. Ive had it since 1979 and love it. Crime was rampant in the Roaring '20s and peace officers found themselves at a disadvantage when armed with revolvers firing the standard round-nosed .38 Special. Very accurate and reasonable in handling recoil. $901.00 $901.00. Read on. My super 38 Colt is an outstanding pistol. The information provided here does not represent the views of Cheaper Than Dirt! The smaller-diameter .38 Super in its hottest loads offer greater penetration against light cover than the .45 ACP or 9mm cartridges. got one from RIA, chromed and all controls gold plated love it . Okay, here are the generals I think people will say about the Super: its an accurate, well developed round with an extensive commercial and handload database. Colt Officers Model "King Super Target" .38 Spl PRICE DROP. Parker was just 24 when she and Barrow died in a hail of gunfire after being ambushed by law enforcement authorities in Louisiana. Hamer and Stevenson were both tall with big shoulders and carried themselves in a way that stated they meant business. I have a Les Baer 38 Super and an STI DVC Ltd in 38 Super. . Likewise when ordering 124gr 9mm bullets to reload for target shooting I noticed the 9mm labeling also said they were not the typical .355 but .356 that I had previously been buying seperatelyfor the 38 super, now I just buy the one size 356 124gr for both.
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