.38 Super vs .38 Super Comp
Hey all, today we are going to be looking at the .38 Super and the .38 Super Comp, two popular loads in the realm of competition.
While the .38 Super Comp was basically designed to improve upon the .38 Super, it hasn’t made its predecessor obsolete by any means. United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) and International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) shooters alike have come to prefer either load, making the cartridge commonplace at matches across the globe.
Both rounds coexist and remain popular with a variety of shooters today. Without further ado, let’s get into it.
.38 Super
The .38 Super cartridge was developed in 1929 as a replacement for the 38 ACP. The .38 ACP cartridge was commonly used in pistols such as the Colt M1900 and M1902.
The .38 Super cartridge was designed to be utilized in 1911 style pistols and featured higher pressures than its predecessor. One can commonly find loadings that feature 94 grain to 147 grain projectiles, often in the form of full metal jacket or hollow points.
The cartridge has become a mainstay in the world of competition, particularly in the shooting disciplines of USPSA and IPSC, becoming the preferred caliber of many shooters. The popularity of the round has led to a litany of competition-oriented pistols, or “raceguns” being offered by multiple manufacturers. These pistols allow one to purchase a handgun in a popular competition caliber and enter the world of competition with a viable and effective tool.
The cartridge is classified as a “major” power factor cartridge for competition purposes. .38 Super truly shines in Open Division competitions where the shooter is permitted to make use of compensators or muzzle brakes.
Purchase Ammo
.38 Super Comp
The .38 Super Comp is a development upon the established .38 Super cartridge, mainly spurred by needs of competitive shooters. Motivation for this development came primarily from the issues shooters could experience when trying to feed .38 Super from double stack magazines.
The .38 Super cartridge features a semi-rimmed case and was originally designed with single stack magazines in mind, like those utilized by 1911 style pistols. The semi-rimmed case seen on standard .38 Super cartridges would lead to complications when feeding from the magazine.
The omission of the rim allows the .38 Super Comp to feed more reliably from double stack magazines than its predecessor. The grain range of the .38 Super Comp will typically include 115 grain and 124 grain options as these loads are typically used in competition.
Like the .38 Super before it, the .38 Super Comp is well-suited to the competition shooting. The cartridge is commonly used in USPSA and IPSC competitions, specifically among Open Division shooters.
Reflective of the round’s popularity, ELEY has produced specific 124 grain .38 Super Comp loads specifically for USPSA and IDPA use, providing shooters in these disciplines with purpose-built competition ammunition. Specific handguns have also been developed to specifically handle this load, such as the Masterpiece Arms DS38 SC Open.
At the end of the day, the .38 Super Comp is essentially a .38 Super cartridge which has been better optimized use in double stack magazines. The round has developed a following and has been seeing a good deal of support in the form of purpose-built ammunition offerings and tailor-maid handguns.
.38 Super Comp in a .38 Super Handgun
Due to their dimensions being very similar, pistols chambered in .38 Super can accept .38 Super Comp ammunition. Some shooters report that their firearms function flawlessly when utilizing .38 Super Comp in their .38 Super pistols.
Others have reported that they either needed to add tension to or replace the extractors in their pistols to ensure reliable function with .38 Super Comp. There have also been reports from some shooters that they have experienced issues in reliably chambering the cartridge.
An important takeaway from these varied reports from shooters is that they will either encounter success or some degree of difficulty when trying to use .38 Super Comp in a .38 Super chambered pistol. One can either have everything work right out the gate or have to do either minor or major modifications to the pistol.
Unfortunately, the wide variety of potential pistols and components utilized by these handguns coupled with the differences in tolerances across potential hosts means that there is no clear “it will work if you do this” answer. That being said, there are many forums with threads dedicated to potential issues and remedies when it comes to getting .38 Super Comp to work with your pistol.
It would also be a good idea to double check with the manufacturer of your specific pistol and see what they say about shooting the cartridge in your particular handgun. One could also enlist the help of a gunsmith to examine a pistol and potentially tune it to ensure proper and reliable function.
Ultimately, your milage may vary when it comes to shooting .38 Super Comp in your .38 Super handgun.
Purchase Ammo
Conclusion
Both rounds, the .38 Super and .38 Super Comp, are effective and popular competition loads. Because of its reduced rim, the .38 Super Comp cartridge will be more suitable for usage in a double-stack pistol than its predecessor.
Even though the .38 Super Comp exists, some shooters will still prefer the original .38 Super, especially if they are shooting a 1911 style firearm with a single stack magazine. Both rounds have their place when it comes to shooting and have devout followings which will ensure their preservation throughout the years. We here at True Shot want everyone to be the best shooter they can be and will be here to help you with your ammunition needs. Happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
