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Old 03-13-2012, 04:47 PM
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Don't have the gun any longer. Sold it about 4-5 years ago. It was a Colt Commander made in 1967. I now have two full size Government Model Supers but this test was run with the Commander. I doubt the 1/2" difference in barrel length makes significant difference.

Current (as of 2006) Factory PMC 125 JHPs averaged 1120 FPS.

Current (as of 2006) Factory Winchester 130 FMJs averaged 1130 FPS.

Factory Winchester 130 FMJ purchased around 1985* ran 1270 FPS average.

Like I said, 38 Super USED to be loaded in nickel cases to visually differentiate it from the identical but lower pressure 38 ACP. I noticed sometime after 2000 that they no longer used nickel cases for the Super. My test showed why. The Super is now loaded to about the same pressure level (and velocity) as the 38 ACP. All on advice of counsel, I presume. No more worries about someone loading Supers into an old 38 ACP gun.

BTW- Looking at my log book, my top load for the 38 Super is a 115 JHP at 1475 FPS. Barks.

If this is insufficient documentation then you will have to continue calling me a liar. It's all I have.

*I bought the gun in 1985 and I picked up several boxes of Winchester factory ammo at the same time. In 2006 I had one box left over and that's what I used in the test.
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