Super Vel Ammo..........

[rockquarry]

In 1970, Super Vel was considered state-of the-art ammo for police work. This, of course, was several years before the "+P" designation. This stuff was fired in Chiefs Specials, including the airweight versions. Same goes for the similar Colt models. Back then, I don't recall anyone questioning whether or not their guns were suitable for such ammo.

HANDLOADER magazine did a lengthy technical article on "hot" factory ammo of the day (around 1972, I think). Seems like Norma .38 Sp. ammo was even warmer than Super Vel. I stiil have the magazine, but haven't read the article in a while.

A few years ago, there was a new box of Super Vel 110 grain .38 Sp. bullets in with some used reloading equipment I purchased. I loaded a few of them in .38 Special brass. The bullets were so undersized it was difficult to seat them snugly in the cases. 25 yard accuracy was poor. I'm not sure if this was a bad batch of bullets or if all Super Vel bullets were undersize to reduce pressure.

 

[gunfan]

Hell, I remember when Lee Jurras began loading them during the late 1960's. Dad carried them when transporting Gold Bonds for the Corvallis, Oregon Post Office. Dad had a custom S&W Heavy Duty with plated action and, get this, a two-inch barrel!

I'll never forget those days.

Scott

 

[Dogmann]

Love that quote !

Old gruff cops with big heavy S&W Model 28's pulling down their belts, leather saps, gigantic flashlights that took twelve D cells (I'm exagerating), leather dress shoes with heavy rubber soles put on by a local shoe shop, huge patrol cars with V8 engines and a single light dome on top, big cluncky radar units and brown "night sticks"

Keerful thar Sonny, I resemble them fellers. *G*

Right after I quit law enforcement and went back to ranching, the outfit I worked for issued brand new Model 66's and Super Vel ammo. They had a policy of practicing with what they carried. They shot those model 66's loose in just a few years and traded them in for 9mm autos.

I was glad I was gone.

 

[loc n load]

Super Vel

Funny that this thread floated back to the surface.....last week I went to my LGS and picked up a NIB M-58 that I had bought from a bud out of state.....while I was looking around the shop I noticed a familiar looking yellow/red ammo box in a display case.....a pristine box full of 357 110 gr JHP's from Shelbyville.....I hadn't seen a box of those in years....it went home with me also.....

 

[SundownIII]

I returned from Viet Nam in the fall of 1971.

Was traveling a lot for the government and wanted a "good revolver" for home protection (for the wife).

Walked into a gunshop in Laurel, MD. Had three (3) Mod 28 (4" barrel) in stock. Said he'd ordered a lot for the Md State Police, and by the time they came in, several officers had left the force. Paid a wopping $125 for that gun. Then, to top it off he threw in a couple boxes of 110 gr JHP in .357. Boxes were marked "For Police Use Only". That was some HOT ammo.

After firing the first cylinder of SuperVel, I knew my wife wasn't ready for that loading. Started her off on some 148gr wadcutters over 3.0grs of BE. Worked her up to shooting full bore .357 loads in about a month.

Always felt that if she had to use the gun, if she didn't hit the culprit on the first shot, he'd be a damn fool to wait around for the second shot to go off. Don't think I've ever seen another .357 loading that "blew flame" like the SuperVels.

Not sure I'd recommend a steady diet of those rounds in anything but an N frame (or similar). I've loaded some .357 rounds that "approach" SuperVels, but only shoot them in a Model 27.

 

[Dogmann]

Here's another good thread on the 110+p+

http://smith-wessonforum.com/ammo/121736-fed-38spc-110g-p-leo-only.html

 

[Dogmann]

Here's a hot 110g load... DoubleTap Ammunition

 

[ImprovedModel56Fan]

I returned from Viet Nam in the fall of 1971.

Was traveling a lot for the government and wanted a "good revolver" for home protection (for the wife).

Walked into a gunshop in Laurel, MD. Had three (3) Mod 28 (4" barrel) in stock. Said he'd ordered a lot for the Md State Police, and by the time they came in, several officers had left the force. Paid a wopping $125 for that gun. Then, to top it off he threw in a couple boxes of 110 gr JHP in .357. Boxes were marked "For Police Use Only". That was some HOT ammo.

After firing the first cylinder of SuperVel, I knew my wife wasn't ready for that loading. Started her off on some 148gr wadcutters over 3.0grs of BE. Worked her up to shooting full bore .357 loads in about a month.

Always felt that if she had to use the gun, if she didn't hit the culprit on the first shot, he'd be a damn fool to wait around for the second shot to go off. Don't think I've ever seen another .357 loading that "blew flame" like the SuperVels.

Not sure I'd recommend a steady diet of those rounds in anything but an N frame (or similar). I've loaded some .357 rounds that "approach" SuperVels, but only shoot them in a Model 27.

Interesting. Back when it first came out, I tried out .357 100gr SuperVel in my 6" Model 19. It certainly made noise and was visible, but I was amazed at the lack of recoil. I attributed it to the lightweight bullet. My gun did have some pretty nice Herrett grips on it.

 

[Watchdog]

This is such an old thread, but I stumbled across it and just had to add my two cents worth.

In the early seventies, my shooting buddy and I discovered Super Vel. We jumped on it, shooting it in our Old Model Ruger .357 Blackhawks and Old Model Ruger Super Blackhawks in .44 Magnum.

Sharper than normal recoil? No doubt about it. Muzzle blast and flash? Absolutely. To the point where out in the woods at our homemade shooting range, we could see the flames coming out the muzzle. I've no idea how much of the stuff we ran through our guns, but what a kick it was to shoot. And our guns remained unscathed. We never damaged a gun with the stuff, but then again, we were shooting heavy framed revolvers.

And flame cutting? We hadn't a clue what that meant, hadn't heard of it, so it was a non-issue with us back then.

I saw some for sale at a recent gun show, but can't remember the caliber. Gonna have to start keeping my eyes open for it, cause I'll definitely buy it, if for no other reason than its collectibility. It definitely was an influential ammunition.