Shoot 38 Super most of the time rather Long-range practical shooting is possible with the 1911/.38 Super format. This is a well-known gun in Texas as it was displayed in several major museums (including the LBJ Library in Austin) for a two-year exhibition in the early 1980s, a listing at RR Auction reads. 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. Stevenson and Hamer met the lawyers at the Alice Hotel and Hamer told them to take off their coats so that the well-armed gangs employed by the Duke of Duvall,George Parr, would know that they were unarmed. Every man in the West wanted one. In hot summer days it rests, replaced by a 38 Spl snubnose. It was shipped to McBride's Guns, Inc. in Austin, Texas, on March 24, 1984. At about 9:15 AM just after the thundering torrent of lead subsided, Frank Hamer, Sr. approached the 1934 Ford V8 with his 1911 style .38 Super drawn. Bond Arms Texas Defender; Bond Arms The Texan, Derringer BATX; Bravo Company Mfg Recce 11 MCMR; . colt .38 Super head space 1911forum site:www.1911forum.com - Google Search. I haven't had any issues whatsoever and have a good 3k rounds of this stuff thru my 2 guns. I bought a RIA 1911 in .38 super because everybody has a 1911 in .45. The Starburst Pattern G-10 grips really grabbed and held onto the hand, too. Thats my take, now take your best shot to change my mind.. Hamer also owned many other guns. In 1948, Hamer accompanied Gov. In the 1911, there is no penalty for using the .38 Super over the 9mm. The 38 Super will never die, though, partially because it is the most popular caliber in Mexico. Got my Star in 1970 and the Colt in the early 1980s. Have been reading about early Texas history and am amazed by accounts of the states way of life in the early 1900s and the stories of men like Frank Hamer and LBJ who contributed so much good and bad. Its used most commonly in competition teamed with a compensated 1911 (opinion). Traces Professional has everything to make it distinctly his own. It is made to use Colt 38 Colt Model 1889 U.S. Navy Revolver. They were later gunned down in 1934 on the outskirts of Bienville Parish, La. However, for the hunt on Bonnie & Clyde, he replaced the S&W revolver with a .38 Colt Super Auto pistol (pp. The Pre-War Colt .38 Super or "Super 38" were produced from 1929-1945. It was customized with Wilso Combat grip safety, skelontized trigger and green fiber optic front sight. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. One is the Colt Competition 1911, one is the Taurus PT and the third one is an EAA Witness, which holds 17 + 1 rounds. Ted Hinton had hit the car 17 out of 30 shots with his Thompson submachine gun and hadnt penetrated the car body. Just pick up your brass. After acquiring his first Wilson Combat pistol, Trace McDonald started competing in USPSA matches. The frame is undercut at the front strap trigger-guard juncture, for a higher grip, and the front strap and flat mainspring housing are checkered in an effective 30-lpi pattern. Had some minor feed issues with HP ammo but one of our range guys is a gunsmith. Throwback Thursday: Does Anyone Still Use the .38 Super? Nevertheless, Hamer used buckshot on the crowd and wounded at least two as they charged up the stairs of the courthouse. Very Fast. As an Old School (Since early 90s) competitive shooter / reloader, and ER/ICU MD, Ive been a fan of ol .38 Super. Great decision on my part for sure! Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Over generations of colorful history, his creation has evolved into todays highly regarded Texas Ranger Division of the Texas Department of Public Safety. FREE SHIPPING. I rank the .38 Super along with the .45 ACP and the .44 Special as the 3 best calibers in America. The caliber saw extensive use in the hands of the FBI and figured into the demise of dangerous fugitives such as Baby Face Nelson. For general use, I most often practice with a FMJ loading. When expecting a gunfight, he also took a .44 S&W Hand-Ejector revolver with 6.5 barrel for backup. In those days officers from one state were legally prohibited from chasing suspects across the border of another state. Required fields are marked *. Its worth considering that Dan Wesson makes several 1911s in .38 Super including the Guardian, a lightweight Commander type. Hamer drew down on him with a shotgun and told him to not do it. Several variations of the Colt .38 Super guns were introduced. Regular Price. The stage was now set for Frank Hamer to accept a commission to hunt down the Barrow Gang as a special investigator for the prison system. In 1971, they received an out-of-court settlement. The flats were then polished back to the metal, leaving the nooks and crannies filled with black for highlights. Can someone give me an idea of what they are selling for? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The .38-caliber revolver taped to Bonnie Parkers inner thigh when she and Clyde Barrow were killed by a Texas posse in 1934 has been made federally compliant and will be auctioned later this week. This style of barrel also puts a bit more weight forward in the gun. Four of his five brothers also became Texas Rangers. After I retired from a near 30 year career in emergency services (firefighter/paramedic) I got a job in a gun store. Ive been around Rangers, guns, and popping primers, and they all can shoot. Editors note: This post was originally published in January of 2020. Stevenson wanted to examine the tally sheets in the ballot box for Precinct 13; i.e.,fraudulent poll and tally lists for his opponent, then Congressman Lyndon Johnson. Two men were convicted and sentenced to two-year terms and more lynching and riots ensued in Texas and Oklahoma. Complementing the overall design are the handsome rosewood grips checkered in the classic "double diamond" pattern on this Colt .45 Pistol. Shot well and handled very similar to a baby eagle. Joseph Pinkston in his excellent book, with Robert Cromie, Dillinger, A Short and Violent Life writes of the apprehension of Dillinger gang member Leslie Homer and of his advice given to Racine officers in November of 1933. Winchester Ranger 9mm; Wolf 223 Ammo; Wolf Ammo; Gun Models. Ive made hits with the Colt at 300 yards using Remington factory 130 grain FMJ. Shop 38 super pistols online at Hinterland Outfitters from brands like Armscor, EAA, Colt, Dan Wesson, and many more! Ralph Rohatsch was a friend and associate of my father, who was the sheriff of San Patricio, County Texas . He knew that if any members of the Barrow gang survived the fusillade, a .38 Super round would penetrate the vehicles heavy steel body and body armor, too, if necessary! ATF understands the importance of this historically significant firearm, Guy Thomas, Special Agent in Charge of the ATFs Boston field division, said in a news release. Long ago (early 1970s) I purchased a Colt Combat Commander in Super 38 from a Pawn Shop. 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 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. While the .38 Super isnt a mainstream cartridge (rather, its an enthusiasts choice), it is an interesting caliber with much to recommend. I shoot 38 super in a RIA 1911 that my gunsmith set up Buy ammo while supplies last. It is also doubtful John Moses Browning expected that his most famous and enduring creation, the 1911, would be alive and kicking, with no signs of retiring, nearly 100 years after he finished the last of the Armys requested improvements. 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. The polished blued finish is accented by a bordered golden rampant colt, Texas flag, and vine and leaf engravings, pairing a timeless elegance with . Wilsons attractive and functional, fully-checkered Diamondwood grips and a single-side, extended Tactical Thumb Safety are standard, as is the High-Ride Beavertail Grip Safety. Both can be purchased through the Texas Ranger Museum Gift Shop. . The first practical revolving-cylinder handgun was invented in 1831 by Samuel Colt of Hartford, Connecticut, and patented on February 25, 1836, the year of the Texas Revolution. This beautiful Colt was shipped to a hardware store in 1932 in El Paso, Texas for Texas Ranger Ralph Rohatsch, who at the time was a member of the Texas Highway Patrol.. Nelson killed Federal Agent Baum at Little Bohemia with a .38 Super machine pistol. bullets topping 1400 fps. The Winchester Silvertip breaks about 1,200 fps with a 125-grain bullet. First, gangsters (Dillinger, Nelson, etc.) The town had seen over one hundred men killed in shootouts but the town became tame while Hamer was the city marshal. It was well known in Texas that Hamer had killed fifty-three men, been wounded seventeen times and left for dead more than once. The little guy hold an honorary place in my collection and I smile when I think back to when I purchased it for $100.00. I fit a Super 38 barrel to it and a 1lb. Stainless hex head grip screws secure the grips he chose: Black/grey G-10 with a Starburst Pattern. They took the opportunity to upgrade the performance of the .38 ACP. At present, my favorite .38 Super is a Para Ordnance 1911. 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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. Seller: Cliffs Guns Safes Reloading. This is an easier cartridge to master than the .45 and has two more rounds of magazine capacity. Sheriff D. S. Barker recommended Hamer for a position with the Texas Rangers. Cheaper Than Dirt has a plethora of excellent .38 Super ammo in stock, as well as a TON of reloading stuff. I shoot the .38 Super from a couple of Tanfoglios. Serial # 16205 Manufactured in 1891. 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. Engraved First Generation Colt Single Action Army Revolver Owned by Two Generations of Texas Rangers and Inscribed to Legendary Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson with His Badge and Personalized Tooled Leather Holster and Extensive Documentation Auction Date: December 1, 2017 Estimated Price: $ 4,500 - $ 6,500 Price Realized: Details 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. per page . Texas Rangers are an independent lotalways have beenperhaps from that time alone riding horseback across the vast expanse of Texas. An old timer gave me several boxes of ammo and I reload as well but it can be hard to find. It is a great calibre that is moribund because too many shooters jump on the bandwagon of whatever is popular at the time. And of course, all of the preceding is fitted by one of Wilson Combats skilled smiths, using CNC-machined internal parts, and the entire package dehorned. The Professional was developed to mate a full-size frame to a compact (4-inch) slide. If you want to know more about Glenn Elliiott, he has written two books: A Ranger's Ranger and Still A Ranger's Ranger. Adding to the appearance, as well as function, Trace had the normally coated single-side Tactical Thumb Safety, Bullet Proof slide stop, and High-Ride Beavertail Grip Safety replaced with polished stainless steel versions. Your discussions, feedback and comments are welcome here as long as they are relevant and insightful. We are pleased we were able to work in partnership with RR Auction to make the gun legally compliant.. Judge Carter stopped the trial and planned a change of venue. Brand: Colt. Regardless, once you get the brass, a Super can be just as economical to shoot as a 9mm. today it is in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco. I took it to a local range to shoot it and instantly fell in love. A gentleman in Texas made the gun up for me and I am very happy with it. Both of my Open STI Race Guns are .38 Super made for Major Power Factors of the 1990s. Hughes trial was scheduled for trial within a week and a mob gathered outside the jail every night. In my youth I looked for a .38 Super, but in South Texas every time I got a lead on one, it was already sold. Barrow, Parker and associate Jimmy Mullens engineered the Eastham prison farm escape and freed Raymond Hamilton, Henry Methvin, Hilton Bybee and Joe Palme. There were several reasons why the .38 Super didnt take off as Colt hoped it would. Wow! The VERY best / strongest, brass is Starline rimless COMP. Below this was a lightweight aluminum-alloy frame, with a flat-black Armor Tuff finish, making the package lighter on the belt and giving a striking appearance. . Calling all crime buffs: Here's your shot at history. The Para-Ordnance is an eye-catching pistol that has proven completely reliable, reasonably accurate, and a great deal of fun. Hamer also provided a restraining influence during a Depression era race riot. Also W.C. combat hammer. Add to Wish List . remarkably easy to handload. 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. 13 Kathleen J. Hoyt, historian, to Colt Company, July 26, 1993. 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. The .38 ACP fired a 130-grain bullet at 1,100 fps. In his life he was wounded 17 times, left for dead four times and he killed between 53 and 70 people. $1,999.99 $1,699.99. In 1839, the Republic of Texas ordered 180 of the .36-caliber Holster model revolvers for the Texas Navy, but most significant were the revolvers issued to the early Texas Rangers. The penetration of the cartridge and reliability of the 1911 gave law officers a great advantage. One of a kind 1 of 1 done by the Colt custom shop for the Texas Ranger Foundation to auction at their annual fundraiser. The Gun Control Act of 1968 requires firearm manufacturers to place serial numbers on firearms and made firearms with removed, obliterated or altered serial numbers illegal to possess. My 38 Super commander is my EDC. Git!, he admonished and then, Fall back!. Estimate $150 - $300. $901.00 $901.00. During that period roughly 37,000 pistols were manufactured mainly for commercial sales although some Foreign and U.S. Government Contracts existed. 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. and quality ammo. For most of my life, old-timers and shooters have called the cartridge the .38 Super and the handgun the Super .38.The proper name is the .38 ACP Super. There are a lot of opinions on the .38 Super. I pretty much fell in love with the Colt 1911 38 Super I have. The answer would be yes. Serial numbers 1TR to 200TR were reserved for the deluxe engraved examples. Love the gun and love the round. Scared him 1/2 to death at a Dennys one day. Started reloading rounds as store bought ones were not to my liking. I shoot 100 rds a week so ammo is not a problem: plenty of choices at moderate prices. Love the gun and the round and have no I jumped in and took one shot just to see how the Professional handled. I actually have & use three of those,(I had to modify its lower lug from Wilson/ Nowlin to Para.Clark with TIG weld), custom fitted w/ Evolution Gun Works (EGW) bushings + Wilson.Combat #4 links, with awsome results. *As a reloader for 30 yrs, Ive also used .357 (copper plated) boolits. My first gun was a colt .38 super from 1958 which i inherited from my uncle who was a big gun enthusiast. He and forty other Rangers resigned to avoid serving under Ma Ferguson. Those are Supers, and they were the better choice for a while. Ironically, they may be a better choice again given the advancements in bullet design. I presently shot mostly bullseye. COLT 1911 TEXAS RANGER 38 SUPER USED GUN INV 219948 Description: Colt 1911 Texas Ranger commemorative chambered in .38 Super with a 4 1/4 inch barrel bright bore and good grooves with a display case and Texas Ranger Medallion. America's Ultimate Shooting Sports Discounter. In those days, the lawmen were revolver men. The result, no matter which Wilson Combat pistol, is a piece of fighting equipmentalmost a piece of artdesigned and built to work every time the trigger is pulled. This Colt was Ranger Rohatsch's carry gun, and shows the wear!!! Black ruled that the federal district court lacked jurisdiction and that the question was for the Central Committee to decide. While I have relegated most of my collection to the comfort of the safe, I loved the pistol and carried it for years. This is where I am supposed to say, and the result was the Wilson Combat Texas Ranger Model. Well, not exactly, as I found out when I requested one. Born in Rowena, Texas, Parker met Barrow at the home of a mutual friend in January 1930, according to the most credible accounts. It features straight-to-the-rear trigger compression, a low bore axis, a grip that fits most hands well, and excellent speed into action. Had some handloads that shot 5 out of nine kill shots on a siloute at 100 yards, back when I could see that far. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This example comes with a handmade tooled holster from the period. There seems to be a consensus that Hamer carried a 1911 chambered in .38 Super when he ambushed Bonnie and Clyde: For most of his career, Hamer carried an engraved .45 Colt M1873 SAA revolver with 4.75 barrel (pp. John B. Jones, 1860 Colt Army Richards Transition Revolver, 1878 Smith & Wesson New Model No. In 1928, The Texas Bankers Association gave rewards to officers that set up certain petty criminals to be killed so that corrupt police officers could collect the rewards and pay finders fees. So if the ammunition is marked .38 Super +P, it is still a .38 Super. Still use it? Regarding Bobs message from about an hour and a half ago, I dont think you should even bother with shopping around, especially for a caliber you wont find everywhere, like you would a 9mm or .45 ACP. Advantage is you only have to find an FFL in your area to handle the transfer (also easy to do with Google), and once everything is said and done, youve escaped all the sales tax (unless you get it from someone in your state) and the higher price that a retailer is likely going to charge from the get-go, so you end up saving some money and can shop around without leaving your keyboard! My 45 ACP (handload and hot) was stuck between the second and third books. recoil spring and a shock-buff. I bought a RIA 1911 in 38 Super a couple of years ago, always been fascinated by the round that gives you 357 Magnum ballistics in a 1911 platform. It only made sense to chamber the 1911 Government Model in a .38 caliber cartridge. In the latter 1800s, they all but standardized on the Colt Single Action Army revolver and the lever-action Winchester rifle, and when the more powerful box magazine 1895 model came out, they flocked to them so fast that they are prevalent in pictures of Rangers during that period. Clyde Barrows gang shot and wounded two prison guards one fatally- during a prison breakout in 1934. Hinton requested a BAR because he knew that the lawmen would be up against more than one BAR that Barrow had stolen from a National Guard armory and with which Barrow had already gunned down several peace officers. Fact is, its like the .357 magnum or at least the .357 SIG in 1911s. 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The gun shoots better than I can shoot it. Some nations, notably Mexico, prohibit military calibers such as the 9mm and .45, but not the .38 Super. 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. 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. In 1911, Hamer started working as a special investigator in Houston. Thus, Johnson was off the ballot in the general election unless Johnson could do something quickly. Texas Meet Arkansas 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. In 1948, Stevenson led the Democratic primary with 39.7% to 33.7% against Lyndon B. Johnson. used to rainbow trajectories with 45, I have one and love it mine is a rock island sometimes hard to find ammo. The Colt .38-caliber Detectives Special revolver, which was recovered from Parkers body by Texas Ranger Capt. Modern guns that headspace on the case mouth are very accurate. Power factors have dropped and the original power factors surely stretched a gun after a very active season. With right loads, all of the above, print 1.25 2 @ 25 yds, (Ransom rest).Just my two cents. (AP file). The most fun to shoot pistol i own. Ahhhh, the good old days. When you read the engraving it will bring a tear to your eyes. The platform allows good control for those who practice. 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. Enjoy your new .38 Super! After that the reputation of the weapon (and my dad) seemed to quiet things down nicely. I bought a gun to fit my mistake,and dont regret it ,shoots dead accurate and hardly any recoil. I could push a 100 grain Speer JHP downrange near 1500 fps using Blue Dot though I cant recall the powder charge. At the beginning of her second term, she fired all the Rangers that remained and appointed replacements for them. He tuned and polished up the feed ramp and removed some burrs, no issues now. 2007-2023 Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore. Accuracy is pretty good. 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. With the similarity in parts and components for 1911 manufacturers and ammo makers Im surprised with as much ongoing controversy over the years between effectiveness of 9mm compared to 45 that there hasnt been a resurganceof 38 super that closes that gap, and in some minds exceeds with power, performance and capacity. Working primarily along the South Texas border, Hamer became known as an expert shot. Thank you for the review. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. For more information, please call our knowledgeable staff about our Colt guns today at (877) 214-9327 or feel free to send us email inquiry at info@collectorsfirearms.com. Sold my Glock 17 (after 15 years of daily service as my carry gun) and bought a new Tangfoglio Combat 38 Super. Shopping with us is absolutely safe - you never have to worry about credit card safety when shopping here Share your latest AR build or photos from the range with #RangeDayFriday for a chance to win a new firearm! Keep Reading. The Commander Model 38 Super pistol on the left includes the standard blued finish and checkered wood grips. Home Texas Ranger Museum Artifacts & Exhibits Firearms Colt 38 Super . I would recommend it for any novice shooter or women; especially the unfortunately short-lived downsized frame which made it an excellent choice for concealed carry or purses.