38 Super Automatic Ammo Selection 

Paul I live in a country where guns are banned, I can only use a Nerf 'blaster' to protect my family. I find your videos on ammunition comparisons, meat target & soda bottles exploding the best entertainment on RU-vid. Your precise, in depth, and accurate history of anything that's designed to kill is astonishing. But the icing on the cake is your articulate manner and ability to deal with those pesky know it all online gun trolls who seem to hound you at any chance. Your service to your country is honorable on multiple levels and I feel your one of the best shooters on RU-vid showing firearms. Your ability with pistols is very impressive. It's right up there with your very dry sense of humour.

The perfect Paul Harrell video: Accuracy test, Chronograph, meat target and a history lesson. All without a lot of hyperbole or loud talking. Thank you Paul for educating without all the drama.

I like the ammunition comparisons. It is very useful information.

Hi Paul, hope you're well. I'm one of the very many people who literally watch every single video of yours, and have been doing so for years. Please take it from us that we like ammunition comparisons. We like everything you do, because regardless of what you're covering, "you" are the one that makes things interesting, informative, entertaining and fun. ^_^

I like the ammo comparisons because I can use them as a guide when trying out ammo. I'm personally not going to go buy multiple boxes of ammo I may never use again just to try out different carry choices, but using guides such as this, I can narrow it to one or two to try and choose from there, and purchase more training ammo with similar ballistics with the money saved.

The history of ammunition development is always interesting, and if you ever happen upon any 38 hi speed ammo to test, that would be particularly interesting. Thank you.

I'm surprised that anyone complains about the ammunition evaluations. I find them very interesting both from the point of view of seeing ammunition compared and also because you compare them in ways that lead to greater understanding of a wide range of issues. I don't think that bullet weights have to be equal to make fair comparisons of anything. I accept that different calibers seem to be designed for different guns and often have different weights of bullets as part of the difference. For instance, the 9x19 and the 9x18 seem to be designed around different bullet weights, and most bullets made for pistols of these calibers are different in weight. Part of the difference that one needs to consider in comparing them is that a 9x18 is made to shoot a 90 to 100 grain bullet while a 9x19 is made to shoot 115, 124, or 147 grain bullet. Even with .40 S&W versus 10mm, I think a fair comparison can feature different bullet weights because so much of what is designed for each caliber is designed around a heavier bullet for the 10mm. I appreciate the history lesson around the .38 Super Auto. I'd heard bits and pieces of that information previously. I like to learn all kinds of things from multiple sources, so the repeat was worthwhile.

Love .38 super. Just a nice feeling round, especially out of a 1911

Hearing the comparisons of .38 Special and 38 Super reminded me of something off the beaten path. If you've seen Stranger Things season 1, one of the characters asks for boxes of .38 ammo for his father's revolver, but if you have an eagle eye the boxes put on the counter say 38 Super Auto +P on the end. Just kind of interesting that they confused the two, and I never would have even noticed without these videos.

I love ammo comparisons… Especially out of micro (short barreled) pistols.

I can’t think of a more informative and trustworthy source for ammo tests on RU-vid than you, Paul.

Love my 38 super colt 1911

The worst thing about Paul's videos...when they're over...it's like anticipating Christmas as a youngster waiting on the next one. 😁

Hey Paul, some of us DO like the ammunition comparisons! Mind you, I'll just watch whatever you put out...

Awesome video and have never seen a video on 38 Supers but my 38 super is my favorite 1911 by far

0:32 ..... I LOVE IT !!! nothing and no one says you are #1 like Paul does !

I don’t know who tells you not to put out content like this but they are wrong! I have been looking for a video like this from you for a long time. Videos like this and the caliber comparison videos are my favorite content from you because you truly excel in this content. Thank you for your hard work on our entertainment and education.

Enjoying a campfire when Paul's video pops up! Off to "find" more wood for 33 minutes! 🤫

Please note that 38 Super was designed for the 1911 platform. The cartridge has the same overall length as 45 ACP, unlike 9mm Luger, 10mm or 40 S&W. 38 Super fits the magazine and the breech.

I'm having difficulty imagining why anyone would dislike ammo comparison videos...

Two Paul videos in a week? That’s A Lot More!

I think I'd rather watch endless ammo comparos than anything on commercial tv anytime... or netflix or amazon.... After watching the comparos it is obvious that ammo selection is critical to whatever firearm you are shooting, and you have to work hard to find out which one works best with your particular firearm. Keep up the great work Paul, and thank you very much!

It's always a good day when Paul uploads!

I like the way that you put the history of the .38 Super after the main video. I watched it, being pretty unfamiliar with the round. Now I at least know what it is and how it compares. The whole thing was great. Keep doing what you do, please.

I'm at work so I'll save this til I get home. Thanks, Mr. Harrell, good work.

Love my .38 Super and love the fact that it's not gone way up in price like everything else has. Finding a variety has always been a bit of a challenge so this is a very helpful video.

What I like the most about Paul's video's is, I don't have some of the ammo he shows and talks about. But it's none the less interesting to watch and learn. It makes me want to go look for ballistic gel test on the ammo I'm ignorant about. In other words I'm more educated about more ammo. Thank You Paul Harrell.

Loved the history lesson on 38 super......thanks 👍👍

Nothing better on a Sunday night, than a Paul Harrel video. I don’t even have a 38 Super Auto but I’m sure by the end of this video I’ll be looking to buy a 38 Super Auto. Cause yeah. Paul. God bless you amazing jacketed man who chants gun stuff to us in the woods to us, sometimes going back to the beginning of time, sometimes saying: “Please bear with me because I’m on a public range”. You amazing soul.

Absolutely love when I get another Paul video!!!! But let me say comments may disagree but due to elevation and barometric pressure all comments could be true on any given day at any given altitude.

Interesting stuff! Sounds like 38 super can be quite performant. Plus it is always cool to see you pull out the Colt Government in 38 in Super.

My favorite video for home defense was and still is your 12 gauge shotgun for home defense. That was very detailed,even to the point of knowing which ammo to use. #4 buck was great👍

Bonus track! That was very informative even by the standards of this channel. I love the ''dawn of time'' history lessons. If someone was considering this as an option or especially if they came into a .38 super auto by some means like inheritance this presentation would be invaluable. I for one would have assumed it was much less powerful than it turned out to be. On a side note I had a chance to meet Paul and Two of his crew at a gun show yesterday. A more friendly and down to earth guy you couldn't hope to meet. They all were very engaging and generous with their time. And I got a cool T-shirt! Thanks guys!

Love the way you signified #1 in your explanation!!!!! 😂🤔🤔🤔 The second half of the video I could have used about a year ago. I ended up with a case of 38 super ammo. Let’s just say it was a boneheaded move because I don’t own a 38 super!! It fit the chamber of my Chiappa Rhino. But I didn’t dare pull the trigger. I dug into the interweb looking for comparison to see if I could get away with shooting it!!!! I decided to not take the chance. And sold the entire case at an “EVIL GUN SHOW” I took a small loss but not as much as if I had destroyed my Rhino! And or hurt myself or WORSE!!?? Not to mention the small loss was better than sitting on ammo that I couldn’t use. I put towards something I could use straight away. I always at least TRY to err on the side of SAFETY!!! Harder to do if you let money try to steer your decision. In the end it was a BIG LEARNING EXPERIENCE!!! Alls well that ends well!!!!

I, for one, really liked the discussion at the end of the presentation. I would like to add a little more to the confusion if I may. That is the factor that traditionally the European 9X19 under it's various names was loaded hotter than the American ammunition with similar designations. Yes I'm old enough to remember this. It was't rare to find European 9X19 to produce 400 f-p energy from a normal barrel length. To get that level performance from American made ammo would usually mean going to +p or +p+ designated ammunition. You alluded to this when you mentioned that many pistols are available now that shouldn't be used to fire a constant diet of +P or +P+ ammo. There was also the entire "major caliber" class of ammunition for some pistol competitions where the 9X19 would struggle to meet that level performance and the 38 Super didn't. Another minor detail was that the 38 Super is one of the rare semi-rimmed cartridges that also shows its older roots.

Ammo comparisons..?? No issues here. Thanks Paul and crew!

another classic!

The .38 Super was the High Performance Round in it's day! Long before the .357! Standard load was a 130grs at about 1200fps! Fast for its time!!! Still one of my all time favorites!!! Thanks Paul!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Well, I always enjoy the dawn of time talks because I'm always learning something about ammo that I didn't know before. I've never shot any 38 Super, but am surprised that Federal came up short. I have always enjoyed Federal for a lot of different types of ammo, guess a brand can't be good at all types.

I like the ammo comparison videos. Ammo performance will vary some from gun to gun, but this gives a starting point about ammo.

Whenever I hear the phrase “yes, this will be a dawn of time explanation” I get a big grin & settle in because I know it’s going to be interesting & I am about to get an education.

I don't know who wouldn't like ammo comparisons. I'm very happy with them in general & this one is great ! I have known several people that carried the .38 super throughout my life, usually in the Combat Commander pistol. I considered it was a good choice back when the only available double column 9 was the Browning High Power. 9 rounds in a single column magazine with a higher velocity, what's not to like ?

I already know what .38 super is. I'm still going to listen to his presentation at the end.

My understanding of the "Super" nomenclature is a little different... The story starts with the Colt 1900 chambered in .38 ACP ("38 Auto"). The original spec for .38 ACP was a little too hot for the double-toggle action of the 1900/02/03, so the cartridge was down-loaded. The ".38 Super" came along as a hotter-than-original .38 ACP load when the 1911 got it -- Colt called the pistol the "Super .38 Automatic" and the ammunition was labeled ".38 Super Automatic." All .38 Super was loaded in nickel cases so people could easily tell it apart from the original .38 ACP load (an indicator to not try to run it in an old 1900/02/03). .38 ACP went the way of the dodo (along with the 1900/02/03), and .38 Super became popular with the IPSC crowd (due to increase magazine capacity over .45 ACP) and in countries that prohibit civilian onwership of military calibers.

Don't forget the hot .38 cal called the 38-44 that predates the .357 magnum. The hot 38-44 (in a .38 Special case) was introduced in the S&W Outdoorsman.

Learned a lot today. Shooters born during the late '80s or after probably have minimal experience with .38. Had no idea .38 could be more potent than 9x19, and it seems to have just the right amount of penetration and expansion relative to the meat target. Seems like a great choice for home defense and personal protection.

As a 38 Super fan and aficionado, THANK YOU! I've been waiting for this...

I like ammo comparisons. Their is so many types and brands, conversation is educational 👍🏼

@ :30, the bird, the bird is the word 😂

“Let’s see Paul Harrell’s gun!” (Look at those textured wooden grips. Tasteful tasteful bluing of it. Oh my God it’s even chambered in .38 super!)

Thank you for going into detail on the 2 cartridge. It explained more for all the different types of ammo for the 2 .

Thanks Paul, always an education to Watch and learn more about what you are teaching us!!! You could really help AMMUNITION or Firearms manufacturing create better products!!

Yay! Another Harrell video! Highlight of the week! I can't wait for next week's video

Been a big fan of .38 super auto since the late 70's. I've carried it as a duty weapon, personal protection and just loved it for IPSC competition. I load for mine with 125 hornady HAP and it just rocks at all levels. Anyone that thinks it can't be effective has never seen the hole it leaves in varmints hit at close range. Great Video!! Just wish I had one of the original Thompsons that were chambered for it! That would be a blast!

The chronograph bit got a good laugh out of me when he got to the Federal ammunition...I can tell he tested that ammo before with his reaction from the first shot.

I dont have a gun in 38 super automatic and probably never will, but will I still watch? Absolutely

Always informative and worth watching. Thanks for all you do.

Thank you Sir for this information, I love my 38 super 1911 and have always felt very secure in using it any situation

Another very informative and detailed ammo comparison. Thank you Paul.

Great presentation! I appreciate the novel way you approach the subject. Thank you.

The 38 Super came out a year or two before the 38 High-Speed, and remained the most powerful American auto pistol cartridge for many years. S&W offered the 38/44- a 38 Special built on a 44 Special frame revolver- in the early 1930s that fired a jacketed 158 grain bullet 350+ FPS faster than conventional 38 Special ammo. Original High-Speed velocity was 1,125 FPS (wow!) to penetrate the heavy auto bodies of the time. These loadings were later reduced, and then in the '70s dropped in favor of the 38 +P. The 38 High Speed was the progenitor of the 357 Magnum.

Love the comparison's between ammo types Paul! Would like to have seen the 357sig thrown in there also. Great presentation as always Paul. Looking forward to seeing the bolt action rifles video!! 🇺🇸☠️🇺🇸

*Pointdexter Minutia* : Regarding .38 Auto (.38 ACP), initially it was actually loaded real hot, to .38 Super levels, but it was found that the Colt 1900 pistols chambered for it were just nowhere near strong built enough, battering themselves rather hard, so it was decided to ease off the load to prevent accidents. .38 Super would be a revival of the original .38 Auto load (the 1911 being a robust pistol suitable for the hot cartridge), the name Super being used to differentiate it from the light load, +p probably being added to differentiate it yet further and to discourage their potential use in the original guns.

Great presentation as always. Very useful information, and the demonstrations are equally as useful. Thank you

I love ammo comparisons. Please keep doing them.

Paul, keep doing what you’ve always done! I’ve been awaiting a new video, glad to see this great practical application demonstration.

I don't always shoot .38+P, but when I do its in .45 Colt.

Paul- Super thorough, plus it was special. Thanks for sharing Mr Harrell.

Excellent explanation, keep up the good work Paul.

Great video Paul. Not sure on this but I thought I once saw a specification for 38 Super that stated "standard" ammo would be 130 grain with a muzzle velocity of 1300 fps out of a 5 inch barrel, delivering approx. 500 ft/lbs of energy at the muzzle. If that's the case then the Corbon ammo would be the closest representative of what 38 Super was designed to achieve.

A great double-header presentation, Paul Thanks, really enjoyed it.

ammo comparison are very informative and important and definitely a main part of why someone would come to your channel. thank you for them

Big 👍 on the new camera setup for the targets. I couldn't see squat in the last video, but this one is fantastic. Also, it would have been interesting in the last bit to see a detailed view of the cartridges.

Keep them ALL coming Paul anything you do is well worth watching.👍

As always, Wonderfully informative with some great tongue in cheek, Thanks, Paul!

Thanks so much Paul been waiting on an evaluation from you on one of my favorite calibers.

Always enjoy the content and presentation on this channel to the point where I was inspired to purchase a Colt 1911 chambered in 38 Super. When I took the pistol out to the rand for the first time, I had an issue with some Sig Sauer Elite 38 Super ammo I purchased. When I tried to chamber a round it would not go into battery, however it would jam and I could not eject the round by pulling back the slide. I had to have the manager of the range come out, and he hit the slide from the rear with a nylon mallet to make it go into battery and pulled the trigger to get the jacket to extract (it was pointed down range) . I had some other brands of ammo with me, Magtech and American Eagle and had no issues. Crazy thing is when I went home, I took barrel out and the Sig ammo seemed to drop in no problem. Never been able to figure out the issue.

I do enjoy his lectures, always learn to boot! Keep up the great work and thank you!

Very educational (and entertaining) as always, Thanks Paul

fyi tjhe 38 super has always been popular in mexico due to government restrictions on military calibers. In the mid 80's the cartridge became popular in USPSA matches as it offered a major power factor and 11 round capacity that gave an advantage in single stack 1911. later it was used in high cap race guns as it was major and had a very high capacity of 28 to 30 rounds

Paul, I love your ammunition comparisons. Keep them coming.

Awesome...a new Paul video...time to sit back and enjoy...

I love the ammo comparison videos you guy's do. Always informative and interesting! As are all of your videos! I especially enjoy the videos that give information and true historical facts and different views and perspectives like the one you did on the 1986 miami shoot out . Thank you and your crew for all the hard work!

I really enjoy your talks regarding the history and development of different calibers! Keep it up. Placing the discussion at the end is fine by me.

Thank you Paul. You are one of the few who actually take the time to do this level of testing on this fantastic, but often overlooked caliber. Yet another brilliant video.

Thanks again, Paul, for the detailed demo, the in-depth history lesson, the Shatner-esque pauses, and of course, the indominable dry wit. These are the things that make your channel fun, provocative, and enlightening. Looking forward to your next presentation, as always...

19:45 - "The dawn-of-time explanation"! WOO HOO! I actually like the dawn-of-time explanations.

Amazing how you can keep all that info organized. Good job.

Thanks for giving the .38 Super some attention. Under appreciated round and hardly any other you tubers ever talk about it. Great video!

Thanks for making the 38 Super Ammo Selection video.

Thank you sir. As usual your presentation was very informative and professional.

Thanks Paul. I enjoy all your videos.

I always appreciate your videos! I wish you and your channel a happy & successful 2022 :)

As always Paul...outstanding job!

Honestly, until I started watching Paul's videos, I never even knew 38 Super even existed. I don't have a 38 super gun, I don't even know any local gun store that sells it, and I honestly don't have any plans of ever picking one up. But I still love these presentations, Paul manages to make just about any topic interesting. Paul could talk about drying paint for an hour and he'd manage to make it worth listening to. Love the content as always!

*MR. HARRELL , thank you for presenting as well as one could ... the differences and similarity with 9x19 and 38 Super.*

Thanks for going through the tedious steps, Paul. People like myself appreciate it. God bless, sir.

The ammunition comparisons are my favorite videos! Keep up the great work!

Well, I just learned way more than I ever thought I would about all the variants of 38 and much more! Thanks for the info. Was very thorough. A while back when I first started watching Paul's excellent channel, his use of the Beretta 92FS inspired me to take a second look at the pistol I used so much in the US ARMY, the M9. Back then I wasn't into pistols as I am today and didn't think much of the M9. I LATER found out that the reason I didn't think too highly of the M9 is that they were beaten to hell, very well used, and not maintained well at all. I started renting all the variants of the M9 and 92 series Berettas to test them out. I really liked the results I was seeing/feeling, worlds different than my ARMY experiences. I shot the 92FS and the 92A1 the best. I ended up getting the 92A1 because I could mount a light, it came with a threaded barrel, a buffer to better handle +P ammo, and was a little beefier (it's really a 96A1 just bored to 9mm). I have big hands and this pistol has plenty to grab onto. It holds 17 +1 and fires 9MM Luger +P 135 gr FlexLock Critical Duty very well. I carry it every day. I don't think there is any .38 variant I would choose over it, especially after all the great work Wilson Combat did. I'll never sell or get rid of this pistol, it's amazing. Thanks again Paul for turning me back onto Beretta with your videos.

I don’t own and don’t ever plan on owning a .38 but I still watch