New Colt .38 Super arrived

[ALman]

My .38 Super Govt came in today, so I took a couple of pictures for the group. The first pic is as it came from the box, and the second is after swapping to wood grips and a Wilson mainspring housing.

I hope this works - first time Photobucket user

By the way, the mags that came with the gun are marked M S which as I understand to be Metalform.

It will probably be a week or so before I get to load up some ammo and try it so stay tuned.

Thanks again

Kevin

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/ALman_04/P1000531.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/ALman_04/P1000542.jpg

:D

[Jeffrey]

Those grips sure do make a difference. Congrats on your new arrival.

[daveohno]

Very nice!

[Hersh]

Nice! It's amazing how a new set of grips change the look so much!

[ALman]

Thanks - I wasn't sure how the pictures would turn out.

The slide to frame fit seems good - no side to side play in/out of battery. The only thing I noticed was slight marking on side of hammer - may be a little off center. I doubt it's a problem, but I will probably have the hammer and grip safety changed out in the near future because I can see some hammer bite in my future.


Kevin

[DuckRyder]

Very Nice!!!

I seem to have a bit of a 38 Super Weakness...and a slight grip addiction. ;)

Whose grips are those with the border? Its hard to find nice double diamonds with a border...

[jeff1124]

very sweet http://mazeguy.net/alphabet/c.gifhttp://mazeguy.net/alphabet/o.gifhttp://mazeguy.net/alphabet/l.gifhttp://mazeguy.net/alphabet/t.gifhttp://mazeguy.net/symbolic/balloon.gif

[Hunter]

That is a good looking Colt. I have the same 1911 and she has been a good one.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h264/Hunter1911/Gun3.jpg

[clughog]

Congratulations! Nice pictures, too. It's a beauty with either set of grips/stocks, or whatever we're calling 'em these days. I kind of like both sets with that finish!

[gscrasher]

ALman, you have an elegant beauty. Like you I treasure those wood grips. But don't throw those rubber ones in the trash. Someday, you may go for serious training such as Gunsite. You will shoot a 1000 rounds in five days. Many people will have mole skin or tape on their hands, others will be using gloves. It's not the high round count per se, but at places like Gunsite you usually shoot 2 rounds (very occasionally 3) each time you draw your gun! So you are going to get a very good grip on your gun and draw about 400-500 times, and do reloads, and malfunction clearing etc. Checkered rubber is good!

[ALman]

Duckryder,

The grips are Esmeralda's - the pictures don't do justice to the finish. I like that you can go to her website and pick the exact grips from the digital photos.

Gscrasher - thanks for the tip - I bagged the original grips, screws, mainspring housing in case I want to swap back.

Kevin

[Mick_In_Texas]

My .38 Super Govt came in today, so I took a couple of pictures for the group. The first pic is as it came from the box, and the second is after swapping to wood grips and a Wilson mainspring housing.

I hope this works - first time Photobucket user

By the way, the mags that came with the gun are marked M S which as I understand to be Metalform.

It will probably be a week or so before I get to load up some ammo and try it so stay tuned.

Thanks again

Kevin

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/ALman_04/P1000531.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/ALman_04/P1000542.jpg

:D


I have the same one! Mine's extremely reliable and accurate. I LOVE it:
OEM, identical to yours:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/Mick_In_Texas/362840d5.jpg

No changes, other than the grips; matches my Springer Mil-Spec:
http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/Mick_In_Texas/17059a81.jpg

It is one beautiful gun. I LOVE .45ACP; but, THIS one, also made me fall in love with .38Super. CONGRATULATIONS, sir!
Mick

[Mick_In_Texas]

ALman, you have an elegant beauty. Like you I treasure those wood grips. But don't throw those rubber ones in the trash. Someday, you may go for serious training such as Gunsite. You will shoot a 1000 rounds in five days. Many people will have mole skin or tape on their hands, others will be using gloves. It's not the high round count per se, but at places like Gunsite you usually shoot 2 rounds (very occasionally 3) each time you draw your gun! So you are going to get a very good grip on your gun and draw about 400-500 times, and do reloads, and malfunction clearing etc. Checkered rubber is good!

The rubber double diamonds that came on our 38 Super Govt models are very good. Save them. I did. The Springer Mil-Spec, I hated the black plastics on IT; it's the only pistol or revolver I've ever had or have, that the OEMs just were terrible. Those Colt's rubber ones are VERY nice, every bit as comparable to a set of Hogues I used to have for my Mil-Spec.

I'm a grip pimp, but, if they don't work, I don't keep them. I KEEP my Colt's rubber ones. I did NOT keep the Springer plastics. For carry and recreational, my smooth faux ivories and woods are fine. But, I keep some others, checkered, in reserve... and my Rock and Springer GI45, along with my USGI 1918 Colt's, have checkered.

Mick

[ALman]

Thanks Mick

I actually followed several of your postings on your .38 Govt before I bought mine. Your comments had a lot do with it. Thanks much. It came down to the .38 Super Govt or the Series 70 Re-issue - probably couldn't go wrong either way. Ultimately, it came down to never having a .38 before even though I have had Colt, Para Ordnance, and Springfield before in .45ACP.

I loaded up 30 rounds each Hornady 125gr, Sierra 125gr, Sierra 115gr, Sierra 90gr, and Winchester 147gr Silvertips tonight so I'm going to try mine out in the next few days.

Kevin

[deadmarsh]

Very nice -- you should be a pround father... :)


Dead


Psssst: Colt - how about a 10mm version?

[OD*]

ALman,

Congratulations, sweet looking Super. http://forum.m1911.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

[OD*]

The rubber double diamonds that came on our 38 Super Govt models are very good.
What stocks are you referring to Mick, neither of the Colt's pictured have double diamond stocks?

[Barry in IN]

HEY!
That gun looks just like mine!
So does Mick's!

Yeah, I made my first purchase from Hogue's grip auction site after getting mine. I just don't care for the steel belted radial look that rubber grips give.

The I found a practical reason to dislike them.
The first time I shot mine, I had the rubber grips on, and it was the first time I had shot a 1911 with them. I was doing some drills from the holster and got hammer bite sometimes. It seemed odd that I only got it sometimes. I'll get it with HiPowers sometimes, and it's when I've gotten a sloppy grip.
Later, I was doing some practice draws and thinking about the HiPower/sloppy grip thing, and figured it out-

The rubber grips wouldn't let my hand slide into place as easily as wood grips. They "grabbed" my hand early, stopping it a fraction short of where I really needed it. I get my grip in the holster, and don't "adjust" during the draw. But the rubber wouldn't quite let me get it right at the start, so it was slightly off- enough to get me a nip from the hammer every now and then.
I installed the wood grips, and cured the hammer bite. Hmmmm.

[ALman]

Range Report

I took some handloads and set up at 20 yards from an improvised sandbag rest. Take this with a grain of salt - the gun is probably capable of better. It's time for me to go the eye doctor.

Loads tested (all handloads):

Sierra 90gr JHP, Sierra 115gr JHP, Sierra 125gr JHP, Hornady 125gr HAP, and 147gr Silvertip HP. The 90gr JHP's look promising for the occasional coyote that comes in close. The Silvertips look promising too. I'll probably setup again with better circumstances (more eye relief) and work these loads again, but I was impressed with the pistol. There was one FTF dropping the slide on full magazine - but this was likely my fault. It occurred on the Sierra 115gr load. The extremities in OA length were the 90gr 1.180" and 147gr load 1.275" Brass was Remington +P, Primer was Remington 1 1/2, using Power Pistol powder. All loads were under max published data.

Cheers. :)

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/ALman_04/P1000551.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/ALman_04/P1000549.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/ALman_04/P1000548.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/ALman_04/P1000550.jpg

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r187/ALman_04/P1000552.jpg

[Mick_In_Texas]

What stocks are you referring to Mick, neither of the Colt's pictured have double diamond stocks?

OD*: Me and ALman's 38 Super Government Models came with black rubber double diamond grips, OF A SORT. That first photo of mine, it's hard to see the checkering pattern: it's a double diamond pattern, but doesn't have any smooth border to it, it's all over except the Colt's logo. It's hard to see it as opposed to ALman's wood ones. It also feels a lot different, than wood or aluminum grips with a similar-principle checkering, like my GI45 "US" woods, or my Alumagrips in their standard checkering.


They're a far sight better than the black plastics that come OEM on the Sprinber Mil-Spec, and I had a pair similar to them, from Hogue's. I'd say the Colt's OEMs are comparable to the Hogues. I still have them, but, prefer something a little more "special" on MOST of my 1911s, like my 38 Super. Smooths work well for me, although my RIA and USGI have checkered two-piece (love the US double diamonds on my GI45; doubt those will ever get changed). Hope that explains the grips in my and ALman's photos: these photos are how our 38 Super Models appear nowadays.

ALman--sir, from your shooting report, I trust that you find my comments true, as they were! I'm like you--the round started to fascinate me from being here. It's a good round, and the Colt's 38 Super Model such as we have seems so far to just be an EXCELLENT pistol. I've really been impressed with both the round and the pistol, with limited experience. The Colt's three-dot sights are far superior for my own eyes and brain, than the three-dots on my Mil-Spec or my P90 (my GP100 revolver is much the same, also good; but, the Colt's are superior to any factory three-dots I've ever sighted along... ).

Sounds like you're enjoying this "new" round to us! I also had a "sight challenge"--my eyes, not the pistol--and it STILL managed to put a group of at least 5 of 8 in a spot less than 1-1/2" OD at 25 yds. That was on the FIRST magazine out of the box.

Barry--for some reason, I LIKE the Hogue wraparounds/finger grooves on my GP100, P90, and Taurus PT92AF... although nowadays, since all my shooting has been with the 1911 platform... except one run with my Springer Mil-Spec and my P90 in July... the other three handguns just feel "fat" or something in my hand, uncomfortable or something. The feel and grip of a two-piece gripped 1911 is just... right for me. I DID have the Hogue wraparounds on my Springer briefly; but after firing it with them... compared to my other 1911s... they were sold off on eBay.

Mick

[OD*]

I have two pistols with those stocks Mick, they're not double diamond, they're diamond checkered.

These are double diamonds;

http://mysite.verizon.net/od45/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1991z.jpg

Your stocks are similar to the brown plastic stocks used in the late 1940s to the early 1970s.

Like these;

http://mysite.verizon.net/od45/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1949l.jpg

[Mick_In_Texas]

I have two pistols with those stocks Mick, they're not double diamond, they're diamond checkered.

These are double diamonds;

http://mysite.verizon.net/od45/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1991z.jpg

Your stocks are similar to the brown plastic stocks used in the late 1940s to the early 1970s.

Like these;

http://mysite.verizon.net/od45/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/1949l.jpg

Where do you learn/find this stuff, Sir? I've been quoting you on the Model 1905 and Model 1910, on another thread... This is good to know.

I see the difference: I know on ordering MSHs, there is a difference in checkering available, on the checkered ones. My USGI originals, are actually double-diamond, as are my Springer GI45s. I think the Springer plastics were as well, although it's been a while since I've had them around.

So, my Alumagrips, and the OEM Colt's, are NOT. I KNEW my Alumagrips weren't "double-diamond"; they follow the same set up, but, are more just... I don't know, "cross hatched" or something.

Hee hee... you're as educational to me as pa_guns and Tuner1911!!! I love it, and I thank you all for this. I've never gotten so involved in a platform, as I have since I came here and got the 1911 fever... But, the amazing thing is... other than being able to carry all my 1911s in ONE holster (although I have three for the platform, shoot, how many can you carry at once??? LoL)... that what y'all teach me about 1911 platforms, INCLUDING this, applies to ALL my handguns. Like, I've learned how to lube my Taurus and P90 a lot better, from learning to lube my 1911s... from my Parkeds to my ss ones. I love it and I'm VERY grateful.

Thanks for sharing these. I'm sure ALman will be interested, and Barry.

You, sir, and all y'all take care and be safe...
Mick

[OD*]

Where do you learn/find this stuff
30+ years of being a fan of and tinkering on the 1911, I have learned a great deal from reading anything I can get my hands on about our favorite pistol, learn much from the membership here and have realized never to assume I know everything about them. ;)

The pistols above can be found in my home. :p ;)

[Mick_In_Texas]

30+ years of being a fan of and tinkering on the 1911, I have learned a great deal from reading anything I can get my hands on about our favorite pistol, learn much from the membership here and have realized never to assume I know everything about them. ;)

The pistols above can be found in my home. :p ;)

You're one of the mentors here, and I KNOW the meaning of the word: it's appropriate for you and several others. I'm starting to read, as well. I eventually want to get Clawson's Third Edition; but, I thought the biography would be the first step. Interest in our favorite firearm, is helping me in other areas of my life, too.

In all its calibers and brands and models, it's a dang good piece of machinery, and dang good firearm. I've never handled, fired, or owned anythng I've liked and loved so much. Were I limited to only one platform, there is no question about which one it would be.

You have some beautiful Colts there, sir! I've sure been impressed with mine, even the modern one in .38Super; and there's another coming in the new year in January. I'm slating my 38 Super Model for some carry; but, if the O1991 Govt proves reliable... even though it's blued... Old Reliable (my Springer Mil-Spec) may be replaced as primary carry! OH--and by the way, sir mentor--my Colt's O1991 DOES have wooden double-diamond checkered grips, LOL. And, like on my USGI and GI45, those MAY stay on her.

You take care and be safe, sir.
Mick

[OD*]

Thanks Mick. ;)

[Kangal]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/ksaatci/Picture020.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/ksaatci/Picture017.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/ksaatci/Picture014.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/ksaatci/Picture012.jpg
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http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/ksaatci/Picture025.jpg
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y51/ksaatci/Picture024.jpg
I just received my Colt enhance govt. 38 super from Novaks. He's done excellent job on the sights. My both super fitted with the 9 mm barrels and the EGW drop-in bushings as well as Wilsons drop-in grip safety,SA Main spring housings.. They are extremely accurate with the both barrels.

[ALman]

Nice looking pistols

I am really taking a liking to the .38 Super cartridge. For my next purchase, I'm leaning towards an XSE Commander .45 - I wish they made the steel frame Commander in .38 Super.

Kevin