Anyone familiar with the 38 super cartridge. How does it perform as an alternative to the 9mm and 45 acp?(not in any specific catagory (ex home defense)) Also is felt recoil similar to that felt from the 38 special or more along the lines of the 357 mag? Thank you

Anyone familiar with the 38 super cartridge. How does it perform as an alternative to the 9mm and 45 acp?(not in any specific catagory (ex home defense)) Also is felt recoil similar to that felt from the 38 special or more along the lines of the 357 mag? Thank you

Depends on how you look at it...the .38super gives 9mm+P+ performance without the extra pressure. Run it at home-brew +P pressure and it's ahead of the 9mm and coming mighty close to the .357SIG.

Was once popular in the combat shooting world as you could make "major" with it (just barely)...comp guns work better with high pressure rounds than with low pressure rounds, so it was pretty popular for a time there.

.38Super has a couple of flaws, depending on how the barrel is set up. Is semi-rimmed, and older Colt barrels are set up to try and headspace from that little semi-rim. Sometimes they miss, and that variation in headspace does accuracy no good at all.

Other .38super barrels (and modern Colts) use the end of the case mouth (just like .45acp) and ignore the semi-rim. This does produce more consistant accuracy. Wouldn't pass on a good older Colt, but would plan on a new barrel if accuracy is a main goal.

Recoil is hard to judge...weren't any light weight small .38supers, most of them were full sized guns (commander length, or BDA sized)...in that large an launch pad, recoil never seemed to be a bother at all. Bugger is loud.
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Got requested to leave a combat match (indoors) when some experimental .38super loads set fire to rgw xkiaw (7 feet) starting target....can produce a pretty large fireball under certain circumstances.