.38 Super

.38 Super
Type	Pistol
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Manufacturer	Colt's Manufacturing Company
Produced	1929–present
Specifications
Parent case	.38 ACP
Case type	Semi-rimmed, straight Rimless, straight
Bullet diameter	.356 in (9.04 mm)
Land diameter	.346 in (8.79 mm)
Neck diameter	.385 in (9.75 mm)
Base diameter	.385 in (9.75 mm)
Rim diameter	.406 in (10.31 mm)
Rim thickness	.05 in (1.27 mm)
Case length	.895 in (22.75 mm)
Overall length	1.28 in (32.51 mm)
Case capacity	17.6 gr H2O (1.14 cm3)
Rifling twist	1 in 14 in (406 mm) Per Colt Manufacturing.
Primer type	Small pistol
Maximum pressure	36,500 psi (252 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy 130 (8.42 g) Magtech FMJ 1,215 ft/s (370 m/s) 426 ft⋅lbf (578 J) 115 (7.45 g) Buffalo JHP +P 1,450 ft/s (440 m/s) 537 ft⋅lbf (728 J) 147 (9.53 g) Double Tap FMJ FP 1,225 ft/s (373 m/s) 490 ft⋅lbf (660 J) 130 (8.42 g) Remington UMC 1,215 ft/s (370 m/s) 426 ft⋅lbf (578 J) 124 (8.04 g) Ruag FMJ 1,411 ft/s (430 m/s) 546 ft⋅lbf (740 J)
Test barrel length: 5 in (130 mm) Source(s): 38 Super Ballistics Chart[1]

The .38 Super, also known as .38 Super Auto, .38 Super Automatic, .38 Super Automatic +P (High Pressure Variant), .38 Super +P (High Pressure Variant), or 9×23mmSR,^[2] is a pistol cartridge that fires a 0.356-inch-diameter (9.04 mm) bullet. It was introduced in the late 1920s as a higher pressure loading of the .38 ACP, also known as .38 Auto. The older .38 ACP cartridge propels a 130-grain (8.4 g) bullet at 1,050 ft/s (320.0 m/s), whereas the .38 Super pushes the same bullet at 1,280 ft/s (390.1 m/s).^[3] The .38 Super has gained distinction as the caliber of choice for many top practical shooting competitors; it remains one of the dominant calibers in IPSC competition.^[4]