How Is the 38 Super vs. 9mm?

Maybe the Best Gifts Ever

Todd, I have enjoyed reading your fine magazine for several years. I recently was bequeathed two fine semi-automatics from the widow of a good friend who wanted me to have them. Both are chambered in 38 Super. One is a Wilson Combat version; the other is an Ed Brown version. Both are fine guns that had very few rounds through them.

Looking for info on the 38 Super, I went to my collection of your December issues (I have about 10 of them) and found an article in your July 2022 edition that covered the comparison of the 30 Super Carry against the 9mm and the 380 ACP. In that comparison, using M&P Shield pistols of the three calibers, the 9mm was your selection of gun and load.

I was wondering what the comparisons would be today with the 38 Super versus the 9mm and the 45 ACP. There are some charts that show ballistics info, but I think your crew could ring out the total differences.

I just wish that the two pistols I have could carry more rounds than they do. They are soft shooting and very accurate. Please keep up the great work and your updates on the laws and safety issues. 

— Old Colonel

Hey Colonel: I can’t imagine a nicer gift than the two top-level 1911-style pistols. Don’t worry about the 38 Supers versus the 9mm Luger or the 45. If you visualize the available Super loads versus the available 9mm loads, the Supers will cover the 9mms and have about a 5% to 10% edge in velocity. So for power, many 38 Super loads will be better than most 9mm +P or +P+ loads with the same bullets. Capacities will be equal in most pistols. Compared to the 45 ACP, the Super will have an edge in most pistol capacities. Depending on the bullet, the Super will do any work the 45 will do in a self-defense situation. For more in-depth coverage, go to the Ammunition header on the Gun-Tests.com website and click the article, “Gun Tests Ammunition Comparisons (2005-2024)” and look for 9mm articles in May 2023, November 2018, and other months, and 38 Super in November 2017. In the October 2014 issue, we compared 9mm versus 45 ammo.

In the January 2013 issue, we compared alternate 1911 cartridges and loads, in particular the 9mm and 38 Super. The conclusion to that piece was, “For recreation, the 9mm is the hands-down winner based on economy and ease of shooting. Some of the loads are acceptable for personal defense, and the pistols are very controllable. However, the Super has an advantage over the 9mm, and this advantage should be used for personal defense. The Super is just as controllable as the 9mm in trained hands. As an example, the mildest load tested in the Super, the Winchester Silvertip, offers excellent ballistics. Expansion is good and penetration adequate, yet the cartridge is very mild to fire in the 1911 platform. Move up to the Cor-Bon 125-grain JHP, and you handily outstrip any 9mm loading.” The overwhelming edge the 9mm Luger has is load availability and price. But just find a 38 Super load your pistols like, buy a bunch, and enjoy.

— Todd Woodard

Re “21 Sharp Evaluation: We’re Not Impressed with the Round,”

May 2025

I read with interest your review of the 21 Sharp. The failures to eject especially caught my attention. 

I have a Savage 110 in 338 Lapua. Out of the box, it failed to eject. I had to drive out the cases, same as you. I returned the gun to Savage for repair. They polished the bore and returned it. I know they polished the bore because there was polishing compound all over the gun. It still failed to eject. Had to drive out each shot with a cleaning rod. Returned it to Savage, again. They returned it and said there is nothing wrong with it. So my choices are to sell it (passing the problem along), relegate it to safe queen, or repair it. I chose the last one. I rebarreled it with a McGowan barrel. While I was at it, I replaced the trigger with a Timney (my personal favorite), and restocked it with a Magpul. The stock wasn’t bad, but the Magpul is better. Now it shoots extremely well. I only had to pay for it twice, and put up with a lot of frustration. Perhaps the problem is Savage, not the cartridge. — Tom

Hey Tom, you may be right. But at the time of the test, only Savage was chambering the 21 Savage. But once more guns come out in the new round, we’ll compare two or three and see if the problem is resolved. — tw

How About the S&W 329PD 44 Magnum?

Have you and the Gun Tests team ever tested or compared a S&W 329PD 44 Magnum to other 44s? I live in an area where black bear roam, and I have come close to walking into them on numerous occasions. Either it was lake or river shore fishing, throwing out the garbage, or walking the dogs. I live in a wooded area, so it’s not uncommon to run into them. Luckily, no altercations have occurred, but I do carry a S&W 329PD, and I am very happy with it. I’m just curious because I’ve been reading articles lately about 44 Magnum wheelguns. It’s nice to know where I stand carrying this handgun against the competition. — Michael

Hey Michael: Yes, we tested a Smith & Wesson 329PD Alaska Backpacker IV in the November 2014 issue, “Big-Bore Snubnose Revolvers in 44 Magnum and 41 Magnum.” The specific model was an S&W Performance Center Model 629-6 170135 44 Magnum, $1079. Of it we wrote, “The 629-6 is serious steel to carry concealed, and testers thought it had the features to make a good, but big, concealed-carry revolver. All agreed they would carry 44 Magnum loads if they carried the revolver. They liked that with all of the 44 Magnum revolvers, there is a variety of ammo to choose from. The ability to run 44 Special in the 44 Magnums was a plus. This would make a good defense weapon for dangerous game, as well as against wolves of the four-leg and two-leg variety.” We gave it an A- grade. In that particular test, we liked a S&W Performance Center Model 629-8 44 Magnum better, giving it an A grade. However, “The 629-8 was a serviceable concealed carry big bore, but finding one may be difficult since it is no longer produced. The porting, longer sight radius, and lower sights exclusive to this model, along with the other features that were on some of the other models (trigger stop, grip, trigger pull, chamfered chambers) made this revolver a better choice for our shooters to carry concealed.” 

We also tested a 329PD in the January 2004 issue and recommended it there, but we preferred shooting it with 44 Specials. — tw