Hi, Joe---
I posted a similar question a year or so back (it's now on page 4 of The Venerable 1911, ".38 Super vs. 9MM") and got good feedback. Without getting into caliber-war issues, I think your basic contention is correct, that a hot nine performs as well as or better than the generally available .38 Super factory load, 115 or 125-grain JHP. There is, however, the Winchester Super-X FMJ at 130 grains, which is a very good range round with a MV of about 1300 FPS. I was also happy with the Georgia Arms 147-grain round (ca. 1200 FPS), no longer made, but you could hot-load the cartridge yourself to higher pressures than factory ammo, which might persuade you the .38 Super was worth it. I happen to like the .38 Super a lot, but I admit it's a sentimental choice, and not necessarily a practical one. Take a look at the other thread, in The Venerable 1911, which also includes a link to the relative performance of both rounds, which appears about equivalent. (I might add that the reason I like the Super, for a range gun, and I'm repeating myself from another thread, is that the .38 Super in an alloy-frame gun has the same felt recoil as the .45 in steel. I put 100 rounds or so through the alloy gun, which is harder to control than a heavier weapon, and I find I can shoot a lot better afterwards with the .45 stainless.)
All the best, David
I posted a similar question a year or so back (it's now on page 4 of The Venerable 1911, ".38 Super vs. 9MM") and got good feedback. Without getting into caliber-war issues, I think your basic contention is correct, that a hot nine performs as well as or better than the generally available .38 Super factory load, 115 or 125-grain JHP. There is, however, the Winchester Super-X FMJ at 130 grains, which is a very good range round with a MV of about 1300 FPS. I was also happy with the Georgia Arms 147-grain round (ca. 1200 FPS), no longer made, but you could hot-load the cartridge yourself to higher pressures than factory ammo, which might persuade you the .38 Super was worth it. I happen to like the .38 Super a lot, but I admit it's a sentimental choice, and not necessarily a practical one. Take a look at the other thread, in The Venerable 1911, which also includes a link to the relative performance of both rounds, which appears about equivalent. (I might add that the reason I like the Super, for a range gun, and I'm repeating myself from another thread, is that the .38 Super in an alloy-frame gun has the same felt recoil as the .45 in steel. I put 100 rounds or so through the alloy gun, which is harder to control than a heavier weapon, and I find I can shoot a lot better afterwards with the .45 stainless.)
All the best, David