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I have 2 Colt 38 supers and I am wanting to have one customized. I have a 1965 Government model 38 super that was refinished by Colt. It looks great but is not original so I am not too worried about altering it. I have an enhanced series 80 Government in 38 super in near new condition. So loose it sounds like a sack of quarters when you shake it. Any suggestions on which on to spruce up?

Second, I just picked up a BHP 9 that I was told is a MKII. SN prefix 245, late model factory ambis, round top (no rib) Sn on front grip strap. Made in Belgium assem. Portugal. My question is how do you tell a MKII from a MK III?

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

as for the hi power, the 245 prefix should have been built in 1994 (going off my memory thats not always accurate) which would make it a mkIII with a cast frame (ribs on bottom of grip frame), and it will have a firing pin safety in the slide. if im correct, you have an excellent pistol.

Hello. Yes, sounds like a Mk III rather than a Mk II. If the front sight is affixed with a dovetail it is a Mk III. The Mk III is usually found with fixed sights. It will have the extended ambidextrous thumb safeties and a spur hammer as well as the magazine disconnect. The ejection port is larger than on the classic Hi Powers and the Mk II and shaped a bit more like that of the 1911.

Best.

PS: If interested, here is some information concerning differences between the Mk II and Mk III versions:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/Diff ... dMkIII.htm

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Please drop by http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com

Thanks. It is a MKIII. The owner emailed me with very bad pics saying it was a MKII. I traded him a NIB FNP9 for it and when it arrived it looked just like my FNHP 40 so I was a bit confused. Shoots good. May be a custom candidate when I get the rest of my projects paid for.

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

Gary, Be aware that the older Super you have will need to be re-barreled in order to get decent accuracy, as Colt never properly chambered their 38 Super barrels until about 1990 or so. They should have been chambered on the case mouth, as is the norm, but Colt used the semi-rim portion of the case to locate the round, and poor accuracy was nearly always the result. I'm sure that the vintage gun may have more collector value eventually (the fact that it was refinished at the factory may negate any criticisms), and the enhanced gun can be tightened up. If one of your aims was a match barrel on your up-grade, then it's going to be a matter of a slightly increased bit of work to tighten up the later gun. Also, there's the matter of the rib on the slide - some like them some don't. They can be removed if so desired. Best,

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

thanks Don. If I go match bbl what do you think of 9x23 vs super? I am not a fan of the rib as it is from Colt. Needs an artists touch to make it pleasing to the eye. You will probably see this one when the FNHP 40 is paid for.

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Gary Eastridge
http://www.randgfirearms.com

Gary, I think the 9x23 is going to be one of those calibers with a smaller following. When Colt/Springfield brought it out a few years ago to a lot of media hoo-rah, perhaps they though it would be a big seller. Turns out there didn't seem to be much interest, and it was dropped after a short run. The 9x23 seems to be a much hotter cartridge than the Super, with the required thicker brass and is truly of the rimless variety vs. the semi-rim of the Super. The stock recoil spring on the Super in a 5" gun is 14# vs. the 20# in the 9x23, so the velocity and pressure is up there. The only drawback I could see to the 9x23 would be the limited variety of factory ammunition available. Otherwise, it seems to be an accurate cartridge with enough "juice" to make it a good self defense caliber if desired. Hope this helps, By the way, the stainless Colt that Steve Bailey posted some pics of in this section shows what you can do if you want to remove the rib. This one had the rib cut off, and then was flattened and serrated.

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Don Williams
http://www.theactionworks.com
http://www.ltwguns.com

I had a NIB Colt 38 super that i sent to Scott Mulkerin a couple of years ago witha 9x23 bar sto and a long list. the gun shoots like a dream both 9x23 and 38 super, the 9x23 registers 1450 fps while the 38 super does 1200 (all factory ammo)
I am running an 18.5 pound recoil spring and a 19 main with an AFTEC extractor, gun has been 100% reliable with 9x23 and 38 super

here are before and after pictures

For my own money the 9X23 is the way to go but the lack of tested data combined with rifle level pressures is a constant pain. (I've got a keg of WAP and quite a bit of Nobel SP2 on Mr. Burns advice -I'd love to see manufacturer tested data with new bullets).

I'd say the 9X23 is the only way to make 9mm major on the street - as I get older and have more pain in my hands that seems a worthy goal - but if you have any doubt don't.

If the .38 Super will do you take it and run.