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Which round would put less wear and tear on a 50's Colt LW commander frame, 38super, loaded to factory specs, or 45ACP? Assuming about 2 to 3,000 rounds a year.
...................Walt

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I don't wear horsehide leather, my horse won't put up with it!

I don't own a 38 Super, but I think it is a higher pressure cartridge than 45 ACP. If your shooting 2-3000 rounds, I don't think you'd want to put it through your 50's vintage LW Colt. Aluminum frames don't have as long a service life as steel frames, and Colt LW frames are getting harder and harder to come by...

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Ted

This is some dated, and I repeat dated, information but when I started with IPSC (member number L-120X) and all of the comp guns were not invented our 38 Super shooters used to wear barrels out pretty regular with the powder available in the mid 1980's. On occasion and I saw this twice there was a crack in the aluminum frame of the two fellow's who had lightweights as the others had steel frames. The crack was in the dust cover portion of the frame. Again this is dated and at least twenty some years ago.

I am certain frames and the grades of metal have been upgraded since than.

Hope this helps a little.

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Be safe and keep the brass flying

Terry Peters

Do your research but you get what you pay for front end or back end
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The 38 Super barrels back then were going bye bye because they loaded hot loads with very light jacketed bullets to make the 175,000 power factor. I did just the opposite, and shot heavy lead bullets to make it. My barrels never have shown any sign of wear as of today. I like to shoot the bullets I cast, size , and lube myself.

The wrong box of hollow point bullets will destroy an aluminum lower end qiuck. The LW Lowers now are nowhere near as good as the ones that used Alcoa Aluminum when they first came out. I have seen some Colt Cracked Lowers through the years, but we just drilled a tiny hole and stopped the crack froim getting bigger, and shot them to death! These were not a LW Lowers, either.

I agree with the guys that have shot 1000's of rounds through these guns without any problems whatsoever. Chuck Taylor is one of them. I have a personal friend that has an old purple one that has about 100,000 rounds through it. He has had it since they first came out in the early '50's

If I was concered, I would have a LTW smith install a ramped barrel or do a steel insert in the lower end. It is a fairlly inexpensive way to eliminate your concern.

I'd have to throw in w/ Ted T on this one. Why not pick up a steel gun for range work, & if you must, reserve the golden oldie for carry & occasional exercise at the range?

Never owned a 38 Super, but a dedicated target load (Bullseye / 200LSWC in .45) would put minimal stress on Roscoe...

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Regards - GCF

"Sometimes you make eight - Sometimes you hit dirt"

Similar, but different question.

What about the titanium frames (Caspian) with .38Super or 10mm and their durability? Do these offer a nice comprimise if building on your own of lightweight and strength?

Thanks!

I asked Chuck about this a while back. The crack in the dust cover just in front of where the recoil sping guide rests, is normally caused by the slide returning to battery and impacting the top of the dust cover. Over time, with heavy springs used for hot loads, the battering can cause a crack. To alleviate this, Chuck relives some space on the dust cover, so you sort of have a "Glock" gap between the slide and the dust cover (not as drastic, though). That way, when the slide returns to battery, it does not impact the frame.

CORRECT ME IF I AM WRONG, CHUCK (or any other 'smith). I may be mistaken.

Anyway, I've not fired enough rounds to make my own conclusion, so what I say is not personal exprience, but worth considering.

Lenny

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Show 'em where you live....