![\"45](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/uploads\/45-acp-vs-38-super.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe .45 ACP and .38 Super are two powerful and effective cartridges that can be used for self-defense, hunting, and target shooting. To choose the right one for your needs, you should understand the prices, speeds, energies, and capacities for the 38 Super vs. 45 ACP.<\/p>\n
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The .45 ACP, for \u201cAutomatic Colt Pistol<\/a>,\u201d is one of the most powerful handgun cartridges currently available, despite that fact that it was released only a few years after the end of the nineteenth century. Created by legendary firearms designer John Browning, the cartridge was intended for the M1911 semiautomatic handgun<\/a>, which became an exceedingly popular option for military sidearms, as well as civilian use.<\/p>\n Thanks to long-range accuracy and power, .45 ACP ammo<\/a> became an excellent military cartridge. It produces a strong but manageable recoil, although compact handguns firing this round can be harder to control.<\/p>\n .45 ACP Quick Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Released: 1905 Also designed for use in the M1911 pistol, the .38 Super was made to be a high-speed version of the .38 ACP, and it has become a reliable option for hunting and self-defense, although it has experienced limited use compared to other handgun option.<\/p>\n 38 Super ammunition cartridges<\/a> distinguish themselves from other \u201c.38\u201d and \u201c.357\u201d rounds by their longer case. This case allows for more propellant to be loaded behind the projectile, creating greater velocity, straight-line trajectories, and superior ballistic energy. Because of its accuracy and speed, it is a popular choice for competition shooting.<\/p>\n .38 Super Quick Facts:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Released: 1929 There are very few of us who are not sensitive to ammunition costs. While some people\u2019s budgets are larger than others, practically everyone needs to know how much they will spend on cartridges when selecting a specific rifle, handgun, or shotgun.<\/p>\n While there are certainly lower-cost cartridges, neither is particularly expensive. That said, the .45 ACP tends to have lower prices, largely because there are more available options. When writing this article, the lowest per-round price for a .45 ACP was $0.24; the .38 Super was $0.38 per round.<\/p>\n You can find some .38 Super rounds that are less expensive than certain .45 ACP rounds, but across the board the .45 will be a bit more affordable.<\/p>\n Winner: .45 ACP<\/strong><\/p>\n Because the .38 Super was designed to be a fast, high-velocity cartridge, it generally logs speeds that are faster than the .45 ACP. In some cases, it logs faster muzzle velocities<\/a> than the .45.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Bullet Diameter: .451 inches
\n\u2022 Base Diameter: .476 inches
\n\u2022 Neck Diameter: .473 inches
\n\u2022 Case Length: .898 inches
\n\u2022 Overall Length: 1.275 inches
\n\u2022 Bullet Weights: 155 to 230 grains
\n\u2022 Designed specifically for semiautomatic pistols<\/p>\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/b\/c\/bc221b53c0a49feea788f48a09ea0e8a_4.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n $27.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n ![\"logo\"](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/themes\/atg\/assets\/img\/mc-logo-gray.svg\"){kind=logo}
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 50rds - 45 ACP Federal American Eagle 230gr. FMJ Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/2\/d\/2d6262c40d3a8d493e0d317461c87d30_7.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n $32.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 20rds - .45 ACP Hornady Critical Defense 185gr. HP Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/5\/0\/50247c5e407665448600f9ce80e89d1a_5.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n $25.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 50rds - 45 ACP Winchester USA 230gr. FMJ Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/e\/f\/efdef9d3ab5fc443423ea2dfa5bff76b_5.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n $254.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 500rds - 45 ACP Winchester USA 230gr. FMJ Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n ![\"left](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/themes\/atg\/assets\/img\/mc-arrow-left.svg\"){kind=icon}
\n <\/div>\n \n \n 1 <\/div>\n \n 2 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n ![\"right](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/themes\/atg\/assets\/img\/mc-arrow-right.svg\"){kind=icon}
\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\nGetting to Know the .38 Super<\/h3>\n
\n\u2022 Bullet Diameter: .356 inches
\n\u2022 Base Diameter: .385 inches
\n\u2022 Neck Diameter: .385 inches
\n\u2022 Case Length: .9 inches
\n\u2022 Overall Length 1.28 inches
\n\u2022 Designed specifically for semiautomatic pistols<\/p>\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n ![\"product\"](\"https:\/\/static-cdn.ammunitiontogo.com\/pimages\/image\/512x\/e0266470459c8672771a1cb2d1bebeb3\/9\/e\/9e5e3ba893a8a5edff11bffb501b8f5c.jpg\")
\n <\/div>\n \n \n $549.95 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n 1000rds \u2013 38 Super +P PMC Bronze 130gr. FMJ Ammo <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n <\/div>\n \n \n 1 <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\t \n<\/td> 45 ACP<\/th> 38 Super<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n\t Released<\/td> 1905<\/td> 1929<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Bullet Diameter<\/td> .451 inches<\/td> .356 inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Base Diameter<\/td> .476 inches<\/td> .385 inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Neck Diameter<\/td> .473 inches<\/td> .385 inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Case Length<\/td> .898 inches<\/td> .9 inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Overall Length<\/td> 1.275 inches<\/td> 1.28 inches<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n\t Typical Firearm<\/td> Semiauto Pistol<\/td> Semiauto Pistol<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n Ammo Price Comparison<\/h3>\n
![\"38](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/uploads\/ammo-cartridges-38-super-vs-45.jpg\")
<\/p>\n45 ACP vs. 38 Super: Velocity<\/h3>\n
![\"38](\"https:\/\/www.ammunitiontogo.com\/lodge\/wp-content\/uploads\/Ammo-boxes-38-super-vs-45-auto-for-range.jpg\")
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