Semi auto .38 / .38 super

[Novice shot]

Has anyone come across any mfg that makes a semi auto that will accept both .38 and .38 super? I know there's a .900 difference in the casing and the .38 is rimmed. The extractor and firing pin are also a big factor is this design. Some .357 will shoot both with no cycling issues but that is only in revolvers and could be a bit sketchy as well for which I am not willing to take a risk to just for plinking.

Just looking for something new and rare to shoot.

[spqrzilla]

Are you talking .38 Special or .38 Auto?

No one makes a semi auto that takes both .38 Special and .38 Super.

Its a pretty silly thing to do. .38 Special never worked very well in semiautos which is why the AMU came up with the rimless version called the .38 AMU. The 1911's that fired .38 Special were all gunsmith custom jobs and finicky as hell.

[Novice shot]

I was referring to the .38 special. After researching and I found custom jobs for this would be costly just to shoot modestly.

[SideShow Bob]

Coonan makes a 1911 type semi-auto in .357 magnum...... Yes, revolver rimmed case. That would be a kick azz pistol..........

[Hoser]

Has anyone come across any mfg that makes a semi auto that will accept both .38 and .38 super? I know there's a .900 difference in the casing and the .38 is rimmed. The extractor and firing pin are also a big factor is this design. Some .357 will shoot both with no cycling issues but that is only in revolvers and could be a bit sketchy as well for which I am not willing to take a risk to just for plinking.

Just looking for something new and rare to shoot.

Both Special and Super in a semi auto? You cant get there from here. Very different case designs.

The 1911s that shot the 38 Special were rare and used cobbled together frankenmags. They did not run well for the most part.

The Coonan is cool, but they dont like to run on anything other than pretty much full power ammo.

If you want to shoot both, the closest you are going to get is a moonclipped revolver.

[spqrzilla]

I know some people who swear by the Coogan's but my impression was that the people who shot less liked them more than the people who shot them more ...

[Novice shot]

I'll have to research the Coogan's. I was more thinking of a barrel and mag change out to accommodate both .38's designs. If I was a machinist and had a little time on my hand, it would be a nice piece to talk about at the range.

[spqrzilla]

Its far far more than a magazine and barrel change out. Just making a semi-auto work around the rimmed .38 Spec is a difficult enough engineering problem.