Thinking about a 1911 in 38 super.

[Seismic Sam]

ok Sam or anyone else whos paying attention, how bout this. I buy a Springfield loaded target stainless in 9mm (or just a loaded). its a sharp looking gun. i take the 9mm Bbl and get it machined to run 38 super. will that work out or are there hidden problems behind this? besides the slide will lie and say 9mm when its a super. maybe i can just call springfield and ask them to build me a loaded stainless in super. hopefully wont be too expensive. anybody ever do any of this?

Sorry, doubt that would work because the MAGS and probably the magwell will both be too short to go from 9x19 to 9x23. Maybe there's enough slop in a 9mm mag to pull this off, but I kind of doubt it. At the very least, I would call Al up and see if he doesn't have a Parkerized or hard chrome 1911 38 Super in his stock that you could at least look at..

[user293]

allrighty ill try that

[user293]

ok Sam or anyone else whos paying attention, how bout this. I buy a Springfield loaded target stainless in 9mm (or just a loaded). its a sharp looking gun. i take the 9mm Bbl and get it machined to run 38 super. will that work out or are there hidden problems behind this? besides the slide will lie and say 9mm when its a super. maybe i can just call springfield and ask them to build me a loaded stainless in super. hopefully wont be too expensive. anybody ever do any of this?

Sorry, doubt that would work because the MAGS and probably the magwell will both be too short to go from 9x19 to 9x23. Maybe there's enough slop in a 9mm mag to pull this off, but I kind of doubt it. At the very least, I would call Al up and see if he doesn't have a Parkerized or hard chrome 1911 38 Super in his stock that you could at least look at..

the reason i mentioned this in the first place is that a guy did this on another forum with the springfield 9mm, and he said when he changes caliber from 9mm to 38 super (he bought another 9mm bbl and made it run super and fitted it to the gun) all he has to do is switch bbl, and mags and boom 38 super. no other changes it said in his post. so it got me wondering

[crbutler]

I can't say about the Springfield, but the Colt and the Kimber are the same frame regardless of caliber.
I have a 9mm/38 super and a 9mm/38 super/9x23 from the factory from colt. It was just a barrel swap that came in the kit. The biggest issue was getting mags that ran all of the above smoothly.

The mags may be iffy, but the few that I have I just use the 38 super mags that feed 9mm OK. The "official" 9mm mags from STI have a metal insert for the mag to cut down the length (Like Sherwyn uses in his STI) but the external dimensions are the same as the .45.

To make the conversions work well you may have to have someone who knows what they are doing do a little tuning to get them absolutely reliable. FWIW, when I had Benny Hill fix mine, he did ask that I not use the 9mm barrels as a defensive piece as he had concerns about how consistently reliable it would be and "Since you have it in 9x23, that's a much better defensive round anyhow..."

When I used it in IDPA I did have some occasional FTF of the last round in the mag, and that was clearly a mag issue, but I just started using my STI in that game instead of playing more with getting the mag issues worked out. The 38 super never gave me any trouble at all. If anything, I've seen people in general have less issues with .38 super in a 1911 than I have seen with .45's in the same platform.

[user293]

Yea thats another thing ive heard about the 38 super in 1911s is they are fun, soft shooters and are reliable.

[user293]

I just talked to paul g, my gunsmith. Hes gonna build me a pistol in super for less than 1500. Think ill go with him. Thanks for everyones input.

[Seismic Sam]

one very large caution: 9x23 Winchester and 9x23 Supercomp are NOWHERE NEAR the same cases, and if you load hot 9x23 Winchester loads into 9x23 Supercomp brass you are asking for a very bad case blowout. 9x23 Winchester brass is NEARLY 25% heavier than 9x23 Supercomp brass, and most of that weight is in the base of the case. Also, for 9x23 Winchester loads, you use small rifle primers.

[Seismic Sam]

Oh. and the reloading dies you use for 9x23 Winchester are NOT 38 Super!! You use 9mm dies which are tapered, because the 9x23 Winchester is a tapered case. If you use 38 Super dies the resized case will have practically no neck tension. You might also want to tell the gunsmith that you want the barrel chambered for 9x23 Winchester, because it's very sligthly different than 38 Super. The powder of choice is VV 3N37, so don't bother with anything else. Read everything on the attached website, and you will learn a lot. And BTW, real 9x23 Winchester 1911's are a rarity and bring a premium price upon resale.

http://www.burnscustom.com/9x23.html

[user293]

im not going the 9x23 win or 9x23 supercomp or 9mm supercomp. its gonna be a 38 super and im probably gonna run 38 super factory ammo out of it. i can reload if need be, as i have 38 super dies but probably wont bother, unless i want it to shoot softer. plus id have to buy super brass, as my open gun brass is 38 supercomp and i dont wanna mix the **** up. 9x23 stuff is too expensive for my taste. it isnt really gonna be a comp gun either. its a baseline 38 super, made from Pauls top quaility parts. forged steel slide, STI frame, and KKM bullseye bbl. thats the story so far.

[Seismic Sam]

Well, just make sure the barrel allows the 38 Super brass to headspace on the case mouth and not the rim. Sounds like it's gonna be a classy gun!

[Snakeman721]

Well, I can pretty much guarantee that Al in Al's gun shop in WBL with have a couple of nickeled or chromed "El Jefe Supremes" in his case in 38 Super, so you can at least see one. Never been in there and NOT seen one of those 38 Super 1911's in there. Dunno why he always keeps them in stock, but he does, and knows a fair amount about their history. Actually, he knows a lot about 1911's period.

Any idea on the prices of those shiny beauties?? South of $2000??

[Seismic Sam]

Well, I can pretty much guarantee that Al in Al's gun shop in WBL with have a couple of nickeled or chromed "El Jefe Supremes" in his case in 38 Super, so you can at least see one. Never been in there and NOT seen one of those 38 Super 1911's in there. Dunno why he always keeps them in stock, but he does, and knows a fair amount about their history. Actually, he knows a lot about 1911's period.

Any idea on the prices of those shiny beauties?? South of $2000??

DEFINITELY South of $2000, but just as definitely above $1000. My gess is $1200-$1400. Call Al up and ask him what he's got.

[Snakeman721]

Well, I can pretty much guarantee that Al in Al's gun shop in WBL with have a couple of nickeled or chromed "El Jefe Supremes" in his case in 38 Super, so you can at least see one. Never been in there and NOT seen one of those 38 Super 1911's in there. Dunno why he always keeps them in stock, but he does, and knows a fair amount about their history. Actually, he knows a lot about 1911's period.

Any idea on the prices of those shiny beauties?? South of $2000??

DEFINITELY South of $2000, but just as definitely above $1000. My gess is $1200-$1400. Call Al up and ask him what he's got.

I just might have to do that. $1200-$1400 is what I've been seeing for the super shiny all stainless version with NO engraving. The "El Jeffe's" I've seen have all been over $2K...they have the gold inlays and fancy frosted engraving on top of the super shiny stainless. This is brand new-in-the-box of course.

[user293]

im not really a fan of the flashy gold engraving business. just not my style. I just like a plain basic 1911 with the few modern extras. everyones different though.

[rugersol]

Al used to stock the Colt Special Combats in .38 ... buddy of mine bought one a few years back. IIRC, he's got a 5in from the '50's, right now.

Good place to look 'round, anyhow.