1911 Caliber Conversion 38 Super to 9mm

[HCM]

Other than having a new barrel / bushing fitted and magazines what is required to convert a 1911 in .38 Super to 9mm ?

i have a Colt Combat Commander in .38 Super which does not see as much use as it should due to ammo costs.

I seem to recall some talk here that the 4 1/4" guns run a bit better than the 5" in 9mm ?

[BLR]

Check the extractor tension.



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[Little Creek]

Might need a reduced power recoil spring.

[Jim Watson]

You might or might not have to adjust or replace the extractor. I am one for two on that.

I doubt you will need to change the recoil spring, the current crop of Supers is not much different from a hot 9mm.

SOME Super magazines will feed 9mm. The Colt type probably not, but the Metalform 9 round 38 mag with round follower is better than many dedicated 9mm magazines. Give yours a try.

[ACP230]

What's involved in adding .38 Super capability to a 9mm Commander?
I have been thinking about trying to do that.

[HCM]

I have some wilson ETM 9mm mags, just trying to decide if barrel / bushing / recoil spring is the way to go or do I need a whole slide assembly.

Re checking extractor tension - are the proper extractor tensions for 38 Super and 9mm different ?

[Jim Watson]

HCM,

I see no need for a slide. I have had two .38/9mm combos differing only in the barrel.

The extractor may or may not have to be changed or adjusted. .38 Super is semirimmed, 9mm P is rimless with different diameters and therefore different tension.

ACP230

Same thing in the opposite direction. Put in a Super barrel. You WILL have to buy magazines. You might have to tinker with the extractor. You might have to change or modify the ejector. My Colt 9mm had a very long ejector. It broke and I replaced it with a Super ejector which works fine.

[Tamara]

I, on the other hand, am all of a sudden thinking about shopping for a ramped .38 Super/9x23 barrel for my 9x19 Painted Ordnance... :confused:

[ToddG]

I, on the other hand, am all of a sudden thinking about shopping for a ramped .38 Super/9x23 barrel for my 9x19 Painted Ordnance... :confused:

People, please. Stop saying things like this. I already checked out the going price on 9x23 brass and 9mm bullets. Luckily I've begun spending a lot of my practice time at an outdoor range where brass pickup would be much harder than at the NRA Range so I have that solid disincentive. But seriously, you guys are killin' me...

[PPGMD]

People, please. Stop saying things like this. I already checked out the going price on 9x23 brass and 9mm bullets. Luckily I've begun spending a lot of my practice time at an outdoor range where brass pickup would be much harder than at the NRA Range so I have that solid disincentive. But seriously, you guys are killin' me...

*cough*
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/413400/ced-brass-mat-pvc-webbing-black

and
http://www.amazon.com/Carex-Inch-Grabber-Reaching-Aid/dp/B000AEGCW6

or
http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1310

*evil grin*

Dooo ittt! Get a 38stup... errr super 1911.

[farscott]

I have been shooting 9x23 Winchester out of a Series '80 Colt massaged by John Harrison since 2003. Some things to consider:

1) The brass can be hard to purchase. Winchester seems to do runs of it so it comes and goes. It is easier (or was until recently) to buy a case of the WWB load and reload the once-fired brass. I lose more brass because I cannot find it that I wear out from repeated loadings. Some of it has been reloaded six times. Only use the Winchester 9x23 brass for 9x23 loads as the Starline stuff is not as capable of handling the pressures.

2) The brass is "hell for stout" and can support some speedy loads. Some of my loads are well into .357 Magnum territory including a 147-grain at 1450 fps. Small rifle primers are the way to go with 9x23.

3) 9x23 feeds a heck of a lot better than 9x19 in a 1911. I usually use Colt .38 Super magazines and have had no issues.

4) You get "gun geek" points for a round no one knows anything about -- but shooting it indoors is not pleasant for anyone.

[Tamara]

I already checked out the going price on 9x23 brass and 9mm bullets.

Dude, that's reloading talk. I could maybe email the NOVA guys and get them to stage an intervention? ;)

[BLR]

Dude, that's reloading talk. I could maybe email the NOVA guys and get them to stage an intervention? ;)

Wait till we start having threads about which barrels are most accurate. Then we'll argue about the Clark vs Wilson ramps. Then it's a short drive to arguing about 9x23 vs 38TJ vs Super Comp.

Entropy of forums. :)

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[ToddG]

Dude, that's reloading talk.

How else would you do a 50,000 round test of a 9x23 without selling internal organs to finance ammo purchase?

[farscott]

Wow, 50,000 rounds of 9x23. That is going to be an experience. The recoil and muzzle blast of 9x23 are much more noticeable than 9x19. Fatigue is noticeable for me after less than fifty full-power rounds in a given range session.

In ten years of shooting 9x23, I probably only have fired 5000 rounds. Lots of that was getting ready for deer season in 2008 and 2009.

[JAD]

He could always thread the barrel and run a suppressor for practice.

This just keeps getting cheaper.