1911 38 super to 38 specail conversion

bigdawg

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i have heard of guys getting this done in the US just wondering if anyone has heard anything about it i'm interested in converting one
 
Both Colt in Model 1911 and S&W in Model 52 had .38 special target pistols . They were for Bullseye centerfire target competition , in .38wadcutter only and I believe only held 5 rounds because the rims change the angle in the mag ( Colt tried to remedy this by making a rimless .38 special case called .38AMU). The Colt was straight blowback with no locking lugs on the barrel and used very light loads. Both were very accurate but I think European semiautos in .32 S&W long ,have replaced them as the gun of choice for competitors.
 
BEARMAN said:
Both Colt in Model 1911 and S&W in Model 52 had .38 special target pistols . They were for Bullseye centerfire target competition , in .38wadcutter only and I believe only held 5 rounds because the rims change the angle in the mag ( Colt tried to remedy this by making a rimless .38 special case called .38AMU). The Colt was straight blowback with no locking lugs on the barrel and used very light loads. Both were very accurate but I think European semiautos in .32 S&W long ,have replaced them as the gun of choice for competitors.


Quite true BUT the S&W model 52 was an awesome target pistol. Should have bought one back then, now, the price is high and the availability almost nill. I have shot a few and all were super accurate and reliable.
 
There was one of them for sale @ Sportec in Drummondville... looked interesting, but I wouldn't buy such a beast before first trying it out!

The M52's are still around, a friend recently picked one up for less then $700 (I think he did darn good!).

As for the 1911 in 38spl, I know of 3 (and no, the owners are not ready to sell them!). The chamber is full of little ring, to better grab the brass and delay the unlocking of the slide. It feels kind of odd to fire a 1911 that goes "puff" instead of "BANG" :D But they sure are nice to shoot. The best part is that you can still get new magazines for them... So I guess guys are still shooting them!
 
"...38 super to 38 specail(sic) conversion..." You'd be going from a rimless cartridge to a longer rimmed cartridge. You'd need another slide, barrel and mags. Wouldn't be cheap and you'd likely have no end of feeding issues due to the 3/10" OAL difference.
Oh and the .38 Super doesn't use .38 special bullets. It uses 9mm bullets.
 
sunray said:
"...Oh and the .38 Super doesn't use .38 special bullets. It uses 9mm bullets.


Not a whole lot of difference: (nominal bullet diameters)

9mm = .355"

38 Super = .356"

38 Spl = .357"


.... and an average human hair is roughly .004" thick...:eek:
 
1911 38 super to 38 special conversion

bigdawg said:
i have heard of guys getting this done in the US just wondering if anyone has heard anything about it i'm interested in converting one

Would cost lots of money for no gain in "performance".... for me just translates into a big waste of time & money.... why not just look for a Colt Gold Cup National Match already chambered in .38 Special and be done with it....

Heck there was one on the EE here for ages and no one seemed interested in buying it... dunno if it even eventually sold...
 
bigdawg said:
wow so what the real difference between the 38 super and 9mm?


A lot more muzzle energy in the .38 Super. In fact, most .38 Super loads have more muzzle energy than .45 ACP......:eek:
 
Sunray, When i was younger i built 2 38 full wadcutters. I used the same barrels and the same slides.It am sure clark and others done the same thing.To do otherwise would cost to much money.
 
210 said:
Sunray, When i was younger i built 2 38 full wadcutters. I used the same barrels and the same slides.It am sure clark and others done the same thing.To do otherwise would cost to much money.


If I remember correctly, Clark used .38 super barrels with the chamber reamed out and a new chamber insert brazed into place. The reason was the existing chamber was too fat.
 
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