9mm LUGER Spanish Destroyer Carbine?

Until the Angels Fall

Until the Angels Fall

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I am looking at (if I can find one) getting a Spanish Destroyer carbine converted into 9mm Luger But I have a few questions and concerns.

1) I know the earlier models were quite poor quailtly so I want a "newer" one but is it harder to find? And when did the upgrade in standards and quaility start?
2) Is it being convereted in 9mm Luger make it more or less expensive?
3)Is there any after market mags that hold more then 6 rounds?
4)Where is the best place to look for one? :p

Thoughts?

Thanks, UTAF
 
Until the Angels Fall said:
I am looking at (if I can find one) getting a Spanish Destroyer carbine converted into 9mm Luger But I have a few questions and concerns.

1) I know the earlier models were quite poor quailtly so I want a "newer" one but is it harder to find? And when did the upgrade in standards and quaility start?

I dunno....:redface:....

2) Is it being convereted in 9mm Luger make it more or less expensive?

Depends on the initial quality, and to who you'd possibly re-sell....:yingyang:

3)Is there any after market mags that hold more then 6 rounds?

I assume you can have someone work on a magazine fix for it (like adapting the mag-well to take 10-shot pistol magazines) while you are already converting it to 9mm Para.

4)Where is the best place to look for one? :p

E & E, gunshows (probably a decent bet there), etc.

Thoughts?

Thanks, UTAF
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Until they make a production 9mm Para bolt-action, you will probably be increasing the value of the Destroyer (in Canada) by converting it to 9mm Para......depends on the initial condition....:wave:
 
Personally, I don't think you increase the value of any milsurp by converting to another cartridge. If you're not worried about that, go for it.

There were a lot of destroyers that were converted to 9mmLuger, right after they came into the country. Castle Arms did dozens of them. You run into the odd one now at gun shows. It isn't a big job by any means and shouldn't be expensive, just a matter of setting back the barrel and head spacing. Might need to clean up the chamber and leade as well. Shouldn't cost more than $150 and at the same time, reduce the value of the rifle by the same amount.
I must agree though it is a good idea, with lots of advantages. I've been looking for a shot out one, to convert to 7.62x25. The TT 33 pistol mags will fit the magazine well.
 
Simple to file a slot in 1911 Colt magazines to fit the mag catch.Easy access to cheap ammo means more than any collectability on this one IMO.Too bad Marlin or someone didn't have the sense to make a BA that takes 1911 mags in 9mm,.40 +.45 with a 19 barrel and weaver top rail............Harold
 
mbogo3, the destroyer mags will feed 9mm Luger without problems, TEC also has spare mags for sale. .40 and .45 would also be nice conversions. It really is to bad that the 9mm Browning Long is so hard to come by. One thing I do is use 9x23 Win brass and reload, it seems to work fine but reloading can be a pitb when you just want to grab a box and go shooting.
 
In an annual Surplus Rifle magazine they have an in depth article on the Destroyer.9x23 brass and .38 Super data for reloads.If you have access to cheap 9mm luger why not convert it?Harold
 
I had mine converted to .38ACP. All it involved was to open the bolt face for the slightly larger rim The cases are just about identical.
Correction I meant I had it converted to use .38 super.
 
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Excuse my total ignorance, gentlemen, but was not the Destroyer built in 9mm LARGO?

9mm Browning Long is pretty short AND it is semi-rimless/semi-rimmed. It is a 9x18 based on the same brass as the .38 Super. I make 9mm Long out of Super for a friend.

LARGO is an entirely different kettle of fish. It is identical to the 9mm Bergmann-Bayard and is the designation for this cartridge in Spanish service. It has nothing at all to do with 9mm Para or 9mm Browning or any of the others. It is its OWN beast. I believe CCI makes the stuff but it is throwaway. However, there is NO problem making it up using 9x23 Winchester brass. 9x23W is 9x21 stretched out an extra 2mm which is 9x19 stretched out an extra 2mm. In other words, it is a perfect mimic for the unobtainable 9mm Largo casing, being only .002" short. As pointed out above, works fine.

It has more power than the Para, or equal powder at lower pressure levels... and it still is short enough to fit into those Tok magazines.

Advantages all the way around.

Why bother spending a pile of money, converting to something inferior. For LESS money, you can actually have something better!

Just my silly opinion, mind you.
 
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UAF, take it to a gunsmith and have the barrel set back. No more than a two hour charge. It's your rifle after all is said and done. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
 
Largo and Para both have .392" head diameter.

Quicker and cheaper to install a collar at the front of the chamber, then shoot Para. You can fish it out later on when you want more power at longer range and less pressure.

Just be sure you use a third-model Destroyer, the one with the twin locking-lugs. First model had NO lugs, just used the bolt-handle root: like a Cooey.
 
Set the barrel back.

Means they chop the back end off it.

SCREWS a perfectly-good milsurp and reduces the value to spare parts.

Chamber collar can be fished out, keeps the gun original.

Value will STAY up, even if it doesn't GO UP.

End of sermon.
 
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You're right on that smellie. I had one of those. I'll tell you though, that chamber collar doesn't come out easily. After a couple of hundred rounds, that thing is basically sweated in place. It is a decent alternative though and with quite a bit of work, redeemable.
 
If necessary, a chamber collar can be removed in several ways, including judicious use of a deep-freeze.

And there is the use of Cerrosafe or Cerrobend along with a ramrod.

If one were very careful, it could be brought out with a 3/8" tap and a simple jack to pull it out: cases are tapered just about enough to permit this.

Or ream the collar with a boring-bar until it is paper-thin and then crush and dig it out; it really isn't all that far inside.

In an absolute worst-case scenario, it can be reamed out with a chamber reamer. Still shouldn't take long, just so long as a lathe is available.

In my estimation, anything is preferable to wrecking the rifle permanently. I have a rackful of permanently-wrecked rifles now. The world doesn't need any more. I am sure that a lot of collectors will agree.
 
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Tried all of the above, ended up using a chamber reamer. Several days and attempts to get it done but in the end, it did come out. It isn't something a novice should attempt or for that matter, some gunsmiths out there.
 
But you did get it out in the end and you didn't screw up yet another fine old gun.

I'm happy and I do hope that you're proud.

Thanks.
 
I am sorry but I don't see the point in owning a rifle for it just just sit there and look pretty and not be used.....I want it chambered in 9mm luger so it can be used. I do not want to pay a high price for rare, old ammo.
 
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