Converting 1911 to .38 Super Question

I don't recall the vendor, but at Perry someone was selling a slide and barrel to convert a 1911 .45 ACP to a .38 Super.  My question is: What modifications are needed other than the slide and barrel to convert a 1911 to .38 Super? Not looking for a bullseye quality .38 Super.

You need 38 super magazines. I recently converted two 1911's to 38 super. A 40 S&W and a 9mm. All that I had to do on those two was change the barrel. (and get magazines)

Len

Need to change ejector, use .38 super slide stop pin.
Jon

And if you are going to shoot 38 super, you will probably want/need a ramped barrel for case-head support. If your 1911 lower is a standard one, that means machining it for the barrel/ramp that you choose.

-Ron

LenV wrote:You need 38 super magazines. I recently converted two 1911's to 38 super. A 40 S&W and a 9mm. All that I had to do on those two was change the barrel. (and get magazines)

Len

Len, mind telling me where you got the barrels and magazines. PM me you like.

Easy answer. I am an E-bay stalker. I put 38 super w/nowlin ramp on my watch for list. I waited a long time and a Storm Lake (new) showed up for a great price. Then another barrel (manufacturer ??) showed up and I grabbed it also. There are a lot of sources for 38 super mags. They are still making them. I use Wilson. Remember I started with a 40 cal and a 9mm. Both of those pistols have the correct slide stop and are W/N ramped. More info here https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t5323-converting-a-9mm-ro-to-a-38-super?highlight=38+super

Len
Storm Lake in Kimber, Unknown in RO. I suspect it might be a Fusion barrel.

Much easier to convert a 9mm to 38 Super than a 45ACP.

Here's my "Two for One" Colt project that Greg Derr, Derr Precision completed for me.  I bought the package of a 1952 circa Colt Government Model .45 with a spare .38 Super top end including an ejector.  When I bought this package the .45 was chrome plated and the .38 Super nickel plated.  Greg's first task was to have the gun and slides stripped to bare metal, then to blue them and make them mechanically sound.

To change from .45 acp to .38 Super one needed to remove the slide and barrel; drift the ejector pin out, change ejectors, and install the other caliber's slide and barrel assembly.  Greg simplified this procedure by making a much tighter fit of slide to frame; no pin required when changing the ejector.

As many of you know, Greg is an awesome shooter; but his gun smith skills are also on the same par with his shooting ability!

Nice ,

Only need a supported barrel if you're shooting hot loads, like USPSA major loads. If you're shooting bullseye mouse fart loads, you shouldn't need a supported barrel. 
Slide (and internals...it uses a smaller diameter firing pin and different extractor)
barrel
ejector
mags
adjust recoil spring to load.

mpolans - I should have replied sooner - the .38 Super upper is all .38 Super.

agree with mpolans.. a standard ramp works just fine if you are shooting BE loads... feeds perfectly too

we have both  Kart and KKM barreled supers and neither has bulged cases.

The wilson 9mm mags just needed the back spacer remove to accomodate the longer super cartridge.

The Sig barrels ($40+) seem to be working well....

AllAces wrote:

LenV wrote:You need 38 super magazines. I recently converted two 1911's to 38 super. A 40 S&W and a 9mm. All that I had to do on those two was change the barrel. (and get magazines)

Len

Len, mind telling me where you got the barrels and magazines. PM me you like.

I've got a bunch of extra 38 super magazines if you're in the market.

Do you have any pictures of the 38 super mags your wanting to sell? What brand are they and how much would you be asking?
Thanks Jake