38spl or 38 super

I am thinking about 1911 for center fire what are pros and cons 38spl vs 38 super

pro I already load for 38spl ( question does the 1911 38spl use same load requirement as S&W 52)

The 38 Super can be made with new parts, Barrels, magazines, slides etc and the 38 spl can't be. You can turn just about any 1911 40 cal or 9mm into a Super but a gunsmith has to make the Special from scratch. Unless you want a 52 or stalk this forum or Gunbroker. There are some 1911 38 special that show up once in awhile. As far as performance...I have both.

LenV thanks for info, if you had a SA 9mm and would you have to by a new slide or just barrel and bushing and magazines and have it installed by bullseye smith?
Richard

Had Eulette change my 9mm over to. 38Super.

Kart barrel, EGW bushing, .200 slide stop, barrel link, and some working over of the breech face due to the .38Super semi-rim. If you stick with. 38Super-comp brass then the 9mm breech face should work fine.

Richard, I actually converted two different pistols to a 38 Super, I used a Kimber GMII in 40 cal for one and a Springfield RO in 9mm for the other. I am not a gunsmith but just by swapping barrels, finding the right bushing and getting some magazines I was able to get both of them to shoot very nice groups. It is important to use 38 Super Comp brass in the 9 but any of it runs in the 40 cal. A gunsmith could make it a tack driver for you. My creations. I swapped the 6 " barrel out of the Kimber last month and dropped a $58.00 Sig barrel into it. 25yd results below. I kept the RO legal for EIC.

Len, ok I might be able to do it I did put a KART exact fit barrel in my colt 45acp last year and so far it works good and did tighten up my groups.

Sc0, thanks I might try that my self, better contact Eulett to see what he would charge!

Richard

The sig barrel is a cheap alternative to play around with the .38 super.

LenV wrote:...It is important to use 38 Super Comp brass in the 9 but any of it runs in the 40 cal. ...

Can you elaborate on this point, please? I understand 38 Super Comp is rimless.

I THINK that the 38 super has a rim that would interfere with the breach face & extractor on the 9mm slide, but not an issue with the super comp

SonOfAGun wrote:

LenV wrote:...It is important to use 38 Super Comp brass in the 9 but any of it runs in the 40 cal. ...

Can you elaborate on this point, please? I understand 38 Super Comp is rimless.

 You are correct. The 38 Super Comp brass is mostly rimless. It does have a small rim that sticks out past the case. The rim is small enough that it will rum flawlessly in a 1911 that was designed for 9mm. I should note that not all 9mm were created equal. There are some like the RO 9mm that will also handle regular 38 Super brass. I bought some +p brass and ran it in my RO and it works great. Not all 9mm will handle it without opening up the breech face a little. It is easy to test. With the slide removed test to see if the brass will slide up behind the extractor. Since the 40 cal is quite a bit larger any of the Super brass works. Since were talking conversions I should mention that the 40 S&W has to be my favorite "Mr Potato Head" gun. All you have to do is change magazine and barrels and you can have. 40S&W, 10mm, 357sig, 38 Super and 9mm.   

Len