38 Super is Super

GM,

I have an ATI 1911 in 9mm. It shoots well, but the shells were not ejecting strong. I have never had any issues with it and love the weight and feel of it.

I decided to convert it to 38 super as I had read that the changeover is fairly straightforward requiring only a barrel, spring, and magazine.

I purchased a barrel from SARCO (great barrels BTW) and a 16 # spring and magazine from Midway. Way back in the day, I mistakenly purchased 38 Super +p Aguila rounds thinking they were 38 special +p so I had a box of 50 ready to go.

I finally got everything put together (the barrel link took a bit of smoothing out after the install as well as expansion to keep it from locking up the slide) yesterday.

I took it to the range and took my first shots. Man, it is an awesome round. Not only that, it really changed the feel and function of the 1911. Plus the light show coming out of the 1911 is cool.

Now I can see why folks love this obscure round. The other interest in it is that it seems easier to reload. I reload 9mm just fine, but I have noticed that larger calibers are much easier to reload faster.

A few questions. I purchased the reloading dies and other parts easy enough. I then started looking 130 grain bullets. I found some Berry's bullets as well. I researched and read that using 124 grains (and saw some loads for 115 grain bullets on the Hodgdon site) is a good substitute. Would using 124gr FMJ 9mm bullets provide the same results as 130gr? For the shell plate, I plan on using the Hornady LnL 9mm shell plate, but I have a 380 shell plate as well. Will this work?

What Alliant powders are good candidates to use when putting together 130 gr 38 super +p loads? I have Power Pistol, Sport Pistol, BE 86 and Unique. Hodgdon on only lists HS-6, which I typically reserve for 40 S&W. I looked in the Alliant site and they only listed BE-86 for the 38 Super +p.

Last question. does anyone know where I can obtain 38 super cases? Diamond K Brass is the only site I've seen that has the cases, but they seem expensive as shipping gets added on to the end. I know some folks sell brass, and I have purchased brass on the forum, but I haven't seen 38 super cases advertised for sale on this site.

Overall, I am super happy that I converted the 9mm 1911 to 38 Super, it definitely makes the 1911 feel substantial (more so than 9mm).

TIA

CH

Howland937 said:

Lot of folks have reported that the Starline 38 Super Comp brass works well, especially with the 9mm extractor. I haven't had any issues using regular 38 Super brass in mine though and haven't touched the extractor. If I was looking for new brass, I'd check Starline first.

I've used Power Pistol with pretty good results (and impressive light show) but I've been loading a lot of AA7 lately. #8 shell plate is the correct one for 38 Super. I typically just buy 124gr .355 jacketed or plated for both 9mm and 38 Super.

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THX. Power Pistol is definitely a good powder for performance loads. It tends to be quite loud. The good thing is that I have a good supply of PP that I can use.

CoalCrackerAl said:

I ordered some 38 super brass from Sheels last year. I also picked up a bag at Cabela's. I run 124 grain of coated cast in mine. I don't load at plus p levels. I like sport pistol.

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THX. I have plenty of Sport Pistol. What FPS are your loads rated at with Sport Pistol?

CH

fxvr5 said:

Alliant has Unique and Bullseye data.

Hodgdon lists multiple powders, not just HS-6.

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THX. I looked and noticed that. I had to search by products. Odd that it only lists Hollow point data, good thing I have 124 HP bullets. I have Bullseye, it was the first powder I used when I went into the realm of reloading. Love it, but it's one of the dirtiest powders in Alliant's arsenal. I'll have to give Unique a try first. I tend to have a specific powder that I prefer for each caliber. WST is for 45acp, Sport Pistol for 9mm, HS-6 for 40 S&W, TG for 357 and 44 special. I know there are all sorts of recipes out there, but I find as I get older, I get more habitual in my preferences. Of course, in today's world of shortages, I may have to forego my habits and use what I have on hand. Good thing I have 1# of Unique available. By chance have you seen any recipe data for 38 Super (+p) using Sport Pistol? That's the one I have the most of. It's pretty versatile, meters well, and burns clean at the top level loads.

I'll have to post some pics of my firearm when I get off work. It's not as pretty and shiny as Bannockburns' but I like it (I'm a low roller, but I do have a Kimber). I'm thinking I'll be putting some new sights on the slide in the near future. I hate the GI sights. They function ok, but I much prefer the novak drift adjustable sights or the BOMAR rear sight.



CH

CDW4ME said:

Perhaps the OP would enhance this thread with pics.

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Here are a couple of pics. It's an ATI 9MM COMMANDER size.


CH

CoalCrackerAl said:

Here is mine.
View attachment 1051545

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Rock Island is the best in terms of 1911's made in the Phillipines. Sadly, they have gone up a tad in price. That's why I switched over to ATI. I have a 5" 45 acp which was my first 1911, still have it and it's still as tight and solid as it was the day I purchased it.

cfullgraf said:

For Hornady shell plates, they list the same plate for 9mm and 38 Super. It is Hornady #8. The 38 Supers will not fit the 380 ACP shell plate.

For Alliant powders, I've used Unique and Blue Dot in the 38 Super. Accurate #5, and #7 work well as well as Ramshot True Blue.

In theory, the 38 Super is designed for 0.356" diameter bullets but there are not many available out there. 0.355" diameter bullets designed for the 9mm work just fine.

When times are "normal", Starline cases are good. These days you have to search and get what you can find.

Yes, 38 Super is a fun round.

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Blue Dot? I've been looking for Blue dot powder for over a year. No luck. I've heard of all sorts of good things about it for 10MM and Magnum loads. Maybe one day I'll be able to acquire some. I have seen mainly .355 out in FMJ, Cast bullets tend to have a choice between .355 and 356. Have you shot 38 Super +p with Cast bullets?

THX

CH

Hesa Hard1 said:

No surprise there. Almost any chambering would make a "1911 feel more substantial" than the 9 weenie-meter.

On the 1911-platform, the 40, .45acp, certainly the 10mm - not to mention the 10mm's screamin' off-spring, the 9x25 Dillon - all make the gun feel like a more, ah, ... dynamic performer.

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I agree. The because of the weight of the 1911, and how little recoil is felt, it almost sometimes feels like a squib round. I might look at trying 9mm NATO rounds to se if they provide more recoil.

I've been looking for a 1911 in 40 S&W. I know they say you can fire 40 S&W out of 10mm 1911's, but I'd rather have a proper 40 S&W 1911 in Commander size.

CH