1911 Conversion

[GaryK]

A friend offered me a .38 Super barrel and magazine at a pretty good price. Is it feasible to fit it to one of my Norincos? If so then what would be involved? I have no need for a .38 Super but the idea somehow interests me. Is it worth looking at or am I just asking for a headache? Thanks.

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, first you would need a slide, and an extractor, and a firing pin, and a recoil spring; just as well get a recoil spring guide and plug , firing pin spring and stop so you didn't have to take everything to bits to change over. Oh, yeah, an ejector.
And a little luck that the Communist Chinese left enough feed ramp in a .45 frame to work with a Super barrel.
Other than that, nothing to it.

 

[1911Tuner]

Super Convert

Howdy gary,

Sounds like Jim nailed it pretty good... ---> "Other than that, nothin' to it."
I bout spewed coffee, Jim.

The answer to your questions:

Is it doable? Yes, probably...but be prepared to do many many adjustments
in order to make it happen....and there's always a pretty good chance that it won't work on any given gun.

Are you asking for a headache? Yep...probably. See above. By the time you get everything done...without a guarantee that the gun will be reliable,
you could just go buy a Super. Thing is...havin' two pistols is always a good thing.

Luck!

 

[GaryK]

Oh well, it was a thought. I think that I will leave it as a .45.

 

[BluesBear]

What make is the barrel?

If it's a newer one that headspaces on the mouth then there are a lot of people who probably would like to find it.

The older barrels headspaced on the rim and were noted for their lousy accuracy.

 

[GaryK]

Bluesbear, I have no idea. I will ask him the next time I see him. He had it last weekend at a gun show. I will likely see him this weekend and will examine it more closely if he still has it.

 

[Dean Taylor]

Besides what is listed above the slide stop is different for a .38 Super.

You need a whole new top end plus a new ejector as stated plus a new slide stop for the lower which may be just maybe might work. I would not do it. To me it is a KBOOM just waiting to happen.

Dean
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410-952-7848