1911 in .38 Super

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ArchAngelCD

ArchAngelCD

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So, I have this Springfield 1911 Government Model in 45 ACP and I like it a lot. I am also wanting to try it in .38 Super. Is there an easy way to convert the 1911 form 45 ACP to .38 Super? Can you just change the barrel and magazine and call it good? I know that is just to good to be true but I can hope.
 
Years ago there was an old Guns and Ammo article how someone made a 5-in-1 caliber 1911. I think they started with a Colt Governement in .38 Super. Added a 9mm. barrel and a .22 conversion assembly, along with a .38/45 conversion. With the .45 they found that they could get a Commander slide to work on the .38 Super frame without any modifications. I think I still have the magazine article somewhere if you want me to look up the details.
 
Murphy's Law states that if you own a caliber convertible firearm, that you will find it configured in the caliber you did NOT want to shoot today.
 
Jim Watson

No doubt true!

I did find the magazine article in question (Guns and Ammo June 1982), written by Jan Libourel. Pretty much as I remembered; they did get a Combat Commander slide in .45ACP to go on a Colt Government .38 Super frame without any kind of modifications to either component.


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Don't ask me; sometimes it takes me awhile just to remember my cell phone number!

Actually I probably kept it because I have always been a big .38 Super fan and have been fascinated with convertible, multi-caliber handguns using the same platform.

While paring down my gun magazine collection I saved a number of them that had some sort of interesting article like this or else something with an historical perspective. The rest I gave to friends of mine who were interested in guns but typically didn't subscribe to gun magazines.
 
I started to build a 38-45 Clerke back around 1990. I have yet to get it done. :) I do have the dies. Would like to find an already complete barrel rather than start with a 38 Super barrel.

I do have a Colt Series 70 Government in the 38 Super chambering. Would like to find a complimentary 9mm.

bannockburn, many thanks for posting that fine old article. Real nice read.

Ron
 
Merle1

The ejector is also an issue.
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Not if you're using a .38 Super ejector on your 1911 frame. It works fine for both cartridges. A 9mm. ejector won't work because it's a bit too long for the .38 Super case.
 
Reloadron

Glad you enjoyed it. Hope you find your .38/45 Clerke barrel; a quick look online didn't really turn up anything in the way of a barrel.
 
bannockburn said:
Merle1



Not if you're using a .38 Super ejector on your 1911 frame. It works fine for both cartridges. A 9mm. ejector won't work because it's a bit too long for the .38 Super case.
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That's true, but the conversation was about converting a 45 to 38 Super.
 
Merle1

Yes that is correct. I just posted the article to show what was actually possible in terms of having a .45ACP and .38 Super together using the same frame.

I did try it to see for myself, having both a Combat Commander slide in .45ACP and an Essex frame set up for the .38 Super. The slide went on alright but the slide rails would have required some extra fitting to get it to run smoothly on the Essex frame.
 
If you want to try .38 Super for a reasonable price, buy a Rock Island.

They're very affordable and have a good reputation.

For a while, I was thinking about a .38 Super RIA in nickle. The only thing that stopped me was having to buy a Citadel 3 1/2" M1911 to replace a Norinco that I'd had to sell earlier.
 
Deanimator

A friend of mine had an RIA in bright nickel and I worked on it for him, adding a polished stainless beavertail grip safety and extended thumb safety. I have to say I was impressed not only with fitting of all of the parts but also with how evenly the nickel plating was applied throughout the gun.

Another real beauty in .38 Super is Colt's bright stainless Ultimate Government Model.
 
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bannockburn said:
Deanimator

A friend of mine had an RIA in bright nickel and I worked on it for him, adding a polished stainless beavertail grip safety and extended thumb safety. I have to say I was impressed not only with fitting of all of the parts but also with how evenly the nickel plating was applied throughout the gun.

Another real beauty in .38 Super is their bright stainless Ultimate Government Model.
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Do they still make the bright stainless in .38 Super?

I might go for that if so. I don't like matte stainless.
 
I think the handful of companies who were making Clerke barrels quit when their reamers got dull; same for the .40 Super. At least nobody lists any in those calibers online.

All of my 1911 slides have the .45 breechface, and I'd looked at the Clerke and the Hard Head, and then found the .38 Casull... I had actually bought a bag of .40 Super brass to reform into Casull before I realized I might as well leave it .40 caliber.

The reamer ought to be here any time now...
 
Springfield Armory made some limited production factory nickeled .38 Supers a few years ago. They came NIB with fake pearl grips...Bar S Tru-Ivory in this first picture. Probably hard to find one now.

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Mine usually wears these stag grips.

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This below is one of the early RIA .38 supers. It has a ramped barrel like the SA. I had two more RIA ones that did not have ramped barrel.

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It's going to cost you nearly as much to source a complete Super slide assembly and have it fitted as it would to find yourself a decent starter 1911 in .38 Super like Deanimator mentioned. Lots of reasonably priced Colt Supers on gunbroker, too. And, Colt is still making bright polished stainless Supers.


Personally, I wouldn't go through the trouble of converting a .45, I'd just get a dedicated Super or maybe get a 9mm and convert it to Super since it's much easier to do and less costly. Keep your .45 for doing .45 stuff.
 
WC145 said:
It's going to cost you nearly as much to source a complete Super slide assembly and have it fitted as it would to find yourself a decent starter 1911 in .38 Super like Deanimator mentioned. Lots of reasonably priced Colt Supers on gunbroker, too. And, Colt is still making bright polished stainless Supers.


Personally, I wouldn't go through the trouble of converting a .45, I'd just get a dedicated Super or maybe get a 9mm and convert it to Super since it's much easier to do and less costly. Keep your .45 for doing .45 stuff.
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I asked if it would be done with a barrel and mags. Once I was told it won't work I never considered doing an expensive and time consuming conversation.
 
Deanimator

Do they still make the bright stainless in .38 Super?

I might go for that if so. I don't like matte stainless.
Click to expand...

Colt's website still shows a Model 02071ELC2 Colt Custom in bright stainless for $1499.
 
Deanimator

Yep you're right about that but it sure is pretty! Could probably get two RIA 1911s at that price.
 
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