Change a Colt from 38 Super to 45ACP?

[gulogulo1970]

I may buy a Colt Government model in 38 Super. To change it over to 45ACP(If one day I want to do that) I would need to:

1. Change the barrel.
2. Get new magazines.
After that I really don't know...

3. New Extractor?
4. New Ejector?

Any information would be great, thanks.

 

[Johnny Guest]

An entire new top half, actually - - -

The Super .38 slide will not work with .45 ACP, unless there's a LOT of machine work done on it. It would not thereafter work with Super.

In addition, you'd need a new ejector fitted to the frame.

OTOH, with a complete new slide/barrel assembly, and a few minutes with a pin punch, you have a convertible pistol. Myself, I believe I'd elect to go for a .45 with an extra 9mm parabellum upper half, for maximum versitility.

Seems to me that MAJ George Nonte did an article for Guns Magazine 20 or 25 years back, about the multiple caliber 1911 - - I think he went with .45, Super .38, 9x19, 9mm Largo, 9mm Bergman-Bayard, and maybe a couple of others. It made a pretty impressive kit, complete pistol with additional slide assemblies and magazines, all in a fitted box.

Best,
Johnny

 

[Doug G.]

Here is what your going to need to buy.
New slide or have your old one milled out.
Barrel w/bushing and link
Extractor
Ejector
mags

 

[gulogulo1970]

Well darn, I guess its not as an easy a swap as I thought. Thanks, glad I asked before I spent a dime.

 

[Shorts]

With my project here in 9mm. I'm contemplating picking up a top half in .45. It can be done, just have a plan.

 

[carebear]

Shorts,

I've been meaning to ask, if you modify a standard 45 mag can you get a semi-staggered increase in capacity, maybe a round or 2? Versus going to an single stack 9mm mag. that is.

I guess it'd take modding the lips and follower if it was possible?

 

[Shorts]

Well thing is, switching from a .45 to 9mm, in the same gun, the mag capacity is increased due to the smaller catridge. For instance, an Officer's .45 mag is 6rd, but the same in 9mm carries 8rds. I think the Commander/Govt step up to 9rds of 9mm. The outer dimensions of the mags are the same, regardless of capacity. So, you already pick up a couple rounds by dropping caliber that it might be just painstaking to try to get a double stacked rigged up. You'd really have to concentrate on getting the nose up on the 9mm rounds in a .45 mag.

I'm using mags from MetalForm for my project and they are doing well here in the bench test feeding. They hold the rounds up pretty high in the magwell that they hardly don't hit the feedramp of the frame before jumping up into the barrel ramp.

I do recall folks getting a mag to doublestack, I think it was on the Walther P22. A gentleman at the range had his out there one day and was showing it off to me

 

[carebear]

Well just cause it'd be more trouble than it's worth doesn't make it not worth the trouble...

Wait a minute.

You post pictures of the new 9 anywhere yet?

 

[brickeyee]

You can make a switch top work by using the 9mm ejector and filling it downto clear the .45 slide. It only needs a few hundredths off one side to clear. The .45 case will be hit by the ejector just outside the primer.
The more complicated methd is to mill the .45 slide to clear the 9mm ejector.
If you use a full length rod inthe top ends thay can be swapped very quickly and easily.
Changed parts:
Complete slide (extractor, firing pin, firing pin stop, barrel, link, bushing, etc)
Ejector
Slide stop
mags

It makes a neat gun, but typically costs nearly as much as buying a new gun.
I presently have a switch top in .45 and .38 super with ramped barrels. It really is about 30 seconds to change calibers.