RIA .38 super to 9mm conversion

[smle-man]

I dropped my RIA .38 super off to the local gunsmith awhile ago to install a used 9mm barrel that was left over from yet another .38 super that I used to own. The 'smith has had a bit of a struggle to fit the barrel that had already been fitted to a different slide to my RIA but he is almost done. He had to order a new recoil spring. He said the RIA recoil spring was not correct dimensionally and was 'coil binding' and worn out besides. The lock up is going to be tight and he feels the accuracy is going to be great. Can't wait to get it. I'll post a review once it is back in my hands.

[himurax13]

Awesome, don't forget to post pics and results .

[FUBAR]

1911 9mm are a blast to shoot.

[LovingTheYear1911]

I had a slight fitment problem when I converted mine. I had file some part of the barrel so it slides.

[Andy Taylor]

Do any changes need to be made to the extractor/breachface etc for this conversion, or just a barrel change? What about mags? Can you go back and forth between the two calibers, or does it become a 9mm only pistol?

[InGrAM]

Do any changes need to be made to the extractor/breachface etc for this conversion, or just a barrel change? What about mags? Can you go back and forth between the two calibers, or does it become a 9mm only pistol?

When I did my RIA .38 super to 9mm conversion it was a simple barrel swap with some metalform 9mm mags. (it even worked until the last round with the .38super mags and 9mm ammo)

Reversing the process will get your .38 super back.

[ElvenSoul]

Last year a rep from SARCO told me that the 9mm Barrels they sale are RIA's.

[InGrAM]

Last year a rep from SARCO told me that the 9mm Barrels they sale are RIA's.

Well that would explain why it was such an easy swap for me. lol

The finish is horrible on my 9mm barrel tho. I would figure RIA would put a better finish on their 9mm barrels intended for their 9mm 1911's.

[LovingTheYear1911]

For me it wasnt an easy swap. I even got it from Sarco. I had to file some parts down so it fits. As for the magazines, I use the 38 Super mags, but sometimes it will feed the bullet wrong so I do recommend some 9mm mags. But for me, it works when youre shooting paper.

[Saigon1965]

That's been my understanding - Best 50 bucks spent -

Last year a rep from SARCO told me that the 9mm Barrels they sale are RIA's.

[InGrAM]

For me it wasnt an easy swap. I even got it from Sarco. I had to file some parts down so it fits. As for the magazines, I use the 38 Super mags, but sometimes it will feed the bullet wrong so I do recommend some 9mm mags. But for me, it works when youre shooting paper.

How old is your RIA? Is it nickel or parkarized? if you don't mind me asking. I am thinking maybe RIA changed up their .38 super slides recently. Or maybe even use the same slide for both .38super and 9mm in their newer 1911's. (just a thought)

Mine is newer.

[Ibgreezy]

Do you guys got the link for the sarco conversion barrel and the best mags to use with the barrel, many thanks.

[robcoe]

Do you guys got the link for the sarco conversion barrel and the best mags to use with the barrel, many thanks.

Here is the one I used

FYI, you will also need a barrel link and barrel link pin(the standard one sarco sells seems to work fine).

As for magazines, I just use some Mec-gar 9mm magazines I got from Midway.

Other than installing the barrel link and pin it was a complete drop in coversion, no fiddeling with the extractor or recoil spring was needed.

[C73P]

I got one ? The RIA 38 super I have is Polished Nickle it say its a 5.16 will this still work????

Will it work with the 9mm barrel 5" sarco

[Ibgreezy]

Thanks robcoe