1911 .38 Super converted into a 9mm?!

[bocanada]

I really want to ask about the Possibility of making a .38 Super into a 9mm. I would like to know if I could purchase a .38 Super Rock Island and buy a 9mm Barrel, I would like to know if its a good idea, or I should just discard it, Thanks.

[DCF]

I did it with the help of a gunsmith. Make sure you get the correct type of barrel and buy several links for your gunsmith to try out. Mine wasn't a simple drop in so I couldn't do it.

[rm1911]

It's a roster issue huh?? I wish RIA would pay the ransom for the 9mm's. I don't think it would work primarily as the 38super is semi rimmed and headspaces differently. The would have to be modified. It's probably be cheaper to just SSE it.

[razr]

You could and might need to change the extractor and bbl bushing.

[6114DAVE]

Don't you like the cartel caliber?

[JackRydden224]

You can buy a RIA's 9mm Tactical for about $650 OTD. The best prices I've seen for the 38 super is about $525 OTD. You are better off to just SSE the 9mm Tactical. The $125 difference will not over the cost of the barrel, beaver tail cut, sight cuts and whatever fitting you might need to get a gunsmith to do.

[VegasND]

I consider the 2nd barrel a good investment.
I have a Colt XSE Lightweight Commander .38 Super I fitted a 9mm barrel to. I've messed around with 1911s for several decades and know how to fit a barrel. In this case the barrel I got needed very little work. It's kind of nice to be able to shoot cheaper 9mm ammo but .38 Super is a much more interesting cartridge.

I also have a couple of Tokarev pistols I've got set up so I can switch from 7.62 to 9mm

Do it, it's fairly easy and widens your options.

[pyromensch]

I know a person, that has a ser 70 1911 9mm, with a 38 super barrel and mag...for sale

[Fatcat]

Don't forget about new mags. Springfields are good also Tripp Cobra mags.

[1911whore]

Where are you located? I have done the conversion for a few members here. Pm me for fees, they have all shot very well:-) :-)

[bob_e95482]

I bought a Kart 9mm conversion kit, but I haven't installed it yet. It was about $200, I think.

[morrcarr67]

I consider the 2nd barrel a good investment.
I have a Colt XSE Lightweight Commander .38 Super I fitted a 9mm barrel to. I've messed around with 1911s for several decades and know how to fit a barrel. In this case the barrel I got needed very little work. It's kind of nice to be able to shoot cheaper 9mm ammo but .38 Super is a much more interesting cartridge.

I also have a couple of Tokarev pistols I've got set up so I can switch from 7.62 to 9mm

Do it, it's fairly easy and widens your options.

If you are looking to be able to have "Two Guns" for the price of one this is a good way to go.

If you're really just wanting a 9mm 1911 I would go the SSE route.

[VegasND]

Yes. Now, if I could only find a .38 Super barrel for the Tokarev that I can afford. On the rare occasions they show up on GunBroker they always get bid to the ^s^k^y^

If you are looking to be able to have "Two Guns" for the price of one this is a good way to go.

If you're really just wanting a 9mm 1911 I would go the SSE route.

[robcoe]

I really want to ask about the Possibility of making a .38 Super into a 9mm. I would like to know if I could purchase a .38 Super Rock Island and buy a 9mm Barrel, I would like to know if its a good idea, or I should just discard it, Thanks.

I did it with my RIA .38 super.

Used the Sarco 9mm barrel, new barrel link(ended up using a Wilson Combat #1 link) and that was all that was needed(aside from some fitting of parts that I did by hand). Total cost about $60.

Worked great, was actually more reliable as a 9mm than as a .38 super.

[bocanada]

Wow, thanks for the all info Calgunners...I didn't even considered the whole idea of having two calibers in one gun, I love the 1911 platform and I have shot the Colt in .38 and it was nice to shoot. But, I really never see the .38 super ammo on the shelves.

The reason I thought of going the RIA .38 route was because I read/heard somewhere that Colt machines are being used by Rock Islands to make their guns.

Is the SSE route to obtain a 1911 in 9mm too complicated or intricate?!