38 Super 1911

El Paso Joe · January 22, 2014, 01:24 AM

My bucket list, now close to the top, is to build a 1911 in 38 Super. I have a stainless frame and want a stainless slide. Problem is that looking through both Brownell's and Midway's catalogs I have not found a specifically designated 38 Super slide in stainless. Would there be a problem using a 9mm slide in the build?
Thanks...

Don P · January 22, 2014, 08:25 AM

Case length and ejection may pose a problem. The 9 mm case is .754 in long and the 38 super is .900 long.

Jim Watson · January 22, 2014, 09:43 AM

Joe, the Caspian slides shown in Brownells as "9mm" are suitable for .38 Super. On the Caspian site they are listed as ".38S/9mm."

Don, the problem is the opposite, it can take some extra work to get the short 9mm to run well in the long 1911 action.

Don P · January 22, 2014, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Don, the problem is the opposite, it can take some extra work to get the short 9mm to run well in the long 1911 action.

Yep the reason I stated the length side is the OP wants to try and run a 9 mm slide for 38 super as he states here,

Quote:

I have not found a specifically designated 38 Super slide in stainless. Would there be a problem using a 9mm slide in the build?

By the way my Taurus 1911 9 mm runs like a cat on fire!

No issues and runs at the longest for now 800+ rounds without any lube or cleaning. (2 matches and practice) The feed ramp was so dirty that all you could see was a faint gray line from the bullet nose.

El Paso Joe · January 22, 2014, 02:18 PM

Thanks. I will plan on using the Caspian slide...

Bill DeShivs · January 22, 2014, 05:35 PM

The slides for Super and 9mm are exactly the same, no matter the manufacturer. Barrel bushings are the same, too.

Jim Watson · January 22, 2014, 07:56 PM

There is really no such thing as a specific 9mm 1911 slide. The action length, slide travel, breechface width, and magazine well are the same 9mm to .38 Super. All adaptations of the original .45 size gun.

Got to be careful about those barrel bushings, though.
Some 9mm and .38 barrels are the same outside diameter as .45, .579" or so; but there are also traditional .500" barrels going back to the .38 Super of 1929. My Colt 1991A1 9mm has a half inch barrel, for example.

Hunter Customs · January 23, 2014, 10:32 AM

At one time there was some 9mm specific slides but the only difference between them and the 38 super slide was the width of the breech face.
I think most of the slides will accommodate both cartridges now.

I have a commander size gun to build and it's either going to be 9mm or 38 super, maybe both.

I built a client a commander in 38 super comp, after test firing the gun I enjoyed shooting it so much I hated to call the gentleman and tell him his gun was ready.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com

January 22, 2014, 01:24 AM	#1
El Paso Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2006 Location: Spokane Valley Posts: 340	38 Super 1911 My bucket list, now close to the top, is to build a 1911 in 38 Super. I have a stainless frame and want a stainless slide. Problem is that looking through both Brownell's and Midway's catalogs I have not found a specifically designated 38 Super slide in stainless. Would there be a problem using a 9mm slide in the build? Thanks...

January 22, 2014, 08:25 AM	#2
Don P Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2005 Location: Swamp dweller Posts: 6,187	Case length and ejection may pose a problem. The 9 mm case is .754 in long and the 38 super is .900 long. __________________ *NRA Life Member, NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Certified Pistol Instructor,, USPSA & Steel Challange NROI Range Officer, ICORE Range Officer, ,MAG 40 Graduate* *As you are, I once was, As I am, You will be.*

January 22, 2014, 05:35 PM	#6
Bill DeShivs Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2006 Posts: 10,984	The slides for Super and 9mm are exactly the same, no matter the manufacturer. Barrel bushings are the same, too. __________________ Bill DeShivs, Master Cutler www.billdeshivs.com

January 22, 2014, 09:43 AM	#3
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	Joe, the Caspian slides shown in Brownells as "9mm" are suitable for .38 Super. On the Caspian site they are listed as ".38S/9mm." Don, the problem is the opposite, it can take some extra work to get the short 9mm to run well in the long 1911 action.

January 22, 2014, 02:18 PM	#5
El Paso Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 4, 2006 Location: Spokane Valley Posts: 340	Thanks. I will plan on using the Caspian slide...

January 22, 2014, 07:56 PM	#7
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	There is really no such thing as a specific 9mm 1911 slide. The action length, slide travel, breechface width, and magazine well are the same 9mm to .38 Super. All adaptations of the original .45 size gun. Got to be careful about those barrel bushings, though. Some 9mm and .38 barrels are the same outside diameter as .45, .579" or so; but there are also traditional .500" barrels going back to the .38 Super of 1929. My Colt 1991A1 9mm has a half inch barrel, for example.

January 23, 2014, 10:32 AM	#8
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	At one time there was some 9mm specific slides but the only difference between them and the 38 super slide was the width of the breech face. I think most of the slides will accommodate both cartridges now. I have a commander size gun to build and it's either going to be 9mm or 38 super, maybe both. I built a client a commander in 38 super comp, after test firing the gun I enjoyed shooting it so much I hated to call the gentleman and tell him his gun was ready. Best Regards Bob Hunter www.huntercustoms.com