sandrooney Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I think I read somewhere that people are doing this. Anybody know ? Thanks, SR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctay Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 There are people doing this and there are differing opinions on the effects if any on the gun. Many believe it is safe to do - however it may or may not cause some cumulative damage to your gun. My analysis (please critique): Both 9mm and 38SC head space from the case mouth. 38SC case length maximum (SAAMI) is 0.900" where 9mm is 0.754" giving a theoretical possible difference of 0.146" in head space. The potential problem is two fold: one - since the shorter 9mm round is only held in the chamber by the extractor (since the case is too short to hit the datum reference), it could theoretically slip past the extractor into the chamber. This could result in the low side problem of a round not cambering (slide not closing) or not extracting, to the worst case (and probably pretty unlikely) out of battery detonation (bad). Another potential problem I see is that the round could slid forward but still stay in the extractor - upon detonation the round slams back into the breech face at a greater force than with the 38SC (since it can potentially travel further forward - then further back) giving a slide hammer effect on the primer in the case. I'm not sure on the reality of this however. There is also the possibility of case stretching but that is also unlikely in a pistol case - unlike what would happen in a rifle case. *I* am starting to believe that neither of the potential problems are very serious or very likely. Of course I have yet to fire 9major out of my 38SC so I haven't put my gun where my keyboard is (to mix some metaphors). One of the questions that I have relates to head spacing - since chambers are cut (I believe) to allow for the maximum SAAMI spec case length, yet manufacturing variances mean that many (most) cases are below this maximum length - wouldn't 38SC cases also generally stop short of hitting the datum reference and thus also be held in place by the extractor as well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 There is no issue at all, all the concerns are purely theoretical, without any evidence. Works like a charm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
818-DVC Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I have often wondered this. as I'm building a new gun, I was thinking 9 because I can always throat it to SC if I can't develop a load I really like. Am I that safe to run 9 in an SC chamber for 10's of thousands of rounds? If this is the case, how come more people aren't doing it? I really want to get to the bottom of this. thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I have often wondered this. as I'm building a new gun, I was thinking 9 because I can always throat it to SC if I can't develop a load I really like. Am I that safe to run 9 in an SC chamber for 10's of thousands of rounds? If this is the case, how come more people aren't doing it? I really want to get to the bottom of this. thank you Re-chambering from 9mm to 38SC is not a good idea, as the 9mm chamber has bigger diameter at the throat. Yes, it seems to be totally safe... as far as why people don't do it - I think out of fear of the unknown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctay Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 Interesting video on the American Gun Smith site. I'm not sure pistol head space is really that much of an issue. http://www.americangunsmith.com/vidlesson/?id=37d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandrooney Posted February 4, 2013 Author Share Posted February 4, 2013 ctay Thanks so much for all the info. SR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick88 Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 I wouldn't do it for various reasons, just because you can doesn't mean you should. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
818-DVC Posted February 4, 2013 Share Posted February 4, 2013 In reality, I can have my gun chambered for SC and fire 9 without issue, but not vice-versa. correct? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick88 Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 There have been many threads on this in the past. Search feature will provide the answers you are seeking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
818-DVC Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 search function hasn't been my best friend as of late. already tried. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 818 You are correct, 9 in .38Super, no .38Super in 9mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 (edited) A search is not providing any answers on this topic. Thanks There have been many threads on this in the past. Search feature will provide the answers you are seeking. Searching, is not providing any answers..... Anyone have the load they have been using? Edited February 5, 2013 by a matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbosik Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 So, not to thread drift but,,,,will the same apply if I have a 10mm chambered pistol, I can shoot 40s&w thru it? Same as 357mag, 38 special...hmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted February 5, 2013 Share Posted February 5, 2013 if I have a 10mm chambered pistol, I can shoot 40s&w thru it? People have been doing this for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 9 out of a 38 sc works like a champ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoyGlock Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Slight drift. Are .38 super and .38 SC chambers different fr each other? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandrooney Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 The only difference is the brass. If switching from super to sc you would need to change the extractor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1911Prof Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Isnt the rim of a 9mm the same size of a 38 super (which is larger than 38sc)? If so it would seem to me that you could run 9mm out of a 38 super better than 38sc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandrooney Posted February 9, 2013 Author Share Posted February 9, 2013 I just measured a Starline 38 super comp and a Winchester 9mm and they were excatly the same. SR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassochist Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 Isnt the rim of a 9mm the same size of a 38 super (which is larger than 38sc)? If so it would seem to me that you could run 9mm out of a 38 super better than 38sc no the rim of the .38super is bigger than the rim of the 9mm or the .38sc, 9mm and .38sc also use the same extractor, the .38super has it's own extractor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I think you'll find enough variance between different Mfrs and even different lots of cases from the same Mfrs that you can't say with certainty which rim may be bigger. SAAMI has specs but everything doesn't always follow those closely and even a lot of the specs show a plus/minus amount. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbosik Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I spoke with a gunsmith today, he says it is not as easy as some say. I'm sure I may not be exact, but he commented that 38S & 38SC case headspaces in the barrel (I think) & that a 9mm being a shorter case will headspace on the extractor. He seemed to be saying that it is a disaster waiting to happen. And when I spoke of a 10mm pistol shooting 40s&w, he said its the same as the 38/9 thing.. If it were as easy as just shooting one thru the other, nobody would be re-barreling their pistols to shoot the other cartridge in it. I sure wish some gunsmiths would chime in here.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shopgun Posted February 9, 2013 Share Posted February 9, 2013 I have run about 5 k 9mm through a Kimber 38 super single stack with no problems. I have seated the 147 gr. bullet to same OAL as the super, though. It's one the most accurate handguns i have with that combo. I did not have to change the extractor but YMMV. I do run the 9mm brass through 38 super plates on my Case Pro. Depending on how tight your chamber is on your 38 s/sc, you may have seating problems with the 9mm since it is a tapered case and the others are not. Nominal dimension at the head in 9mm is .0391 and the supers are .0384. Not a lot of difference but still there. As to head spacing on the case mouth, all you have to do is mike a bunch of cases from different makers. There goes that theory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted February 10, 2013 Share Posted February 10, 2013 (edited) I spoke with a gunsmith today, he says it is not as easy as some say. I'm sure I may not be exact, but he commented that 38S & 38SC case headspaces in the barrel (I think) & that a 9mm being a shorter case will headspace on the extractor. He seemed to be saying that it is a disaster waiting to happen. And when I spoke of a 10mm pistol shooting 40s&w, he said its the same as the 38/9 thing.. If it were as easy as just shooting one thru the other, nobody would be re-barreling their pistols to shoot the other cartridge in it. Most people re-barrel simply because the idea of using the same barrel does not cross their mind. Most people follow the traditional routes. As far as not being "as easy" - those who do it on a routine basis, will disagree. It is as easy as loading your gun. And with so many people shooting such combinations day in and day out, we are still waiting for that "disaster" to happen. So far, the guns doing so, have proven to be every bit as reliable as those in their "original" caliber. I have not heard yet about a single broken extractor. So, on one hand we have a huge collective experience of many people doing this for years. On the other - concerns not confirmed by any experience. BTW - my gunsmith did not have any issue with that. Edited February 10, 2013 by Foxbat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now