DrLove Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 This might be stupid question but I have several STI 38 super mags and might start shooting 9mm soon. Would any of those mags be convertible to 9mil? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retread1911 Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Yes. All you need is a follower and a spacer. If you need 140 spacers I have a few new in bag I will sell cheap as I do not need them. Picked em up in a package deal. PM me if you need em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLove Posted August 3, 2013 Author Share Posted August 3, 2013 Yes. All you need is a follower and a spacer. If you need 140 spacers I have a few new in bag I will sell cheap as I do not need them. Picked em up in a package deal. PM me if you need em. I actually still need to get the gun first:). A friend has a Steelmaster he wants to sell and i have many 38super mags and don't want to buy new mags:) Thanks for the advice though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gng4life Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Not every mag will need a spacer and it all depends on your OAL also. There were several extensive threads on this in the past few years and many guys stated that they did not put spacers in them and they never had a malfunction. Most were loading them out to 1.165 or greater to get the best results. If you do need a spacer, then you will have to replace the follower. Also, if you need a spacer, get the Hardy - it's the best and it's made of metal instead of plastic like the other ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trader Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 I use .38 super STI mags for my 9mm without changing a thing. Factory length ammo , ( not an open gun) with 8K fired, not one malfunction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hammar Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 Better luck than I then. I load out to 1.170 and still need the spacer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gng4life Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 I use .38 super STI mags for my 9mm without changing a thing. Factory length ammo , ( not an open gun) with 8K fired, not one malfunction. Better luck than I then. I load out to 1.170 and still need the spacer. These are the types of inconsistencies most people were posting in the other threads hence my statement about "not every mag needing a spacer"...you just have to try it first and go from there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CocoBolo Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 My 140's will run without the spacer but the 170's were not 100% without the spacer so I just used the spacers in all of them, except the SVI's which run 100% without the spacer. I use the plastic in the 140 and metal in the 170's. After 3 years the plastic spacers are still working fine and looking good. The steel master is a cute little toy, I shot a friends some with minor ammo and it was more bouncey than my full size open gun with major. It could just be me but I find no use for minor loads in an open gun. YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cowboy1629 Posted August 3, 2013 Share Posted August 3, 2013 I've ran plastic and steel in both the 140 and 170 mags without an issue. I run 1.165" in STI mags and need spacers in both the 140 and 170mm mags to make them 100% reliable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wes777 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 (edited) why not use a spacer? spacers give an edge in reliability and you can still get 29 in a big stick. edit to add. SV mags require no spacer, I assume we are talking about STI mags. Edited August 4, 2013 by wes777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gng4life Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 why not use a spacer? spacers give an edge in reliability and you can still get 29 in a big stick. edit to add. SV mags require no spacer, I assume we are talking about STI mags. Not always, I have friends who have over 10K on STI mags without one issue so why introduce another piece that you dont need. Only use what you need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wes777 Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 hey, i support less is more. I just havent hit that combo yet. I had a big stick that WAS running without the spacer, then it nose dived once...... Once I got the mag to run the same capacity with the spacer, 100%, there was no reason to not use the spacer, for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Service Desk Posted August 4, 2013 Share Posted August 4, 2013 Mine will run without spacers too...... But I don't need the distraction of a jam, so Hardy spacers are fitted and reliability is not an issue for the gun or my head. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cylindrically challenged Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 I load my 9mms as long as possible. Loading .020" off of the barrels lands and grooves, my 124 gr. Bayou bullets finish out at 1.230". At this length they work perfectly in a .38 Super magazine because the ammo is as long as a .38 Super. If you can load long like this it gives you the added advantage of greater internal case capacity. This makes it much easier to make major power factor in a 9mm. There are many gunsmiths who could cut the throating in a barrel to accept these long rounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
canuk Posted August 5, 2013 Share Posted August 5, 2013 I am lucky i guess. I have spacers but have never put them in. My 9mm Runs 100% @ 1.165-1.170 in super mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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