DrLove Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 guys, I'm hearing a lot of people actually shoot 9mm from their 38S or SC guns. How common is that and what are the pros/cons do you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 That gets discussed about once a week on here. A quick search should find what you want to know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kosh79 Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 Silly thing to attempt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLove Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 Silly thing to attempt Well, it seems a lot of people are doing it so I don't know how silly really. I have never tried it but not I"m curious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 You've got a stable of 38s, give it a try. I've done it, not for thousands of rounds, but it worked fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrLove Posted October 6, 2013 Author Share Posted October 6, 2013 You've got a stable of 38s, give it a try. I've done it, not for thousands of rounds, but it worked fine. Would you use it in a match though or just for fun? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kneelingatlas Posted October 6, 2013 Share Posted October 6, 2013 I bought a 9x21 Open gun and it shot 9x19 just fine; I've heard of people shooting thousands of rounds without any problems, but I just have a mental block over it. I'm constantly messing with this that or the other, so I just don't want to worry about it; I re barreled it in 9x19. I do my own work and was able to re purpose the other barrel and sell it so it only cost me $30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parallax3D Posted October 10, 2013 Share Posted October 10, 2013 (edited) Silly thing to attempt Well, it seems a lot of people are doing it so I don't know how silly really. I have never tried it but not I"m curious. Well, considering the pressures involved, I can't see that having the case held by the exrtactor and NOT being properly headspaced on the case mouth as being a good thing. Edited October 10, 2013 by Parallax3D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
314shane Posted October 14, 2013 Share Posted October 14, 2013 I tried it in my 38super open gun and it functioned fine but was highly inaccurate. Decided to get another barrel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryO Posted November 12, 2013 Share Posted November 12, 2013 What is there to gain by shooting 9mm out of your .38sc? Am I missing something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mag17 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Why not just get the 9mm barrel? I would think accuracy would suffer since 9mm projectile not close enough to rifling in barrel.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandrooney Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 When you have a 9mm barrel fit does the smith have to change anything on the slide or frame ? I guess what I am asking does it affect how the origina barrel fits ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve RA Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 You can load the 9mm longer in the Super barrel and they work better that way. Lots of people do it so it certainly can't be all bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianATL Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 What is there to gain by shooting 9mm out of your .38sc? Am I missing something? 38 SC frequently backordered and it cost 145/1000. 9MM brass laying around everywhere Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooter995 Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 What is there to gain by shooting 9mm out of your .38sc? Am I missing something? 38 SC frequently backordered and it cost 145/1000. 9MM brass laying around everywhere Then just have your gun built for 9 Major!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdude Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 I think it's a bad idea. Here is an example of why I think that way. The cases in the figure below are 9mm Luger Federal Factory 124 Hydro-shock JHP rounds fired in a Nowlin 9X23 chamber. Yeah, it's not a 38 Super chamber but it's close. The one on the left looks okay. The others don't. The primer is pierced on the three on the right. The one on the far right shows the primer backing out and flattened. The more extreme one on the right is the only round that I did not check to see if it was held by the extractor or if it might have slipped past the extractor. All the others were held by the extractor. By the way, the firing pin in this gun is not deformed in any way (I've examined it under magnification), so it did not contribute to the pierced primers. I've experienced a blast of hot gases in the face after simple pierced primers. Not always but it happens. Along with this is the risk that parts of the primer metal will accompany the hot gases. I'm not sure what-all would happen if the primer in the case on the right had decided to come apart, but the outcome would not have been good. Based on my experience, supported by these photos, I think there is a real danger when we do this. And, keep in mind that these were standard pressure 9mm loads. I can only imagine that the risk with 9 Major would be higher. That's why I think it's a bad idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Superdude, do you think that the deformed primers in your post are caused by excessive gap between the breech face and the case when fired? In other words, cause the round was held by the extractor and not seated all the way in the barrel on the case mouth? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superdude Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Superdude, do you think that the deformed primers in your post are caused by excessive gap between the breech face and the case when fired? In other words, cause the round was held by the extractor and not seated all the way in the barrel on the case mouth? Yes, I think the excessive headspace was the cause. But of course that is a guess. To clarify one point, if the round had slipped past the extractor and was in front of it in this 9X23 chamber I suspect it would/could have looked worse. I thought about trying that specific test, but considered it risky after seeing the primer on the right. I've never seen anything like that before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianATL Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 What is there to gain by shooting 9mm out of your .38sc? Am I missing something? 38 SC frequently backordered and it cost 145/1000. 9MM brass laying around everywhere Then just have your gun built for 9 Major!!! Relax man he asked why people do it and that is why, just answering the persons question. I only own 9mm major guns for that very same reason !!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrumpyOne Posted November 17, 2013 Share Posted November 17, 2013 Superdude, do you think that the deformed primers in your post are caused by excessive gap between the breech face and the case when fired? In other words, cause the round was held by the extractor and not seated all the way in the barrel on the case mouth? Yes, I think the excessive headspace was the cause. But of course that is a guess. To clarify one point, if the round had slipped past the extractor and was in front of it in this 9X23 chamber I suspect it would/could have looked worse. I thought about trying that specific test, but considered it risky after seeing the primer on the right. I've never seen anything like that before. Yeah, that looks pretty scary... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mag17 Posted November 20, 2013 Share Posted November 20, 2013 As I am reading this read, I am reminded that "if you have a hammer, everything is a nail"..... Personally, I would not try it.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxbat Posted November 27, 2013 Share Posted November 27, 2013 Why shoot 9 in a 38 gun? Because you have it. Why spend hundreds on a new barrel when you can shoot it perfectly fine just as it is? There is absolutely no problem with doing this, stating based on countless thousards of rounds fired that way, plus the collective experience of other people. No loss of accuracy, and 100% reliability. A usual disclaimer - not advising anyone! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mag17 Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 OK... I have been reading several of the threads here and on 1911 forum and looks like a lot of folks are shooting 9mm out of 38SC barrel.... So it is up to the individual..... For me, I have STI lower and 2 complete uppers - 9mm major and .40S&W so I think I am all set for now... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskapopo Posted November 28, 2013 Share Posted November 28, 2013 General rule of thumb shoot the gun with the cartridges it was designed for. You might get lucky but then again you might not. If you want a 9mm buy a 9mm. Pat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SMS2 Posted December 18, 2013 Share Posted December 18, 2013 (edited) I have a 38SC incoming this week. While planning on having a new 9 barrel fitted I plan to try and will let you know the results. Edited December 18, 2013 by SMS2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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