Lee Watne Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 I am thinking about customizing a 1911 to either 9MM or 38 Super. What do you folks think the best choice would be? I would reload for either one and use the 38 Super Comp cases for the 38 Super to eliminate the rim. I know there is a lot of cheap 9MM ammo on the market and that makes a strong argument for the 9MM but having gone that route, I think quality reloads are cheaper than quality factory ammo so with reloading there would be little difference in ammo cost other than cheaper cases for the 9MM. Theoretically, non tapered 38 Super ammo should feed better than tapered 9MM in a single stack. Also, the pistol would have a ramped barrel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merlin Orr Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Lot of guys here used to shoot 38S in single stack guns. A lot of em still have them stuck in the back of the safe, I'll bet. 9mm is cheap but longer is better. IMHO as I have neither a 9 or 38 single stack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianH Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Super runs better in the 1911. 9mm wasn't really designed for that gun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tupperware Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 I've owned both types in single-stack form and an STI Eagle in 9mm. Still have the 9's and the super is gone..... The reason I sold the super and held on to the 9's is because factory 9mm is cheap, easy to find, and there is no guilt if I don't want to rat the brass up when I'm done. As many have posted here, 9mm can easily be loaded to major power factor if that is what you desire. I've shot my buddy's 9mm major load in both guns and, while you know you touched off a hot one, the guns ran beautifully. Kicked butt on bowling pins, actually Mine run reliably with factory-length (and power) ammo but if you're going to load your own it shouldn't be a problem to load 'em long if you need to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duane Thomas Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 I'd go .38 Super Comp in a heartbeat, and run Wilson 10-shot .38 Super mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill H Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 I have a 9mm and wish it were a 38S. The 9 just isn't a great round in the 10 rd mags. It is a great gun if you use the 9rd 9mm mags though. Depends on what you want to do with it. Do you need 10rds? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhino Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 If you're going to reload (which the original message indicated was a "yes"), then the super wins hands down. You'll have few reliabilty problems both with the gun and the magazines. If you don't reload, the cheap 9mm ammo makes the 9mm 1911 a winner. That's why I chose it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redmercury2 Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 MY SS 38 supercomp runs flawlessly and i can reload on the same 1050 setup i use for open. IT DOES HAVE A RAMPED BARREL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TriggerT Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 I agree with most of the other guys, super is the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Watne Posted February 24, 2005 Author Share Posted February 24, 2005 Thanks for the input. I'm leaning toward the 38 Super. I will use it in IDPA Enhanced Service Pistol (which means it must have a bushing barrel) and if it turns out accurate enough I may use it for a limited amount of NRA Bullseye competition in center fire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 38 Super, without question Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tupperware Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Wow, I sure didn't expect to be the lone holdout for 9mm........... Let me sell it some more by stating that MY single stack is 100% using McCormick .38 super 10 round mags. My STI wide-body is also good-to-go after some initial problems getting her to lock open when empty. Did I mention I REALLY don't like picking up brass and can get all the 9mm brass I want for free. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhino Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Thanks for the input. I'm leaning toward the 38 Super. I will use it in IDPA Enhanced Service Pistol (which means it must have a bushing barrel) and if it turns out accurate enough I may use it for a limited amount of NRA Bullseye competition in center fire. I have an idea. Why not get a 9mm barrel with a bushing fitted in addition to whatever kind of .38 super barrel you're going to have fit? You can then use the 9mm for IDPA and practice on the cheap, but when you need to drive some tacks, go with your home brewed loads and the .38 barrel. You'd have the best of both worlds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberkid Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Tupperware, for what it is worth I will give ya half a vote for 9mm. I have a SS in 38 super and have frequently thought about having a 9mm barrel fit just so I could stop cringing every time I walk away from a stage. It is sickly accurate in Super and runs 110%, but i cant help but think that a good gunsmith could make it do the same in 9mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tightloop Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 Kkid It isn't he pistol....it is the mags that give everyone fits... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEDELLCUSTOM Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 i've built plenty of guns in either cartridge type and they both can be reliable and accurate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benny hill Posted February 24, 2005 Share Posted February 24, 2005 My new 6" limited pistol for tactical 3-gun is in 9mm & runs perfect w/ sv 38 super mags. 24 rds too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Watne Posted February 25, 2005 Author Share Posted February 25, 2005 With double stack magazines 9 MM or 9X23 work fine because of the way the ammo stacks in the magazines but with the single stack the tapered cartridge cases of the 9 MM's fan out in a full magazine (nine or ten loaded)and can nose dive if things don't go right. Something else may be wrong but that's my theory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberkid Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 TL, my apologies, that is more what I meant. If one's smith could make the mags run right .... FWIW mine runs fine with Super or 9mm Mags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddrod Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 Tupperware, I am with you. I own a Springfield 1911-1A in 9mm and it run 100% with factory and reloaded FMJ and lead. It is the best shooting of the 5 pistols I have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhino Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 My 9mm works great too, but I've seen many more than don't. Let's put it this way ... If you have 100 1911s in .38 super and 100 1911s in 9mm, I believe that a larger number of the guns chambered in .38 super will function 100% without a lot of work, and that overall there will be more reliability problems among the 100 9mm pistols. Sure, a lot of it magazine related, but regardless of the problem, it just seems easier and less stressful to get a .38 super to run. It's kind of like .45 vs. .40. I've seen 100 (or more) .45 1911s that run like tops to every one .40 I've seen that will run okay. Okay, as usual I pulled that number from my butt, but you get my point. I will also say that the 9 round magazines built by Metalform for Springfield are the best thing that has happened to the 9mm 1911. If your gun can work at all, it will work with those magazines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Hostetter Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 The 1911 (and the 2011) can to made to work prefectly in 38 Super and 9mm without a problem as long as you use a ramped barrel..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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