DustyGold Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 I was at my local match yesterday talking with an old timer. I spoke about wanting to get into open but didn’t have that kind of money currently. He said he had a friend that passed and left him a Caspian 38 super with schuemann barrel. It’s got poppel holes and 3 port comp, 3 mags, Cmore sight. He said he would sell it to me for $900. I have not seen the hun yet but he says it’s still tight and in decent shape and wants to see someone use it rather than sit in the safe. Is it worth picking up? I don’t know much about Caspian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DukeSoprano Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 Great guns but mags are hard to find. I have 3 Caspian old open guns and a drawer full of mags if you end up needing some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
36873687 Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 They were awesome 20 years ago. Mags is the issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Open1215 Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 MBX makes Caspian mags as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DustyGold Posted May 15, 2022 Author Share Posted May 15, 2022 If I pick it up I will probably just pick up fresh MBX mags for it. Think the gun is worth the $900 or am I throwing money away? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EEH Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 If he’s a local guy, shoot the gun use the old mags and that should tell you what you need to know. Yes it worth $900. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DustyGold Posted May 15, 2022 Author Share Posted May 15, 2022 3 minutes ago, EEH said: If he’s a local guy, shoot the gun use the old mags and that should tell you what you need to know. Yes it worth $900. Thank you sir Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tomjerry1 Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 If the Caspian was built right, it will be a shooter. I have 2 and am building a third, I like the smaller grip. MBX mags work, no questions. I have also modified Tangfo large frame mags, and they work, but favor the MBX. Big issue is if the frame is one of the early versions, larger openings cut in the frame under the grip panels, the newer has 2 holes on each side. The frame could crack on the front strap about mag release high on older version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rnlinebacker Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 My buddy shoots two and they run well with mbx. Def a great way to get started Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rishii Posted May 15, 2022 Share Posted May 15, 2022 Caspians are great guns, but you gotta know what you’re getting into, there are 3 generations of frames 1st gen, large frame opening under the grips and were prone to cracking, caspian and other gunsmith fixed it by welding reinforcement plates in the weak areas, the dust cover is standard 1911 thickness, so it can be a bit thin for mounting single sided optic. Easiest way to ID is 1st gen frames have a rounded trigger guard 2nd gen, square trigger guard, the frame opening is solid with 2 holes on each side, dust cover is still thin 3rd gen, square trigger guard, thick dust cover similar to a sti aftermarket part are almost nonexistent, no one I know of makes magwells anymore, or triggers mags can be a issue, the original mags with the satin nickel finish are great, I’m still running a few that have been in constant use since 1994 and have outlived 2 open guns, they look like they were dragged behind a moving car, but still work perfectly mbx mags are good and pricey, and not all ways in stock tangfogilio large frame mags and be modified to use in the caspian, but base pads must be modified also Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nolan Posted May 16, 2022 Share Posted May 16, 2022 The frame cracking is or was fixable. I had one of the early frames that cracked. Accurate Plating & Weaponry stripped the hard chrome plating off, welded it back up and re-plated it. After plating it was almost impossible to see the welded repair. I shot the gun for a couple more years with no problems and this was back in the day with 175 power factor. I don't know if they are still doing the repairs, but it is certainly repairable if the frame cracks. Nolan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tator2k Posted May 18, 2022 Share Posted May 18, 2022 I've been running a Gen 1 with a gen 1 Holosight since the early 2000s. It's hard to decide to throw into the safe and get a new open gun for steel challenge or try to upgrade this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caspian guy Posted May 18, 2022 Share Posted May 18, 2022 (edited) My favorite second gen is on the operating table right now needing a cracked slide replaced... I've got another Caspian slide most of the way fitted to it and with some good luck I hope to get another 100kish rounds on it. Its a solid choice for a starter open gun. Assuming you get mags with it (and I wouldnt buy one without them) the biggest problem you'll have is that no one currently makes a mag well for it. As someone above said there's not alot of other 3rd party support but honestly you really don't need it. The mags are a pain... I use the originals (some chromed some that are black colored) and some big sticks that were welded up for me along time ago out of original mags by an old time gunsmith.... I didn't have any success with the early mbx big stick I bought to try but others have had good luck with them. ( I suspect mine just needs a tune to be happy in the gun but since I had working bigsticks I never bothered to tune it. It's in the pile of stuff I'll get to one day.) Edited May 18, 2022 by caspian guy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc68cal Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 (edited) If MBX still has Caspian mags in stock, buy it. If not, do not buy it. I have two Caspians and the only way they worked well was with MBX mags. The K9 mec-gar/tanfoglio tubes for 9mm (basically they are 38 super tubes with a shim) and spring sets never worked reliably for me, even after lots of tinkering. Basically they'd only work if you loaded real short (otherwise they'd jam up in the mag), but that means your powder choices get limited to make 9 major and then you also run the risk of failure to feed because your rounds are too short and can stall on the feed ramp. If you're just shooting steel challenge and load short they might work, but honestly I just bought MBX mags and never looked back. I didn't have good luck with 38 super mec-gar/TF mags either, basically had to use MBX mags to get it to work when my one gun had a 38 super top end. Your magwell options are basically nil, EGW used to make a magwell but they were slip fit, didn't fit really well, and the one I bought cracked after a year. They also stopped making them. There are no other options, so if it has a magwell on it, take care of it, otherwise you'll be without a magwell. Dawson used to make a magwell for it that but they stopped making them decades ago, so I have two but that's probably the last two ever made.\ If you end up replacing the optic & optic mount be aware that Casipan dust covers/frames are less wide (.855?) than 2011's so you may need a shim between the frame and whatever mount you buy to get it to be centered over the bore. Edited May 23, 2022 by sc68cal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verla Posted May 23, 2022 Share Posted May 23, 2022 Since the pistol has popple holes you may need (unless already installed) a blast deflector. This will help keep the optic glass clean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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