1911 Colt in 9 mm

John D. · 05-13-2003, 10:41 AM

Hi Al..!

Congrats! Yes - the 9mm and .38 super can be "swapped", as the feedramp/breechface/barrel hood are the same dimensions. If you fit a .38 Super, set it up with a NM or solid bushing, rather then a collet bushing - unless you find an original Colt .38 Super barrel from that series. Also, if you have to fit the .38 S barrel, be careful with the throating, given the casing web of the .38 brass, and use the link length to set the offset from the ramp to the throat.

The extractor should be fine - look for the claw to pick up and hold. To check the tension - remove the slide from the firearm, remove the barrel - and insert a case between the breechface and the extractor. Now - turn the slide over - and the case should be held in place. If not, remove the FPS and FP and extractor - and insert the extractor "backwards", using the slide to hold the base - and bend it SLIGHTLY. Reassemble and check the tension again.

If you'd like, I can share with you a thread "some idiot" (

) posted on another Forum about rebuilding a 1911 this past weekend. In that thread, there are some pics with the extractor and dressing it properly...

Best to you!

05-13-2003, 10:41 AM	#7
John D. Administrator & Site Owner LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: A Little NE of Somewhere... Posts: 2,651 Thanks: 478 Thanked 517 Times in 129 Posts	Hi Al..! Congrats! Yes - the 9mm and .38 super can be "swapped", as the feedramp/breechface/barrel hood are the same dimensions. If you fit a .38 Super, set it up with a NM or solid bushing, rather then a collet bushing - unless you find an original Colt .38 Super barrel from that series. Also, if you have to fit the .38 S barrel, be careful with the throating, given the casing web of the .38 brass, and use the link length to set the offset from the ramp to the throat. The extractor should be fine - look for the claw to pick up and hold. To check the tension - remove the slide from the firearm, remove the barrel - and insert a case between the breechface and the extractor. Now - turn the slide over - and the case should be held in place. If not, remove the FPS and FP and extractor - and insert the extractor "backwards", using the slide to hold the base - and bend it SLIGHTLY. Reassemble and check the tension again. If you'd like, I can share with you a thread "some idiot" ( ) posted on another Forum about rebuilding a 1911 this past weekend. In that thread, there are some pics with the extractor and dressing it properly... Best to you!