38 Spl Clark Conversion

[bluetopper]

From a shooting buddy I've known for many years I just bought a never used Clark conversion barrel and magazines. It's a 38 Special wadcutter conversion kit for a 1911. The barrel is ramped and will fit a 9mm 1911 I have. I intend on having a lot of target fun with it. I've had a S&W model 52 in the past. My friend has a few old Colt 38 wadcutter 1911 target pistols. We both have some older S&W ppc revolvers with aftermarket barrels.
Have any of you shot any semi auto 38 wadcutter pistols?

 

[kidneyboy]

I shot them in bullseye competitions years ago. Haven't owned one for decades. A few weeks ago, in an effort to get me back into competition, a shooting buddy had me shoot his Colt. It is just as much fun now as it was in the past.

 

[N555]

Is this why some people reload 38spl with wadcutters flush with the case mouth?

 

[cid71]

I learned to shoot on a Colt .38 Super converted (by King's, if I recall correctly) to .38 Special. My grandfather's; he used it for bullseye shooting. I have it now, with only 1 magazine unfortunately. I'd love to find a spare.

 

[Howland937]

I've considered trying to track down an already converted one just because it seems fun. Reckon the 9mm breech face will work as is? Would be sweet if all you needed was barrel, extractor and maybe a lighter recoil spring.

I learned to shoot on a Colt .38 Super converted (by King's, if I recall correctly) to .38 Special. My grandfather's; he used it for bullseye shooting. I have it now, with only 1 magazine unfortunately. I'd love to find a spare.

Seems like I'd heard that 38 Super magazines were modified for the 38 Special way back when. Buy a couple of the Mec-Gar mags to practice on. If you have one mag, you have a template to follow.

 

[tark]

Reckon the 9mm breech face will work as is?

Not!!!

The rim diameter of the 38 spl is .440" The 9mm rim is .395. It is possible to open up the breech face on a 9mm slide but it is a lot of work,

 

[rabid wombat]

I just bought a never used Clark conversion barrel and magazines.

Color me with envy…second only to a 52…this could be the coolest thing ever. I really like Clark and their work. Congrats!

 

[halfmoonclip]

Color me with envy…second only to a 52…this could be the coolest thing ever...

This. I'm way past Bullseye shooting, but the 52 is just too neat to trade away. It's hilarious to shoot; the slide almost walks when it runs. Shoots crazy straight, great trigger, and generally runs without drama from its 5 round magazines.
Which brings another question; the 52 is locked breech. Do I recall Colt's own wadcutter gun being blowback? How does the Wilson conversion work?
OP, hope it works out for you. Wadcutter guns are great.

N555, flush wadcutters are made to fit in wadcutter gun magazines, but the notion was also to occupy as much of the case as possible, so that the small powder charge is tightly contained, and thus not position sensitive. There's no need to drive the bullet any faster than is necessary to stabilize it.
Wadcutters started life in revolver cylinders; the autoloaders were made to accommodate a round not remotely made for them. The Army Marksmanship Unit developed a rimless .38 WC round, for easier function in autos. The .32 WC, in expensive, imported autos, has largely replaced the .38 for serious Bullseye guys.
Moon

 

[loadedround]

Is this why some people reload 38spl with wadcutters flush with the case mouth?

Yes, for the S&W model 52 and the Colt gold Cup in 38 Spl. Either pistol will shoot 38 Spl wadcutter bullets only, with 148 gr WC bullet seated flush to the case mouth. Loaded about 10K of these rounds back in my Bullseye days.,

 

[cid71]

Seems like I'd heard that 38 Super magazines were modified for the 38 Special way back when. Buy a couple of the Mec-Gar mags to practice on. If you have one mag, you have a template to follow.

Yes, the magazine I have was a definite conversion. I've thought about that....now you're getting me thinking again.....hmmmm.....

 

[rabid wombat]

I stopped by Clark’s earlier this week (I go every time I am in the neighborhood…). They currently have a Clark’s 1911 long slide in 38 Spl from an estate… pricey, but YOWZA!

 

[bummer7]

I learned to shoot on a Colt .38 Super converted (by King's, if I recall correctly) to .38 Special. My grandfather's; he used it for bullseye shooting. I have it now, with only 1 magazine unfortunately. I'd love to find a spare.

I have 6 magazines for my 1911 in 38 special pistol. 1 made by Clark Custom Guns i got around 2002. 2 converted from 38 Super magazines. And 3 original Colt magazines that came with the gun. I was told Metalform still makes new magazines for this pistol today. Probably a bit pricey for them but cheaper than factory High Standard mags.

As much as i tuned the converted 38 super magazines, I've never gotten them to hold open the slide after the last shot. The other magazines seem to work fine.

It is a fun pistol to shoot. In fact i just got a new Kart barrel installed in the pistol during the pandemic. Haven't broken in the barrel yet but you convinced me to take it out and shoot it.

 

[Boom Vang]

Although I don't shoot competition anymore, I still have my Model 52-2. An accurate and unforgiving classic. Enjoy your new pistola!

 

[Mark_Mark]

52-2 ! I seriously wonder how hot of a load I can run this? 3.2g HP38 is min load… Wonder what 4.0 or 4.2 will do to the gun???

 

[Boom Vang]

52-2 ! I seriously wonder how hot of a load I can run this? 3.2g HP38 is min load… Wonder what 4.0 or 4.2 will do to the gun???

In my experience, nothing good! Functioning suffers, brass gets mangled, and the accuracy is best at the minimum levels that will operate the action. I loaded 2.6 grains of 700-X and the elusive Remington Targetmaster 148 HBWC with the messy graphite lube all over them. 2.8 grains was too much and 2.4 grains barely worked the action.

Shot my best NMC ever though with that pistol! Smith & Wesson can never make a pistol of that quality again.... neither the motivation, talent, craftspeople nor materials. NO MIM, NO BUENO!

 

[Mark_Mark]

In my experience, nothing good! Functioning suffers, brass gets mangled, and the accuracy is best at the minimum levels that will operate the action. I loaded 2.6 grains of 700-X and the elusive Remington Targetmaster 148 HBWC with the messy graphite lube all over them. 2.8 grains was too much and 2.4 grains barely worked the action.

Shot my best NMC ever though with that pistol! Smith & Wesson can never make a pistol of that quality again.... neither the motivation, talent, craftspeople nor materials. NO MIM, NO BUENO!

that gun would cost so much money to make in modern times!

 

[halfmoonclip]

52-2 ! I seriously wonder how hot of a load I can run this? 3.2g HP38 is min load… Wonder what 4.0 or 4.2 will do to the gun???

You go hotrodding that minty 52, pilgrim, and the pistola cognoscenti will come to call, pitchforks and blazing torches, and maybe some '97s for good measure!
Moon

 

[Mark_Mark]

You go hotrodding that minty 52, pilgrim, and the pistola cognoscenti will come to call, pitchforks and blazing torches, and maybe some '97s for good measure!
Moon

I was just thinking out loud! Can a man still think out loud!

 

[halfmoonclip]

I was just thinking out loud! Can a man still think out loud!

Not about 52s..... Next you'll throw stones at holy pictures!
Moon

 

[Mark_Mark]

Not about 52s..... Next you'll throw stones at holy pictures!
Moon

alright alright alright… let me remove sinful thought from my head! THANKS for the reality check

 

[Rock185]

Mark Mark, I ran into an older gentleman at the range years ago who had figured out how hot a load he could run in his mode M52. He was shooting .38 Super in his 52. Don't know if they were factory or reloads, but I didn't notice any malfunctions...

 

[Mark_Mark]

Mark Mark, I ran into an older gentleman at the range years ago who had figured out how hot a load he could run in his mode M52. He was shooting .38 Super in his 52. Don't know if they were factory or reloads, but I didn't notice any malfunctions...

For Real!!! wow!

did you see him shoot it?

 

[Jim Watson]

Old timey gunzine writer Maj. Geo. C. Nonte once advised a M52 owner how to get the most out of it for self defense. Apparently his correspondent was in a repressive jurisdiction and just buying another gun was not feasible. He had two approaches, bump the wadcutter up to the old "service wadcutter" at 850 fps instead of "midrange wadcutter" at 750 fps. Or trim brass to let a hollowpoint seat normally.
I am not in such a jurisdiction and I don't see any reason to overload my wad gun.

There are substantial numbers of people who think a midrange wadcutter is good enough by itself, usually to keep down recoil in an Airweight revolver. Shot placement, don'cha know, old chap.

A friend shoots PPC with his, the magazines altered to hold six rounds as required in that event.

 

[bummer7]

52-2 ! I seriously wonder how hot of a load I can run this? 3.2g HP38 is min load… Wonder what 4.0 or 4.2 will do to the gun???

I can honestly say it is no fun blowing the head or web section of a .38 special round in my old 1911/38 barrel. Even with 2.8 gr of Bullseye, it was nerve wracking to have a case blow out due to the unsupported area of the barrel. While I did not lose control of the pistol, the magazine blew out from the bottom of the frame, split the right side grip panel, and spat out hot brass in my face. Thank goodness I wear glasses when shooting as that probably saved my eyes from hot brass pieces.

I will say it took me 6 months to overcome the flinch I got from this experience.

 

[bummer7]

I learned to shoot on a Colt .38 Super converted (by King's, if I recall correctly) to .38 Special. My grandfather's; he used it for bullseye shooting. I have it now, with only 1 magazine unfortunately.

Forgot to mention Triple K still has magazines for your pistol. Pricing seems reasonable (at least to me).

Colt Gold Cup, .38 Special, 5 Rd:

ORIGIN – USA CALIBER – .38 SPECIAL WEIGHT – 39 OZ. OVERALL LENGTH – 8.5″ LENGTH OF MAGAZINE – 4.4″ Modification of the .45 Gold Cup to take advantage of the accuracy of the .38 special mid-range load. Modifications were to the feed ramp, and a major change to blowback operation because of the...

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