Can I have a .38 Super top end built for my SA Loaded?

[W Turner]

I recently bought a SA Loaded Lightweight model and was wondering if I could have a .38 Super top end built for it that could be switched out?

My goal is to be able to just swap the barrel, complete slide and maybe the slide stop out and be able to go from .45ACP and .38Super without changing any parts in the bottom end. My goal is to be able to use essentially the same gun for CDP and ESP in IDPA and from what I understand, .38S would be the easiest caliber to do this with due to the OAL of both cartidges being similar.

I am going to have a well-respected smith do this for me if it is possible.

So what do ya'll think?

W

 

[Bill Z]

The ejectors between the two claibre's are different as well as the slide stops. Your main problem to overcome however is going to be the feedramp. They are also different. You would be much better off with two pistols.

 

[W Turner]

The feedramp should not be an issue. My Springfield is a Lightweight model so it came with a ramped barrel, I can buy a ramped .38S barrel. The ejector may be an issue though....

W

 

[Jim Watson]

Wm.

I did pretty much that in the MixMaster Project but worked with two whole guns instead of just assembling an upper. I bought a SA Lightweight Loaded .45 and a Loaded 9mm and had the uppers swapped, ejectors included.
The 9mm upper on the ex-.45 lower required a modest amount of contouring of the feed ramp, but no more that what it took to get my Ultra Compact to feed JHPs.

However, the ejectors are calibre specific and must be changed out. On mine, the steel 9mm's ejector was glued in place and the aluminum .45's was pinned. With a roll pin. Crooked.
I don't think that a caliber swap is something to do every week depending on what Division you want to shoot in. I have heard of people just setting an ejector in place with no pin or adhesive. It won't fall out with the slide on the gun. But I have not tried it and don't know what would happen with a steel ejector not rigidly mounted on an aluminum frame.

It might be possible to mill the .45 slide out to take a Super ejector - real Colt Commanders all use .38 width ejectors - but it would be a tedious job.

Not something you would run into, but on my MixMasters, it took a lot of cutting to mate up the .45 upper and ex-9mm lower, I don't think the conversion would be reversible. The slide stops took a good deal of tinkering, but you would be starting with new parts and probably not run into what I did.

Agreed, .38 Super is the correct OAL for best feeding on the 1911 magazine width and slide stroke, but I made mine a 9mm for cheap ammo and free brass. It works ok with hardball, I even prefer Metalform .38 Super magazines, though the Springfield/Metalform Front Ramp 9mm magazines that came with the SA work fine after I had one replaced on guarantee. Old style rear spacer 9mm magazines usually do ok but are prone to slide stop troubles. So I just load the gun with a Super magazine and reload with 9mm, you are seldom going to need another slidelock reload at IDPA.

I am currently shooting MixMaster A, the lightweight 9mm.
Weather is predicted good for this weekend and if it really is, I will have it at the TTG shoot in Hartselle. Come take a look.