9mm BH cylinder to 38 super

[gasmandave]

Can a 9mm Blackhawk cylinder be bored out to use 38 super instead?

And if that's possible what gunsmith would do the work?

9mm is .355
38 super is .356
38/357 is .357
From what I can tell and all 3 will work.

 

[JAYDAWG]

My Hornady reloading manual says guns made for the super have been manufactured with all 3 of the barrel diameters you mentioned.
My Lyman manual says the super case is "semi-rimless" and guns have been made that headspace on the rim and some that headspace on the mouth of the case, and not to roll crimp the latter.
Might have to chamfer the cylinder entrance to make them go in far enough so the cylinder will turn. I'm no gunsmith, but I'd bet it would work. In fact, likely someone here has done it!
Cool idea.............

 

[gasmandave]

I have an old 3 screw Blackhawk in .357 and just picked up a 9mm cylinder for it. Although 9mm is easy to find, 38 super isn't. What I've read about the comparison between 9mm and the Super is that the Super is more powerful due to more room in the case for powder. I think it would be unique.

 

[contender]

I'm sure a custom gunsmith could do the conversion. And w/o seriously looking it up,, I think it's highly possible it can be done quite easily.

The .38 Super is a longer case, and yes,, it can be loaded "hotter."

But a word of caution.
Besides the expense of the brass,, there are different "flavors" of .38 Super.
.38 Super
.38 Super Plus
.38 Super Comp
.38 Super TJ (Todd Jarrett)

These come to mind easily,, because I see them in USPSA competition.
But they have dwindled in use due to the USPSA allowing the 9mm be loaded to "major" power factor.

Most folks seem to prefer the .38 Super Comp overall.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I believe the 9mm chamber is bigger in diameter than the .38 Super chamber.

 

[DGW1949]

Ale-8(1) is right. As best as I remember, the 9X19 case is also tapered and the .38 Super is not. In other words, the lower portion of the 9MM case (just up from the extractor grove) is fatter than the .38 Super case, so it follows that there's really nothing you can do short of welding the hole up and starting over that will enable the re-reamed chamber to properly/fully support the longer/skinnier cartridge....Not saying that that a simple re-reaming won't work, just saying that it won't work right. In the least you can expect bulged brass. If you're a hot-rodder, you may get some splits.

DGW

 

[s4s4u]

I believe the 9mm chamber is bigger in diameter than the .38 Super chamber.

The 9mm is .002" larger at the case head, but that is only the first 1/4" or so. Beyond that point, the Super is of equal or larger diameter. I am pretty sure your FL die will iron that little bit of "bulge" without issue.

I'd consider it a relative non-issue.

 

[arfmel]

I like the.38 Super, and have a couple of Colt and Kimber pistols chambered for the cartridge. But if you have a .357 Blackhawk cylinder for power, and a 9mm Blackhawk cylinder for cheap shooting, I don't know what additional advantage you would get from having a .38 super cylinder. .38 Super ammo is generally loaded with FMJ bullets and is more expensive than 9mm and less powerful than .357 Magnum. In fact, nowadays there are many factory loaded 9mm rounds that rival nearly any commercially available .38 Super load. JMHO.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I like the.38 Super, and have a couple of Colt and Kimber pistols chambered for the cartridge. But if you have a .357 Blackhawk cylinder for power, and a 9mm Blackhawk cylinder for cheap shooting, I don't know what additional advantage you would get from having a .38 super cylinder.

How about "just because"?

 

[arfmel]

Just because is a valid reason

 

[gasmandave]

Just because is a valid reason, however I think I'll stick with the 9mm. Ammo is cheap and I'm a cheapskate.

 

[JAYDAWG]

 

[Ale-8(1)]

The 9mm is .002" larger at the case head, but that is only the first 1/4" or so. Beyond that point, the Super is of equal or larger diameter. I am pretty sure your FL die will iron that little bit of "bulge" without issue.

Yeah, the Super chamber is a little deeper than the 9mm, but it looks like a Super chamber reamer used carefully should take care of that.

 

[bergmen]

9mm Luger cartridge is indeed tapered (never knew that). 38 Super is cylindrical (SAAMI Specifications).

 

[CBH44]

9mm Major with 147-160 gr. cast bullets might work. Old IPSC loads.

 

[woodperson]

.38 Bain and Davis?

 

[Gator89]

Well, I have a Colt 1911 Super 38, I have factory ammo, I have a Dillon 550 tool head set up for 38 Super, I have all the fixings for 38 Super.

A 38 Super Blackhawk cylinder would be quite neat to have.

 

[NikA]

A 9x23 Winchester reamer ought to clean up a 9x19 chamber. Could probably use .38 Super loads in it, might slightly bulge the brass at the base.