If you can’t get a .38 super barrel from Tisas, a cheap alternative is an RIA .38 super barrel. 5” is all I have seen from RIA. Clark/para. You can saw off a little less than 3/4” and profile the barrel. Takes less time than you might think.

I changed a 5” Tisas in 9mm to .38 super pretty easily with an RIA barrel.

I also changed an Ed brown .38 super to a dual caliber gun with a 5” RIA barrel by cutting it and profiling it. The Ed Brown used Clark/para. I happened to have an RIA 9mm barrel so I did it.

If Tisas will sell you the correct barrel, better route. If not, you have inexpensive options. Or call Kart. Which will be expensive.

 

If you are willing to fit the barrel, are capable of fitting a barrel, what he says is absolutely a deal.

I fit a 5" Sig .38 super barrel to my Garrison 4.25" - had to address the area in front of the standing lugs, reprofile the front of the barrel lower lugs, and cut the length down. For 75 bucks you can do some work or spend 200+. Both are valid options.

 

I would definitely try to get the Tisas OEM .38 barrel. The full size barrels from RIA and Tisas are very similar, but different size diameter barrels and bushings have been used on Commander sized .38 Supers, so fitting a RIA barrel would probably require a RIA bushing as well. Tisas has a pretty good parts inventory, and I was able to speak with a tech, before rebarreling my old Regent, and I had really good results fitting a RIA .38 Super barrel to my full size 1911 US Army Model in 9mm.
Let us know how your project goes?

 

I purchased a new Colt super 38 barrel from Numrich under $100 and it dropped in perfect. I did buy a stiff Wilson extractor that works with both calibers.

 

Im pretty sure the Tisas is going to need a ramped barrel.

 

Colt barrel might be unramped. If Tisas, probably Clark/para. Numrich might have all kinds of barrels. Huge supply of parts in the past.

 

I just bought one of these for my Tisas Carry Black 1911 Ultra Match Grade Barrel - Commander, 38 Super, Clark/Para Feed Ramp | eBay mainly because it has the same same Clark/Para ramp as the stock 9mm. Ask me again next week.

 

That Barrel looks like a deal. How much more is a Kart? Also Clark Custom offers them, but all lengths show as out of stock in 38Super.

 

That Barrel looks like a deal. How much more is a Kart?

Getting your barrel married to your slide correctly is where the 1911 gets most of its accuracy.

 

There's no 38 super barrels on the Tisas website, last time I checked. I do know that the 38 super barrel from my nickel Stakeout dropped into my 9mm U.S. ARMY. No movement when you press on the barrel hood.

 

I’d wager that in time the .38 Super barrels will make it into their online parts inventory.

 

There are .38 Super barrels at ATI ( Rock Island ) Rock Island .38 Super barrel. I'm thinking about trying this on my full sized 9mm, but the rim of a .38 Super case is pretty tight and IDK if it will feed properly. HTH
Best,
Rob

 

Get some Super Comp brass (rimless like 9mm)—I used a RIA barrel to go to .38 Super in my 9mm US Army Model, and it worked out very well. The Super Comp brass allows me to keep my extractor optimal for both cartridges.

 

I just fit a Fusion firearms 38 Super barrel into my Tisas B9R Carry Black. I was shooting for my Stingray but when I tried it in the B9R it was perfect so I stopped and ordered another barrel from Fusion for the Stingray. Most of the fitting is on the bottom for the lugs which are oversized from Fusion (I just measured the stock 9mm barrel to start). Fusion has a 20% off Cyber monday deal right now so I would give them a look if you are interested.

 

It was a bit nippy this morning as you can see.

But, I had the day off and really wanted to try the new 38 Super commander and it works flawlessly for the four magazines I managed to put through it while I could still feel my toes (standing in 6" of snow).

I purposely mixed a bunch of different ammo in the mags and had zero feeding or ejecting problems so this barrel is staying in the B9R. I did order a second barrel from Fusion that is on backorder currently but it will eventually make it into the Stingray, I'll save my 9mm for my plastic guns.

 

I'm assuming they don't make double stack .38 Super mags, righf? A Tisas double stack .38 Super would be one helluva pistol!!

 

Yes! A double stack 38 Super is my Wish List carry gun, if someone would ever make one using slim mags (e.g. the width of the Shield Arms S15 double stack 9mm mags). There are plenty of options for an actual 2011 in 38 Super, but that gripframe is too bulky for concealed carry (in my opinion).

That said, I think TIsas and MAC double stack 9mms use standard 2011 mags, right? So, if that's what you want, get one of those and rebarrel it for 38 Super. Tisas/MAC may not offer 38 Super mags, but there are plenty of other options for 2011 mags for 38 Super. Heck, 9mm mags for those might also work for 38 Super.

 

It would make very hot combat pistol! On the flip side, I'd like to see an affordable (Night hawk is awesoms, but spendy!) 30 Super Carry 2011 and 1911. I can still shoot the boomers, but arthritis is wreaking havoc on my hands, so a light weight 1911 (Tisas Aviator) or 2011 (aluminum frame) packing either 12 or 20 rounds of what is essentially a slightly lighter weight bullet 9mm +P, is very appealing. Its a very accurate cartridge and packs quite a punch.

What we're saying is there are some great rounds still to be chambered, but I'd settle for 38 Super for starters. I think most 2011 fans would be very eager to buy a $500-700 high quality Tisas/MAC 2011 in a hotrod, classic cartridge! There aren't many social problems a skilled man couldn't solve with 17-21 rounds of accurate 38 Super!

 

It would make very hot combat pistol! On the flip side, I'd like to see an affordable (Night hawk is awesoms, but spendy!) 30 Super Carry 2011 and 1911. I can still shoot the boomers, but arthritis is wreaking havoc on my hands, so a light weight 1911 (Tisas Aviator) or 2011 (aluminum frame) packing either 12 or 20 rounds of what is essentially a slightly lighter weight bullet 9mm +P, is very appealing. Its a very accurate cartridge and packs quite a punch.

What we're saying is there are some great rounds still to be chambered, but I'd settle for 38 Super for starters. I think most 2011 fans would be very eager to buy a $500-700 high quality Tisas/MAC 2011 in a hotrod, classic cartridge! There aren't many social problems a skilled man couldn't solve with 17-21 rounds of accurate 38 Super!

I have never been very interesting in 30 Super Carry.

I think 38 Super is the sweet spot (to me, anyway) of trading off bullet size and weight for higher velocity.

38 Super +P 90gr Xtreme Defender bullets running 1640 fps is my preferred EDC carry round. I would not choose a 30 over that, no matter how much faster it ran on velocity.

Also, my DW Guardian in 38 Super is an alloy frame single stack 1911. I don't find it hard on my hands at all. If it was a double stack, it would still be my EDC. Instead, I have opted for a 9mm 1911 that is 15+1 and the carry rounds are only 90fps slower (i.e. 1550 fps).

 

What kind of velocity are you getting from a 148gr 38 Super?

Your results are just another vote (in my mind) for 38 Super as the ideal carry round (in today's world, anyway).

Which is why I really don't understand why Tisas offers some 38 Super options but (as far as I can tell) only in 5" guns.

A carry pistol that comes setup for both 38 Super and 9mm is pretty much ideal. Or would be if it was a double stack and optic ready, but I digress.

Being able to carry in 38 Super, but then swap to 9mm in a minute and use that for practicing or shooting matches is the best value for money in pistol buying, I think.

When I was EDC'ing my Guardian, that is what I did. Carry with the 38 Super barrel in it, but change it to the drop-in 9mm barrel from DW and shoot IDPA matches with it, from the same holster and mag pouches I used for EDC. Perfection.

I really do not even understand the appeal of a 5" gun in 38 Super. Expensive ammo to shoot and (for most people) too big/long to concealed carry. If was only going to sell one 38 Super, it would be a 4.25" barrel version.

 

I’m loading 6.3 grs of True Blue for right at 1100 fps, and know I can go hotter with any one of several slower powders.
I built my Super from a 9mm Tisas US Army Model about a year, or two ago.
Think the problem for Tisas being meager on their .38 Super offerings, is lack of ammo, and component availability. The Super is a Gun Guy’s / Reloader’s cartridge, that understands the cartridges capability potential. I’m thinking of a Commander Sized one, and really like the nickel finish Tisas is doing on the Stakeout. I’ve shot varmints (coyotes, fox, badgers) with .357 handguns, beginning, back when I was a teenager (Southern CA), but finally got a .44 Special New Frontier Colt when my family moved to Idaho, and never looked back at the smaller calibers for years. Now, I’m a little older, and my wrists have arthritis, and the .38 Super is becoming mighty appealing!

 

I have only been carrying and shooting 38 Super for about 5 years. But, I have never had any trouble getting carry ammo or range ammo. And it has been running about the same price as 45 ACP.

Nothing is as cheap as 9mm, of course. Which is why I barely buy any 38 Super range ammo. If I'm just going to the range, I swap in a 9mm barrel and shoot that. If I'm vetting a carry gun or really want to practice exactly how I carry, then I shoot factory self-defense ammo (which, again, has never been difficult for me to find).

For reloaders, the only special thing you need is 38 Super brass and I don't think that is particularly hard to find, either.

 

I have only been carrying and shooting 38 Super for about 5 years. But, I have never had any trouble getting carry ammo or range ammo. And it has been running about the same price as 45 ACP.

Nothing is as cheap as 9mm, of course. Which is why I barely buy any 38 Super range ammo. If I'm just going to the range, I swap in a 9mm barrel and shoot that. If I'm vetting a carry gun or really want to practice exactly how I carry, then I shoot factory self-defense ammo (which, again, has never been difficult for me to find).

For reloaders, the only special thing you need is 38 Super brass and I don't think that is particularly hard to find, either.

Hopefully it’s not too late to chime in on this thread. 38Super ammo has been exceedingly high in price. The cheapest readily available ammo to me is 28.95 from the military exchange. I recently purchased 2 38Super Handguns (Colt 1911 and a Kimber stainless pro carry HD2)…so shooting 38Super can be rather expensive. As a reloader I just purchased brass from Starline and produce ammo as cheaply as 9mm. Thanks to the 1911 forum I’ve finally settled on a good load behind a 147gr bullet. 38Super has been a desired gun for many years and I may add another Colt but in a Gold Cup Lite…I’m really loving this caliber…great velocity, heavier bullet than most 9mm, lighter recoil than my 45s!!

 

Those are both really nice looking pistols!

 

side question: when did RIA move from unramped .38Super barrels to the current ramped ones? My RIA in .38Super is unramped- just like the .45acp from them. I didn't realize they'd changed to ramped only.

 

The Super can push 158 gr semi wadcutters sized down to .356 dia, and there’s some 160, and 165 gr bullets that the Super can work with as well. Tested some 147 gr coated flatpoints today, and got 1250-1255 fps—don’t think a 9mm has the case capacity to come close to this; at least I’ve never managed it!

 

Yes, I think everybody here knows that the 38 Super case can hold more powder, so you can achieve more velocity for the same bullet, versus 9mm.

That was not the issue. The issue was the statement that 38 Super can be used with heavier bullets. I.e. implying that there are bullets that you can use with 38 Super that you cannot use in 9mm at all, period.

Is that true? The 158, 160, and 165gr bullets that you can use in 38 Super cannot be used in a 9mm case? Or they just can't be used and still achieve as high a muzzle velocity?

 

I don’t know anyone loading 165s in a 9mm. The bullet is almost the same length as a 9mm case. What kind of velocity would you get with a 9mm thus loaded?
Think its kinda comparing apples to oranges, and I think that was the other commenters initial point, with “heaver bullet than most 9mm”?!

 

I rebuilt a 9mm Rock Island to 38 Super years ago.

Only because I was stupid and bid on two FS Rock Island 9mm at the same time and won both.

 

I’d say lucky you! Can’t ever have enough!!!

 

Sadly, after ordering a 2nd .38 Super barrel in early Dec, and being told it would be 4-6 weeks, and then checking in mid-February and told "another 3-5 weeks"- I gave up and cancelled the order on Monday after hearing "probably another 3 weeks"

 

It would be easy to ream a 9x19 mm barrel out to a 9x23 barrel. I have read that they are a bit hotter than a 38Super. I think Starline has brass. Don't know where to send the barrel to get it done and really don't know that it would fit the gun, but probably would since it's been done.