Was looking at getting a RIA .38 Super

Was looking at getting a RIA .38 Super

wganz [Team Member]

5/20/2012 1:00:57 AM

And after the sub 1911 thread, was wondering if there were any problems with them. It is the standard 5" .gov model.

Thanks for any input.

REAinPA [Member]

5/20/2012 7:27:39 PM

I've had mine for about two years now. Has 2,200 assorted
rounds through it. Not a problem since day one. Very dependable
and accurate. The .38 Super is a great round.

GaryM [Member]

5/20/2012 8:45:05 PM

Talk to a fellow shooter today who has one and he told me he really likes it.

sumo61 [Team Member]

5/21/2012 6:56:28 AM

I bought a plain GI model from a local shop and Arnel at Rock Island sold me a new barrel in .38 Super. Drop in with no work involved at all. Then of course a few improvements. I think these guns are the best bang for the buck right now.

Gitasgod [Member]

5/21/2012 10:04:19 AM

Originally Posted By sumo61:
I bought a plain GI model from a local shop and Arnel at Rock Island sold me a new barrel in .38 Super. Drop in with no work involved at all. Then of course a few improvements. I think these guns are the best bang for the buck right now.

http://i480.photobucket.com/albums/rr162/sumo61/rockisland9mm38super.jpg

You CAN'T just "drop-in" a .38 Super BBL to convert a G.I. 45ACP... The slide is different to accommodate the smaller case head and the extractor has to have deeper reach.

sumo61 [Team Member]

5/21/2012 9:50:01 PM

Originally Posted By Gitasgod:

You CAN'T just "drop-in" a .38 Super BBL to convert a G.I. 45ACP... The slide is different to accommodate the smaller case head and the extractor has to have deeper reach.

I agree that you can't change a .45 to a .38 super by a simple drop in. That is why mine was a GI basic 9mm not a 45. Sorry if I did not make that clear in my original post.

lasnyder [Member]

5/21/2012 11:57:38 PM

38 super brass is getting expensive... many of the USPSA shooters are converting back to 9mm (major power factor) guns, just because of the price of brass... in our local matches, typically brass is left on ground to speed up the squad... most 9mm shooters do not bother to pick it up later...

tenmikemike [Member]

5/23/2012 1:16:05 AM

Originally Posted By lasnyder:
38 super brass is getting expensive... many of the USPSA shooters are converting back to 9mm (major power factor) guns, just because of the price of brass... in our local matches, typically brass is left on ground to speed up the squad... most 9mm shooters do not bother to pick it up later...

Do you mean something like the 9x21, because I have always read that a factory 9x19 won't make major?

Gregory_K [Team Member]

5/23/2012 1:09:36 PM

Originally Posted By tenmikemike:

Do you mean something like the 9x21, because I have always read that a factory 9x19 won't make major?

reloaded 9x19 makes major just fine.
I'll push a 124 gr around 1300 to 14000 fps, out of a 9mm major open gun.

eta oal is longer than factory 9mm and only a few powders are "safe" for this.
HS6 and AUTOCOMP come to the top of my head atm.

Daytona955i [Team Member]

5/23/2012 2:29:04 PM

Originally Posted By Gregory_K:

Originally Posted By tenmikemike:

Do you mean something like the 9x21, because I have always read that a factory 9x19 won't make major?

wganz [Team Member]

5/26/2012 8:23:34 PM

Originally Posted By sumo61:

Originally Posted By Gitasgod:

You CAN'T just "drop-in" a .38 Super BBL to convert a G.I. 45ACP... The slide is different to accommodate the smaller case head and the extractor has to have deeper reach.

I agree that you can't change a .45 to a .38 super by a simple drop in. That is why mine was a GI basic 9mm not a 45. Sorry if I did not make that clear in my original post.

Nice set up. Both 9mm & .38 Super.

What kind of hoops were required to jump to get the .38 Super barrel?

sumo61 [Team Member]

5/27/2012 8:26:12 AM

Originally Posted By wganz:

Originally Posted By sumo61:

Originally Posted By Gitasgod:

You CAN'T just "drop-in" a .38 Super BBL to convert a G.I. 45ACP... The slide is different to accommodate the smaller case head and the extractor has to have deeper reach.

I agree that you can't change a .45 to a .38 super by a simple drop in. That is why mine was a GI basic 9mm not a 45. Sorry if I did not make that clear in my original post.

Nice set up. Both 9mm & .38 Super.

What kind of hoops were required to jump to get the .38 Super barrel?

I just made a phone call to Arnel and talked to him at his shop. It was around $59 shipped to me. Total drop in unit.

ODA_564 [Life Member]

5/28/2012 1:58:25 PM

Originally Posted By sumo61:

Originally Posted By wganz:

Originally Posted By sumo61:

Originally Posted By Gitasgod:

You CAN'T just "drop-in" a .38 Super BBL to convert a G.I. 45ACP... The slide is different to accommodate the smaller case head and the extractor has to have deeper reach.

I agree that you can't change a .45 to a .38 super by a simple drop in. That is why mine was a GI basic 9mm not a 45. Sorry if I did not make that clear in my original post.

Nice set up. Both 9mm & .38 Super.

What kind of hoops were required to jump to get the .38 Super barrel?

I just made a phone call to Arnel and talked to him at his shop. It was around $59 shipped to me. Total drop in unit.

I have one I put Trijicon sights on. After a trip to Arnel to fix a magazine catch issue, it became my favorite 1911.