Conversion of CZ 9mm to 38 super possible?

[Roscoe2212]

Thought I'd ask the question - seems like it should be  pretty easy, but I'm no gunsmith.

[Roscoe2212]

sorry- I did not do a proper search first.  I have a 97B that would be a candidate, as well as
a Tanfoglio 45 that one can buy a conversion kit for.
I read the conversion of 9 to 38super enough to give that idea up.  I'll probably sell my
fancy 9mm that I don't shoot.

[Wobbly]

There are "long" and "short" cartridges. On the most basic level... to do a successful caliber conversion on an automatic pistol you need to start with a cartridge within the same group. This is because of the pistol's operating slide distance. A "short throw" slide won't be able to physically feed or eject a "long cartridge".

Short
9x18 Mak, 9x19 Luger, 357SIG, 40S&W

Long
9x21, 9x23, 10Auto, 38Super, 45ACP, 38Spcl

[WW Martin]

Tanfoglio witness lists 38 SA (supper) and you can usually find a few listed on Gone Broker, sometimes at a fairly reasonable price. I've found them well made comparable to CZs for fit & finish. Triggers are a little heavy but manageable.
38-SA suffers from the same problem that you have with the 10mm and 45acp that is longer cartridge length won't fit in the 9mm magazines.

Bill

[Stanseven]

There are "long" and "short" cartridges. On the most basic level... to do a successful caliber conversion on an automatic pistol you need to start with a cartridge within the same group. This is because of the pistol's operating slide distance. A "short throw" slide won't be able to physically feed or eject a "long cartridge".

Short
9x18 Mak, 9x19 Luger, 357SIG, 40S&W

Long
9x21, 9x23, 10Auto, 38Super, 45ACP, 38Spcl

Good information.  I knew some cartridges aren’t interchangeable with others, but never thought of it this way.  Thanks

[Wobbly]

Good information.  I knew some cartridges aren’t interchangeable with others, but never thought of it this way.  Thanks

Add to that the comment by WW Martin, the grip also needs to be longer to hold the longer magazine to hold the longer... Well, you get the idea.

You'll see a steady stream of used 38Super guns for sale because that was the "go to" gun for action pistol shooters about 15 years ago. Many considered it the "9mm on steroids" answer they needed for Open Class. It's a really nice cartridge with a long and interesting history. It was invented for police work during the 1930's as a 38 caliber to replace the whimpy 38Spcl. But it was quickly and totally eclipsed by the 357Magnum.

It was never adopted by any police or military and served mainly in private use in those countries when it was illegal to own military cartridge calipers. This is why a great many of the 38S you see for sale on Gun Broker are from Mexico and Texas.

[Roscoe2212]

We can always trust Wobbley
Thanks Richard-all I have are long throw.

[Wobbly]

And just like 357M is a "stretched" 38Spcl (using the same die set)....

That's how we got the 40S&W. The FBI tried 10Auto, but wanted a less powerful cartridge in a 9mm grip size. So S&W set about simply shortening the 10Auto. And again, they both use the same die set.

"And now you know the rest of the story."

[oneoff]

I’ve been a big fan of the 38 Super for some time, and still have one keeper, but have gone to the 9x23 Winchester to work with now.  Might be worth a look if you get set on doing custom work anyway.

If you do, there is a distinct difference between Winchester-made cases and all others (sadly, even Starline).  It can be quite expensive to collect Winchester cases, but they do last a long, long time.

Probably not worth it, but I wish I’d picked up on it sooner, and thought I’d share.

[Wobbly]

• 38Super and 9x23Win have the exact same OAL dimension. So if you have a 38S, getting a second barrel for 9x23Win makes sense. You can even use the same mags.

• One of the downsides of 38S is that it first "head spaced" on the hood of the barrel. To do this the cartridge rim was larger than the cartridge head. When its popularity picked up again in the 1990's, most makers converted over to "head spacing" on the case mouth to be like all other auto pistol cases. Then, special case versions were introduced to keep the rounds from awkwardly stacking like 22LR. To make the cases stack correctly in the mag, "38Super Comp" and "38Jarret" were introduced. I say this only to warn the new 38S owner that you may be in for some awkward moments when sorting range brass. Some guns really don't care, but others (like my Kimber) really do.

[tdogg]

Man I tell you what, having all these variants is a pain in the arse when sorting range pick up brass.  I shoot and work USPSA comps and I usually come home with a ~5gallon bucket of mixed brass per major worked.  It's is mostly 9mm, then some 40 S&W, then some 38 Super Comp, then a few 45 ACP for the dozen or so shooters that shoot single stack still.  The majority of the long 38's is 38 Super Comp but there are a few hold outs with 38 Super, 9x23, 38TJ? (probably the Jarret you mentioned).  I have ziplocks of these random case types as there isn't enough yet to do anything with them.  It makes sorting more tedious.  That and small primer 45, who ever thought that was a good idea needs to be flogged!

Build a 38 Super Comp!  Brass will be easier to come by and you won't have the magazine stacking issue.

Cheers,
Toby