I have a Star Super chambered in the 9mm Largo and would like to convert it to Luger. I have seen the conversion barrels for sale online but I am curious as to whether or not that is all that needs to be done. Does the Largo magazine need to be modified to accomodate the Luger shell? What is meant by fitting required for the new barrel? Does anyone know where a good source for the new barrel? Any info you could give me would be appreciated.
I would highly recommend trading for a 9mm Luger version. The 9mm Largo pistols have a small following, and many Largo pistols have been converted already.
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I concur, that the Largo pistols are harder to find and may bring more money, or at the very least a fair trade with one chambered for 9mm Luger. Better deal than spending additional money on conversion parts.
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I realize a trade could be made but that take all the fun out of having a gun that is to some extent unique and different from the somewhat mundane norm. I enjoy the Largo and only what the conversion to make it easier to find ammo between the chance encounters of Largo ammo at my local gun shops. Thanks for the suggestions but I would prefer to do the conversion if I only new if the barrel was all I needed.
If you like the Largo and want to switch back to it, then absolutely do the conversion as long as it doesn't hinder your use of Largo when you so desire. FAC (www.gunsnstuff.net) has a variety of replacement and conversion barrels for pistols. They may be able to answer your questions by phone too.
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Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf
I had this conversion done on a Star Super several years ago. I bought the barrel from an ad in Shotgun News - I think it was made by a company named Federal (not the ammo company). The barrel was not a drop-in; I had to take it to a 'smith to have it fitted.
Results: a pistol that now shoots the same 9x19mm as my other guns. Same recoil spring, same sights, same magazine.
I had this conversion done on a Star Super several years ago.
I would appreciate to know what those modifications consisted of because I got one of those for a Star A and the FAC bbl. looks like having the chamber cut a little too deep.
Moreover, I would have to fit the bbl. lugs to the slide but even if I do this I figure the slide breechface would be too far away from the bbl. breechface. Like a very big headspace.
That's why I'd like to know what your 'smith did to it.
By the way, I thought the Super used a linkless bbl.
I'd like to do this with my Modelo Super too, but the 9mm Luger barrels seem to have been long out of production, and FAC is no more.
There are two other possibilites I have read of.
1) A slight radius of the chamber mouth will allow use of .38 Super cartridges. My source has done this, and claims it's safe with factory .38 Super. He does suggest stiffer Wolf recoil spring though.
2) The 9mm Largo is 9X21mm, and the 9mm Luger is 9X19mm - a ring cut from the Wolf steel case 9mm Luger shell can be LocTited into the chamber to take up the slack, effectively shortening the chamber to fit the 9mm luger. This is also reversible, so the gun retains it's 'collector value'.
I haven't yet tried either method, so cannot vouch for their use.
And yes, the Modelo Supers use a solid linkless barrel, more like the Browning pistol. The Modelo A and B barrels have the Colt pivoting link, and do not fit the Supers.
It can be safe using 38 ACP brass, not super loads. That's you can use 38 SUPER brass to have 38 ACP loads in them. It's just a handloading proposition.
If memory serves, 38 ACP brass can be bought from Starline. It's the same as the 38 SUPER but with different stamping.
The Star 1911 type guns were made to take either .38 Largo or 9mm barrels. I have shot thousands of .38 Super round through my 38 Largo's . The magazines will work with either caliber, as will the rest of the gun including the recoil spring. The Star AS's are not plentiful. The Modelo B are. I always convert the 9mm to .38 Super because I have no interest in the 9mm (.380 Magnum) caliber.
These are $220.00 guns and I would advise a trade if you want a 9mm. If you are interested in down grading your .38 to a 9mm, get on the Internet and find the Star Parts Place. Buy a 9mm barrel and see if it will drop in. It may, or it may not. I would advise a used one if you are not a pistolsmith. Get the bushing also.
I modified mine to use .38 Super brass but I load to standard Largo pressures. I can still shoot Largo ammo in it as well as 9mm Steyr, which is being loaded by Hornady. I've shot a few factory .38 Super rds through it with no apparent damage but the recoil impulse seemed a bit sharper and I've heard that the slide stop on the frame takes a beating with them.
The Star I re-chambered and gave to my son a year ago was test fired with hot IPSC ammo that made the 175,000 Power Factor. I think you can shoot +P in them all day long. It was a Modelo "B" and I gave him three extra magazine for it, too.
I wonder who starts these silly rumors? These are tough fighting handguns and they won't blow up! The barrel is the same size as the .45 ACP on the outside with a smaller hole in it for the .38. The engineering is way ahead of the Colt 1911 to this day with no grip safety, external extractor, a loaded chamber indicator, no seperate mainspring housing, no grip screw bushings and other things inside that are great. No plunger tube is also nice. The magzines come apart for cleaning easy and they are tough.
I agree Dave, the only issue that I've encountered with my Super is the frame steel seems a bit softer than your average 1911. I have no concerns about the power factor other than the slide stop on the frame getting hammered. I have never checked, can you use a 1911 recoil spring in these?
Wolff has a Spring Kit for these guns. No, I don't think a Colt type 1911 recoil spring will work. Everything in that gun gets "Hammered" when you shoot it. I used mine for CCW and did not shoot them much. I built guns that got "Hammered " a lot!
