38 Super build

I read the recommendation given to the wife with the shoulder injury about the 38 Super. My question:

Who makes a match grade barrel, and bushing for the 38 Super, and where can they be purchased?

I built mine with a kart. I'm going to use a KKM for my nephew's build.

I use unramped barrels

Purchased the kart directly from them

Same with KKM

Brownells and others carry the ramped Karts

I haven't built it yet, but Clark is doing a 38 Super barrel with a 1-10 twist.  Might give you more options of bullet weights to work with over the Kart or KKM.  I wouldn't recommend KKM for a lead gun, bore is a little to tight generally for lead bullets.

If you are modifying a 9MM you will need to identify what type of barrel is used in the 9mm frame. 

There are three types which are not compatible. 

Clark/Para (ramped)
Nowlin/Wilson (ramped)
Unramped

Please correct me If I am wrong, because I am investigating a similar project but the 38 Super is a HP round. Owing to the pressure I suspect the ramped barrel is better even if you are shooting bullseye loads. 

And do ramped barrels feed better?

I've had no problems with my un-ramped Kart after I figured out what spring the gun liked.  Also extractor tension took some tuning verses the normal 45...  I actually prefer it over the ramped barrels for BE loads.  The fired cases show no bulging at all.  using a un-ramped barrel generally requires a 9mm/super feed ramp cut.. My super is a Caspian frame/slide combo.


K.C. what size do you find the KKM barrel bores.

rich.tullo wrote:If you are modifying a 9MM you will need to identify what type of barrel is used in the 9mm frame. 

There are three types which are not compatible. 

Clark/Para (ramped)
Nowlin/Wilson (ramped)
Unramped

Please correct me If I am wrong, because I am investigating a similar project but the 38 Super is a HP round. Owing to the pressure I suspect the ramped barrel is better even if you are shooting bullseye loads. 

And do ramped barrels feed better?

The .38 Super KC is referring to is for me.  He is using a Clark 1-10 but is having the ramp removed so I can swap the barrel with my 9MM which is a 1-32 KKM unramped, which KC built for me.  The .38 Super loads will be light loads so unramped is fine as far as feeding I'd say a good unramped build will feed every bit as well as a ramped barrel.

- Dave

I just measured a kkm at 0.355" and a Clark at 0.356". I think the leade angle has a lot to do with kkm and lead bullets. I have a kkm 45 that loves lead. Has 1.5 degree leade angle on throat.
Good Luck Mr. Valdez :-)
Jon

I don't have a KKM 9mm barrel or a Kart 9mm barrel on hand to measure.  Just past experience with both that KKM runs tighter on the bore diameter than Kart usually.  As Dave said I'm doing a 38 Super for him, I have another 38 Special to do and just accepted work for a rebarrel of a Giles 38 Special yesterday.  Using Clark 1-10 barrels for all of them.

Has anyone done Ransom Rest testing on the Clark 38 Super barrel. Results?

AllAces wrote:Has anyone done Ransom Rest testing on the Clark 38 Super barrel. Results?

It's 1-10 twist  it's gonna be awesome.  if anyone feels like it David sams does barrel testing