1911 .32 ACP Conversion Gunsmith?

First topic message reminder :

Read an old thread on targettalk and someone mentioned that there was a gunsmith in the US converting 1911's to 32 ACP. Anyone know who that may be? Also, why haven't we seen any 32 acp conversion for 1911's? I realize the market may be small, but it seems like someone would have done it by now. Pardon my ignorance, I don't know enough about it to know if this is a stupid question...

Dave

The bolt has a pretty simple design. They drill a larger hole in it till about the last 1/4" then drill a smaller hole in the face aligned with the rim of the 22. The way it is made the firing pin can come out anywhere you want in the recessed face. There is a lot of extra room in the bolt for changes. Bolt is also wide enough to have a little metal left around the recessed face. I think the extractor would work with no modification but could be dressed a little.



I was ready to post this then noticed your post. I had two thoughts about the mag. I have some old style that come apart and I could probably change their internal shape (Hammer) or change top of mag completely by welding new top. This is a 32 auto mag that would replace top of 41 mag.

I’m thinking the easiest would still be a steel slide Marvel conversion and just redesign it so as not to remove as much weight.

It’s also probably easier to add some sort of spacer to .45acp mags (probably one of the most produced mags on the planet) than figuring out how to make new ones or modify ones for a relatively low production gun.

I recall seeing a converted 41 on Gun Broker I think a top Smith did it. 

Browning makes a .380 1911 I believe the frame is reduced so its not really a 1911. I would bet you can convert that into 32. Now how do you get a magazine?


http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/pistols/1911-380.html

rich.tullo wrote:I recall seeing a converted 41 on Gun Broker I think a top Smith did it. 

Browning makes a .380 1911 I believe the frame is reduced so its not really a 1911. I would bet you can convert that into 32. Now how do you get a magazine?


http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/pistols/1911-380.html

You really wouldn't want to try getting one of those ready for bullseye...everything on it is 85% scale.  Imagine trying to get triggers, hammers, sears, scope mounts, etc.  You may as well design something from scratch.

rich.tullo wrote:I recall seeing a converted 41 on Gun Broker I think a top Smith did it. 

Browning makes a .380 1911 I believe the frame is reduced so its not really a 1911. I would bet you can convert that into 32. Now how do you get a magazine?


http://www.browning.com/products/firearms/pistols/1911-380.html

I think Bob Loveless could have made one. Famous for his knifes but had a thing about converting model 41's.

KC is real good with model 41's.  Maybe he will chime in on the feasibility of the conversion.
He probably already has one.
Alex

After digging, found these guys. Pretty sure they're not in business. Also, not exactly what I'd be looking for. Anyone know them?

http://www.ncggasgun.com/ultimate_32sw.htm

Link to a 32SW gas blowback conversion.

Dave

What sorcery is this?

That's neat. 3/8" at 50 yards, I guess that's good enough lol.

A successful stacked magazine design for a rimmed or semi-rimmed cartridge must prevent "rim lock".  If the rim of the cartridge at the top of the magazine gets behind the rim of the cartridge below it, it is locked in place by that cartridge and cannot feed.  This can happen even with the puny semi-rim of the 32 acp.  I have even had it happen a couple of times with my 32 acp Pardini.  It's part of what makes handling rimmed cartridges tough in an autoloader.

Dcforman wrote:After digging, found these guys. Pretty sure they're not in business. Also, not exactly what I'd be looking for. Anyone know them?

http://www.ncggasgun.com/ultimate_32sw.htm

Link to a 32SW gas blowback conversion.

Dave

Really cool idea, but really old page, and no response to emails.  I tried several months ago.

Guys i have been working on such an animal for some time. If i can figure out how to reduce file sizes i will upload some a solid models. There is much more to it than a breach block and barrel. Every change brings 3 new challenges. The hammer must strike the firing pin correctly thus the center line of the barrel must follow, then the extractor, then the ejector and so on... I'm  a machinist with a small cnc/job shop at home and have spent countless hours reading and designing. The US Colt and m9111 shop manual have been my bible. My 9 to 5 works me 6 to 7 days a week, when i can catch up with my job shop work at home in the evenings  i will get back with it.  I already have several slides and a barrel ready to be lined. Magazines will be the biggest obstacle.

ASchlem wrote:Guys i have been working on such an animal for some time. If i can figure out how to reduce file sizes i will upload some a solid models. There is much more to it than a breach block and barrel. Every change brings 3 new challenges. The hammer must strike the firing pin correctly thus the center line of the barrel must follow, then the extractor, then the ejector and so on... I'm  a machinist with a small cnc/job shop at home and have spent countless hours reading and designing. The US Colt and m9111 shop manual have been my bible. My 9 to 5 works me 6 to 7 days a week, when i can catch up with my job shop work at home in the evenings  i will get back with it.  I already have several slides and a barrel ready to be lined. Magazines will be the biggest obstacle.

Weld a bersa 32acp magazine inside a 1911 magazine

pic

Chris Miceli wrote:Weld a bersa 32acp magazine inside a 1911 magazine

Shame on you.......I said to silver braze the Bersa mag in a 1911 mag. That way you can heat it up and change the angle if it isn't quite right

can't seem to find a bersa 32apc magazine in stock.

by ASchlem
can't seem to find a bersa 32apc magazine in stock....




A A Ron ...you may be sitting in a gold mine

Wes Lorenz wrote:

Chris Miceli wrote:Weld a bersa 32acp magazine inside a 1911 magazine

Shame on you.......I said to silver braze the Bersa mag in a 1911 mag. That way you can heat it up and change the angle if it isn't quite right

you mean you would built something and not do it right the first time?!?!?

paul noles wrote:by ASchlem
can't seem to find a bersa 32apc magazine in stock....  




A A Ron ...you may be sitting in a gold mine

Not if magazines cost as much as a pardini. lol

Chris Miceli wrote:

Wes Lorenz wrote:

Chris Miceli wrote:Weld a bersa 32acp magazine inside a 1911 magazine

Shame on you.......I said to silver braze the Bersa mag in a 1911 mag. That way you can heat it up and change the angle if it isn't quite right

you mean you would built something and not do it right the first time?!?!?

No college degree to figure out the correct angle, so all I was blessed with is melting metal until I get it right
This is an interesting post. I talked to Larry Carter back in 2003 to see what he had tried and then had Dave Wilson make a barrel for my GSP.
I'll post the targets after I shoot some 85 gr Hornady's thru the ERMA .311" x 10" Dave Wilson barrel.
A 1911 is in the works for next year when I get my mill set up again.
How is your Sam's barrel working?