Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Gunsmithing 38-clark

How easy is it for a competent gunsmith to install a 38 Clark barrel? I have a Kimber 45 ACP 1911 style. (38 Clark is basically a 45 ACP necked down to 357 caliber, I have specs on it and can get a reloading die.) Yes this is a really baic question that an inexperienced unknowledgable person would ask. I will be happy to provide extra info if needed to answer the question. Just let me know. I am too dumb to know what to ask.

Blammer,<BR>Fitting a barrel is a no brainer if the guy has done it a few times and has the right tools.<BR>It also shouldn't cost you more than a c-note to have done properly.<BR>I did a replacement a long time ago for a gent that had worn out(I couldn't beleive it either!) the barrel in his 38-45Hardhead.I assume the 38 Clark is a rebirth of that concept.<BR>Can I ask as to why you are considering a bottleneck case for a 1911?<BR>Cheers!<BR>E4E

sure no problem, I have 1000's of empty 45 acp cases, and 1000's of 38/357 cal bullets. It would be cheaper to rebarrel than to buy bullets for the 45 or cases for the 38/357's. Would it not be like the 357 sig? except call it 38 sig? or 45 sig? anyway. Just like experimenting, and kinda wanted to do something a bit different.

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Arial">quote:</font><HR><font face="Arial" size="2">Originally posted by blammer:<BR><B>sure no problem, I have 1000's of empty 45 acp cases, and 1000's of 38/357 cal bullets. It would be cheaper to rebarrel than to buy bullets for the 45 or cases for the 38/357's. Would it not be like the 357 sig? except call it 38 sig? or 45 sig? anyway. Just like experimenting, and kinda wanted to do something a bit different.</B></font><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>Which brings up a technical quesiton I had never considered before. Can many-times-fired .45's be safely necked down and re-used in a bottlenecked round? Will the necks be more prone to cracks than virgin brass? <P>Talker<P>

Blammer,<BR>There are some oddball things one must consider with the conversion.<BR>First is the unsupported case head due to the feed ramp keeps the wildcat from matching the .357sig which uses thicker brass and a maore supported case head.<BR>Next comes the issue of the used brass.<BR>How stressed out is it?<BR>Then the groove dimension of the barrel used.<BR>Is it intended for .355 or .357?<BR>A good replacement barrel can be dropped in for around a c-note.<BR>The Clark barrel will nick you for a C-note and then installation fees and then the time invested in case forming etc.<BR>Look hard at the offerings from McCormick and Storm lake Machine in .45acp.<BR>The .38/45 hardhead died because of such issues.<BR>Finally if you just want to get rid of all those .38 bullets,a used .38 revolver will only gig you for around 2 bills and then you can get rid of it for about what you paid for it.The same can't be said for a .38 Clark barrel.However in the end,something cool and unique is always fun,and sometimes ya just gotta swim upstream.<BR>Good luck!<BR>E4E<P>------------------<BR>Remove the mechanical variables,and then you can only blame yourself!

The brl would be for 357. If I used this for IPSC shooting, do you think I could get Major power factor out of it?<BR>Brass shot about 2wice, good shape...<BR>forming brass would be a simple matter of running in the case to neck size it down, no trimming involved. I think found the die somewhere, it was cheap have to research again...