What is the Auto Ordnance .38 Super?

[Linstrum]

Anybody here own one?

I found a new Auto Ordnance .38 Super for sale for $600. The guy who owns it wasn't available to show it to me, so I only looked at a photo of it. He'll be around tomorrow, though. The only description he has of it is that it is an "Auto Ordnance .38 Super".

From what I can tell it looks like a knock-off of Browning's venerable 1911A1 except in .38 Super instead of .45 ACP.

I know the .38 Super is nothing to sneeze at, it's got a bit more power than the 9mm Parabellum, which tops out at about 1100 fps with 125 grain bullets and the .38 Super tops out at 1290 fps with the same bullet, but that's about all I know.

One of the things I was wondering about is if the Auto Ordnance .38 Super can be changed over to .45 ACP with just a barrel, spring, and magazine. I looked on the Internet and coudn't find anything specifically if the Auto Ordnance is the same as the good old U.S. military 1911A .45.


rl620

[dragonrider]

"One of the things I was wondering about is if the Auto Ordnance .38 Super can be changed over to .45 ACP with just a barrel, spring, and magazine. I looked on the Internet and coudn't find anything specifically if the Auto Ordnance is the same as the good old U.S. military 1911A .45."

You will need a slide also.

[fecmech]

That is fairly pricey IMO for an Auto ordinance gun, their quality control was not the best. You can probably buy a new Springfield Armory Mil spec .45 for that kind of money.

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=140627147

[45nut]

there are ejector issues also in converting to 45acp from 38super.

[StarMetal]

This is an easy one guys. The right answer is NO. Now I'll tell you why. You have to have the right slide to fit the case head size. That would be either a 38 Super slide or 9mm slide. The next reason is that those slides also have the correct small firing pin. Next they have the ejector slot in the correct position. That covers the slides. You will have to have a 9mm/38Super ejector. Of course the correct magazine, barrel, and recoil spring.

Joe

[anachronism]

And as mentioned (it bears repeating), quality control is not a strong point for Auto Ordinance. You can find a much better gun for the money.

[jhrosier]

I bought an AO 1911 several years ago and would not consider buying another one.
All of the internal parts were junk and no standard 1911 parts would work without extensive hand fitting.

But then, you might get lucky.

Jack

[azrednek]

600 bux for an Auto Ordinance 38 Super is way out of line. I believe 3-4 hundred would be reasonable. There are so many good, high quality 1911 type pistiols in 38 Super available there is no reason to shell out 600 bux for a second rate handgun.

The change over to 45 is a real pain. I'm speaking second hand, friend of mine did it years ago with a Colt using after market parts. Best I recall he was always dealing with some kind of a problem. I do recall he had alot less trouble converting it to 9MM. If I remember correctly he used the same slide for 9MM and 38 Super.

[9.3X62AL]

From what I've seen of A/O 1911A1 pistols, I would not consider the purchase. As said above, there are far better pistols at that price level sold new.

[StarMetal]

600 bux for an Auto Ordinance 38 Super is way out of line. I believe 3-4 hundred would be reasonable. There are so many good, high quality 1911 type pistiols in 38 Super available there is no reason to shell out 600 bux for a second rate handgun.

The change over to 45 is a real pain. I'm speaking second hand, friend of mine did it years ago with a Colt using after market parts. Best I recall he was always dealing with some kind of a problem. I do recall he had alot less trouble converting it to 9MM. If I remember correctly he used the same slide for 9MM and 38 Super.

I reckon you mean problems feeding and such. Don't see why, same gun as if you both it factory. No problem changing over. Make sure gun is unloaded, stripped off the 45 slide and barrel, punch the pin retaining the ejector, pull out ejector and put in the 9mm/38super one, assemble the other slide with barrel and recoil spring guide and spring, assemble onto the frame, and away you go. Let time doing it then typing this.

I just made a 9mm upper for my Gold Cup frame. Used a Springfield slide and Kart barrel. Runs fine and shoots less then an inch at 25 yards with the RCBS 124 cone nose.

Joe

[Linstrum]

Hey, guys, thanks for the input. I have never owned anything made by AO and don't know anyone who does, so AO stuff is new territory for me.

The last thing I need is a junk gun, I have had too many in the past.


rl622

[crabo]

Good conclusion!

[StarMetal]

I have an AO made semi auto Tommy gun and I wouldn't say it was junk. Works perfect, very accurate, and well made. I wonder if they have the 1911's made somewhere else for them?

Joe

[anachronism]

Mine had a soft frame & slide. It exhibited signs of peening at the slide stop notch in the slide and also on the frame where the spring guide contacts it in about 300 rounds. I traded it off & went back to shooting revolvers, thinking all semi-autos were like that. Then I bought my first Springfield, followed by my first Colt. Then madness overtakes me & I can no longer remember them all.

[9.3X62AL]

Mine had a soft frame & slide. It exhibited signs of peening at the slide stop notch in the slide and also on the frame where the spring guide contacts it in about 300 rounds.

Maybe we owned the same pistol! Same story with my A/O, metallurgy was sub-standard.

[400cor-bon]

early ones were junk
new post Kahr aquisition are supposed to be "better"
but the examples I have seen I would not buy

[bobthenailer]

ive shot 2 that friends had , when the gun worked , jams , need trigger work, had to use wilson mags and one had no rifleing half way down the barrel , i can see why there less expensive ! both friends sold them

[runfiverun]

hmmm i musta got one they messed up on ,as i have fired about 2k rounds in mine and have never ever had any kind of malfunction unless it was cold and no lube in the thing.
two drops of oil in -20* weather fixed it right up.
might have been the 500 rds and no cleaning that gummed it up some too.
paid about 400 for it so the 600 sounds a bit too high.