Any Colt 1911 38 special MR shooters with a RR

[45DUDE]

Greetings Cougar_Hunter,

Thanks for the added clarifications. You are a more well versed collector than I.

Interesting that Colt threaded old MK II barrels and did not change the hood marking.

How did the MK I barrel vary from the MK II barrel?

I do know my MK III barrel had a 0.357" groove diameter. Did the early MK I and MK II have the 0.354" groove diameter?

Cheers,

Dave

Post #3 has the difference

[JRD]

This is a very interesting thread. I'm a S&W Model 52 fan and have always been interested in the Colt 38's. I haven't added one to my collection yet though.
I happened to get into a 38 Mid-Range Wadcutter discussion with a friend over the weekend. A result of that was pulling a 38 AMU cartridge from my collection and comparing it to a 38 Special to see how the AMU rim differed. Here's a picture I took. The AMU is clearly turned into a semi-rim. I thought this thread would be a good place to share this picture.

[Cougar Hunter]

JRD,
The Colt GCNM .38 Mid Range pistols are really nice pistols to shoot. Had Colt done some more R&D before they hit the market, theres no telling what they may have turned out to be. As I stated previously, I shoot mine regularly.

[Longfellow]

Great information guys. Thanks very much. I had recently seen a Giles in a local GS with a tag marked 38 Super. The pistol is a Colt which was originally a Super but I think it might be a conversion. If the owner permits me I would like to bring a dummy 38 Special round to seek if this is in fact a conversion. Typical Giles stippling, heavy rib and brazed buttons inside slide for additional barrel alignment.
I’d like to ask the folks here who have a Clark 61 conversion if the slide was machined to accept that large, rear, half-rib sight. You’d have to have removed it to be able to answer.

[psweigle]

So, if one were to put an 8 pound spring in a Coonan classic (that's the spring it takes to cycle wad cutters in mine anyhow), would it allow said person to compete?

[country gent]

One reason the lock up guns got away with the 6-8 lb springs safely was the mags would only accept wadcutter length ammo, With the 8 lb spring and 158 grn full power ammo a cracked slide or frame would be a big risk

[Cougar Hunter]

Longfellow,
I'd be confident that the Giles pistol is chambered in .38 Wadcutter. The barrel in my Giles pistol is marked Colt .38 Super.
My Clark Model 61-S slide is drilled and tapped (2 screws) holding the 1/2 length Bomar rib to it. Other than that I cant help.

[Longfellow]

Perfect. Thanks Cougar.