My .38-45 Clerke project

M29since14 said:
I’ve always wanted to try that. Where did he get a .30 Luger 1911 barrel? - make it himself?

To the OP, thanks for starting the thread. Like others, I had heard of the .38-45 a long time ago but did not know what the case-forming procedure was. Doesn’t look too bad. I’m curious about your 147 grain bullet. It looks promising. Who made the mold?
Click to expand...

I wish I could remember exactly. He may have drilled out a 1911 breech and silver soldered a 30 cal blank, or he might have talked Bar-Sto into making one or two.

I do know he spoke at length with Bar-Sto. He was very serious about the project. As a High Master 2700 shooter, he made a very convincing case for the 30 Luger.

Of course, if you've ever shot a SIG P210-5 or -6 in 30 Luger, you may already know just how accurate that can be.

The 38-45 Clerke is intriguing for many of the same reasons.

Jim
 
Patrick L, as I said over on the Cast Boolits board, this is quite interesting to me. Both because of how I was inspired to daydream about it when it was current and in the gun mags and because of my later relationship with a Navy Team Shooter who had used one so successfully.Steve is now long gone and I guess I'll be able to successfully resist the temptation to start building one for myself, but it's still fun to think about. Thanks again for posting this.

Froggie
 
Skeet 028, reference your question about 9mm to 38 Super conversions. Usually not hard at all. Breech face dimensions are usually close enough, just check to see if the Super round will slide up in the breech face under the extractor. Sometimes a 9mm ejector is too long to allow a loaded Super round to to be ejected and must be shortened slightly. Easily done. Then a 38S barrel and magazine. Sometimes a minor adjustment of the extractor is required. Again, easily done. I went the other way with a current 38 Super, and converted it to 9mm. Just required a 9mm barrel and magazine, no other adjustments. Converting between these two similar cartridges is almost easier than describing how to do it. Do it, then you'll have that other cartridge to reload for;)
 
Skeet028,

I'm a skeet shooter too. Just casual, not registered, but shoot 1 or 2 times a week. I shoot field guns just cause that's what I like. I never went 100 straight, or even 75. Over the years I've managed 6 or 8 50 straights, but those were few and far between.
 
M29since14 said:
I’ve always wanted to try that. Where did he get a .30 Luger 1911 barrel? - make it himself?

To the OP, thanks for starting the thread. Like others, I had heard of the .38-45 a long time ago but did not know what the case-forming procedure was. Doesn’t look too bad. I’m curious about your 147 grain bullet. It looks promising. Who made the mold?
Click to expand...

I remember reading somewhere that, a while back Colt made a batch of 1911s in either .30 luger or .30 mauser, I forget which, to sell in Italy where the .45 ACP round is a no-no for private citizens. More likely .30 mauser come to think of it.
 
I know Colt made some Commanders in .30 Luger because, along with seeing them discussed on the internet, I saw one at a gun show myself years ago. I assumed they were made for Italian sales, and apparently I was was right. BTW, .30 Mauser is too long for Colt magazines and Mag well. There was a .30 Mauser conversion available at J&G sales some time ago, but apparently the rounds had to stack an angle in the magazine, and only about 5 rounds could be loaded....
 
I was able to pick up one of those .30 Luger Commander barrels several years ago at a gun show. At that time, match grade bushings were available for the small diameter barrels from Brownells. Had it fitted by a gunsmith, and that thing is a tack driver at 25 yards - never got a good chance to see how it did at 50.
 
Well, today I turned 53. So I guess I have earned the right to say "back in the day"!!

Of course, some people have more "back days" than me, but then again, some less.

Spending my birthday shooting skeet with my 25 year old son, and then testing out a home made glove-type brass catcher I made specifically for shooting this .38-45. These cases are LABOR INTENSIVE, so I don't want to loose any.

Thanks again for all the replies
 
Don’t want to re-read this thread. If a 38 super barrel is used for this conversion, why not just load the 38 super down to 38 spec velocity with a weaker recoil spring? The 38/45 looks cool and is an era of shooting to re-live and experience. Good thread, Larry
 
38/45

I have the same set of case forming dies as well as a set made by RCBS with a file trim die and then the loading dies. I have one barrel for my colt pistol made from a colt 9mm barrel and two custom barrels for a Thompson Contender. All three of my barrels are .355. I still have a supply of Winchester 680 powder and use a Hornady 147 Gr. 9mm bullet. I am reaching velocities near 1900FPS with the 18 inch carbine barrel. My hoard of 680 is starting to dwindle so I'm looking for an alternative. I don't shoot the hotter loads in the Colt, just the Contenders.
 
Patrick L said:
Wow, my first zombie thread!!!

Or is in not old enough yet?
Click to expand...

Congratulations! It really is an interesting thread and the 38/45 was a fine target round if you had the resources to build and feed a gun for it. I'd like to play with

Froggie
 
Indeed, a Zombie thread. For those who may not be aware, there is a newer and very similar conversion of the Government Model - the .400 Cor-Bon. It is a .45 ACP case necked down to .40. Very simple to make, just one pass of the .45 case through the .400 C-B FL sizing die is all that is needed. Barrels used to be quite cheap, I don't know about today's price. Also, as can be expected, the .45 ACP magazine works. The .400 C-B can actually be handloaded to exceed 10mm performance, but I don't do that with mine, which I load mildly. My M1911 shoots better groups with the .400 than with .45 ACP, .38 Super, or 9mm. Cor-Bon was loading the ammo, no idea if they still are. I am sure the .400 C-B dies are still available from Lee. One advantage is flawless feeding. I have never experienced a failure to feed.
 
Corbon 400 is much more like the 357 SIG in concept: a necked-down round with more power and velocity than the "parent" caliber (45acp) due to the smaller diameter (.401) bullet.

The .38-45 Clerke is a lower velocity and less powerful round, the purpose being the use of nominally 38 caliber projectiles at medium velocities with better feeding characteristics and (hopefully?) increased accuracy at competitive target ranges.

My question would be regarding actual case capacity: most articles refer to the use of mild (to medium?) 38 Special load data. I can imagine some possible serious problems with a double shot of Bullseye or the like!

Anyone happen to know actual case capacity?

Cheers!
 
STORMINNORMAN,

I confess I do not. But to be fair, I think it's just as easy to get a double charge of Bullseye in a regular .38 Special case. Bad news in either gun!

Thanks for pointing out what some have missed; the original intent of this cartridge was a mild, economical, low recoiling and accurate cartridge for NRA Bullseye. In other words, a .38 revolver in an auto! The other rounds mentioned (.400 Corbin, .357 SIG) not to mention some of the later efforts applied to this round morphed into a race to turn this into a rip snorting fire breathing dragonslayer. None of which I have a problem with, but neither do I have any interest in. I use the round as intended.
 
For reference, case capacity of the 38 Special is 23.4gr H2O: the 45acp is 25gr...

Wonder what that reformed shoulder and neck of the 38-45 Clerke actually subtract?

Cheers!
 
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