9 MM Largo conversion?
I have a 9 MM Largo pistol. With 9 MM Largo ammo not being off-the-shelf sort of stuff, can this pistol be converted to standadrd 9 MM Luger? Is this a easy job of rebarreling, and will the extractor work with the Luger ammo? Where could I obtain a replacement barrel, and/or get the necessary conversion work done? I have a small supply of Largo ammo, some non-corrosive and some corrosive. But once that it is expended, it sure would be handier to shoot 9 MM Luger ammo. I am seeking any and all advice. Thanks.
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You didn't specify what type of pistol you have? Most of the ones found chambered for the Largo cartridge are obsolete Spanish military pistols of questionable quality. Being that they are all over 50 years old and their manufacturers are all out of business, ( Star, Astra, & Llama), likely it will be very difficult obtaining a barrel chambered for 9mm Luger.
Your best bet IMHO is to start loading for your pistol. Brass isn't a problem as it's sold in the States by Winchester as 9 X 23, and StarLine as 9mm Super Comp. The other required components are all standard for the 9mm Luger.0 -
Reloading is the 9MM Largo is the answer. Also some of the loading ammo, if not all, will be Berdan primed and therefore not reloadable. 0 -
Yeah, one of the greatest things about reloading is that you are no longer at the mercy of the inventory purchasing manager of your local sporting goods store. His opinions of what will be profitable to stock may NOT be in alignment with yours. [:D] Happy shooting. 0 -
I load ammo for my Astra 400 using 38 super brass. I use 125gr .357" bullets. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by rufe-snow
Your best bet IMHO is to start loading for your pistol. Brass isn't a problem as it's sold in the States by Winchester as 9 X 23, and StarLine as 9mm Super Comp. The other required components are all standard for the 9mm Luger.
Well, just to be absolutely clear here, 9x23 Winchester loads operate at rifle like pressures exceeding 50,000PSI, and deliver ballistics equal to or exceeding that of full power .357 magnum loads.
If you try to run those hot loads through probably *ANY* production 9mm largo gun, there is a reasonably good chance that the pistol will explode on the first shot, ruining the gun and your day. Please don't do this. If you're lucky enough to avoid grenading your gun on the first shot, you WILL beat the crap out of it with 9x23 ammo, and sooner or later (and probably sooner) it will fail.
Feel free to make up loads using the 9x23 BRASS (expensive as it might be) for loading 9mm largo rounds, but make sure you load it using 9mm LARGO loads!
Also, SOME 9mm largo guns may chamber .38 supers. Same thing basically applies. While weaker than 9x23, .38 super is still more powerful than 9mm largo, and isn't safe to fire in many 9mm largo guns.
The small rim on .38 super cartridges can also cause problems in 9mm magazines, and with extraction. So while you might be able to get away reloading .38 super brass to 9mm largo specs, and shooting it through SOME 9mm largo guns, the 9x23 (which has a true rimless case) is probably better.
EDIT: One more thing; there won't be a huge selection, but 9mm largo ammo is available for sale on the auction site here, and a quick peek shows it isn't terribly expensive.0 -
I have several Star model 'super' pistols in 9mm largo, and load for them. starline makes (made?) proper brass for the largo. There was a co. that had some 9mm luger barrels made for these that worked well but they went out of business. if you can find some .38 AUTO[/b brass and ammo also work well. 0 -
SOME of the Llama Extra models are true 1911 clones and a 1911 9mm luger barrel will drop in. However, the extractor groove is different and extraction will be problematic; also the 9mm luger is higher pressure.
I tried this conversion but stuck with mild handloads, just enough to cycle the action, just to use plentiful range brass. I had to swap the extractor for it to work.
I don't think it would really work with other models.0 -
Thank you all for your comments. The pistol is marked Star B. ECHEVERRIA EIBAR - ESPANA S.A. CAL 9 mm. The barrel is marked "9MM LARGO. It looks like a M1911 .45 ACP pistol.
I was hoping that the barrel could be easily swapped out for a 9 MM Parabellum barrel. At one time I did some reloading back in the 1960s but I don't do that any more. I bought the pistol, spare magazine, and cleaning rod back in 1994 but have never shot it. As I mentioned, I have some ammo for it but once it is shot off I would rather have this pistol in 9mm Parabellum.0 -
9mm Colt 1911 barrels will fit 1911 Spanish clones with a 1911 barrel bushing.
Early LLama 1911 clone slides were marked 9mm/38 and later models 9mm/38Super. The 38 was 38Colt Automatic, an earlier and lower pressure version of the 38Super. Both cases are identical in outside dimensions so 38Super should fit, feed and chamber but SHOULD NOT BE FIRED unless the slide is marked 38 Super.
The 38 Super operates at 35,700psi (39% pressure increase) same as 9mm Luger. It should be clear you may be skating on thin ice trying 38 Super loads. Older Spanish gun steel is notoriously soft.
The extractor was intended to handle both rimmed and semi-rimmed cases.
if it doesn't, it can be carefully bent to do so.0 -
Starline makes boxer primed Largo brass cases & Midway expects to have them restocked by 11/26/10. Several of the usual catalogs also sell this brass. 0
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