Reline 45 ACP barrel to smaller caliber?

[Kywoodwrkr]

Has anyone tried to reline, or succeded in relining, a 45 barrel to a smaller caliber?
I'd like to take a couple of shot out 45 barrels and ream them out to about .468 with a larger section at the chamber area reamed out to about .531 and then turn a barrel blank to fit his.
Then finish off the chamber end and muzzle, then rechamber.
I thought I had read something about this but cannot find my links nor my notes.
Anybody inflicted this pain on themselves?
My goal is to end up with a 38 special barrel and a 38 AMU barrel for my 1911 frame.
If successful, then maybe 30 Luger and some others.
Thanks.
DaveP    kywoodwrkr

[John R.]

Seems like a lot of trouble,when you can order a bbl. a lot easier.

[Kywoodwrkr]

Actually the 'trouble' is what I am trying this for.
Also have had trouble finding a reasonably priced 38 special and 38 AMU barrel.
I enjoy tinkering with firearms as well.
Was only wondering if anyone else has had any experience in this venue and could share experience, god or bad.
Thanks.
DaveP    kywodowrkr

[williamlayton]

Well, since you asked, I have an opinion.
It would appear that you will be rebuilding the gun and then only have one gun--spending about the same money as a new one.
Check with Briley.
Blessings

[Mikey]

kywoodwrkr:  go to Bar-Sto barrels or find their website.  They made 38 spl barrels for 1911s for years and may still.  They began making them for the AMU guns a bunch of years ago and may still have some laying around.  The 38 AMU round is nothing more than a rimless 38 spl - you can get the same effect with 9mm magnum brass and run them through a 38 spl sizer or shoot 38 super target loads.  Make sure you speicify to the barrel maker what diameter you want in that/those barrels - it can be .355 (colt barrel diameter) to .357 to handle 38 caliber bullets instead of the 9mm bullets.

The process of relining a bored out barrel is pretty much a time waster - you have to be both a master machinist as well as an accomplished gunsmith to (1) know what you are doing in this regard and (2) get it right.  You may be a bit surprised to find there are a whole bunch of excellent quality 38 spl/38 AMU barrels available for the 1911.  In addition to that, Bar-Sto can most likely make you up a 30 Luger barrel to fit. 

Once your 1911 is set up handle the 38 spl/38AMU, it can handle a 9mm, 38 Super, 9x23mm Winchester and the 30 Luger, and then you can have a whole bunch of fun................HTH.  Mikey.

[Kywoodwrkr]

Thanks again for the answers.
First I have multiple frames to work with on this project.
And I don't want to have to go to the purchase route.
Buying another frame/barrel is not what I want to do.
I have a 9mm frame and a 40 S&W frame.
Have tools and etc to make up a 45 frame if I want/need to.
I also have 38 super slide and barrel plus a 45 kit barrel and slide plus additional barrel ie 38/45.
I'm comfortable rechambering so that's not a problem.
Ejector problem understood and is/can solved as well.
Magazines are not a problem as I have them.
Have an assortment of recoil springs in various weights.
Have AMU brass as well.
And as with the 38/45, can form and reload anything, well maybe almost anything,  I decide to make up.
My main question is how others have lined barrels and what methods were used to retain the sleeve.
Were they made as press fits?
Were they silver soldered?
Were they pinned in?
Were they loc-tited(a word?).
Were the sleeves turned with two diameters, with the chamber end being of a larger diameter.(this is my present plan of attack)
I'm not trying to be a smart a55 but I am going to do this, and only want any experience others have had doing this, if any.
I may not get the project done this year, or even next year, but I will proceed with it.
Thanks again for all answers.
DaveP   kywoodwrkr

[44 Man]

You are also going to need a new slide as the extractor position will be wrong on your .45 slide.  Buying a 9mm sounds like a much easier way to go.  Get a good one from bar-sto and it will shoot with a .38 spl.  Your biggest problem with the .38 will be magazines.  44 Man

[Mikey]

Use 38 Super magazines for the 38 Spls.  You can only get 5 in the mag but that's what the AMUs used to do.  Mikey.