1950 colt commander

tshyde · 10-20-2004, 10:10 AM

I just got a 1950 .38 Super Commander (S/N 4xx-LW) from a friend. The finish is about 95%, so I am not going to make any permanent changes (although new sights would be useful). I am, however, looking for recommendations of a barrel bushing combo to maximize accuracy. I do plan to shoot this pistol, and it's going with me to NRA Whittington Center this weekend.

Thoughts and comments are appreciated.

Brian D. · 10-20-2004, 03:48 PM

Welcome! There are many others here with far more knowledge of this subject, so I'll keep my comments brief, since they're based solely on my personal experience with a couple of older .38 supers I've owned.
If the chamber in your barrel headspaces on the rim (old style) rather than on the casemouth, you may need more than just a tighter bushing to accurize the pistol to your satisfaction. Might have to replace the bbl. with one of the new style. That said, if your barrel is the same outside diameter as that of the .45acp, try this rather inexpensive idea to see if it helps: Take the top end of your gun to a show, or other location where a "parts guy" has a drawer full of bushings. See if you can find one that is a snugger fit than what you currently have.
Also, some folks report that it helps to tailor your reloads to the dimensions of those older chambers, but that is more trouble than I ever wanted to take.
Hope this gives you a place to start.

stansdds · 10-20-2004, 06:20 PM

Colt did not change to headspacing the Super on the case mouth until they introduced the Series 80 pistols, so that 1950 model headspaces on that silly semi-rim. Best accuracy is probably going to be obtained from a new barrel that does head space on the case mouth, unless the chamber in your barrel is minimum diameter. Easy way to find out, take the barrel out of the pistol and drop some live rounds into the chamber, if the rims consistantly hold on the recess on the barrel hood, accuracy may be pretty good, if you can get the rims to slip past the barrel hood, get another barrel. Also, groove diameter may be anywhere from 0.355 to 0.359", so slug the barrel before buying bullets.

tshyde · 10-21-2004, 08:33 AM

Thanks for the responses. I did mean to say in my original post a new barrel andbushing.

Lenny Cianciotto · 02-07-2005, 10:03 AM

I sent my slide and appropriate money to Bar-Sto. They installed a semi-drop-in barrel for me for the cost of return shipping. The accuracy is remarkable.

Lenny

10-20-2004, 10:10 AM	#1
tshyde Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2	1950 Colt Commander I just got a 1950 .38 Super Commander (S/N 4xx-LW) from a friend. The finish is about 95%, so I am not going to make any permanent changes (although new sights would be useful). I am, however, looking for recommendations of a barrel bushing combo to maximize accuracy. I do plan to shoot this pistol, and it's going with me to NRA Whittington Center this weekend. Thoughts and comments are appreciated.

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10-20-2004, 03:48 PM	#2
Brian D. Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 489	Welcome! There are many others here with far more knowledge of this subject, so I'll keep my comments brief, since they're based solely on my personal experience with a couple of older .38 supers I've owned. If the chamber in your barrel headspaces on the rim (old style) rather than on the casemouth, you may need more than just a tighter bushing to accurize the pistol to your satisfaction. Might have to replace the bbl. with one of the new style. That said, if your barrel is the same outside diameter as that of the .45acp, try this rather inexpensive idea to see if it helps: Take the top end of your gun to a show, or other location where a "parts guy" has a drawer full of bushings. See if you can find one that is a snugger fit than what you currently have. Also, some folks report that it helps to tailor your reloads to the dimensions of those older chambers, but that is more trouble than I ever wanted to take. Hope this gives you a place to start.

10-20-2004, 06:20 PM	#3
stansdds Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Virginia Posts: 964	Colt did not change to headspacing the Super on the case mouth until they introduced the Series 80 pistols, so that 1950 model headspaces on that silly semi-rim. Best accuracy is probably going to be obtained from a new barrel that does head space on the case mouth, unless the chamber in your barrel is minimum diameter. Easy way to find out, take the barrel out of the pistol and drop some live rounds into the chamber, if the rims consistantly hold on the recess on the barrel hood, accuracy may be pretty good, if you can get the rims to slip past the barrel hood, get another barrel. Also, groove diameter may be anywhere from 0.355 to 0.359", so slug the barrel before buying bullets.

10-21-2004, 08:33 AM	#4
tshyde Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 2	Thanks for the responses. I did mean to say in my original post a new barrel andbushing.

02-07-2005, 10:03 AM	#5
Lenny Cianciotto Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 108	I sent my slide and appropriate money to Bar-Sto. They installed a semi-drop-in barrel for me for the cost of return shipping. The accuracy is remarkable. Lenny