I have a Springfield Armory commander-sized 9mm 1911. It’s got a ramped barrel.

So do I need a 38 super barrel so I can shoot that?

Pros and cons please. I do reload so I can make my own if need be.

Yes, because the .38 Super case is longer and won’t fit in the chamber. Possibly different magazines as depending on the magazine, it may have a spacer for the shorter 9mm cartridge. The extractor may need tweaked or changed, the ejector may be ok and of course correct recoil springs.

I’d say go for it as there is a good chance it will work fine with just a new barrel fitted and proper magazines.

You do!

Simply adding a barrel and spring to gain the ability to shoot another caliber would be a lot cheaper than buying another firearm.

If you decide you like .38s enough to shop for a separate pistol for that caliber, that can come as the need arises.

Reloading also puts the ammo nearly at the same price point.

Let us know what you ultimately decide.

You are not helping .38supersig.

Will the 38Super do more than the 9mm? I’ve looked at paper and there’s a little increase in velocity and energy. But what does it feel like recoil wise? I’ve got 45, 357 magnum and SIG, 38spcl and 9 to compare to

Get the 38 Super barrel and have it fitted to your gun. Now you have two calibers for the same gun. Here is my all S/S Colt .38 Super.

Obviously you don't have one, so obviously you need one!

The 38 Super is where it's at!!
I have 4 (so far). They have replaced my 45's (except for one) as my go to round for the 1911.
If you reload, the possibilities are endless.

Where can I get a barrel?

I see CDNN has 5” 38Super 1911 barrels for $60. I have a CDR sized pistol and could cut it down and recrown it by hand. I guess I’d need a link, pin and bushing…I’m sure I could take the spacer out of a Wilson combat 9mm magazine and go from there

And I’d use 38SuperComp brass cause I wouldn’t need to worry about the breechface.
Am I on the right track?

I've been shooting and loading for the Super since the '70s. I haven't needed to shorten a 5" barrel to Commander length, but I guess that would work. I did purchase one of the CDNN 5".38 Super barrels with the W/N ramp a few years ago. It fit quite well, and has functioned flawlessly, in my Kimber. One consideration with the CDNN SIG .38 super barrel might be that just back from the muzzle, barrel diameter reduces from .580" to .574" to facilitate unlocking. Cutting and crowning the barrel at 4 1/4" puts the new barrel muzzle diameter at .474", at least it would on my example. So something like an EGW gunsmith fit bushing might be in order. I only buy .38 Super Comp brass for reloading, though I doubt you'd encounter a breech face issue if you shot factory or handloaded .38S in the gun. Most breech faces I've encountered handle the .38S semi-rim brass without alteration. I thought the breech face of my recent production 9mm Colt might be too tight for .38S brass, but it works reliably without alteration. I have a recent production Springfield 9mm. Regular Winchester, Remington and GECO.38 Super cases fit the breech face just fine..

As to do you need a Super, maybe not. There is some overlap in factory 9mm and 38S ballistics, with the Super not aways coming out on top. Since you reload though, the Super can easily be loaded to surpass even 9mm+P+ ballistics. In well supported 5".38S barrels, 147 grain bullets loaded to 1250+ FPS, and 124/125 grain bullets at 1450+ FPS have created no issues at all..