1911 in 9mm

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Bartojc

Bartojc

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I've been wanting a 1911 for a while, and lately I think I want it in 9MM. Why 9mm you ask ? Mostly because I reload for a couple of 9MM now so I am all set up for 9mm and it makes sense to stick with it from that standpoint. Secondly most 1911 9mm owners seem to mention how fun they are to shoot in 9mm.

The pistol will likely be a range toy. I recently joined a club and my shooting has picked up a lot, so it will get used. Currently I do not plan on carrying it, but should I ? I was thinking 4.5" barrel max so I think a full size Gov't model is out. They just seem too large. Should I look at a 3.5" model for carry if I want to ? Why or why not ?

I do not compete except with myself or my buddies, So again just lots of shooting at the range or in the woods. Ammo will almost exclusively be my reloads.

Budget is around $1000, but I can go up a little, and of course less is better. :) It's not about saving $50 though as I would rather have a dependable firearm that I can shoot without trouble for years. I'll likely buy new.

I've looked at Colt, Springfield Armory, Dan Wesson.

Others that have been suggested to me are Para, Ruger, S&W, Sig..... I think that is it.

What else am I missing ? What should I be comparing, and what can I eliminate or add to the list ?

Thanks,

-Jeff
 
Ruger just launched a 1911 in 9mm. if they're anything even close to my 45 and 10mm. it'll be awesome, and should run about 7 bills.

although it is a full size model, so take that FWIW. If you're not going to carry, go for the full size IMO. the weight is negligible, and they will be the softest shooting and the longer sight radius will make them possibly more accurate - all other factors being equal.

FWIW- my SR1911 in 45 has 11k rounds through it now, and still runs like a champ. still looks near new too.
 
Here is a killer deal on a sig tac ops 9mm 1911, but it's a 5" barrel. The gun is stainless with a nitron finish and front strap checkering and a magwell. Comes with night sights and 4 mags. It also is the traditional slide style not the sig 1911 flat top slide. I have an all stainless sig traditional match in 9mm and it is a nice gun. This tac ops will be just as nice. $695 shipped.
https://tsswarehouse.com/shop/sig-s...rrel-nitron-finish-sig-sauer-1911tr-9-tacops/
 
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I am a huge fan of my Rock River Armory 9MM. It is a full size 1911 with Novak style sights, extended ambidextrous thumb safety, full length guide rod and a skeletonized hammer and trigger. It runs 100% with everything I feed it. It shoots Speer 124gr +P JHPs to the point of aim at 25 yards with excellent accuracy. I have tried many times to justify buying a more expensive 9MM 1911. I paid around $400 for it. Given your enviable circumstance I would recommend buying the RRA, some spare Wilson Combat magazines and a bunch of ammo to go shoot the crap out of it. Low, low recoil. Great 1911 trigger. Fun, fun, fun to shoot. My two cents worth. YMMV.
 
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I have the RIA Tactical compact in 9mm. The only difference I can see between carrying it and a brick is the size of the brick. It's a heavy little sucker. Shoots easy though.
 
Cokeman said:
Kimber has several
Click to expand...

I never gave Kimber much consideration. No real reason though except people either love them or hate them. How is their customer service ? Quality of their product ? I assume they are a US company ?

Jeff
 
I'm betting the guys that say how much fun they are have full-size guns. If it's a range toy, why not? That's why I got my Springfield (Stainless Loaded Target). I have a Kimber, but it's a .45. If I were to do it all over knowing what I know now, I'd probably get a Kimber 9mm. But the two guns are pretty close.

The Springfield runs under $1,000 and has everything.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/746079879
 
I foolishly sold a 4" Kimber 9MM with a gold bead front sight I got for a great price. Some days I worry about me. *Sigh*
KTP9.jpg
 
I really like my Springfield 9mm "Loaded" it is the older model.
Probably 20k or more rounds on it now, no issues, shoot, clean, lube, repeat.
I have this one
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/43760/Firearms/Handguns/Springfield+Armory/Springfield+PI9134LP+1911+Loaded+Target+9+1+9mm+5+Package
(sigh, I paid more for mine......)
Not picky about its diet, will feed empty cases from mags.
Shoots better than I can shoot it.
Factory sights on mine where black. Front and Rear.
Rear is adjustable.


A 1911 in 9mm is just loads of fun.
My favorite range gun.

I think the new "Loaded" models have changed a bit.

So far I have had good luck using Brownells 10rnd 9mm 1911 mags in it,
Good price on these and they have basepads installed.
I had issues with one Mec-Gar or Metalform don't remember which one.
 
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Check on 1911-dedicated forums, search to see which brands have niggling problems, which ones need you to basically buy and replace most inner parts because they put shiny looks before function, and which ones have the highest customer satisfaction.

A difference of $2-300 or even more in purchase price is nothing, “upgrades” and “fixes” very quickly run past that figure.

For your budget, give a serious look at Dan Wesson. People who own stables of “big name” semi-custom guns regularly praise the quality of DW guns, and these are people who splurge $3,000 and more on their favorite bangers. They have a good reference for comparison...

As for the gun’s configuration... A range gun? Steel frame. A joy to shoot in 9mm. A carry gun? Go with alloy frame, the 6-8 oz saved make a REAL difference when carrying.

In a 1911, stay with a 5” or 4 1/4” barrel. In that design, the timing and interaction of all the parts is such that when you go shorter they get very finicky in terms of ammo, springs, etc., and more difficult to build as a reliable piece. Some top-name smiths just won’t build anything shorter than 4” or 4.25” for that reason. Guys who put their name on a $4,000 piece should know a thing or two...
 
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I run a 9mm Springfield Range Officer Operator for work and have been very happy with it. I sometimes feel my 22/45 has more recoil. It took the typical 200 rounds to break in good, but has been flawless since. I've now got a couple of thousand through it.

I have found 9mm mags to be a bit finicky for unloading, as most 9mm mags I have seen seem to be converted 38 super mags. The bullet tends to nose down, so I have to cycle them through the gun or use an uplula mag loader to unload a few, then the rest can come out. No issues running it through the gun though. I bought some of the Brownell branded 9mm magazines and have been really happy with them.

I second those telling you to go with a full size vs compact models. They may seem large, but really they aren't that difficult to conceal, should you go that route.
 
If you just want to try one out "for funsies", I got this surplus Star BM for $260 - about $300 OTD - a month ago or so. It's basically a smaller 1911 in 9m without the grip safety. There are a bunch of them out there right now. It's a very good shooter. If it turns out you love it, you can buy a fancier version. If you don't like it, you saved yourself a thousand bucks. Either way, it would be easy to get your money back out of it.

Star BM 9mm

Star BM 9mm

 
Some good info, and suggestions. You made me look at the Kimber site last night :) I guess I should have also mentioned I prefer made in USA. Not a must have but just a preference.

I know there have been suggestions for a full size or 5" barrel model based on my range toy comment. I've handled a number 1911's over the past month and the 4" just seems right, and with the alloy models they could be carried if I choose to do so. At this point I do not think I want to go down to the 3ish" barrels.

Someone mentioned Dan Wesson, yeah....... I can't get them out of my mind. I think I need to look at Kimber again. My LGS does not have a Colt smaller than 5" but the full size seem really nice. Springfields have never been on my list, but the LGS suggested them first off. Then said if you move up in price then a Dan Wesson. I was surprised they recommended the Springfield so highly, but everywhere I look online they seem legit.

-Jeff
 
While you're not looking at a custom 1911, this pistol-training.com blog from the late Todd Green goes into great deal about using a 9mm 1911.

http://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/springfield-1911-9mm

One thing to note when reading through the posts, is to pay attention to information on magazines and recoil springs. The 1911 is designed with the .45 ACP in mind, a round longer than the 9mm Parabellum, and one that recoils more than the 9mm. Mags need have some means to handle the shorter round and you need a recoil spring weak enough to allow the slide to come back and remove the spent case (especially with some of today's really weak 115 gr. training ammo) and strong enough to push the slide back into battery.
 
I have the Government sized Springfield Range Officer in 9mm. It might be heresy,but a 1911 in 9mm is a joy to shoot.
 
JTQ said:
One thing to note when reading through the posts, is to pay attention to information on magazines and recoil springs. The 1911 is designed with the .45 ACP in mind, a round longer than the 9mm Parabellum, and one that recoils more than the 9mm. Mags need have some means to handle the shorter round and you need a recoil spring weak enough to allow the slide to come back and remove the spent case (especially with some of today's really weak 115 gr. training ammo) and strong enough to push the slide back into battery.
Click to expand...

Yes, and I understand this, and its a good point. That is why I specifically mentioned 9mm instead of just saying I want a 1911. I realize the differences the cartridge makes and the challenges it presents. If there is a manufacturer that has it figured out while one glaringly does not that is what I am looking for. I'll be shooting it a lot, and mostly my reloads. I've shot thousands of my reloads in other striker fired pistols that I have. I am not looking for a jam-o-matic, or really anything I need to massage. If I need to change a spring so be it but nothing beyond that.

-Jeff
 
I shoot a ton of rounds through a pair of 9mm Citadel 1911s. One full size one one compact. The full size had problems with the slide failing to lock open after the last round. I swapped out the mag springs with some Wolff 9mm 8lb magazine springs and never had a problem again.
 
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