9mm 1911s: Why?

I bought a Springfield 9mm Range Officer in stainless steel. It's got a match Grade barrel, so it's kind of finicky about range brass reloads. No big deal, plunk test them.
Anyway, for a factory gun, the trigger is just as good as the Colt Commander that I've had the trigger tuned on. The patterns are just a whole lot better than my 72 year old arthritic joints deserve. If you can figure out a way to assure me you're not going to rip me off, I'll send it to you and let you try it....what did they say, "try it, you'll like it. It's one of the nicest guns I've ever shot

I often take my CZ 75B, my BHP MKII, and my STI Trojan 9mm 1911 together out to the range and enjoy shooting them, they all work well for me, and that’s what counts.

JDR said:

and my STI Trojan 9mm 1911

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I have an STI Tactical SS 9mm 4". I don't shoot it much as I'm more of a revolver guy but of the centerfire autos I have it is by far the most enjoyable to shoot.

FL-NC said:

A 1911 in anything except 45 ACP, or perhaps 38 super- seems "unseemly" to me, but to each his own.

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On right is the little Ruger 9mm - the others are all best mm.
Col. Cooper himself liked best mm.

I just purchased this a couple of weeks ago. I was wanting a .40 but they are scarce around here. Even with my handloads it runs flawlessly.

I've been very happy with my full size GI 9mm 1911 from Rock Island Armory. I also did order a 38 Super barrel for it too. I haven't had any issues with it or any of the other RIA 1911's that I own. And yes the full size 9mm is a bit easier on my arthritic wrists.

JCooperfan1911 said:

Why am I intrigued by 9mm 1911s? I know The Colonel would absolutely not approve of them, but still with .45 ACP ammunition at a record high, the less expensive 9mm is interesting, additionally, as I get older milder recoil is appealing.

Who makes a classically styled, Government sided, non tacti-cool all-steel 9x19mm Para 1911 that is also reliable and not a piece of junk?

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The current-production gun that is closest to the appearance of Colt's WWII 1911A1 would be from SDS Imports, which sells a gun made in Turkey by Tisas.



The next-closest production gun would probably the G.I. 9mm from Rock Island Armory, which sells its parent Armscor's gun made in the Philippines.



To my eye, the grip safety tang always seemed to be shaped wrong on the RIA and it lacked the arched mainspring housing, lanyard loop, and original safety from the earlier Colt 1911 A1 design.

About 50% more expensive than the SDS or RIA, Freedom Firearms makes a pretty basic 1911 9mm.

I’ve posted these before and both are 9mm. My daughter gets the 4” when she’s a little older and the 5” is mine and now my edc. I’ve carried a g17 for years but I shoot the range officer so much better and with 10 rounds plus 2 spare mags I don’t expect I’ll come up short should things go south. This thing just drills holes all day long. Both targets are half sheets, the first one measured .72” freehand, the second was on request. My Glock can’t compete.

As noted in another thread...while the traditionalist in me always thinks of 45ACP=1911, I don't live by that math. Given the skeletonized hammer/trigger, external extractor, checkered front grip, ambi safety, etc...I don't feel like it's sacrilegious to shoot this one as a 9mm. It's ridiculously tame and easy to shoot well. Swapping over to the 38 Super barrel and recoil spring takes less than a minute, if I feel like I need to liven it up.

For me it’s a simple answer.

1911 are awesome, and 9mm is cheap(ish)

JCooperfan1911 said:

Not looking for a lightweight commander sized gun, but a full Government sized steel frame. Would only be used at the range.

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I've had two full sized 1911's in 9mm. One was a RIA, and the other was, a Metro Arms American Classic." Not a thing wrong with either of them. The Metro Arms especially was a nice gun. Decent sights, and I remember the slide felt like greased ice. Man that thing was slick. I think I paid about $500 for each of them, but it was a number of years ago, and I bought them both used.

I am not the typical 1911 fan boy, despite owning and shooting 1911s in .45ACP for about three decades. I have a Colt custom 1911 in .45ACP and that gun was good enough and made me happy until I had received a 9mm 1911 that Nowlin Sr. had built. I just had in mind to test fire the gun before I was going to sell it but I was so impressed with the quality, fit, and practical accuracy of this pistol that I could not part with it. It really makes my best Swiss pistols and Ratzeburg Korths seem to be a little crude and while the price tag is hefty, for me this is the best reason why a 1911 in 9mm is not a bad idea.

A world class pistol made in the U.S.A.!

My only consternation with 9mm 1911s is you are willfully giving up capacity by chambering one in 9mm compared to one of the 1911s contemporaries, the Browning Hi Power. If I am going 9mm, I would get the HP, 45 or 38 Super then 1911. Then again, if the Hi Power came in 45, I would probably get that instead of a 1911.

If I were to compare either pistol to modern developments in 9mm and 45….well I own Glocks in 9mm (19) and 45 (21) that I use for carry and the Hi Power and 1911 are range toys. I still will look hard at the new SA-35 and may pick one up.

PzGren

That is one sweet looking and beautifully crafted longslide 1911!

Thanks for sharing it here!

OP says full size all steel for range work. Ruger SR1911 Target in 9mm or Kimber Target II in 9MM. Both are stainless and full size. About a grand each...

I have two 1911 style pistols. Both are Rock Island Armory, and are used only as casual range guns. One is a full size GI style 45 ACP and the other is a "Tactical" style 9mm.

I shoot both a fair amount and both are reliable and shoot to point of aim with their fixed sights. The sights on the "Tactical", being larger, are easier for me to use than the small GI style sights. Old eyes I guess. That's probably why I shoot the 9mm about twice as much as the 45. Also 9mm is less expensive than 45 ACP, either purchased or reloaded.

However, even though I shoot the 9mm more than the 45 ACP, if I could only keep one of the two 1911s, I would keep the 45 ACP. I have other 9mms I can shoot, but a 1911 in 45 ACP just seems right ,even though I shoot the 9mm 1911 more often.

why 1911 in 9mm? because it is so pleasant to shoot, IMO.

I like my full-sized 9mm 1911 very much.

If someone wanted to enjoy something extremely similar for not much money, Star made full-sized (Super B) and smaller-sized (BM) 9mm pistols that were imported into this country in large numbers.

A few years ago I realized that 9mm was cheaper to shoot than .45. I did the math and figured that I could load 9mm, shoot it, and leave the brass lie for the same price as loading .45 and picking up my brass. I made the switch. I didn't, however, factor in my anal retentive/obsessive compulsive traits. I cannot leave brass lie. If I fire 50 rds, I need to come home with 50 empties. Okay, good news/bad news. I spend as much time bending over picking up 9mm brass as I did picking up .45 brass but It's a bit less cost per range session. Of course, if I shoot one of my revolvers instead the issue is moot.
Real guns are made of metal, and have cylinders.

Old_Grouch said:

If I fire 50 rds, I need to come home with 50 empties.

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That's an admirable concept. I'd love to find all my brass, just once even. I strive for 75%, and sometimes I get close to that.

I had a sig 1911 in 9mm. Nice pistol but didn't shoot it much so gave it to my SIL.

Compromise 38SUPER?

I have been a longtime fan of the Colonel but I also agree that only the hits count and a hit with a minor caliber hurts a lot more than a miss with a Major. And a steel frame absorbs recoil better than an aluminum or polymer one.

FL-NC said:

A 1911 in anything except 45 ACP, or perhaps 38 super- seems "unseemly" to me, but to each his own.

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P5 Guy said:

Compromise 38SUPER?

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Or buy a 9mm or 38 Super 1911 and then get a second barrel in the other caliber. It is always good to have multiple options.