1911 in 9 mm

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Baldman

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Hi folks, I'm looking at buying my 1st semi auto and I need some help as to what is a reliably functioning, reasonably priced 9mm in a 1911 platform. There are some reasons for this specific type pistol they are:

1) First thing I know to some that it's not really 1911 unless it's chamber in 45 acp but I want to run common on calibers as much as possible ( as of now there are no semi's that I've found where I can use my exisiting 38 sp rounds from my Colt Cobra)

2) I've always liked the way the 1911 looks and when I think of a semi-auto pistol., I think of a 1911

3) Down the road I plan to a higher capacity 9mm possibly a CZ 07 or 09 Duty and want to be able to use the same ammo

4) I really just want one

Are there any manufacturers that make a well built reliable 9mm 1911 around < $600- $700 price range? I'm just looking for some experince from those who own or have shot them.

Thanks
 
If I were going to buy a 1911oid on a budget, I would look first at the STI Spartan; Filipino built with Texan lockwork. Then Springfield Range Officer.

CAVEAT, I own neither, my 9mm is a Colt.
 
While you're checking them out if you find a commander length in 9mm that fits your price range it would be worth looking at. The slightly shorter and lighter gun seems to match well with the recoil of the 9mm round.

The full size is no slouch at all either of course. But for me the commander size and 9mm just went together like peanut butter and jam or bonfires and marshmallows on sticks.
 
Keep in mind a .38 Super or a 9x23 can fire 9mm with a barrel and magazine change.

As for 9mm mags, the Tripp Cobra are the best.
 
Are there any manufacturers that make a well built reliable 9mm 1911 around < $600- $700 price range? I'm just looking for some experince from those who own or have shot them.
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I've owned several RIA Tactical 5" and Taurus 5" 9x19 1911 pattern guns that fit into your price range. I've also owned others (e.g. Colt Commander, Springfield 5", and Kimber 5" and 4") that don't. I'm not an expert on much, but I have collected certain experiences.

The RIAs were all bought new and (good news!) worked well as shipped. On the other hand, they suffered from interesting frame and parts dimensions that meant that they in fact worked well as assembled in the Phillipines (the factory line assembler picked the part that fit best from the bin) but that parts swapping using standard 1911 bits was an interesting exercise. These came with crap magazines that I swapped for the Springfield/Leatham units, and they were 100% dead nuts reliable so long as I kept them 'as shipped' and used the Springer mags.

The Taurus came to me NIB, and it had the worst small parts QC that I've seen other than my Para's (and was full of stupid, like using a long steel trigger). The frame was properly dimensioned, fortunately, and the substitution of a solid lightweight trigger and a hammer/sear/disconnector kit from C&S made the gun a true joy. Sadly, you have to be willing to either live with the crap parts and wait for their inevitable demise, or sink the $$ into gunsmithing to get the small parts replaced. The Taurus also came with crap magazines that I swapped for the Springfield/Leatham units.

Neither the Taurus nor the RIA use a standard dovetail for the sights. If you want to change sights, Dawson makes one set of replacement sights for the Taurus that's close to being drop-in, and the RIA is pretty much a 'fit your own from a Novak cut baseline' kind of endeavor.

Outside of your price range, things start looking up fast.

The Springfield (full size 1911s) all came to me in used condition, and all had minor functionality issues that made their owner want to sell the gun to me. :) I traced those problems to extractor clocking in each case, which was easily fixed by fitment of a proper firing pin stop. All were 100% thereafter over many thousands of rounds each, and all were/are well dimensioned for parts interchagability with the majority of 1911 pattern bits. I think very well of these guns - so much so that I have given these guns to my kids.

I've also owned Kimber ProCarry IIs in 9mm (alloy frame, 4"), Kimber Custom II and Target II 5" steel guns in 9x19, and a Kimber Aegis 5" alloy frame in 9x19. I think extraordinarily well of these guns in general, and used a Custom II Stainless 5" gun for many years as a weekly range gun. It got countless rounds of nasty cast lead handloads flung through it weekly, was never pampered, and it just kept doing what it needed to do so that I could focus on figuring out why I suck as a pistolero instead of fighting the gun. These are the guns that I'd buy again in a heartbeat, if I needed to replace them.

Based on all of that, I really feel like staying within your budget will require that either you buy a RIA and keep it absolutely stock excepting for swapping in some decent magazines, or that you be willing to tinker, or that you be willing to pay somebody else to tinker for you. If you can save for a bit longer or find a good used bargain, I don't think that you'll be at all disappointed with the step up that you'll get from a Springfield, Kimber, or other.

I kind of think Springfield has the best design 1911 9mm mag out there.

It has a built-in feed ramp, and no spacer in the back to make up for the short 9mm round in the long .45 ACP action like most other designs.
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I concur with this assessment, and my experiences were very positive with this design. I have no experience with the Tripps but many (like David E) speak well of them
 
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I'm thrilled with my RIA "Tactical" 9mm. Works great with the inexpensive Metalform mags.

I agree the "in the front" ramp/spacer magazine is a great idea, the 1911 is a controlled feed design so if it its done right you shouldn't need such.
 
I agree the "in the front" ramp/spacer magazine is a great idea, the 1911 is a controlled feed design so if it its done right you shouldn't need such.
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Sadly, the reality is that all of the 9mm magazines (and most 45ACP magazines) sacrifice the CRF function and just let go of the round regardless of whether the extractor has control or not. You can tell those non-CRF magazines because they have parallel feed lips that end in a flare about 2/3 of the way forward from the back spine of the magazine. If you want to actually guarantee your CRF function, then you need to find the old USGI style magazines with tapered lips that gradually let the rim of the round rise up under the extractor and don't terminate/end until the round is well under the control of the extractor.

AFAIK, only Checkmate makes such beasties, and only in 45ACP.
 
I have an STI Spartan 4 9mm and, with the exception of the sights, it is a really cool gun to shoot. Eventually I plan on getting a better set of sights put on it. So far I have only used 9mm Wilson Elite Tactical Magazines with it and it has been flawless! I bought mine NIB & on sale for $575.00 from Cabela's during the holidays, and (IMHO) I think the STI Spartan is one of the best 1911 bargains out there now, the Ruger SR1911 is (again, IMHO) the other and that is only available as a .45 ACP. I own & recommend both.
 
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you might want to give some though to a Browning High Power. It is 9mm, design by John Broowning who designed the 1911, and is very similar to the 1911.
 
If I wanted a 1911 in 9mm I might opt for a Browning HiPower.

SC shooter beat me to it.
 
I have four RIA 1911's one is a commander length 9mm. I like the gun and I hit well with it, but I've had it back to RIA twice for a Failure to extract problem that is still not fixed. In RIA's defense they are easy to get on the phone, the gunsmiths will get back to you and the shipping was paid both ways. As annoying as this is, my guns are all range toys and I can put up with the hassle of getting something like this fixed. My other RIA 1911's all work perfectly.

My advice, go with the standard length in 9mm and don't be afraid to buy an RIA that is used, because the company will cover it even if you're not the original owner.

The Springfield 1911-9mm's are a step up, very nice guns and from what I've read, good CS.
 
The Hi-Power is a wonderful pistol. Buy one if you have a chance at a deal.

If it must be a 1911 in 9mm there are many good choices as stated above. I picked up a used RIA Tactical for $350 and love it. It may not have the fit and finish of some other brands but has yet to skip a beat and keeps hitting what I point it at.
 
On the other hand, they suffered from interesting frame and parts dimensions that meant that they in fact worked well as assembled in the Phillipines (the factory line assembler picked the part that fit best from the bin) but that parts swapping using standard 1911 bits was an interesting exercise.
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I had no trouble fitting threaded Storm Lake barrels to my RIA Tactical 9mm (non-ramped) and RIA 1911-A2 "P18 clone" (ramped). I'm sure the pre-fit bushing they came with didn't hurt, but it was an easy job. Even the Colt ambi safety for my Colt .45ACP 1911 needed a bit of fitting when I did it back in the 80s, as did a replacement extractor after the original broke somewhere about 8000 rounds.

I swap the SL and factory barrels regularly depending if I'm shooting cast lead unsuppressed or jacketed suppressed, The POA/POI shift swapping barrels is not enough to notice shooting steel plates with a Fastfire III optic.

OTOH the parts "drop-in" of modern designs like the Glock and S&W M&P is truly impressive (as is the AR-15).
 
1) First thing I know to some that it's not really 1911 unless it's chamber in 45 acp but I want to run common on calibers as much as possible ( as of now there are no semi's that I've found where I can use my exisiting 38 sp rounds from my Colt Cobra)
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While it may not shoot the exact same rounds that your Cobra shoots, the S&W 52 is a semi-auto that shoots .38 Spl. wadcutters. Just a thought.
 
My RIA is in .45acp, not 9mm, but it will feed 15 pcs of empty brass from a cheap pro-mag extended magazine, and ask for desert.

If I were inclined, I'd get a RIA kit gun in 9mm/.22TCM. Then I'd buy a 38super barrel/mag later.
 
Then I'd buy a 38super barrel/mag later.
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That's what I did with my RIA - dropped in a Roto (Filipino) 38 Stupid barrel so that now I can shoot either 9x19 or 38 Super. It was a pretty simple exercise, truthfully.

Changing out the grip safety or the trigger or the sights, OTOH, revealed just how wonky some of the more, um, non-critical dimensions are held on the RIA's....
 
I have become a big fan of STI after my last two purchases. First was a Spartan V in 9mm and then a Trojan in .45 ACP. I got a good deal on both. There is no question that the Trojan has more attention and effort put into its making but the Spartan has worked flawlessly with both the factory mag and WC 10 round ETM mags. I also greatly like the front fiber optic sight on the Spartan and plan to have the Trojan swapped to the same.

RIA was a close second on my list, and I know they are being produced from the same area. That said, I'll take the backing of STI as well as STI's small parts over the run of the mill Armscor parts. Plus, if something does go wrong I feel absolutely comfortable that STI will take care of me. If the money were the biggest issue I may have just gone with the RIA but I'm very happy with the pick I made.

I would stay away from Taurus. I am running into multiple issues with my PT1911 in 45 and it was the reason for the desire to upgrade my 1911 situation. I'm torn on that pistol. While I know Taurus will take a look at it, I have no faith they will fix it or that it will be done in less than 3 months time. I also don't think it would be a good candidate to be a custom build as I fear the QC issues would cause an inferior pistol in the end than just buying a quality frame to start. When Taurus was the only company on the market to offer a 1911 with a beaver tail, grip checkering, and decent sights for under $600 they were a great deal. Today that market has much better options.
 
...but the Spartan has worked flawlessly with both the factory mag and WC 10 round ETM mags. I also greatly like the front fiber optic sight on the Spartan and plan to have the Trojan swapped to the same.
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I'd like to get that F.O. front sight put on my Spartan 4.
 
Sadly, the reality is that all of the 9mm magazines (and most 45ACP magazines) sacrifice the CRF function and just let go of the round regardless of whether the extractor has control or not. You can tell those non-CRF magazines because they have parallel feed lips that end in a flare about 2/3 of the way forward from the back spine of the magazine. If you want to actually guarantee your CRF function, then you need to find the old USGI style magazines with tapered lips that gradually let the rim of the round rise up under the extractor and don't terminate/end until the round is well under the control of the extractor.
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I have to disagree with this. Taper or "wadcutter" mags should still be a controlled feed, the wadcutter style just pushes the round up under the extractor much more abruptly. If it doesn't get up and under before hitting the frame/barrel you get a ker-chunk at best or a jam at worse. If the round is released in front of the extractor you get a push feed and short extractor life and/ore frequent failure to go fully into battery -- a stronger recoil spring to "fix" the issue insures a short extractor life.

I've no dog in the taper vs wadcutter feed lips hunt. Both work when things are right. Not wanting to bother with getting things right is why external pivoting extractors have been tried by various 1911 makers with varying degrees of success. My experience is they only work well with ramped barrels because they depend of the ramp to feed the round up and into the chamber.


Its pretty easy to see if its feeding right when the gun gets very dirty (especially after shooting suppressed) by the lack of "tracks" in the carbon on the frame relief and bottom of the barrel. Comparing it to a Glock or other push feed design (most non-1911s) is instructive, where no matter how dirty it gets, there remains a basically clean area on the ramp where the last round fired had hit on its way in.


I'd like to get that F.O. front sight put on my Spartan 4.
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Dawson Precision will fix you right up.
 
I have to disagree with this. Taper or "wadcutter" mags should still be a controlled feed, the wadcutter style just pushes the round up under the extractor much more abruptly. If it doesn't get up and under before hitting the frame/barrel you get a ker-chunk at best or a jam at worse. If the round is released in front of the extractor you get a push feed and short extractor life and/ore frequent failure to go fully into battery -- a stronger recoil spring to "fix" the issue insures a short extractor life.
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My point is that the tapered feed lip magazines don't release the round until it's well under the extractor, whereas the wadcutter mags simply release the round and hope that the rim is positioned underneath the extractor.

In most cases, it doesn't matter because the round is in the right place. It would be nice if the round was contained by the feed lips until the last minute to ensure that the round can't fall out if the gun is upside down. :)
 
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