9mm 1911's

[schmeky]

I think I know why there are very few 9mm, 1911's. They are not reliable. I have been trying to have a reliable 9mm 1911 for several reasons:

1 - Cost of ammo (yes, I reload)
2 - Soft shooting (can shoot 2-3 hundreds rounds in a single range session)
3 - Great practice platform if you also own a .45 1911
4 - Accessories, the skies the limit
5 - It's a 1911

I started with Rock Island in .38 Super and converted it to 9mm with a new barrel, magazine, and extractor (although the extractor was not mandatory). Feeding problems ensued, I worked this out. Slide lock problems. I worked this out. Now I have extraction problems (again), a recurring problem.

I have a new Colt "ELCEN" full size Colt 1911 in .38 Super. I dropped in a cheap 9mm barrel and this pistol has been much more reliable than the RIA.

I know some people will say, "Just buy a 9mm 1911". Well the ones I have seen are expensive, and I have heard there are problems with some of these, being the Kimber and the Springfield. I am, however, getting close to the point of considering a new 9mm 1911.

I have heard nothing but good about the STI 1911, 9mm's. If you shoot a lot, a 9mm makes sense when you factor the cost of ammo.

I am wondering, if I buy a new 9mm 1911, which ones have you been pleased with? Which ones have you not been pleased with?

 

[wditto]

which one are you selling, the Colt that doesn't work?

 

[robctwo]

I've been in the same frame of mind you have without any of the purchases you've made. I'm getting my new Les Baer PII in 9mm delivered tomorrow. John at Proload has been great to work with, and a good guy to visit with as well. I looked at the STI and have some friends with STI's in .40. I own a PII in .45 and am delighted with the accuracy and reliability. I expect some break in issues for the first few hundred rounds. I'm sure I'll be sharing about the good and the bad. I financed the deal by selling a couple Sigs that I wasn't shooting anymore.

 

[bp78]

Count me as a happy STI Trojan 9mm owner. Probably around 7000-8000 rounds through it last year and still nice & tight and reliable when I clean it occasionally and crimp my ammo correctly

Quality magazines are the key. I've tried several, and mine likes the "Springfield" MetalForm 9rd mags and the CMC .38Super 10rd mags.

 

[XavierBreath]

Schmeky,
I'd just shoot the snot out of the 9mm Colt Commander you have for sale. Mine has been ultra reliable. Probably the best buy I've made in a 1911. It's only money friend......After a month's shooting, you will save in ammo costs what you lost in having the gun in unfired condition.

 

[Phil DeGraves]

I have two Colts in 9mm, a Kimber and a Springfield. The Springfield is the only one that is fussy. The other three run great.

 

[schmeky]

wditto,

Neither. I have a new, unfired Colt Commander in 9mm I have been trying to sell, but no luck. I prefer the full sized 1911.

I am "thinking" of getting an STI from selling the Colt.

 

[Moonclip]

I have a Llama Colt Commander clone that is 100% reliable in 9x19 if used with ball ammo.

 

[DennisE]

I have 9mm Kimber Ultra and Pro Aegis II pistols that have shot flawlessly and reliable out of the box. I also have a new 9mm Springfield EMP that I haven't had a chance to shoot yet. Dennis

 

[Pat-inCO]

I've also heard good things about the STI 9mm. I bought a Kimber Pro Carry in 9mm for the reasons you mentioned (lower COST AMMO) and find it really fun to shoot. It is the same size, controls, trigger, etc. as the .45 1911s (DUH). Thus it makes good practice.

With mine I had two failures in the first magazine and zero, zip, nada, failures since (that's in over 1K rounds). At $750 it has proven to be a good one to have.

 

[schmeky]

After a month's shooting, you will save in ammo costs what you lost in having the gun in unfired condition.

Xavier,

Good point.

 

[Dobe]

I think I know why there are very few 9mm, 1911's.

I own a Kimber Target II. I am not a fan of the Swartz, but for a range gun, I have truely enjoyed this handgun. I will always own a full size 1911 in 9mm for all of the reasons you mentioned. It is a hoot to shoot.

If I were in the market now for a 1911 in 9mm, I think I would get a STI. It is probably the best out there for the bucks.

 

[old_ironsights]

Think o/s the box.

I bought a cheapie Star Modelo Super "B" in 9mm (not largo) and it's been the most fun and least expensive weapon to shoot that I have.

 

[DennisE]

I've now had a chance to shoot my new EMP. I had one of the early EMPs and finally got rid of it because of many different problems that extended well past the first 1000 rounds. Nevertheless there were many things I liked about the pistol, so yesterday I girded up my loins and bought another one, this one with a serial number in the 5xxx range. With 150 rounds of FMJ through it today I am very pleased. No failures with with gun or any of the 3 mags that came with it. I"ll run at least 500 FMJs through it before I try any HPs.

It shoots to point of aim and is as accurate as my Kimber Ultra and Pro Aegis II 9mms although not quite as easy to shoot well as its trigger is about 1.5 pounds heavier out-of-the-box than the Kimbers are. Thanks, Dennis

 

[Dan-O]

I like my Para Carry 9.

 

[btg3]

Maybe my eyeball isn't calibrated but it looks the Para barrel sits pretty far above the hand?

 

[Dan-O]

Compared to what? It may sit high, which I don't think it does, but it is accurate as hell.

 

[Dick1911]

My son has a Springfield 9mm 1911 that he's been very pleased with.

 

[OhioPaints]

I have a Springfield Loaded in 9mm. Originally the trigger was a bit rough but it smoothed out with use and it's nice now. It's never given me any problems at all.

Ken

 

[txgolfer45]

I've got an STI Trojan 9mm on order. Should have it around March 8 or 9.

 

[gc70]

I had a 9mm Colt Government Model that is totally reliable. I say "had" because it was totally reliable for me until my son talked me out of it and it is still totally reliable for him.

I suspect part of Schmeky's problem may stem from his two conversions; an original 9mm might be more reliable than conversions.

 

[rkamp]

I had a S.A. loaded target 9mm that had been manufactured within the last couple of years. It ran great with the metalform "ramped" magazines. It proved to me that a 1911 in 9mm could be reliable. I sold it because I needed the money and realized I hate shiny stainless pistols, kept my Kimber Pro Carry in 9mm. Both the Springfield and Kimber have ramped barrels and ran great using the metal form "ramped" magazines. My next pistol will be a full size 1911 in 9mm and it will also have a ramped barrel, most likely a Fusion or STI Trojan.

The Kimber 08 catalog lists four new 9mm models; stainless II with fixed sights, stainless trophy, ultra carry, and stainless Pro Carry. The 1911 stoked with +P, +P+ jhps provides enogh of a comfort level for me that I dont' own a 45 ACP. If I want more power I use my Delta in 10mm.

 

[schmeky]

I suspect part of Schmeky's problem may stem from his two conversions; an original 9mm might be more reliable than conversions.

gc70,

I think you're absolutely correct.

 

[SEMO Shooter]

My wife & I have a pair of Springfield 9mm loaded models. Both have a couple of thousand rounds through them. We had to have the extractor tuned on one of them. There have been no other problems.

Her carry gun is an EMP & mine is a Kimber Ultra Aegis II. Both are very dependable.

Most problems with 1911's are extractor or magazine related.

 

[Jack2427]

Stephen A. Camp, whom I hold in very high regard as THE practical expert on 9mm ammo(in BHP and 1911 in particular), avers that the 1911, even though older in design than the BHP is the gun to shoot extremely high pressure 9mm rounds in, I agree completely as the 1911 system, at least as originally designed, is a very rugged peice of firearm engineering. When I think of some of the loads I used in my 1911s in 45 ACP when I was reloading, I shudder. Of course I was young and indestructible then.