Is 9mm OK in a 1911-style pistol?

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doc540

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Been reading as much as I can, and I'm considering a 9mm in a 1911-style pistol.

I see that Springfield is offering a full size 1911 9mm as well as some of the higher end (read: more expensive) makers.

Anything negative about the 9mm caliber in a 1911-style frame?:confused:

Cycling or reliability problems?


I'm not asking about the effectiveness of one caliber or another in a SD situation, just about the mechanics and design.

I have my own reasons for considering the 9mm caliber itself, just wondering if there are any drawbacks I should know about before I lay down the money it's going to take to own one.

thanks
 
I have that very gun, and it's fine. I'm no fan of the 1911, and I don't shoot it a lot, but the times that I have, it's been reliable with 115 grain RNs. It's not exactly match grade accurate, but it's not bad--certainly up with any other brand name out of the box.

Dan
 
The only drawback is the 9mm is 1.169" long, and the .45 ACP the gun was designed for is 1.275" long.

That means some monkey motion in the magazines that has to be addressed by internal ribs or other means to make up for the excess room.

9mm 1911 mags are many and varied over the years.
Some designs work great, and other designs not so great.

The Rob Leathem designed Springfield 9mm mag is so far probably the best one going. It has a small feed ramp lip built in that greatly improves functioning.

rc
 
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There's a nice Kimber stainless 9mm on GlockTalk for sale by rjp59 in Austin Tx. I have one just like it and would buy this one if I had the money.

Ken
 
i have a Springfield Loaded 9mm. i shoot it more than any other gun by far. I use it for IDPA/Steel and after a malfunction or 2 early (which as i can tell was ammo problem) its been flawless
 
9mm in a 1911-style pistol?

Star's Model B has been well liked for years - but it's designed for the 9mm from the ground up.

Good magazines will also help, and there's also the EMP.

And don't forget, the Colt Commander was ORIGINALLY designed around the 9mm to compete in the 1950's trials for a new 9mm pistol.
 
Not exactly "designed around" the 9mm.
"Modified from" a .45 ACP is more like it.

The Commander also suffers from a .45 ACP length action and magazine with the shorter cartridge it was never intended for.

rc
 
A 5" 1911 chambered in 9mm is a true joy. I have several, and shoot them predominantly. I use the Leatham magazines and they work well. My range Springfield Loaded 9mm has well over 4K rounds since I bought it, and has only had two early failures (FTEs, corrected by fitting a proper firing pin retainer and stopping the extractor from clocking).

I have also bought a 5" Kimber Aegis, and it's absolutely sublime.
 
Big fan of the 1911 and nothing wrong with the 9mm
Great fit in the hand and a round that is still somewhat affordable.
Would be a fine choice !!
 
My experience has really only been with the EMP. In that particular 1911 I can attest it is great.
 
Three 1911s that I'm familiar with are the Springfield EMP, the Kimber Aegis series and STI Trojan 9mm . These are all reliable 9mm.versions of the 1911 and the manufacturers have pretty much perfected them to fire the 9mm. even though 1911s were built on 45ACP. cartridge in length and frame sized to fire it. The only drawback is the price of these three, though they are all good pistols.
 
One of the best 9mm platforms

I have a $3k 9mm 1911 - I LOVE it!
Click to expand...
...

Shipwreck,

That is a beautiful 9mm 1911, along with, such a great platform..

I have both, a Sig P229R CT 9mm and an SA EMP 1911 SAO 9mm, and both are very accurate as used for HD/SD but the other day, at the range, my range bud let me shoot his newly acquired LNIB SAO Sig P226 X-Five Competition 9mm.. :what:

Now, that is An_Accurate gun, that I have ever shot, as 4 of my shots went thru the same hole, the other 4 were right next to those, within 1/2 inch, and 2 were floaters, out from all those, by 1".. (my bad, via trigger jerk) as the SAO trigger was just so nice, like "thinking" and the shot was OTW !

It's all about platform/barrel/trigger/with strong/balanced/weight/and shooter input.

Ya get what ya pay for, of that, I have little doubt..


Ls
 
There's some advantage of using the 9mm in the full size 1911 syle pistol and that it recoils less than the .45 acp. In the latest American Rifleman the results from the Bianchi cup with the winners listed with their pistols for the various categories and it was interesting that most every winner was shooting some brand of 1911 but no one was shooting it in .45 acp. They where using 9mm and .38 super. BTW there was one winning division shooter using a Glock.
 
I plan on getting one of the Taurus 1911 9mm when I can find one, have these even hit the market yet in 9mm? Can't find them online, so I doubt they are around yet.

MSRPs

TAURUS PT1911 9MM BLUE HEINIE SGT $449.99
TAURUS PT1911 9MM BLUE PICATINNY RAIL $469.99
TAURUS PT1911 9MM SS PICATINNY RAIL $479.99
TAURUS PT1911 9MM SS HEINIE SGT $469.99
 
I was once enamored with the idea of the 9mm 1911 as well. I figured why get a 1911? Quit messing around and get the Hi Power. It is designed around the 9mm. I think it is inherently more reliable with hollow points. Non removable barrel bushing is nice. It fits my hand better with the right grips. The balance of the HP is better for me than the 5" 1911 but about the same with the Commander.

I went hunting for a 9mm 1911. My search only allowed me to get a Commander length gun though so my options immediately were limited. I like Commanders better that is the only reason and I want to get what I want. The Hi Power was about the same dinensions as the Commander so I just went with the Hi Power.
 
These threads come up a lot... And, I find it iss amazing how the anti 9mm 1911 guys complain about it not being the original caliber, but then many of them lust after a 10mm 1911.

I like the 9mm 1911. Less recoil means I can shoot for a longer session. And, ammo is cheaper too. Why can't someone like 9mm, and then have it in the 1911 platform?
 
+1 for STI pistols.

http://www.stiguns.com/

My dad got a 1911 style 9mm from STI (the Escort) put the CrimsonTrace grips on it and it is a thing of beauty.
Escort06-Main_800w.jpg


There are several STI firearms on my "to get someday" list. The slides on their 1911s are like taking a stick of butter and rubbing it on super-heated Teflon...very smooth.


And they're a Texas company, so...supporting the Texas firearms industry is always a big plus!
 
I too have been interested in finding a 1911 frame 9mm. I already have a Beretta 9mm and it could be convenient and less expensive to shoot. The Springfield 1911 9mm looks very good.

Unfortunately, 1911 frame 9mm's seem rare and more expensive. For some reason, I happen to shoot a .45 1911 well and so am very interested in that frame...in 9mm...but since I cannot seem to find a reasonably priced one (or find one at all)....I am now thinking of just going ahead and getting a regular .45 1911. There are many to chose from and many can be had for not a lot of money.

.45 seems to be about $5/50 more than 9mm. The kick and bang are about the same as 9mm. So....I am thinking....why not just go .45?
 
Low bore axis.
Natural grip angle.
Light consistent trigger.
Comfortable fit of grip.

(Need I go on?)
Click to expand...

Only if you put it to music ;)



This does bring up an interesting thought: does anyone know of a 1911 with barrels for different calibers? It would be nice to have a 1911 that I could switch back and forth with.

I know they have 22lr, but I'm thinking more along the lines of a Sig P250...
 
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