switching calibers on a 1911

[SaMx]

This is just to satisfy my curiosity, but is it possible to change calibers with the 1911 platform? I've shot some 9mm 1911s and the steel frame really soaks up the recoil and makes it really pleasant to shoot. If someone had a .45 1911 could they replace the barrel with a 9mm barrel, plus some other parts, and shoot 9mm? what about with .38 super?

 

[RIATAC45]

SaMx, You can change from a 38 super to a 9mm without much hassle, it would take alot of work to change from a 45 acp to a 9mm. The 38 super and 9mm have ramped barrels, and th 45acp has the ramp built in the frame. You can buy ramped 45acp barrels I believe.

 

[SaMx]

Thanks. I've seen .22 kits for the 1911, and kit's for Glocks that allow you to change from say .40 or .357 sig to 9mm. I haven't seen anything like that for the 1911. I would think there would be demand, because people would want to shoot the lower recoil and cheaper 9mm at the range. I guess there are too many parts that need to be changed to make it work. Would the parts need to be fit by a gunsmith, or is that something a person could do at home?

 

[BigG]

The 1911 is an old design and was more or less invented along with the 45 caliber. It is not just a swap out a couple of parts and you have a new caliber. The 38 Super/9mm Luger may be an exception.

 

[BigG]

The 38 super and 9mm have ramped barrels

Not necessarily. I believe Colt's uses standard bbls for these two calibers. It's just all the other parts are tailored to the cartridge that precludes a 45/38 swap.

 

[RIATAC45]

It can be done at home if you have a 38 super, it does take a little work but its baisclly just a barrel and magazine change. That is overly simplified, but that is the jist of it. To change from a 45 to a 9mm would require a machine shop, to machine out the frame to accept the ramped barrel and purchase a new slide, if I'm not mistaken.

 

[RIATAC45]

point well noted BigG

 

[Vern Humphrey]

The key is headsize. A smaller headsize requires a new slide. But you can change to something like the various .40/.38/9mms necked down from .45 ACP. The .40 Corbon is a good example.

 

[schmeky]

This is misconception on the ramped barrel. Of the last 2 .38 Supers I bought (brand new) they did NOT have ramped barrels.

To go from .45 to 9mm on a series 70 1911 would require:

9mm/38 Super slide "assembly" (firing pin/pin stop, FP spring, extractor)
Barrel
Recoil spring
Ejector
Magazine
Probably a slide stop as well

The hardest part would be the ejector for the novice. Buy a Lyman punch set from Brownell's (about $40.00) and you could change out your own ejector. You wouldn't want to change the ejector often though, the frame hole could eventually wear or become damaged.

 

[RIATAC45]

well it seens Sir that I have given you false information. I stand corrected, not all 38 supers have ramped barrels.

 

[BlindJustice]

Guns & Ammo had an article about 25+ years ago. The writer had
a Colt 1911 Commander - he either started with a 9mm or a .38 Super
but ended up getting a barrel in each caliber from Bar-Sto - inorder to
switch back and forth I believe he had to swap the barrel ( *I can't recall
if each barrel had it's own bushing ), the magazine, AND the
extractor as far as I can recall.

Moving forward to the present - I have a S&W 1911 5" Bbl. Stainless
in .45 ACP - I also have a Jarvis Inc. "Drop-In" barrel in
.400 CorBon. SInce the .400 COrBon is a necked to .401
cal. .45 ACP* case it doesn't require any other change including
the magazines. * in 2000 the cartridge changed to small
pistol primers.

 

[CWL]

It would be easier to buy a .22lr conversion slide and swap it whenever you want to.

 

[Rembrandt]

.....is it possible to change calibers with the 1911 platform?.....If someone had a .45 1911 could they replace the barrel with a 9mm barrel, plus some other parts, and shoot 9mm? what about with .38 super?.....

The answer is yes, been done, and still available in Europe....but they are not cheap. German company Peter Stahls did this years ago with a linkless design. All that's needed is to swap out the barrel and magazine, can be done in seconds. These units were marketed in the U.S. under Springfield Armory called the "Omega". I bought this one in the early 1990's for about $1400. It's a three barrel set, 38 Super, 45 ACP, 10mm. Beautiful workmanship and quality.






Here are some of the other calibers available.....

 

[BlindJustice]

Guns & Ammo had an article about 25+ years ago. The writer had
a Colt 1911 Commander - he either started with a 9mm or a .38 Super
but ended up getting a barrel in each caliber from Bar-Sto - inorder to
switch back and forth I believe he had to swap the barrel ( *I can't recall
if each barrel had it's own bushing ), the magazine, AND the
extractor as far as I can recall.

Moving forward to the present - I have a S&W 1911 5" Bbl. Stainless
in .45 ACP - I also have a Jarvis Inc. "Drop-In" barrel in
.400 CorBon. SInce the .400 COrBon is a necked to .401
cal. .45 ACP* case it doesn't require any other change including
the magazines. * in 2000 the cartridge changed to small
pistol primers.

 

[Walkalong]

That pistol is SWEET Rembrandt. I am jealous.

My only "switchbarrel" auto is a .400 Corbon barrel I shoot in a Springfield sometimes.

 

[schmeky]

well it seens Sir that I have given you false information. I stand corrected, not all 38 supers have ramped barrels.

RIATAC45,

Many 9's and 38 Supers did have ramped barrels in the past. It would be easy to understand your comment based on this.