Which 1911 9mm would you choose?

[JTQ]

Just something a little better than the standard GI sights. Bomar type are a plus for me. I believe the Remington has Novak style? Should be plenty good.

That should open up your options significantly. I'm not sure I can think of a 9mm 1911 with GI sights (perhaps there is an RIA or some Turkish gun with them).

 

[Mn Fats]

That should open up your options significantly. I'm not sure I can think of a 9mm 1911 with GI sights (perhaps there is an RIA or some Turkish gun with them).

Auto-Ordnance has them. But It's the "American Made" that's somewhat limiting at my budget. The ones I listed are the only ones in 9mm I can think of made in America that fit around $700.

I have no problem with Rock Islands. I haven't fired any other foreign 1911's than that. The Rock Island seemed great. In fact, I ordered one for my Dad a few years back. But for me personally, I'd like a U.S. made 1911. One of the few guns I care about where it's manufactured. 1911 just... seems American.

 

[brunowbe]

Colt Competition in 9mm is an excellent choice. I have the the 2 tone stainless steel slide with titanium blue frame version. The barrel is not a pencil barrel as some people believe. Mine is very accurate with an excellent trigger. It’s had no malfunctions with about 350 rounds down the pipe so far. You can get the blued version for $800 or so.

Out of the ones listed in the poll, I’d go Ruger. I’ve got one of their full size .45s and it’s a fine pistol.

 

[bannockburn]

I would probably give the Ruger SR1911 Target a try. Like the features and build quality of the Ruger and have been wanting to get one in 9mm.

 

[paulsj]

I feel your pain. A 1911 .45ACP is harder to shoot than Glock 20. I would try Ruger and pray hard it doesn't have to go back to them for correcting some kind of manufacture issue. I'm saying this because if you believe what people say in forums many of their guns seem to go back with issues. I had three of their firearms a .357 revolver LCP and Red Label 28 GA. None had issues. I will say one thing for them they will make their product right long after I would tell the customer please buy another gun this one has been used up.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Just added the Remington. Totally forgot about it. Looks like Buds has them for close to $100 less than the rest.

I've handled a few Remington's and shot one, all had poor triggers but $100 or less might solve that issue. I like my Kimber 45 but it sounds like quality can be hit or miss with them.
Interested to hear what you decide on, think I may need a 1911 in 9mm too.

 

[JR24]

I've handled a few Remington's and shot one, all had poor triggers but $100 or less might solve that issue. I like my Kimber 45 but it sounds like quality can be hit or miss with them.
Interested to hear what you decide on, think I may need a 1911 in 9mm too.

Interesting, I've owned 2 remingtons and the triggers were easily equal to my kimbers. Better, in fact, than 2 of them.

 

[Dudedog]

I have a Springfield "Loaded" 9mm 1911, really happy with it. (favorite range toy)
About 25K rounds through it, replaced recoil/firing pins springs, no issues until recently, was having a failure to extract on say 2 rounds out of 100 (range brass), Springfield sent me a new extractor on their dime.
( I may have been able to re-tension the old one but wanted a new one just in case, match coming up)
I actually called to order one CS rep asked me if it was ok if he sent it to me under warranty. ?? A ya, I guess free is ok,t (not an expensive part but free is free)
He said if that didn't do it send the gun in and they would take care of it. (extractor seems to have solved the issue)


The new model has changed a bit, fiber optic front normal (non 2 piece guide rod)

PS: Brownells 10 rnd 9mm mags work well for me.

 

[Bottom Gun]

I like my Kimber 45 but it sounds like quality can be hit or miss with them.

I must be lucky because I've had a number of Kimbers over the past 25 yr or so and each has been exactly what I expected and trouble free, even the one that has the dreaded external extractor. It makes me wonder why I don't hear guys bad mouthing Ruger or SA since I hear about so many guys having to send them back for repair. I trust my personal experience with Kimber more than internet rumors.

 

[Dudedog]

hink I may need a 1911 in 9mm too

9mm in a full size all steel 1911 is just loads of fun!

 

[Dudedog]

As a side note I have a Citadel (RIA)1911 in .45, while not as nice as my Colt .45 1911 or my Springfield 9mm 1911 I am quite happy with it for the price.
So at a lower price point the RIA might be an option. TCM 22 and 9mm.
(not US made however)

 

[maxxhavoc]

So at a lower price point the RIA might be an option.

My thoughts, too when the title of the thread is "Which 1911 9mm would you choose?" So I was going to recommend the RIA, which Is the one I actually bought. And really like.

But then I read the first post, and the OP only wants to have an all-american 1911 that shoots the cartridge developed by Germans and most commonly associated with people who were shooting at Americans with Lugers.

-So my Springfield Mil-Spec 1911 is my favorite 1911, but wouldn't buy another one until they get their politics straight.

-My Kimber was a good gun, but the brush-off they gave me when I tried to fix a factory defective sight after the 1 year mark means I sold it and won't ever own another Kimber. Their warranty is short and they have 0 tolerance for people who have owned a pistol more than 12 months bothering them.

-Remington, no good, I have too many lemons that say "Remington" on them. Used to be a big fan, but not anymore.

-Of your choices, Ruger to me is the clear choice. Great company, no experience with their 1911 line.

But whatever you buy, get a compact (Officer's). The balance makes for a near-perfect 9mm 1911.

But if you decide to open up your choices some, get the RIA 1911 9mm compact. The only things on it I would change are the Beavertail and skeleton hammer. I just like old school grip safeties and hammers better.

 

[highlander 5]

I have a RO love the pistol. So far replaced the recoil spring and replaced the MSH with a non locking type. I'd like to get a Ruger Target but they're not on our approved list yet

 

[Walkalong]

But whatever you buy, get a compact (Officer's).

For a range gun I would go full sized or Commander length and full sized grip. All steel, no aluminum frames., less muzzle flip/recoil than steel.

The 3" EMP I had (Younger son has it now) was/is a wonderful gun, but for range play, go full sized.

 

[Havok7416]

For a range gun I would go full sized or Commander length and full sized grip. All steel, no aluminum frames., less muzzle flip/recoil than steel.

The 3" EMP I had (Younger son has it now) was/is a wonderful gun, but for range play, go full sized.

I also have an EMP which I left out of the discussion as it's slightly different, being built from the ground up to shoot 9mm and .40. I do have to agree that while the gun is fun to shoot, it's not truly a range gun like a full size is. The EMP 4" might be viable as a range gun though.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The only 1911 I have owned was made by Springfield. It is accurate and reliable with any ammo I feed it. Why mess with success? If I were to buy another it would be a Springfield. If they made one chambered in .38 Super I would buy it immediately.

 

[BigBL87]

I voted Springfield. I recently bought my first 1911 (Springfield Loaded). In doing my research Springfield was probably the most common recommendation and they seem to be the best balance between price and quality. I considered a Range Officer, but ended up getting the loaded because I wanted 3 dot sights. I got a 45 ACP, but the calculus wouldnt change for me much if I wanted 9mm.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Before anyone says "well JMB intended his 1911 to be .45, and anything else is blasphemy" -thats total B.S. He intended his design, which became the 1911, to be in .38acp -which is closer to 9mm than 45acp.

Now that that's cleared up...

Where did that come from? As I remember, the .45ACP was already created by JMB, and in models going back to 1905. The Thompson-LaGarde tests in 1904 had decided at least .45 caliber was needed for the new military sidearm, after the failure of the .38 against the Moros. JMB was already working on a .41 round and pistol, and so enlarged it into .45. In 1906 the Colt, Savage, and DWMs that made the final cut were in .45ACP. Where did you see the accepted Colt, which became officially the 1911 was supposed to be in .38? Not that I would call blasphemy, even jokingly, as I have one in 10mm myself, and would still love to have one in 9mm.

 

[Mn Fats]

Where did that come from? As I remember, the .45ACP was already created by JMB, and in models going back to 1905. The Thompson-LaGarde tests in 1904 had decided at least .45 caliber was needed for the new military sidearm, after the failure of the .38 against the Moros. JMB was already working on a .41 round and pistol, and so enlarged it into .45. In 1906 the Colt, Savage, and DWMs that made the final cut were in .45ACP. Where did you see the accepted Colt, which became officially the 1911 was supposed to be in .38? Not that I would call blasphemy, even jokingly, as I have one in 10mm myself, and would still love to have one in 9mm.

The testbed model for what became the 1911 was the Colt Model 1900, which was not actually chambered in .45 ACP. John Browning started work on the pistol design in the 1890s, and the first iteration – the M1900 – was actually chambered in .38 ACP, a very similar cartridge to the 9x19mm round in many respects.

Muzzle velocity of .38 ACP and 9mm are very similar, though the ACP has somewhat more muzzle energy. Initial factory loads actually had to be detuned a bit as the Colt M1900 and subsequent versions (such as the M1905) couldn’t quite handle the power of early ACP loadings, which had significant zip – early .38 loads had a 130-grain projectile moving at almost 1,300 fps out of the barrel.

However, ammunition makers turned the heat back up in the late 1920s, reloading .38 ACP to it’s original higher-power specifications and branding the hotter loads as .38 Super.

The difference between .38 ACP and 9mm is that .38 ACP has a longer case (0.9 inches vs 0.754 inches) and is semi-rimmed, whereas the 9mm is rimless. Given the shorter case length, the 9mm Para also has higher chamber pressures. However, the Army wanted a .45, so the .45 ACP was devised and first used in the Model 1905 and eventually adopted in the Model 1911.

So, it could be said that the 9mm or at least a very similar round was employed in the platform from the very beginning. -usacarry.com

 

[Tallball]

If the OP were to change his parameters... I own various 1911's and various 9mm pistols. A couple of years ago there was a flood of Star Super B milsurp pistols selling for around $200. They look and feel like a 1911, but with no grip safety, and the locking mechanism is like a BHP. They are nice, heavy, steel pistols with good sights and triggers. I don't own a 1911 or a 9mm that shoots significantly better.

If the OP wanted to test out a 9mm 1911, he could probably find a Super B for $250 or so, and could easily get all or most of his money back if he didn't like it. Everyone I know who has shot them likes them.

 

[Old Dog]

SA. All the way (of the choices listed).

 

[bullseye308]

Absolutely love both of my Springfield Range Officers. Have the 5” and the 4” Champion both in 9mm. Probably my favorite to shoot and also most accurate. I have no experience with any other 1911’s so take that for what it’s worth.

 

[Walkalong]

Love that second target.

 

[CNobbe]

My vote is for the Springfield, I have two Loaded Target 9mms that have been perfectly reliable through thousands of rounds. I wish I could say I've seen a Remington R1 in 9mm, but I haven't. The reviews I've read are favorable on Buds/GrabaGun. I've had a couple of Kimber 9mms, both had to be run very wet at first to cycle reliably. Once they got about 400 rounds through them, with cleaning/lubing after each hundred they started running fine with the usual amount of Mobil 1 I use.

I have a couple things I don't like about SR1911s, the biggest thing on the 9mm is the bull barrel. I'd prefer a traditional barrel/bushing as that's where I believe the best accuracy comes from.

 

[ilgac]

I bought a Fusion Government GI 5” 9mm earlier this summer.

I bought straight from Fusion and had it delivered to a local FFL.

It on sale for $100 off plus free delivery. I paid $520 OTD at my local FFL.