1911 differences: 45 vs 9mm

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Light Infantry

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I am sure this has been posted here before, but I cant find any info.

If I want to shoot a 1911 and be able to swap out between 45 and 9mm what do I need to do?

Obviously mags are different and the barrel. Can I just swap these out each time? (seems likely not)

Swap out a top end and mags?

Or is there more to it than that?
 
My take on it, i have been competing with various 1911s in 9mm and 40 over the years in IPSC
9mm and 45, not the same extractor, barrel,recoil spring and breachface.

Without the ability to swap breach faces, you have to switch slides.
Switching a slide that has not been fitted or just a swap from another gun, may not work well and i wouldn't try it.
Best bet is to buy a second unfinished slide and have it fitted at a gunsmith.

There is always SV infinity if you got the dough, from the rear end of firing pin, with firing pin removed, you can remove breachface with an allen key.
So that would be an easier fix.

Personally, i'd just own 2x 1911s
 
there are a lot of differences, you can't just change small parts the whole slide needs to be switched with its parts in entirely. Then you start getting into the frame, the feed ramp is a different angle, and the ejector is different.

Easy way is to have 2 separate slides, but have ramped barrels in them to accommodate for the feed ramp angles. Some say it doesn't matter, but they have those angles engineered for a reason. also have a 9mm and 45acp ejector that can be swapped out with the slide at the same time.

Get 2 different guns, PITA switching it all the time. That's why I hate .22 conversion kits.

Hope this helps
 
madcow said:
there are a lot of differences, you can't just change small parts the whole slide needs to be switched with its parts in entirely. Then you start getting into the frame, the feed ramp is a different angle, and the ejector is different.

Easy way is to have 2 separate slides, but have ramped barrels in them to accommodate for the feed ramp angles. Some say it doesn't matter, but they have those angles engineered for a reason. also have a 9mm and 45acp ejector that can be swapped out with the slide at the same time.

Get 2 different guns, PITA switching it all the time. That's why I hate .22 conversion kits.

Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Good point, forgot about frame ramp.
I'm just used with STI guns and take that fully ramped supported barrel for granted...
 
A .45 slide will not go on a 9mm frame as the ejector on the 9mm is higher.
The .22 conversion kits are designed for the .45 frame and work OK but are almost the price of another pistol anyway.

Best advice as others have said is have 2 guns.
 
I just had a 10mm STI I had gotten for a fun gun swapped out to compete IPSC major with a 40S&W barrel. Now she needs to be worked in!

Get another gun, one in each caliber.
 
cheaper - just to get a second gun in 9mm....... the slides are too different to use in both 45 and 9.

Even converting 40 in 9 will have problems...
 
Thanks for the info everyone. 2 guns it is. Doing a re-think though of the original reason for the post: equipping my son in the sport. Was considering a 9mm 1911 and then having him able to move to 45 if he so wanted. I have a 45 ,maybe i will get a 9mm for me and let my boy use it as well. Now off to ask Glock questions!! (as I duck and run!!)
 
Light Infantry said:
Thanks for the info everyone. 2 guns it is. Doing a re-think though of the original reason for the post: equipping my son in the sport. Was considering a 9mm 1911 and then having him able to move to 45 if he so wanted. I have a 45 ,maybe i will get a 9mm for me and let my boy use it as well. Now off to ask Glock questions!! (as I duck and run!!)
Click to expand...

Glock or 1911 both in 9mm? The answer is YES! I have both.... we have peace in our time!! :wave:

Cheers, Barney

:evil:
 
Talk to any long time owner of a 1911 and they will tell you: if you want a 9mm version of a 1911, buy a Browning Hi-Power...
 
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