1911 caliber conversions

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mmcintyre1220

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I have a Kimber 1911 in 45 acp. I wish I picked up a 9mm version before than ban hit but I didn't. What options do I have to convert this to 9mm? Obviously new slide, barrel, mags and possibly ejector. What else would need to be done in order to swap back and forth between 45 and 9mm? My go to gun Smith was murdered by Toronto police, who is the next best 1911 guru in Canada?
 
Unfortunately a 9mm conversion is a one way trip. You won't be able to swap your slide and enjoy both calbers... I admit I'm not as much of a pro (but at least that keeps me safe from being shot in my shop... Too soon? Sorry!) in 1911 but in my experience where the ramp is a part of the frame, this is not an easy conversion (and not reversible)

If your Kimber had a ramped barrel then this would be more feasible... But I don't believe most Kimbers had this.
 
So would it be possible to have my frame milled for a ramped barrel and then fit a new 45 ramped barrel at the same time as fitting the new 9mm ramped barrel and slide? I would think having two slides, both barrels being ramped and fit to the frame would take care of everything except the ejector. From what I am reading, if you mill the 45 slide, it will allow for the 9mm ejector to remain in place for both the 45 and 9mm slide.
 

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Possible? Yes. A massive headache? Also yes. You may end with a gun that is no longer reliably feeding either caliber.

There's also a possibility of milling for a ramp insert and swapping those... Adjusting a ramp block is easier than the whole barrel and if you screw up, only the block is garbage not the whole barrel. I don't know if this method was used for caliber swapping. The ramp block is installed permanently when required to fix a gouged frame ramp... But I believe a set screw can be figured out.

This is where you need a true 1911 master - adjusting those ramps for reliable feeding. Good luck!
 
I had a 38/45 Clerke barrel brought in from Barsto barrels last year, same slide, mags , everything, just change the barrel and I have a target 38. Redding makes the dies, both reloading and form dies. Cases made from 45 acp brass. It was fitted with just a few thou off each side and end of the hood. Functions perfectly and shoots very well to the same point of impact as my 45. A guy named Bo Clerke came up with this back in the 60’s because a lot of guys shooting the NRA 2700 couldn’t afford a Clark 38 wadcutter gun or a new S&W 52 master.
 
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