1911 - drop in barrel question

[gorky]

Hi I have a Kimber S/S Target in 40SW. How easy/difficult would it be to put in another barrel for a different calibre such as 38 super or 357 Sig or what have you ? similarly, if I would own a Kimber in 45, could I just put in another 40SW barrel ? It is getting too hard finding good 1911s in 40SW (other than STIs, that is ;-) ). I know there might be a conflict with ramped vs. unramped barrels but clarification is needed

 

[7x61]

Not a bad idea, Gorky

You can drop in a barrel (assuming the same ramp shape - or lack thereof) in 10mm, 9mm, .357 SIG, .38Super, 9x21, 9x23, .30 Luger....

You would probably want to make up an extractor with a little more bend/tension for the 9mm variants, the .38S would likely be fine, the .357SIG and 10mm of course no change. Mags in .38S work for all the skinny ones, .357SIG and .40 use the same mags.

Using a .40 barrel with a .45 slide is not readily doable as the breech face is too wide. You CAN run a .38 SPECIAL barrel in a .45 slide, though... 8)

You can alter a .40 ejector (narrow it) and drop a .45 slide on a .40 bottom end, and then of course you can run .45ACP, .45-08 :lol: , .400 Cor-Bon, .40 Super, .460 Rowland, .38 Casull...

As you can probably figure out, I love building unusual 1911's/calibers

Thirty years ago, pistolsmiths used to do a lot of stuff we frown on now, such as welding up "longslides" from 2 old military slides, welding/brazing up a .45 breechface to .38 dimensions, etc, etc. I want a conversion to be as strong as (if not stronger than) the original, so I don't recommend any of those mods. Usually cheaper to buy new parts...

Given you any ideas?

Gunnar
www.armco-guns.com

 

[gorky]

Gunnar, as always, you give me too many ideas :twisted:

I would love to have 357sig and 38 super barrels for my 40SW 1911. Based on what you wrote and common sense, I dont need a new ejector for the 357sig (as it almost a necked down 40SW case). however, for the 38 Super, I would need to pay attention to the ramp angle and ejector and extractor ?

Would it just be easier/time saving to buy complete top ends for each calibre ? Swapping ejectors isnt that bad then ...

Also, are complete top ends readily available ? Is any other fitting required ?

 

[gorky]

Oh, one other question - is there any calibre barrel that I can drop in without swapping out ANY parts at all ? Further to that point, any calibre barrel that does not require any alterations to feed ramps, fitting, etc ?