1911 in 9mm for 3-Gun?

thegrandpoohbah

thegrandpoohbah

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I am getting ready to buy a 9mm that would also see some use for 3-Gun next season. Any disadvantages to running a 1911 in 9mm? I figure it might not be a bad idea since I already have the holster and mag pouches for my .45ACP.
 
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Reliability from a 1911 depends on mags... 9mm 1911s even more so.

In my experience reliability is key to success. There are lots of good shooters, but having gear that runs smooth usually makes the difference between first and sixth (or worse!)

For that reason I suggest a boring old Glock or a CZ Shadow. You could get fancy and run a PPQ too!

YMMV
 
Some action shooting sports differentiate between "heavy" (.40 and .45) and "light" (9mm) calibres and score the lights lower. So you have to be familiar with the rules.

In IDPA, which is what I shoot, they're scored the same. So there's an advantage in 9mm being cheaper (more practice ammo) and less recoil. My Canuck 9mm 1911 is in stainless and is a good hefty piece. Now that I've received my registration, I'm taking it for a first run next week.

On the other hand... an all steel 1911 IS heavy, which affects your ability to move the gun around to different targets. I'm a bit concerned that the weight will affect my accuracy with 1 hand, especially my weak hand. Also, in 3 Gun, you move a lot with the holstered handgun. A heavy pistol needs a holster and belt that will take the weight and it will have an effect on your movement. The polymer guns are a lot lighter and you have a lot of caliber options, from .38 ACP to .45 ACP. I'm also interested in how the steel magazines for my 1911 will stand up to being dropped, compared to the ones for my M&P9, which have a rubber base to take the impact.

In the end it depends on the specific rules of your game (always play to the rules of the game) and what you shoot best. And finally, practise and more practise.
 
The Walther PPQ Q5 Match is high on my list, just thinking of sticking with the 1911 platform as that is what I know and love. I am already set up with a Double Alpha belt, Safariland holster and Blade Tech mag pouches for the 1911 for IPSC.

I am wanting to go 9mm again just for the cheaper cost of ammo and the lower recoil (which I imagine would be very minimal with a government length steel frame). Plus the extra two rounds in the mag won't hurt either. As for reliability of the mags I currently run Wilson Combat 8 round Elite Tactical Magazines in my .45ACP. I am assuming their 9mm mags are of equal quality?
 
I run an STI Range master in 9mm. Wilson combat mags. Gun is awesome. I was looking at the 2011's and it didn't make sense to me unless I was going to the US once a month.

I haven't had a problem with weight. The gun transitions well. The bull bbl keeps the muzzle on target. You can't beat the ergo's of the 1911. And I have a shadow and m&p.

I did find that I hate the sti recoil master and I think an aftec extractor belongs in every 1911 in existence. I was getting failures before I swapped those two parts out. It's been smooth since.
 
Phat Eagle said:
Reliability from a 1911 depends on mags... 9mm 1911s even more so.
YMMV
Click to expand...

Although this is true, don't get caught up in the myth that they are unreliable.
A well tuned 1911 will never be bested in accuracy, follow ups or transition by any other plastics.
A well maintained 1911 will also be just as reliable.

This comes from my personal experience, and most who shoot ipsc with a 1911 being the 90% class leader in 3 divisions.
Where competitors also shoot 10k+ rounds on the same platform. (Including myself)

Find the mags the 1911 needs, put in an aftec extractor and you'll never have to worry about breaking a nail
 
snooze98k said:
Although this is true, don't get caught up in the myth that they are unreliable.
A well tuned 1911 will never be bested in accuracy, follow ups or transition by any other plastics.
A well maintained 1911 will also be just as reliable.

This comes from my personal experience, and most who shoot ipsc with a 1911 being the 90% class leader in 3 divisions.
Where competitors also shoot 10k+ rounds on the same platform. (Including myself)

Find the mags the 1911 needs, put in an aftec extractor and you'll never have to worry about breaking a nail
Click to expand...


Everything to do with the shooter and almost nothing to do with the gear..
 
If it works for you, shoot what you like. I have a STI Trojan 9mm, and it works flawlessly. Bought it from site sponsor Freedom Ventures, and I run Tripp Cobra, 10 round mags in it. I love the 1911, I love my Smith and Wesson M&P also, but it's the 1911 I shoot in competition. Sounds like you're all set to go with belt and all.

+1 1911.
 
And with the exception of heavy metal division, which I have not seen anyone shoot, 9mm is the caliber for 3 gun. Some outlaw matches maybe things would be different. Another factor is that some steel is stubborn. For stubborn steel you may want .40 major loads. Some people bring .40 major and minor loads. Major for stubborn steel, and minor (light) for all else. But, 9mm is more than fine.
 
I love 1911s and it's pretty much all I shoot, but anything without an external safety will be better than one for 3 gun. When you dump a gun it's just easier to not have to worry about the safety and reloads will also be easier on a double stack.
 
heavenIsAlie said:
....and reloads will also be easier on a double stack.
Click to expand...

+2
Biggest drawback to a 1911 platform IMHO.
Can be corrected/offset with perfect practice and mag funnels always help, but all of that is transferable to double stack mags too, which still hold an advantage.
 
With the exception of .22LR pistols;
9mm 1911s jam more frequently (and more severely) than pretty much any other type of handgun.

If you're okay with that; Then go ahead and use a 9mm 1911.
 
Dexter Morgan said:
With the exception of .22LR pistols;
9mm 1911s jam more frequently (and more severely) than pretty much any other type of handgun.
Click to expand...
Not sure what you're basing that claim on and maybe I've been lucky with my experience but I find it hard to believe. I shot two full seasons of PPC Service with my Kimber Stainless Target II 9mm and had maybe 2-3 FTF/FTEs total. The gun is stock except for some light trigger work and that would have been in the 4000 to 5000 round range, all handloads with lead 125 grain round nose bullets. For a gun to be more dependable than that it would essentially have to have zero malfunctions. Does such a beast even exist?
 
Dexter Morgan said:
With the exception of .22LR pistols;
9mm 1911s jam more frequently (and more severely) than pretty much any other type of handgun.

If you're okay with that; Then go ahead and use a 9mm 1911.
Click to expand...

I guess your talking about some cheep 1911. This is not true in a quality 1911. I have several and they all run perfect. Tune it it will run. Use quality ammo. Don't buy a cheep 1911.
 
My STI Spartan 9mm is what I use for 3 Gun. Tripps mags for 10 rounds. I also use Hogue Magrips on it to help smooth out the reloads. I really enjoy the 1911 in 9mm.
 
Not really. 1911 is an incredibly accurate design with a tight lockup.
Follow ups are greatly increased with a pistol that can stay flat i.e weight, balance, length

Drink all the glock koolaid you like, a heavy steel tank of a 100year old design stands the test of time with all shooters
 
Another vote for 1911. I like steel guns and wouldn't use a polymer pistol in a go-fast sport if i don't have to stay inside of classification rules.

If you are finding that it isn't reliable for you, send it to Bumblebee in PG to get it tuned. If you are having issues with reloads, get a mag well. Tuning will cost less than new mag pouches and holster. Also, your muscle memory will already be better suited to a 1911.
 
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