1911 .45acp v. 9mm

BarryLee said:
So, any of you 1911 fans out there added one in 9mm to your collection? If so how do you like it? How does it compare to shooting the .45acp? Also, what brands/models did you buy?
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9mm 1911s are a lot of fun. They do not have the satisfying big boom of a .45, but the ammo is lighter and cheaper. 9mm is a little frustrating at first; bigger .45 holes appear to group better than smaller 9mm holes. :o

damienph said:
I don't know why Colt doesn't offer a 5" in 9mm but there are several others that do.
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How many different kinds of 5" 9mm Colts do you want?
O-1992 blued Series 80
O-1092 stainless Series 80
O-1082CCS stainless Competition Pistol
O-1072CCU Combat Unit Pistol
O-1072RG stainless Rail Gun

Oh yeah, I prefer Colts!
 
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I would recommend a 1911 in 38 Super. Converting it to 9MM is merely a matter of changing the barrel and magazine.
 
The problem is that .38 Super costs a lot more than 9mm. I don't have the time or space to load my own. I buy my ammo in bulk.
 
Check out the Rock Island Armory 1911 that comes with a 9mm barrel and 22 TCM barrel.

9mm for cheap plinking, 22 TCM for fun. It's a high velocity round with some good muzzle blast but very little recoil.
 
GC70... in post #6 T. O'Heir said "A Commander(there is no Government Model 9mm) in either 9mm or .45 weigh exactly the same and have the same barrel length. Muzzle blast will be a tick more with 9mm due to the higher velocity."

I took that to mean that Colt didn't make a 9mm 5" (Government sized) pistol and I was just commenting that I didn't know why Colt didn't make one.
 
9mm 1911

I have shot a few different 9mm 1911's and even a couple 2011s. I carry a Colt Commander with a lot of custom work chambered in .45 and will definitely be getting a 2011 in 9mm for competition shooting.. . Not entirely what you asked but...the point is... a 9mm 1911/2011 is a freaking tack driver that you can run hard and accurately if you're used to the platform.
 
tallball said:
I think my Colt Government 380 counts as a 1911. If not, I'm sure someone will correct me.
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No, it doesn't count as a 1911 -- because it's not a 1911. Mechanically, the Government 380 is the same as the Mustang. No barrel link, different fire control parts. Not a single part interchanges with a 1911 (or, as in the Browning "1911-380," is a scaled-down 1911 part).
 
I have more 1911s than I like to admit, mostly in .45 acp, a couple in 9mm, and a 10mm. For defensive purposes, I would definitely go with .45 acp. With standard pressure loads (and no reason to use +P ammo), the recoil is not bad in an all-steel gun.

All that said, if I were only wanting to use it for range work, I would probably get a 9mm. One hundred percent reliability is not an issue in a range toy, thought you obviously don't want a gun that routinely malfunctions. The only issue I have had is from one gun where I was riding the safety with my strong-side thumb (as is done by many with defensive pistols). A slight adjustment in my hold took care of the issue.

As to brands, Colt has several five-inch barreled 1911s in 9mm. They are not "Government" models but many people refer to all five-inch barreled 1911s as "Goverment." The STI Trojan is an excellent pistol that comes in 9mm. The Pointman Nine PM-9 is another fine 1911 in 9mm My 10mm is a Pointman.
 
Yet the model O-1992 and O-1092 5" 9mm Colts wear the "Government Model" rollmark.
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Good to know. Hadn't looked that close. Colt has done things like this before, bringing back the name "Series 70" which is different than the original Series 70 and now bringing back the "Cobra" revolver that is also different than the original. Marketing. :rolleyes:
 
I would recommend a 1911 in 38 Super. Converting it to 9MM is merely a matter of changing the barrel and magazine.
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Actually in the two Commanders I own (Colt and Ruger), the .38 Super mags work just fine with 9mm as well. Rod
 
"No, it doesn't count as a 1911 -- because it's not a 1911. Mechanically, the Government 380 is the same as the Mustang. No barrel link, different fire control parts."


You are absolutely correct. For some reason I misremembered it as having a barrel link. It kind of looks and feels like a 1911, but that doesn't make it one. :)
 
I started shooting 1911's around 1945. Didn't care for them. Fired a few while in service, USAF. Move to 2014: LGS owner said I might like a Springfield Range Officer in 9mm. He was correct. Caused me to buy several STI's. During the past couple of years I also bought several .45ACP 1911's. Discovered nerve damage in both hands. The only .45ACP pistols remaining are a Shield and a STI Edge. I guess one can say the Edge is "close" to being a 1911.
 
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