1911 conversions ... LOTS of ?'s

S

saands

New member
I have a Springfield 1911 in 45acp that I really like and I've been looking into ways that might make it a better backpacking gun (ie. a little more powerful). What I've run across so far is the 400 corbon barrel conversions and the possibility of converting it to a 10mm.

Ive heard pretty mixed things about the 400 Cor-Bon and I think that I'd prefer the 10mm for many reasons ... among them:
1. more potent in most loadings than the 400 Cor-Bon
2. straight-walled case is MUCH easier to reload
3. 10mm is a SAAMI recoignized round so there are factory loads other than Cor-Bon
4. no bullet setback problems due to a short neck kinda like #2 but a little different.
5. no need to cut my own cannelures on JHP ammo ... related to #4
6. by adding an extra barrel and spring I'd have another 40s&w as well.

The downside with the 10mm is the cost of getting a new slide/sights/Extractor/etc that are not needed with the 400 conversion ... offsetting that are the purchase of expensive 400 CorBon dies (to avoid lubing cases), and a cannelure tool to enable the use of jacketed bullets without the danger of setback.

Can I make a 10mm 1911 by simply getting another slide, barrel, spring, and magazine? If so, who makes the slides?

I noticed that there are different ejectors for the 9mm and 38super than the 45acp ... does the 10mm also need a different ejector ... if so, could one use the 10mm ejector with the 45?

With the correct spring installed, will the 10mm batter the 1911 frame ... I already have a 22LR conversion, so my typical session would probably be 100-150 rounds of 45, 100 rounds of 22 and 25-50 rounds of 10mm.

TIA ...
Saands
 
Have you seen the 460 rowland? I would think it a lot better for what you want to do than the 10mm, although a 10 loaded stout is an awesome caliber. It leaves the 10 in the dust when loaded to its full potential.

The 460 conversion is a barrel and spring as far as I know, lots simpler than the other way. The 45 dies you have will load it too, just buy some brass and go to it.

Just some more info for you to think about.
 
The 460 is a barrel/spring and a compensator ... I had thought about that one and must have decided that since the 400 corbon outperformed the 10mm without the extra inch of length, I would jsut go that way. Then I started to research the 400 more and began to see that it really doesn't match the 10mm ... that there is still no free lunch. That brought me back to the 10mm in a 5" slide and I, somehow, forgot the 460. Thanks for reminding me of it. As the cheap and "easy" solution (400 corbon) isn't looking like like what I want I think I will look into the 460. I'm also starting to contemplate just doing a new 10mm ... but that would entail more justification at home :eek: Besides ... I just looked at the CA approved handgun list and the only 10mm semiautos are the Glocks, and I'm just not partial to them ... I've shot them, it's just a personal preference. I was thinking that a Witness in 10mm might be nice, but alas, they aren't "safe" according to my DOJ. :mad:

Thanks,
Saand

ps ... I'd still like some input on the 10mm conversion ... I checked out the link for the 45 super and all I saw was a link to 45super that described what it would do ... but not what was required to outfit a 45acp to fire it safely. Any more insights?
 
Sorry...

go to realguns, then go to the top and click "Articles"

there's a VERY detailed 3 part article about converting a Kimber to 45 Super.

Actually, Joe has a lot of informative and useful articles.
 
Converting a 45 ACP 1911 to 10mm requires a new upper unit in 10mm, a new slide stop pin, and 10mm magazines. Colt Delta Elites also used 9mm/38 Super ejectors, you can use the 45 ACP ejector, but there will be a big space between the ejector and the ejector track on the slide. 45 Super sounds promising and it does require only a spring change and I think a case with a thick case head.
 
Thanks for the info. I read the articles and the 45Super does sound like an easy way to amp up the 45acp. I have another, older, 1911 also in 45acp, however, as do some of my shooting buddies and I'm a little leary of loading rounds that might end up in the wrong box ... mistakes do happen, and they'd have a chance since we have multiple copies of the same type pistol. I think that I will probably end up going with the 460 ... costs a little more than the 45Super conversion, but it doesn't have the mix-up risk. Having a CZ-52, I wouldn't get a Chinese Tokarev for the same reason (although I kinda like the Tok design) ... the CZ ammo would probably convert a Tok into a grenade.

Thanks again,
Saands
 
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