Help me decide a unique "1911" buying decision

Can it be done?
Sure.
Can it be done where it's reliable?
That's the question.

Consider the more successful rounds in the 1911 platform and the COAL of the cartridge (RN):

.45ACP 1.265"
38 Super 1.280"
10mm 1.260"

Sharing the same frame ramp with these 3 cartridges makes feeding (with the proper slide for that cartridge) more on the reliable side.

Consider the COAL of these 2 cartridges (RN)
9mm 1.12"
40 S&W 1.12"

See a pattern?

So, a 40S&W cartridge would be more reliable on a 9mm built frame than a .45ACP frame due to the angle of the frame ramp. A 38 Super would feed better in a .45ACP designed frame than a 9mm ramp but you can use the 38 Super in a 9mm slide but put on the .45ACP frame instead of the 9mm built frame. The same with the .40 S&W vs the 10mm. You can use the same slide for 10mm and .40S&W but should use a .45ACP frame for the 10mm and use a 9mm frame for the .40 S&W ammo.

I hope this makes sense.
Can you do it?
Sure.
Do you want to?
Your call.
 
Road Clam said:
Any of you have a 1911 that pulls double duty by shooting both .45 and .40 by swapping out upper slide assemblies ?
Click to expand...
I had one -- it started out as a Para-Ordnance P13.40. A few years ago I spied some Para .40 S&W Commander length slides and barrels (P15.40) in the back of a Brownells catalog, so I bought one of each. It worked fine as a P15.40, but then Sarco started selling Para receivers, so I bought an Officers size receiver and put the P15.40 upper assembly on that. The P13.45 is back to being just a P13.45.
 
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