Been wanting another high capacity 9mm and had decided on a CZ 75B single action. Going through LGS adds one has a RIA high capacity 1911 in stock. 9mm/22tcm, commander size, no rail (yeah!) with fixed sights. This has me thinking about my favorite semi-auto platform with high capacity. Some questions for those that own high cap 1911's.
Like most 1911's do magazines make the gun?
Are good magazines available and affordable?
Parts interchangeability. I'm left handed and will standard ambi safety fit? Other parts? (hammer, sear and such).
Any other advise?
Thanks!

My experience was several years ago when I owned a Para P-18. It was an okay gun. Even though I have large hands the grip was a little big. They don't come with an ambi safety but that can be remedied.

I have shot many others owned by friends such as STI, SVI/Infinity, Bul, Caspian, and Kimber. The results were mixed as you would expect.

Stepping into the world of high quality 2011 high capacity frames can be expensive. They were designed for competition and have evolved from there. Some 2011 magazines are proprietary and can cost over $100. And it's not like you can walk into any gun store and find them.

So the Rock Island may be a good choice.

I had wanted a high capacity 1911 in 9MM a few years ago but didn't want to spend quite so much. So I bought an EAA Witness Match Elite. Not a 1911 but shooting one is very close. The trigger is very good.

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Life Is A Gift. Defend it!

I've shot high capacity 1911's, but don't like them.

They don't feel right to me.

I love single stack 1911's (Colts are my favorites).

I have found my 24 1911 pistols function best when loaded 7 + 1, irrespective of what the manufacturer says (8 or 9 rounds, etc.). Having said that, I see a 1911 pistol as exclusively a single stack pistol.


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I have the full size(5" barrel) RIA 22 TCM/9mm. I bought it for the 22 tcm barrel, but since have learned how much fun the 9mm is on a 1911 platform.
I had problems with the 9mm barrel when I first got it; did not feed well at all. The 22tcm barrel has functioned well since day one. Sent it back to RIA and they fixed it in a timely manner. Now it feeds and functions flawlessly, using round nose and Hornady XTP or Federal HST hollow point ammo. I bought 2 P18 mags and both work well in my gun. My biggest problem with Rock Island is that it ships only one mag with all of their 1911s. I would definitely recommend it.

I concur that 1911s are "supposed" to be single stack.... Mostly. For the wide body 1911s made, I've found that most are junk. The RIA 22 TCM/9mm mentioned above is an exception for a great price but tracking down extra mags is the key.

In the .45 school, the duty style STI Tactical pistols are amazing. One of the only wide body .45s I'd take to a fight. I have. They work. As mentioned magazines are expensive, but so is the pistol. It was comforting when carried, knowing your first magazine had 12-14 rounds in it as compared to the standard 7-8. The 9mm versions give you something like 20-22 right from the get go. Hard to argue with any match grade, duty quality 1911 that gives you half a box of ammo stuffed up the grip as well. It's not traditional, but neither are the times.

My only double stack 1911 is a Para-Ordinance LDA (light double action) Para-Carry 4.25" barrel. Shoots and functions much better than any of the 7 Springfield Armory 1911's I had. the 12 or 10 shot mags give enough firepower that I don't feel the need for a spare mag when I CC.

Ivan

I have 2 Springfield's, a R.O. (9mm) and a loaded (45acp) that have been excellent.

Also, I'm afraid the double stack 1911 questions were for naught. I walked into said LGS and walked out with a CZ! I had every intention of buying a double stack but then he put a CZ in my hand and...

I bought a Para Ordnance kit before they built whole guns. It included the frame, one mag and the frame parts that were unique to the frame because it is wide. I put a Colt top end on it. I shot it a few times, bought it a few spare mags, put it in the safe and haven't shot it in 25 years or more. It works fine, at least with ball ammo, but fit my hand like a brick.

I've had ownership experience with a two older double stack Paras. One was a compact P10 . The other a P 14. I'll speak to the P-14 since I assume your interested in full sized 1911's. While some of the parts are unique to the P14, it does stay pretty true to the 1911 concept. Because the grip panels are thin, I didn't find the P14 uncomfortable to handle at all ( I have med-lrg hands). The gun ran flawlessly. Honestly can't say anything bad about it although I know Para is a totally different company these days. You can still find these in the used market for $600 or so which is allot cheaper than some of the alternatives.

That said, I have some Chip McCormick extended 10 round single stack mags that I run in any of my traditional 1911's. Again, no complaints.

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Dave

I own three hi cap 1911's, one is a Para Ord P 14. The other two are custom guns that I built on Para frame kits, I have owned the three since the early 90's. Have ran thousands of rounds through the three without any issues, most of those were my hand loads duplicating GI hardball. I have a bunch of single stack 1911's and I rate my three double stack 1911's alongside them in regards to dependability and accuracy.