So a thread earlier had a couple of comments wondering why someone would buy a 1911 in a caliber smaller than .45, like a 9mm, and I immediately thought about my own small caliber 1911.

This Colt has a special place in my heart. My father gave it to me when I was youngster, and even though it was not my first handgun, it was with this gun that I learned defensive handgun techniques. Later on, it served well as a carry piece, all stories for another day.

it's a Colt Series 80, factory chambered in .40 S&W. These are a bit of a rarity, as Colt only made them for a couple of years before discontinuing the model. It looks like a normal .45, with the same rollmarks and stampings as any other Series 80, but the barrel is marked .40 S&W and the magazine floorplate is also appropriately marked. Had I known it would be rare, I might not have used it in the utilitarian manner I did. It's in good shape, but does show the use and wear that I put it through.

I put this gun through it's paces when I was younger. The .40, with it's reputation for snappy recoil in small guns, is much more tame in a full size 1911. It is very pleasant to shoot, much more so than a ball .45 round out of the same gun. I can just imagine how smooth and easy a 9mm 1911 would shoot. The magazine holds one more than the old .45 mags at eight, or nine with modern magazines, but this gain in capacity is hardly worth noting.

Even today, it still shoots brilliantly. It has, hands down, the best Series 80 trigger I've ever felt. I don't take it out very often anymore, as I get hammer bite now that I'm older and fatter. My big mitts just don't fit it as they used to. In my youth, it was never a problem. The sights are three dot, but very basic and not fully adjustable. Even then, the sight picture is good, and it is a breeze to shoot accurately with it.

I never knew if my father chose a .40 caliber 1911 for me to learn on because he thought it would be easier and prevent bad habits, or if he simply thought it was a neat idea to chamber a 1911 in a caliber that was still relatively new. Either way, I'm still very attached to this gun and wouldn't trade it for anything.

I WOULD SAY THAT'S A RARE BIRD, WORTH HANGING ONTO---EVEN APART FROM YOUR EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT TO IT.....

BABY IT, BECAUSE PARTS WILL BE HARD TO FIND....

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'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

I've never owned or fired a .40, but its a 1911 pattern pistol. Can't be that bad....

I have to say that not only have I never heard of that configuration, but I never even thought about it before!
I don't know why because it makes perfect sense when I do.
Is it a standard length barrel? It may be the angle but it looks a little longer.
Very interesting and a good looking pistol, too.
Thanks for bringing it up.

Thanks!

Yeah, standard length. Camera angle and focal length exaggerates it a bit.

Maybe barrels and magazines, but the rest are probably standard 1911 parts.

I like the combination; the .40 and .45 both develop similar amounts of energy.

I looked for a while for a 1911 in .40. I saw 2 like yours asking silly money. A full size springfield from the custom shop sold in 1 day at $1500. There are Sigs, STI, Dan Wessons, Rock Islands all in .40; but eventually I stumbled onto a Gold Cup Elite locally for a not ridiculous price.

What a great gun, and an even better story!

Thanks for sharing it, as these stories are one of the reasons I think this site is so great!

That gun would have to leave my cold, dead hands, as there is NO other way I'd get rid of it!

I am not sure if a .40 S&W slide is dimensionally identical to one in .45 ACP, as the cartridge rim diameters are different. It might be interesting to see if a .45 cartridge seems to fit the .40 slide breech face OK. Otherwise the only differences would involve the magazine, barrel, and possibly the ejector. And it's possible that a .45 magazine may work OK for .40 S&W. I've never tried that.

Was just reading about a version that came with a 40 barrel and a 10mm barrel (I think it was roll marked as a delta elite).Colt has done some interesting small runs over the years.

A fellow could get a custom barrel / bushing combo in .357 Sig fitted to it fairly easily I would think. That would be a hoot.

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Straight shootin'
SWCA#2439

Member of our department pistol team bought one when they were first offered because a rumor had spread that the department was soon going to require that everybody carry the .40 S&W. (At the time, the department issued the S&W 4006 and Beretta 96 but you could provide your own pistol in 9mm, 10mm, .40 or .45 ACP.)

My duty gun at the time was a stainless Colt Government Model in .45 ACP. Shooting his .40 and my .45, we both felt that recoil was about the same, but the .40 seemed to be a bit more noisy.

The department ended up dropping the 10mm from the approved list and adding the .357 Sig in it's place.

Wow, that is nice! Never heard of that configuration before.

There are a lot of folks who get free .40 ammo at work, but like to shoot a 1911 on their own time.

I'll have to keep my eyes out for one of these.

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Rule of law, not a man.

IN THAT CASE, IT MAY BE WISE TO PURCHASE A FEW SPARE MAGS, AND A SPARE BARREL----IF AND WHEN YOU COME ACROSS THEM.....

__________________
'Nam 1968-69.DAV,VFW,NRA Inst.

Wow that's an absolute beautiful Colt MK IV

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Life is short,live it fully.

Kimber made some in .40, but I'm not sure if they offer any currently. I never understood why the manufacturers stopped offering them, perhaps someone here knows of some issues? I didn't buy one, but I think it's a great offering.

I never heard of a 40 cal 1911. I am seeing quite a few 9mm coming in the 1911 now. I can see the 9mm since it is less expensive to shoot.
Depending on the gun design IMO the 40 isn't that much more to handle than a 9.

forindooruseonly, that is one fine looking Colt.

I got the itch to try a 1911 in .40S&W and scratched that itch about six months ago with this Sig Sauer. I agree with forindooruseonly, that .40S&W in the 1911 platform is very pleasant to shoot.



Some .45ACP magazines like the Wilson Combat 47D work with .40S&W, Check-Mate makes the .40S&W mag for Sig.
Wilson and Sig mag with my plinking load of Bayou Bullets 155gr RN loaded to 875fps.

KO

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