So Im getting a full size 9mm 1911 and everyone asks why? Why why why??? maggies 9mm 1911 by Dandy Randy, on Flickr
Ill tell you why... Cuz its freakin cool thats why! They shoot real pleasant and they can be very accurate just as accurate as any 38 super 1911 and the bullets are much cheaper than 45 or 38 super which is something to seriously consider these days on the crazy wacky prices of ammo. If its good enough for Thomas Magnum I guess its good enough for me. Speaking of that interesting little Hollywood note... Most armorers in most of the classic Hollywood TV shows and movies you used to see back in the day used 9mm 1911s instead of 45 barreled 1911s because 45 blanks were hard to get and 9mm blanks were easy to acquire and use on set.
Why not? I have a commander-sized 1911 in 9mm, actually it's downscaled a little bit to better suit the 9mm round. I love the pistol, shoots really well and is an almost perfect carry piece. Springfield EMP4
Why not? I have a commander-sized 1911 in 9mm, actually it's downscaled a little bit to better suit the 9mm round. I love the pistol, shoots really well and is an almost perfect carry piece. Springfield EMP4
I noticed most of the 9mm 1911s have bushing less barrels. Not a big deal to me except the break down is a little bit different than normal procedure.
On Magnum, the 1911 always had a deeper sound than the oppositions gun.
Thats interesting because my 9mm 1911s always sound like a more powerful gun like they are shooting magnum cartridges or something. Its weird because my 45 1911s have more of a pop pop sound to them and the 9mm has a deep sharp magnum sound to it... It always weirds me out like what they heck am I shooting here? and everyone around me thinks Im shooting 10 mm or something? Especially when the 9mm is such a soft recoiling 1911 and my 45s are more of a long hard push. My Beretta M9 was the same way sounded like a more powerful gun.
Two of my three 1911's are in 9mm. Commander and Officer framed. I think both are ideal for a 9mm chambering. However I have nothing against .45 acp other than it costs more for me to shoot.
My very inexpensive ATI 9mm Commander is my most shot 1911. It is a favorite of trainees as well. Puts bullets down range nicely. Whatever else may be true in the ballistics debate, 9mm is as good at putting holes in [a[er as 45ACP.
I really like 1911’s and have 45’s, 38 supers and 3 9mm. Two of the 9’s are 5” with one being a lightweight Kimber with a Vortex red dot. The third is a 3” Kimber Aegis Ultra. I can’t say I favor one caliber over another but the 9’s are very nice to shoot.
I don’t have a commander size in 9mm but would like to have a steel frame 4”.
Thats interesting because my 9mm 1911s always sound like a more powerful gun like they are shooting magnum cartridges or something. Its weird because my 45 1911s have more of a pop pop sound to them and the 9mm has a deep sharp magnum sound to it... It always weirds me out like what they heck am I shooting here? and everyone around me thinks Im shooting 10 mm or something? Especially when the 9mm is such a soft recoiling 1911 and my 45s are more of a long hard push. My Beretta M9 was the same way sounded like a more powerful gun.
It's the velocity. A 5" barrel is just enough to put a lot of 9mm loads into transonic/low supersonic velocities. I have a Star B Super that is a simplified 1911 slimmed down to 9mm in the grip area and the bullets are definitely trucking when they leave that 5" barrel. When I've shot 124gr +P JHP from a 16" 9mm carbine, you can hear it go downrange with some authority. OK, it's not .357 Mag, but you can tell it's moving.
Just my personal preference, and heaven forbid that I make anyone else conform to my peculiarities, but I have always believed that the .45 belongs in the 1911, and 9mm in the Hi-Power.
That said, my first 1911 was a Government Model in .38 Super.
I noticed most of the 9mm 1911s have bushing less barrels. Not a big deal to me except the break down is a little bit different than normal procedure.
Many, if not most, of the 10mm 1911's are also bushingless. My SR1911 in 10mm has the long rod and no bushing, same as my EMP4. With a paperclip, I can take them down faster than I can my .45 Springfield. I kind of like not having to deal with the spring, by keeping it trapped on the rod.
Lets talk about the negative things of 9mm 1911s. Well there really isnt much negative to speak of except one thing. If you ever get a 9mm 1911 look closely at the extractor and make sure its properly tuned. So lets talk about the positives of the 9mm 1911. Some have already been touched on. Ammo availability and ease to shoot ect ect. If you have a light weight alloy frame I prefer the ramped barrel of 9mm on a 1911. The many SR1911 Rugers and Kimbers come to mind. Parts and magazines are easy to acquire too. They are almost as prevalent as the 45 parts. You also get an extra couple rounds capacity in your pistol. Does that make a difference? Maybe?? 9mm 1911 pistols are a very versatile platforms worth investing in because you can go in so many more directions with it and i think is more versatile than the 45 pistols. I think its definitely worth investing in both pistols. I do like 38 super though its more classic to me in the 1911 however I cant justify investing into that cartridge especially since 9mm is pretty much equal to it now a days with any difference in the performance not really worth mentioning and the 9mm is cheaper. If I ever found a nice enough John Dillinger special though I would get it just to have one 38 super. What I really want though is a Lebman 1911 machine pistol.
While I have several 1911s 45s, the gun I shoot weekly is a Nighthawk 1911,
in 9mm. I have lots of bulk ball ammo for it and my old man hands
appreciate less recoil. I carry a LW Commander in .45, but I wouldn’t
feel under gunned with a 9 stoked with Buffalo Bore +P+.
While I have several 1911s 45s, the gun I shoot weekly is a Nighthawk 1911,
in 9mm. I have lots of bulk ball ammo for it and my old man hands
appreciate less recoil. I carry a LW Commander in .45, but I wouldn’t
feel under gunned with a 9 stoked with Buffalo Bore +P+.
Nighthawks are nice. Really expensive though. I buy Nighthawk parts and upgrade my Tisas 1911s with the forged parts. Makes the guns way better than they were and are still an excellent value.
I've had full sized 9mm 1911s of one kind or another for many Moons. Years ago, it was sometimes a challenge to achieve functional reliability with my 9MM Colts. Now days though, gun and magazine manufacturers seem to have figured out how to build boringly reliable 9MM 1911s and magazines.
The 9mm 1911s I've had didn't display any difference in reliability or accuracy, whether bull or bushing type barrels. Using EGW recoil spring plugs, and standard GI length recoil spring guides, my bull barreled guns take down in the same way as bushing type 1911s. I have seen better reliability, right out of the box, with the integrally ramped 9mm barrels that several manufacturers, other than Colt, use in their 9mm 1911s.
The 1911 is said to be overbuilt for the 9mm cartridge. Fine by me. Due to all that steel, my 9mm 1911s handle some hotter 9mm ammo, like NATO, +P, +P+, etc. without issue. My old hands and wrists appreciate the lighter recoil too
Just my personal preference, and heaven forbid that I make anyone else conform to my peculiarities, but I have always believed that the .45 belongs in the 1911, and 9mm in the Hi-Power.
Tend to agree..... I got two Hi-Powers...... don't see the need for a 9mm 1911. Mec-gar 15rd mags are a nice addition.
I'll see your Thomas Magnum w/ a Beverly Hills Cop, and raise you a Serpico!
Seems to me the reason Thomas Magnum used a 1911 in 9mm was that 45 blanks were difficult to obtain in Hawaii, so the production company modified a Series 70 Colt in 9mm to shoot 9mm blanks. Most people don't know the difference anyway and the blued steel Series 70 Colt looks a lot better on film than a worn, possibly corroded, parkerized USGI M1911-A1.
Anyway, I never really understood the fascination with putting the short, 9x19 in a magazine and pistol designed for the longer, 45 ACP. It just struck me as a waste of space. That big magazine just begs for a cartridge that fully fills it, like 45 ACP, 10mm Auto, and 38 Super.
I know someone who builds custom 1911's in his spare time. He has built them in 9x19 and 40 S&W. He admits, they can be more difficult when it comes to reliability, but he builds his for maximum reliability and has good success. I'm sure they recoil less than 45 ACP and I can see their utility with a short barrel and aluminum receiver for EDC. 9x19 ammo is generally a good bit less expensive than larger calibers.
I have a RIA Rock Ultra FS that I love. Just so much fun to shoot and much more accurate than it's owner. The way I look at it is, yeah, it's a big pistol for the round. But so is my Mod. 18 and that thing is fun as hell and I shoot it well. Same with the 9MM. Also, I didn't get it for concealed carry. So why not get the ballistic and sight radius benefits? And the extra weight, combined with the caliber works out to faster hits on target.
Many, if not most, of the 10mm 1911's are also bushingless. My SR1911 in 10mm has the long rod and no bushing, same as my EMP4. With a paperclip, I can take them down faster than I can my .45 Springfield. I kind of like not having to deal with the spring, by keeping it trapped on the rod.
I wanted the best of both worlds, so I bought matching Dan Wesson ECO pistols in 9mm and .45 acp. Each has their own characteristics, and I've come to the conclusion that I like shooting the 9mm more, but the lure of the good old 'Merican 45 and it's big old slug is strong, too. Picking one to go shooting is a wonderful delema to have, but for paper punching and can plinking I think I'd take the 9mm.
Dan Wesson seems to have discontinued this Officer's Model-size pistol and I can't understand why as they are beautifully made and very accurate and dependable. Looking at this photo, I couldn't tell you which was which caliber, but if you peer gingerly at the muzzle it doesn't take long to tell who's who and what's what.
I was at the Monroeville gun show around Pittsburgh, back in 1989. As I was cruising the aisle, I looked down and in a white circle on the table covering was a Series 70 Government Model in 9mm Luger, looking like it was being spotlighted. It had been customized with low mounted Bomar sights, a thinned hammer, national match bushing and it locked up like a bank vault. The asking price for the gun was less than what I figured the work would have cost. IPSC matches were starting up and I figured it would be a great IPSC gun, so I bought it.
We had an IPSC match soon after at my club in Maryland. I had a hostage target that had an "A" zone on the bad guy about the size of a pop can. I put a double tap in that "A" zone and I was just amazed at what I did with that gun. It cycled like greased lightning. That gun was a fabulous buy.
Happily I was able to keep this gun when I lost my job in 2009. It's a keeper for me.
Mine is a Series 70 Colt, GM. At the time, I was buying it simply to add a different caliber to a modest 1911 collection and to replace a Star Mod. B.
It was one of the best acquisitions that I have every made. The GM sights are sometimes a challenge and the newer pistols with target or better profile sights can squeeze out better accuracy.
"Fun to shoot" is an understatement and new shooters, who may be intimidated by a .45 caliber, never back down from shooting a 9mm.
The factory grips even have a bit of figure in them.
To each his own and I’m not judging but the 1911’s in my safe are all .45’s
I like that they all share the same magazines and consider 1911’s in any other caliber to be ridiculous.
There are plenty of other iconic 9mm pistols to enjoy.
I have a Ruger SR1911 9mm. It's the most accurate pistol I've ever shot. I love it.
Plus I don't buy all these different calibers. If I pick up a pistol I have plenty of 9 to choose from.
I own 9mm 22lr and I have a Ruger gp100 in .357 Magnum.
BUT, I think if you want to go with a 9mm 1911, the 38 Super is the better way to do it. The case is the same length as the 45 Auto and the straight-walled design is also the same.
My 38 super 1911s are more reliable than 9mm. The magazines especially!
Literally the only reason I didn't pursue 1911/9MM is because I have a ton of 1911/.45 mags and was concerned that I might mix a mag in with the wrong group. Have shot many (1911/9mm) with a good experience.
I understand why they do it, but it's a shame that the major manufacturers of the 1911 type pistols these days don't take a clue from Star and offer a variant in 9mm that is scaled around the 9mm round. If you have had the pleasure of handling a Star Model B you will know what I mean.
I like my 1948 Colt Super .38 because, well, because it is a Super .38. But a .45 frame and slide sized Government Model or Commander in 9mm ? Meh....
9mm 1911??? What? Thats crazy talk! Why???
Well, Hoss, sometimes we just gotta keep up with the times!
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