My next gun is going to be a 1911 chambered for 9mm. Don't want to spend over $1000. Really want 5" barrel and tritium sights. I'm leaning toward one of the Springfields but before "pulling the trigger" I would like to read everyone's two cents. The Colt Competition Series comes in 5". I hear the Rocks are good shooters but the ones I've seen in the gun shops just don't feel right in my hand. Don't want a Kimber. The SW1911 is $500 or $600 more than I want to spend.

What am I missing? Love to read input from you guys and girls.

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Bill

I have several 9MM 1911's, and like them a lot. Soft shooting, cheaper ammo, and one of mine, a Springfield Armory "Range Officer" is the most accurate handgun I own.

The Springfield Range Officer:



Water filled beer cans shot at 25 yards:



I also have a Rock Island 9MM 1911, not as refined as the Springfield, but a good value:



I think I paid about $800 for the Springfield two years or so back, right around $450 for the Rock Island....

If you can find a used S&W 1911 in 9mm you can get a functional and good quality 1911. Unfortunately, the S&W web site only has the pro series in 9mm and the price is outside the range you specified as you mentioned. Ruger does offer a 9mm 1911, but doesn't show night sights as stock.

If you go over to the 1911 Firearms Addicts forum and scroll down, there is a posting with several replies on there today regarding exactly what you are inquiring about. Many there prefer a Commander length in a 9mm over that full size but there is some good info on preferred brands and such.

https://gngsports.com/product/sr1911...-9mm-ss-5-9-1/

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Life Member B.A.S.S., NAFC

I picked up this Colt 9mm last year at the LGS for right at $1000.

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

You know you're about the third person I've heard saying his Springfield 1911 is the most accurate shooter he's ever had.

Definitely one vote for Springfield.

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Bill

Yes that's the Competition Series I'm looking at. Unless I get a better idea here, it's looking like it'll be the Colt or one of the Springfields. The Garrison won't break the bank and has everything I want. Plus it'll be good to compare that to my Colt Government Model.

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Bill

1) The RIA 1911s are great bang for the buck. Not all that refined but accurate enough for social purposes and reliable. I don’t have one in 9mm, but I picked one up in .45 ACP as a trade in from. A guy who decoded he didn’t like .45 ACP.



2) I was very impressed with my Ruger SR1911 LW commander in 9mm. It didn’t come with tritium sights but it was easy enough to add them.

3) I know you are not interested in a Kimber but I’ve been very impressed with my Kimber Pro Carry in 9mm. It’s accurate and very reliable. Kimber can’t really win. They are for the most part like S&W with mid grade pistols. However, they offer a number of features on a large number of models, that increase the price, along with some custom shop models that go for even more money, and Kimber takes a hit on people complaining about prices. On the other hand on their entry level 1911s where Kimber competes on price, people get upset, apparently holding them to a higher standard than the similar priced competition.





4) I also have a Colt 1991 series Government Model in 9mm. It’s also combat accurate and reliable, but with a steel frame and 5” barrel it’s a bit heavy for concealed carry.





5) Citadel made a great 9mm 1911 in both Officer framed and full sized models. I carried one for a couple years and liked it a lot. I put a lot of rounds down range and never had a failure with 124 gr XTPs. I paid $375 for it as new in the box about 5 years ago and I recently saw a full size example for sale for $475 in excellent condition.

This Springfield EMP4 1911 in 9mm with the 4” bull barrel is a soft shooter and just plain fun to shoot. I have done some work to the gun and hardly recognizable from the original configuration but that’s what we do.

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James
On the Llano Estacado

If I were looking to purchase a 9mm 1911 for under $1000 I think I'd probably go with the Springfield Armory Garrison .
I have not shot one but I have seen and handled one and I thought it quite well put together .
The one I looked at was a beautiful gloss blue but they also come in a stainless ...but the Blue for me.
Colt also offers a couple of models in your price range I believe .
I have a Colt Government Model only in .45 ACP .
I think the Springfield offerings are pretty tough to beat .

Only 1911 in 9MM I own is a Rock Island. It's accurate and dependable and it didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I don't see the need for another 9MM 1911. This one is perfect.

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The best I can with what I got

SA just came out with a 4.25 inch Garrison.

I have a 5 inch Garrison that I really like. Haven't shot it as much as I would like to but have enjoyed the time I have spent on it.

I also have a SIG TacOps in 9mm. Not sure they are still available because I stumbled across this one 6 or 7 years ago on closeout. Got a great deal and it is a great gun. Just not a huge fan of the rail.

I have 2 Rugers in .45 and believe the 9mm should be as nice. Don't think you could go wrong there either.

I am thinking my next might be a 4.25 Ronin or Garrison.

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Okay, I'll confess. For some reason, I always turned my nose up to anything in 9mm. All of my model 1911's were in .45 acp. I mean...anything else is sacrilege. Right?

Then I happened to shoot a friend's Colt model 1911 in 9mm. I had to admit...what a sweet shooting gun...and in the 1911 platform, too. What's not to love?

Anyway, I finally made the jump a few years ago and bought a stainless Springfield Range Officer in 9mm. Wow!! I'll admit, now whenever I grab one of my 1911's, nine times out of ten it will be the Springfield in 9mm. Not only is it one accurate firearm, but it's also darn fun to shoot.

Sorry about the poor photo. I know it looks like it's Parkerized but it really is stainless.

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Pack light and cinch tight.

I'm kind of partial to the EMP, in large part because it is scaled around the 9mm. The standard 1911 is scaled around the 45ACP, and the Super 38 works well because of the size, too. Some folks have had to do some work to get the 1911 to work well with 9mm.

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NHI, 10-8.

I've been thinking I'd go with a Springfield and so far they've got four votes here. Accuracy is definitely king for me. Just read a review at The Best 1911 Handguns: Tested and Reviewed | Outdoor Life
The Springfield had smaller groups than everyone except Wilson Combat. That's pretty impressive. Keep the comments coming guys. More knowledge is always a good thing.

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Bill

I'm certainly no expert but I read that because the 1911 frame is built for .45acp the 9mm barrels need to be thicker to fit the frame and the extra weight from the additional steel actually helps with balance and accuracy.

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Bill

I have a stainless Taurus PT1911 in 9mm... the key to happiness is the right magazines... picked it up used, I think it was $650... it isn't amazing, but it is functional and fun.

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At least for unsupported barrels, all you need to convert a .45 to a 9mm is to get a 9mm or .38 Super slide, barrel, ejector, and magazine.

I vote for the TISAS Turkish imports. I have 2, a commander and a full size, both GI type. Forged steel thru and thru. Not fancy, no trinium sights, but for $400. they are very accurate. Work flawlessly. You can always add different sights, or buy one of the upgraded models. Love mine.

I have a Rock Island and a Taurus PT1911 in 9mm. I am pleased with their performance and consider them good value for the money.

Like Canoe Guy (post #2) I also have a Springfield Range Officer 9mm. Mine is an earlier one and the “Elite” model. This one is the compact with a 4 inch slide and an aluminum Officers frame. The feed ramp is fully contained on the barrel assembly not the frame at all. The barrel as noted above is very thick and heavy.
I will second his comments about accuracy. This model is discontinued but I don’t think you can go wrong with any of the Springfield 9mm 1911 models. I sent the slide to Novaks and swapped out the fiber optic front for a big dot night sight. I put a Wilson Combat semi extended slide stop on it and use Wilson Combat mags. I’ll be shooting my HR218 qual with it next week.

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Get a 38 Super barrel and magazine for a quick and easy conversion.

I guess I’ve had my Springfield for 6 or 7 years and at the moment can’t remember the model. I’ve put a lot of ammo through it from light to moderate loads and have never had a failure. Accuracy is excellent and the action is very smooth. Trigger is crisp and breaks clean. I don’t have a scale but would estimate trigger pull at around 3-3.5 pounds. Fit and finish are excellent.

I’ve been a 1911 guy for 35 years and feel Springfield is as good as you can get out of a box. Custom will beat it but you’ll park 3-4 times the price.

I’ve never owned a Colt 9mm but have a Kimber light weight Night Star ( think that’s the name) that’s quite a good pistol too. I favor the Springfield but have had excellent service out of my Kimber. I don’t know if they’re still in production but they came in several configurations and were very reasonably priced. Again the fit and finish are beautiful and I’ve had absolutely no issues with this gun. I’ve put a lot of ammo through it with no failures.

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I’ve been very happy with my 9mm Bul 1911’s. I bought the 5” used for $650.00 a couple of years ago. I recently added the Commander length version a few months ago. I ordered it from Bul USA for $850.00:

I’ve had lots of 1911’s but they were all .45’s, 38 Supers or 10mm. Never a 9mm. Decided to rectify that situation last year and bought a blue Springfield Garrison. I’ve had a lot of Springfield products - still do- so I figured this would be a good fit. Wrong! This gun was nothing but problems. I won’t get too far into the long, painful story but will just say the gun would not feed and would not fire about 30% of the time. Finally sent it back to Springfield. They reamed the chamber but, as far as I could tell, did nothing to address the failures to fire. I finally replaced the titanium firing pin with a steel one and a went to a heavier recoil spring. Basically, I set it up like a Colt. It has worked OK since then and accuracy is very good. I still don’t fully trust it, though. In fairness, this might have been an outlier. I’ve had good service from my other Springfields, but this one was a dog. I’ve had a few other people tell me they had problems with them too. Frankly, if I were buying one now I’d go with Colt.

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Everybody could shoot

I have a Springfield Garrison in 9mm. I've had two issues with it. First, moving the rear sight to make it shoot to point of aim has been an exercise in futility. It just doesn't want to move. The second is its tight chamber. Factory new ammo works fine. So do my handloads. But LAX remanufactured ammo won't fully chamber and jams in the chamber. Yeah, I know reman ammo .... But the same ammo plunks and shoots fine in my other 9mm pistols. Other than these two issues, the gun has been accurate (if not to point of aim) and trouble-free.

I have a Springfield Ronin 2 tone in 9mm that I bought off the forum classifieds. It is a very nice 1911 but the sights are not tritium. Fiber optic front and two white dot rear that I changed to black dots. With a set of John Culina's grips and a heavier than the stock 9# recoil spring to better handle my preferred 124 Gr +P ammo I am good to go.

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

My only 9mm 1911 is a Tactical I RIA, 5". Has been worry free. Since the photo, adjustable fiber optic sights were installed. Purchased in 2017. Have a Commander Tactical II in .40. also. { wish it was a 9MM also}Bob

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I have a Springfield Loaded Target in 9mm, 5”. I really like the gun, by far the most accurate for me. Chamber is tighter than any of my S&W’s, had to be careful on resizing reloads. I added a Dawson Precision front fiber optic sight. Great gun.

Not really a fan of the 9MM, but will be building up the parts to make a M1911 function with 9MM. Was bored and had pieces/parts laying around. I have a 1958 Colt .38 Super that had been modified back in the day to shoot .38 Special (probably before the Mid Ranges were manufactured). Decided to get a .38 Super barrel for it and that would give me two guns in one. Then a friend gave me a .40 cal barrel and I have fitted that to the same slide. So 3 in 1 now. Will be looking for a 9MM barrel and mag then will get it functioning also, so 4 in 1. Also have a .45 Slide and barrel for the frame and a Colt Conversion Unit (.22LR) for the set up. When all done will be shooting six different calibers off of one frame. Being bored can get expensive and complicated!

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

My first 9mm 1991 was a RIA and it worked just fine. My only complaint was the slightly larger grip. I sold it to a friend and bought a Tisas aluminum framed commander length. I got it late in the season and only got to fire a thousand or so rounds through it. I had to have the extractor adjusted after 600 rounds and it was fine again after that.

I have a Ruger in .45 and it had been trouble free. I would have liked a lw Ruger in 9mm, but the price on the Tisas was in the $500 range and too good to pass up.

I have no exp with the SA's.

This one is the best 1911 I’ve ever owned. I know it’s not full size but doubt you’d be disappointed.

Ruger(R) SR1911(R) Commander-Style Centerfire Pistol Model 6722

I have a RIA Ultra FS. Probably less than 100rds thru it so far but no issues at all. IIRC it was only around $350 when I purchased it new a number of years ago.

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BCCI Life Member #2068

If you qualify for Springfield's Firstline purchase program and can live with a 4 1/4" barrel, you can pick up the 9mm Ronin for $703.00 + tax. I recently bought one and it's a keeper for sure.

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NRA, SWCA #2262

I have four 1911’s in 9mm. The Springfield is a really good shooter. As posted above, at least look into the Bul armory offerings. I really like mine too.

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I am a 1911 fan, but really only in .45 acp. That said, I can recommend Colt, Kimber, Bul Armory, Springfield Armory, RIA thru experience in sub - 1k 1911's. Honestly, it is hard to find a bad 1911 these days. Seems magazines are the biggest factor in reliability in .9mm 1911's from what I have read. If you don't see the 1911 that strikes your fancy available with radioactive sights from the factory, they are an easy to install usually under a hundred buck aftermarket option.

Just on a side note, I am really enjoying the fit & finish, as well as accuracy on a Bul Armory 1911 Government model (.45 acp) I picked up recently. A LOT of gun for about $800.00. I believe a .9mm version is available?

Larry

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I have a blued Colt Competition Model. I have no complaints with it, and you can probably find a used one for around 7-800 dollars.

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Because of the metric system?

I would love a blued 5" Competition Series but all I see are stainless ones. If blued ones were made maybe I'll just keep looking until I find one.

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Bill

I would seriously consider the Bul Armory line. I do not own one but will soon. I have handled them and been reading about them for some time. They are top shelf, well worth the money.

I don't generally quibble over a few hundred bucks but I'm having trouble justifying the extra money when the Springfields have everything I want for so much less than the BUL 1911s.

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Bill

Have you considered a double stack 9mm or 2011 as some call it?

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Release the Kraken

Main thing for me is the accuracy. I need all the help I can get at the range and there are so many people saying how accurate their Springfields are.

I even read where they beat the Nighthawk in a sandbag test. Now that's going some.

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Bill

I have an ATI (I know pretty much same company as Rock Island). commander size 9mm 1911. Everyone who shoots it like it. My gunsmith bought one after he deep cleaned it. Several shooting friends bought them after using mine. You cannot beat it for the price.

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I bought a Kimber Stainless Target II in 9mm about a month ago. I don’t know why I waited so long to get a 9mm 1911. I really enjoy shooting it and it’s been 100% with a few different reloads. I purchased two additional Metalform magazines since they were $15 cheaper than Kimber magazines.

I wanted the Bomar style adjustable rear sight which really limits choices. For $863, I’m very happy with it.

A Colt Gold Cup 1911 for $1000 is $600 to $800 less than what I'm seeing them at. I'm leaning toward getting a Springfield but I'd be tempted to get a Gold Cup if I saw one for $1000.

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Bill

the springer is the way to go i have the loaded in 9mm i allso had the rock island to many problems to list here

I'm not a fan of the larger grips on the double stacks. Hmm. Saying double stack makes me want to run down to Wendy's!

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Bill

I mentioned to a friend that I was thinking of getting a 9MM barrel and mag for the combo piece I was building. On Friday morning as I was trying out the different barrels for function in my frame, he handed me a Colt 9MM barrel and mag assy to try in my build. First round was a stove pipe and then the next nine functioned fine. Handed the barrel and mag back and said to keep them. The gives me a .38 Super Slide with a .38 Super barrel, .38 Special barrel, a 9 MM barrel and a .40 Cal barrel. Also a .45 Slide and barrel and a Complete Colt Conversion Unit to fit on one frame. Not bad six different calibers on one frame! We have dinner and play cards every Friday evening with our wives, just before dinner he handed me another 9 MM mag.! Nice to have great friends.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I have a Springfield Stainless Loaded Target in 9mm. Not my favorite cartridge but it's a handy caliber since ammo is cheap and everywhere. It's a nice gun.