caliber change

[Tunaboat]

So this may be a silly question but I'm still a 1911 newbie. If I wanted to change the caliber on a 1911 do I just have to change the barrel and the mag?

Tuna

[John]

I wish it was that simple. The answer is: It all depends.

For example, changing from .38 Super to 9mm Para is possible with a simple barrel and magazine change. Some say that the .38 mags will even work with 9mm. Going from 9mm to .38 Super is also possible with a barrel and mag change.

But going from .45 ACP to 9mm/38 Super is not always possible. You will need a complete slide (the breechface is different for the 9mm/.38 Super), a barrel and mags, but it is quite possible that the frame will not allow you to do it, without modifications to the new barrel's ramp. In general, the answer to this question (How to I change from .45 ACP to 9mm/.38 Super) is "Don't do it".

There are of course other calibers, the general thing to keep in mind is that if the rim of the cartridge you want to change to, is different than the rim of the cartridge your pistol is designed for now, a new slide will be required in addition to the barrel and mags.

[Tunaboat]

I didn’t consider the breach face, but it sounds at though it MAY
be possible to switch between like cartridges, such as 40 switched 357 sig and 45 switched to 400 corbon


tuna

[John]

Yes, that may be possible.

[1911Tuner]

I didn’t consider the breach face, but it sounds at though it MAY
be possible to switch between like cartridges,

tuna


40/.357 Sig is doable on the same slide. .40/.45 isn't. 9mm/.40 is doable, but not usually without a bit of fine-tuning and tweakin' which takes it out of the
quick-change category. 9mm/.45 is more hassle than it's worth, and the failure rate is high.

[pa_guns]

Hi

The cost of "switch barrel" caliber conversion often drives people to decide to buy two pistols. This is especially true if one of the calibers is .45.

Bob

[luchitomario]

What about .45 to .40 or .40 to 9mm?

[1911Tuner]

What about .45 to .40 or .40 to 9mm?
Probably...but not without mucho massagin'.