9mm Question for 1911Tuner

[MLee]

There is a new thread in the Conversion Kit forum regarding converting the 1911 from .45 ACP to 9mm - probably not a good choice, but it was suggested, and one member was able to convert from .38 Super to 9mm. Any suggestions on the proper way to go about completing that conversion. I believe that I would hand that one over to my local gunsmith, but he is not a 1911 specialist. Any pointers that I should discuss with him before embarking on such a project? Thanks for any help.

Mike

[gottripletsNC]

From what I understand, if you have want to convert from 45 to 9mm, you need a whole new slide because of the breechface in the slide, as for the frame, I believe you would need a special magazine to make up the difference in the clearance on either side of the magazine.

[1911Tuner]

A conversion from 9mm to .38 Super and vice versa are pretty easy and simple. Not so when going from .45 to one of the middle bores. In addition to the reasons provided by gottriplets, the 9 also rewquires a different extractor and ejector as well as a different slide...AND...IIRC...the frame's feed ramp angle is a little different. I'm not all that well-versed in the 1911 platforms in 9mm or the Super Triente y Ocho...but I'm pretty sure of the ramp angle thing.

[garrettwc]

Johnny and Brian covered it pretty well. By the time you get a complete top end, order the 9mm mags from Metalform, and have the feed ramp angle re-cut, you could just buy a 9mm Springfield or ParaOrd. Not worth the trouble to convert, and once you make it a 9MM/38 Super you can't go back to 45ACP.

[John]

As I explained in that other thread, going from .45 to .38/9mm is relatively involved, not only you need a complete new slide and a different ejector, but also the frames are cut differently and that will probably be the worst problem one wouldl have to deal with.

Going from .38 Super to 9mm is relatively easy. All you need in reality, is a different barrel, a different recoil spring and a new magazine (or more, even though some say that the .38 Super will work with 9mm ammo). Since this involves fitting a new barrel to the existing slide, if your gunsmith is not well versed in the 1911 secrets, you may want to take your pistol to another smith for this. Obviously you want the gun to work with both calibers, so the smith should work only on the barrel, without doing anything to the slide.

[wichaka]

I must have the Midas touch...........as Hawkmoon sent the top end from his 9mm Commander to me last year for some tweaking, and I put it on my 45 cal Commander frame, and it ran without a hitch.

I know that the ejector needs to be changed, but it worked fine with the 45 type installed. Also, I'm not very familiar with the parts interchange, but I know they sell different slide stops as well for the 9mm/38 Super.

[1911Tuner]

I must have the Midas touch

Mom gave it to ya. She always liked you best...