9mm Colt 1911/1991.

[OVER THE HILL GUY.]

Has anyone had any experience with 9mm on a 1911 platform? i am most interested in colt's firearms in 5" and commander size. How about a price? THANKS, Jerry

[jeff1124]

I have a series 80 Government and a Series 80 Commander in 9mm. The biggest weakness in either are the magazines reliability. I understand that the Metalforms made for Springfields are the best things going out there, I ordered some a while back but that's a whole other story. I bought a couple of Mecgar mags that haven't given me any trouble yet. I bought both of my 9mm's used, the Gov't was about 700.00 and the Cmndr was 400.00 but the Full size was in great shape while the Cmndr was a project gun. 9mm Commanders can get pretty pricey, especially in the pre series 80 models. Happy hunting! :)

[tonyniev]

Last year I bought a used pre 80 Colt Combat Commander in 9 mm for $650. I have several magazines that malfunctioned but I found a few that are working well.
http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p150/tonyniev/1911ar15rs-1.jpg

[EchoBravoKilo]

I bought a 1951 Commander in 9mm. Shot it a couple times and it was awesome. Only issue was that someone had installed Bo-Mar target sights (high mount) which just ain't right. So....it's now at the spa for the sights and a tune up. I can't wait until it returns - it is one awesome pistol. They are not impossible to find, but they can get pricey. Nevertheless, I recommend highly.

Besides, someone here once said that, "You can't pay too much for a Colt..."

[gfavaron]

Mine was manufactured in 1980, shoots reliably and straight. I use Colt and Springfield magazines - no problems with either.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w27/gnoravaf/9mmfullleft.jpg

[leade45]

That's a nice Colt, gfavoron.

[OVER THE HILL GUY.]

Mr. Gfavaron,

Very Nice Classic Commander. Exactly The Way I Would Buy It.

[Pred]

Exactly the way I would like to find one! what a fine colt you have there!

[clughog]

I've got a Combat Commander made in 1978 that I love to shoot! All I've ever shot in it is Magtech and Winchester White Box, but have had no problems with it at all. Also, I just traded in a NIB Colt 9mm Series 80 Conversion Unit (5" Government Size) that would have been great to shoot--just didn't have any Series 80 full size pistols to mount it on!

http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f290/clughog/ColtCommander002.jpg

[OVER THE HILL GUY.]

Very nice pistol!! jerry

[tonyniev]

where did you get the series 80 conversion unit? does it entail changing the 45 cal ejector to a longer one to handle the 9 mm? I could have used that one

[elijdub]

where did you get the series 80 conversion unit? does it entail changing the 45 cal ejector to a longer one to handle the 9 mm? I could have used that one
I see the "conversion kits" for sale sometimes on gunbroker (look under "Colt Commander 9mm"). Brownells sells them as well i think (right?). I'm not sure what it is required in order to complete the conversion; it makes sense you'd have to swap ejectors though.

Since we're talking "9mm's", here's a link of one of my favorite Colt Commander's....forum member "lindermant's" 9mm Pistol Dynamics Colt:
http://forum.m1911.org/showthread.php?t=26101

[tonyniev]

Thank you, I will call Brownells and find out availbility, costs, and how difficult it is to change extractors.

[mike 45]

saw 1 in a gun shop yesterday pre 70 like new in box.it was for sale at $800 is this a good price ?
also can they be converted to a .45 ?

[elijdub]

saw 1 in a gun shop yesterday pre 70 like new in box.it was for sale at $800 is this a good price ?
also can they be converted to a .45 ?
That IS a good price, IMO! They're fetching premium prices these days. I'd pay $800 if it is LNIB. Personally i wouldn't want to convert a 9mm to anything else; this is a highly sought after, out-of-production, gun, and there are plenty of 45's around.

[EchoBravoKilo]

If you haven't bought it yet, can you tell us where to find it?

+1 to Eli's comments - no need to convert - 9mm Commanders rock.

[elijdub]

If you haven't bought it yet, can you tell us where to find it?
I was thinking the same thing EBK ;).

..I'll split it with ya' :D.

[EchoBravoKilo]

I figured you had similar thoughts...

[clughog]

where did you get the series 80 conversion unit? does it entail changing the 45 cal ejector to a longer one to handle the 9 mm? I could have used that oneEli, this is a genuine Colt 9mm conversion and they won't have it at Brownells, that's for sure! The kit comes with the slide/barrel assembly, a slide stop, spring, and an ejector. It's the only NIB Colt 9mm conversion that I've seen. I had bought it from Classic Colt here in Texas and then traded it back to them for another pistol. They still had it as of today at the gunshow and were asking over $900 for it (closer to $995, I think). Very rare, I'm told--someone said there were only about 400 of the Series 80 units made by Colt.

[Brian D.]

OVER THE HILL GUY, my experience with both a 1991 5" 9mm (ORM) and a Commander sized 1991 in .38 super (ORM) has been fantastic. In fact I liked the Gov't 1991 (ORM)I went out and found a .38 super barrel for it.

From what I've observed the 1991s seem to be among the best operating of Colt's 1911 style pistols, albeit the ugliest... :D

Had to edit my post to add those "(ORM)" designations above! Sometimes I forget that Colt's did multiple generations of '1991' models, kinda like Chevrolet's Monte Carlo! :p

[DuckRyder]

I have a Super 38 1991 (NRM) that has also had a 9mm barrel fitted. (although a KART not a Colt).

The Colt 9mm magazines go down as the only Colt magazines I've ever gotten that did not work 100% out of the box. of the 5, 2 needed some polishing of the follower foot to keep them from hanging up where the spacer is staked in.

The pistol however is 100% with either barrel...

[elijdub]

Eli, this is a genuine Colt 9mm conversion and they won't have it at Brownells, that's for sure! The kit comes with the slide/barrel assembly, a slide stop, spring, and an ejector. It's the only NIB Colt 9mm conversion that I've seen. I had bought it from Classic Colt here in Texas and then traded it back to them for another pistol. They still had it as of today at the gunshow and were asking over $900 for it (closer to $995, I think). Very rare, I'm told--someone said there were only about 400 of the Series 80 units made by Colt.
Whoops! I thought he was refering to the plain old "9mm conversion kits"...not the actual rare Colt model. Sorry for the confusion ;).

Yes sir, what you had is a GEM indeed!

[clughog]

where did you get the series 80 conversion unit? does it entail changing the 45 cal ejector to a longer one to handle the 9 mm? I could have used that oneTony, the 9mm/.38 Super ejector is certainly readily available, and all you have to do is drive out the retaining pin (probably a roll pin, but may be solid), lift out the 45 ejector, and put in the 9mm. The pins are cheap, if you bend one beyond recognition! Then your frame is ready to go. If I had kept the Colt 9mm Conversion Kit, I would probably have build up a frame to keep it permanently mounted on, though. I'm a tad too lazy to change out the ejector every time!

[lindermant]

OTHG, get one - you will love it!

http://mysite.verizon.net/tlinderman/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/9mm_deux_1.jpg

http://mysite.verizon.net/tlinderman/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/pdp_9mm_2.jpg

good luck with your hunt!

[daveohno]

Very nice Commander!

[nc-gun-guy]

yeah, the 9mm are out there if you look hard enough.

Even though I love My 45's, I have always had a soft spot in my heart for 9mm. I guess it's because thats what my dad taught me to first shoot with.

With that in mind, 9mm 1911's sure are fun to shoot. The great thing about it is feel the same as a 45 1911 with almost no recoil!!!

Not sure if this is right, but from what I have seen if you can find a full size gov' 1911 at a good price grab it while you can. they tend to be a little harder to find then the combat commanders.

ok, that aside time for me to show off my 9mm colt.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v408/gc70/Colt199205.jpg

oh, as for magazines, metalform made the magazines for my model colt.

[elijdub]

Very nice ORM 9mm!!!

[clughog]

Yes...very nice! Saw a full size 9mm NIB at the gun show this past weekend and a really nice used Series 70 9mm also. Both were pretty pricy. Don't see many out there. You're right--I see a lot more of the Commanders than I do the full size!