From 9 To 45

[plumbernater]

I have a series80 in 9mm. and it's wore out. I'm thinking of converting to 45 since I have to buy parts. Is this possible. If I going to make a hole make it big.

[Hawkmoon]

I see no reason why not. I have gone the other way. You will need a new barrel, a new slide (with firing pin and extractor), .45 ACP magazines, and a recoil spring rated for .45 ACP in whatever length your slide is.

Is your 9mm barrel ramped or unramped? If it's ramped, it a little more difficult because there are multiple configurations for the ramp and you'll need to find out which you have so you can match it. The two major ones (I think -- this is just recollection fro Brownells catalog) seem to be Clark/Para-Ordnance and Nowlin/Wilson Combat.

The new .45 ACP slide may or may not work with the 9mm ejector.

[plumbernater]

Thanks for the positive imput on my hopefully satisfying project. I was reading further down where Road King was thinking of doing the same to a Lama 9mm. Not much good was said there. Mine is a true Colt in bad need of some new parts. The complete rebuild kit I got is an old military 1911 rebuild kit used on their's. Any helpful counsel is welcome.

[leam]

If you have an actual Colt 9mm I'd fix it with Colt factory parts from Brownell's and sell it. Then buy a 45. Nothing wrong with a 9mm but the conversion will cost you money that could be made otherwise. There's a good bit of desire for 9mm 1911s and Colt still has a somewhat reputable name.

If you're not skilled yet, I'd get something like an Essex frame or a Sistema and learn on that. The conversion can be done, but it's more of a "why?" sort of answer.

Leam

[Joni Lynn]

A Colt in 9mm may have enough value to be worth selling and then buy a Colt in 45. It might cost you a good bit less that way.

[John]

Don't bother converting. You will need:

- slide (complete with sights)
- firing pin and spring
- extractor
- firing pin stop
- barrel, link, pin
- bushing
- recoil spring and plug
- guide rod
- ejector
- magazines

While some of the old slide parts can be reused (guide rod, plug, etc) the cost of the above is quite high compared to the cost of a new, budget .45ACP 1911.

As others have said, a Colt 9mm 1911 is rare enough to be worth restoring to its original condition.
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[leam]

Yeah, on another note, I'm fixing to sell a Springfield Armory Loaded in .45 that's been tuned by a competition gunsmith. It works and shoots better than I do; wanna trade? ;)

Leam

[plumbernater]

I'm trying to figure out how to put a picture on here. B ut I'm not that big of a computer wiz. I got on my profile from my computer. but not the thread. If I have to alter the frame at all Im not going to do it, and Ill still have my 9mm parts to put back.

[John]

Instructions on how to post pictures are included in our FAQ section.

http://forum.m1911.org/faq.php?

[plumbernater]

Who might have one of these frames. I've put it together and I'm not happy with the barrel and frame ramp lining up just right.I'm not about to alter my colt, don't figure on messing up any value of a colt.