1911 45 to 9mm

[lorren68]

Can some one tell me what would be involved in changing my SA GI to 9mm, and if it is possible to set it up where I can switch from 45 to 9mm and back

PS I hope I am not being a pain in the rear but I have no other way to find answers to my questions. So I will say thanks to all who have answered my threads with sound advice as well as opinions.

[brickeyee]

The painful part is the ejector. They are set off from the mounting holes different distances for 9mm case head and .45 case head.
I have built switch top 1911s by modifying the 9mm ejector to clear the .45 slide or modifying the .45 slide to clear the ejector. Modifications to the ejector are easier and it can be made to work for both calibers. The .45 ejector will not work reliably with the 9mm case head.
It is seldom cost effective since an entire slide assembly (slide, barrel, bushing, extractor, firing pin, slide stop, etc) plus magazines are required. By the time you buy all the parts and have everything fitted, you could have purchased another frame.

[John]

It can be done. You will need a complete top end (slide), a special ejector and magazines.

Wilson Combat part No 34S is good for both .45 ACP and 9mm.

Rgds

[InTheBlack]

What's involved in modifying the ejector- just removing material from the top so it clears the slide?

And adjusting the tip angles of course.

[John]

You cannot modify the standard ejector, you have to change it for either a 9mm one or use the Wilson Combat 9mm/.45ACP one, which works with both.

[InTheBlack]

That's good to know!

Elsewhere someone said the 9mm ejector is wider & the slide has a wider notch.

Does the Wilson 34S ejector have the narrower 45ACP width, or do you also have to widen the 45 slide notch?

[John]

The 9mm slide will have the necessary notch for the ejector.

[InTheBlack]

But does the Wilson ejector still work with a 45 slide, or do you need to widen the 45 slide to the width of a 9mm slide's notch?

[John]

I am not sure, write to them or give them a call and ask, but my opinon is that it should. That's why the call it .45/9mm one.