Irish Pat Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 I am bored. I was just wondering what be involved in converting my 1911 from 45 to 9mm? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Hombre Sin Nombre Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 1 minute ago, Irish-Pat said: I am bored. I was just wondering what be involved in converting my 1911 from 45 to 9mm? Better question would be why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Pat Posted April 8, 2020 Author Share Posted April 8, 2020 I am sitting at home that is why Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tex Jones, SASS 2263 Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Some pistols like a Norinco allow changing of calibers. Some do not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Just now, El Hombre Sin Nombre said: Better question would be why? So we can have a 12 page argument regarding which caliber is better? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Bob Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Changing the slide assembly , 9mm breech face is smaller , ejectors on the frame are typically different also . It not like a glock where you can just swap bbls and mags Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Bull Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 13 minutes ago, Tyrel Cody said: So we can have a 12 page argument regarding which caliber is better? 45 Ford Ginger AND Mary Ann I’ve never owned a 1911 in 9mm so don’t know the answer to the OP. Obviously the barrel would need to be changed and I assume a different weight recoil spring. But are the magazines external dimensions the same? If not then would a 9mm mag work in a 45 frame? Also, the breech face of the slide would probably have different dimensions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Just now, Shooting Bull said: Ginger AND Mary Ann At least we can agree on something... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grizzly Dave Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Put 45 back in the safe and apologize for even thinking about changing it. Then go buy a 1911 already made for 9mm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VICIOUS, SASS#8014 Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 AW come on let kick that cow pie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
No Horse Hair, SASS #77464 Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 I found that it is not feasible. The ramp on a 9 mm is made on the barrel. Ramp on a 45 is part of the frame. Frame would have to be hogged out. I shoot both 9 and 45 in 1911's and like both. Really like my 38 super, except I'm to tight to lose super brass! If you want a compact 9 look at the Springfield EMP series. The grip frame diameter is reduced to fit a magazine designed for a 9mm cartridge (holds 9 rounds) . Springfield's are good guns for the money. So are Remingtons and Sigs. And I really like a Wilson EDC that adopted me! Long Live the 1911! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hashknife Cowboy Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 Buy both......one for each hand! Weaker hand gets the 9.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckshot Bob Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 39 minutes ago, Hashknife Cowboy said: Buy both......one for each hand! Weaker hand gets the 9.... If you do this make sure the 9 has a ambi safety Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus Cassidy #45437 Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 The ramp is different. The best way to do that would be to send the frame off to have the ramp machined out of it, and then install a fully ramped 9mm barrel. Ok, that's the best way to convert one. The BEST way would be to build one from scratch using a frame designed specifically the way I described. Caspian makes such a frame. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G W Wade Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 All 9 m/m barrels are not ramped. GW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texas John Ringo, SASS #10138 Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 I have 2, right now, that I changed from .45 acp over to 9mm. No problem with the ramp. I have changed numerous .45 1911's over to 9mm, .40 S&W, 10mm, .38 Super with no modification to the ramp, and back again. .38 super, 10mm worked best with ramped barrels which require machining the frame and you can't go back to regular barrels without major mods. I also have a .45 that Converted to .10mm with no ramp work. You just can't load the Super or 9mm, or 10mm as hot without a ramped barrel. You do have to change the mags, ejector, slide and extractor. If you get the right slide you can use it with out mods for 9mm, .38 super, .40 S&W and 10mm. Same with the ejector and extractor. I have a custom Para wide body right now that I changed over to 9mm for 3 gun that is 100% reliable . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matchlock Posted April 8, 2020 Share Posted April 8, 2020 You can get a kit from Sarco that is in Easton Pa. It is Item # C45381 for $245.00. This kit has all the part to will convert a 45 to 9mm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostVaquero Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Forget 9mm what you want is a sweet 38 super. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
watab kid Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 "...Then go buy a 1911 already made for 9mm..." that would be correct , that is my choice as well , i do have both in both full and compact and i also agree with the sentiment , now i did do a 22cal conversion but bought a dedicated lower for the purpose and have never looked back , i kept the original parts for my heirs to decide what they might do but ...im happy in this move so far , i did it to have the full size , i have the 22cal in the available sig version as well , i like shooting the 1911 platform , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boggus Deal #64218 Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 6 hours ago, No Horse Hair, SASS #77464 said: I found that it is not feasible. The ramp on a 9 mm is made on the barrel. Ramp on a 45 is part of the frame. Frame would have to be hogged out. I shoot both 9 and 45 in 1911's and like both. Really like my 38 super, except I'm to tight to lose super brass! If you want a compact 9 look at the Springfield EMP series. The grip frame diameter is reduced to fit a magazine designed for a 9mm cartridge (holds 9 rounds) . Springfield's are good guns for the money. So are Remingtons and Sigs. And I really like a Wilson EDC that adopted me! Long Live the 1911! Not all 1911 9mm barrels have ramped barrels, namely Colts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 "Sorta like neutering a fine quarter horse stallion." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mud Marine,SASS#54686 Life Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 If I were ever to change calibers it would be from .45 to.50!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shotgun Clay Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 12 hours ago, LostVaquero said: Forget 9mm what you want is a sweet 38 super. If you can find one, the Sig Match Elite is the way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowCatcher Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 There are several steps to the process and almost all of them have been listed above. To summarize: 1. You'll need a new slide because the breech face for 9mm is smaller, 2. 9mm slides are usually machined for a 9mm/.38 super firing pin, and new firing pin stop, 3. You'll need a different ejector as the .45 ejector will not reach the 9mm rim, nor fit the cutout on the slide, 4. You'll need a 9mm barrel, and bushing, 5. The ramp in the frame is a different angle, sometimes you get lucky and it will still work, but the most reliable way to do it is to machine the frame to take a ramped barrel. NB: That is a one way conversion requiring ramped barrels on that frame after that. 6. New Magazines, lighter power recoil spring (12# - 14#) Alternatively, you can get all the upper stuff you need, and build an 80% alloy frame (or steel) to do this. I'm almost ready to build a full size alloy frame just for s&g's. SC p.s. - I'll add that I really like shooting the steel 9mm Colt Gov't model a lot, it is easier to do a 500 round weekend with this compared to the .45, my wrists prefer it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyrus Cassidy #45437 Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 21 hours ago, G W Wade said: All 9 m/m barrels are not ramped. GW I know, that's why I said the "best" way is to machine the .45 ramp and install a fully-ramped 9mm barrel. The words I chose literally mean there are other ways and other barrels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc X Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 Grizzly Dave had the best answer. Put the .45 back in the safe and buy a 1911 built in 9mm. I picked up a Dan Wesson Guardian in 9mm and find it to be the softest shooting 1911 I own and 100% reliable out of the box. Way better than tuning a conversion to run right unless you are really good with 1911's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Stone, SASS #53366 Posted April 9, 2020 Share Posted April 9, 2020 I change .45 to 9mm all the time. I just reach into a different side of my range bag. Real easy swap over. Marshal Stone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie MacNeil, SASS #48580 Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 All of the above having been said, isn't it sacrilege to even mention 9mm and 1911 in the same sentence? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zach Taylor,SASS#14359 Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 I have a Springfield 1911 45ACP, a few years ago, the company offered the parts to change the gun to 9 mm. They sent me a slide, barrel, ejector , slide stop and a magazine. All the parts swapped easily, I don't know if they still offer this service, also at that time, I purchased the 22 cal. conversion kit from a company in Florida. Now I have a pistol that I can shoot 3 calibers in. So in fact, if you can get the parts, the conversion is possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowCatcher Posted April 10, 2020 Share Posted April 10, 2020 13 hours ago, Charlie MacNeil, SASS #48580 said: All of the above having been said, isn't it sacrilege to even mention 9mm and 1911 in the same sentence? Not really, Colt introduced the LW commander in 9mm in 1950. That's a good 70 years of time to become part of the herd! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cypress Sam, SASS #10915 Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 I saw a 9mm conversion unit in a gun store for sale really cheap so just had to buy it. It was a Springfield unit consisting of slide complete with extractor, firing pin, bushing, recoil spring and barrel with link. (No ejector). I put the “kit” on a Remington Rand (WW II vintage 1911) and it ran just fine with the factory ramp and ejector. Later I bought an old Colt 1911 45 frame at a gun show for a cheap price. This too worked fine with no modification other than installing the “kit”. I since found another slide, barrel with associated parts to convert back to .45. Either frame works fine with either caliber with no ejector or ramp modifications. I’ve heard that the ejector for 9mm is different, but mine works fine for either caliber. The one the right is the converted 9mm and .45 slide/bbl. The other is the Remington Rand .45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Boots Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 On 4/8/2020 at 3:37 PM, Tyrel Cody said: At least we can agree on something... Not so fast ...Mary Ann and then Ginger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H. K. Uriah, SASS #74619 Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 On 4/8/2020 at 3:40 PM, Grizzly Dave said: Put 45 back in the safe and apologize for even thinking about changing it. Then go buy a 1911 already made for 9mm Better yet, get it in .38 Super Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WymoreWrangler SASS 46187L Posted April 12, 2020 Share Posted April 12, 2020 Here's a pretty good video on 9mm in 1911's... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Constable Nelson #11784 Posted April 22, 2020 Share Posted April 22, 2020 1911's in 9mm can be very nice. Boggus Deal built me this beauty as my new IPSC "Classic Division" pistol...... There is ONE problem in having a 45 AND a 9mm, especially if they look identical. If you put a loaded 9mm mag into your 45 (Yes, it will go in nicely) and rack the slide.....you will entertain your friends by having the whole ROUND come out the front and fall to the ground. Velocity dependent on recoil spring strength! As me how I know! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.