Want a carbon steel 9mm 1911 - convert a 45?

[slim whitman]

Hello everyone -

As a man with very small hands, I struggle to run my Glocks efficiently - so I am thinking about a 1911.

No offense to anyone, but a Hi Power or CZ pattern gun is not an option for me -

However, I shudder at the price of shooting a 45 at volume,so I would like a 1911 in 9mm -

Without going semi-custom or full custom,I see that Springfield offers a stainless full sized gun - but I would like something in carbon, and better yet, in Commander length -

Taurus is promising to offer such a contraption, but I will believe it when I see it.

So my question is, can a fella buy a carbon steel 1911 in 45 and swap the top half? I know mags and such will be different, but a frame is a frame, right?

Would I have to have the frame altered for a ramped barrel? I have heard that a 9mm 1911 runs best with a ramped barrel.

Thanks in advance

SW

[Jim Watson]

It is possible with a good deal of work. You would end up with about a $1500 gun to shoot cheap ammo.

Or you could haunt the gun stores and shows for a real 9mm Combat Commander.

Or you could look at a Kimber Tactical Pro II. Our club lawyer has one that does well. Aluminum receiver, though.

If you could endure a 5" gun, the easy way would be to buy the Springfield Loaded and have the stainless coated black with one of the baked products.

[Rob1035]

STI offers a few models in 9mm, they aren't cheap, but they aren't $3500 either, probably right at $1000 or a little under

www.stiguns.com

[Jim Watson]

I forgot about them.
A Ranger II from STI is almost exactly what Slim is talking about. $1029 is more than a Springfield but less than what it would cost to have one modified into the same configuration.

[BigSlick]

I've been chasing a 9mm Commander for a while too. It kinda sad that NONE of the mfrs offer one without mods that are useless or are just different enough from the 1911 design to NOT be a 1911.

The STI's are OK. but I just can't get used to the golfball cut on the frontstrap, and the LS 9 compact sights are too small and the barrel lockup doesn't come close to a 1911 design. The whole billboard thing on the slide just looks almost as goofy as the early SC's.

In addition to the Tac Pro, Jim mentioned, Kimber has one available (long wait time) Pro Carry II in 9mm. Nightsights or stainless not available, alloy frame ~ $950

They also claim to have available from the Custom Shop the Aegis II micro compact in a 3" barrel with alloy frame, night sights and 30 LPI front strap checkering, with bobbed controls and a semi-aggressive melt for ~ $1200

If Taurus has one coming, that's not exactly an enthusing solution, but if it shoots, at this point I would certainly consider looking at one.

Used Colt's seem to be owned by sellers who smoke a LOT of crack. A 70 series Commander certainly is a fine weapon, but used (most well worn) it isn't $1200 fine - at least to me.

The Springer and Colt ~ 3" guns were all problematic.

I've shot a Springer 5" gun and have to say it's very nice.

Maybe the Taurus intro will cause the others to produce a 4˝ 9mm 1911.

A 9mm Combat Commander with night sights and a decent trigger would sell like hotcakes (IMO).

You could go with a .38 Super and fit a 9mm barrel to it, not a bad solution, but still not perfect for your wants. It's better than buying another top end for certain.

Any links to the Taurus info ?

Good luck with your search, it looks like you're going to need it ;)

BigSlick

[slim whitman]

Thanks for the replies everyone -

The Taurus website lists a 5" carbon 1911 9mm with a rail - a neat looking gun -

I am no fan of Taurus, but if the steel is good and the gun works, I can live with it - shouldn't be too hard to remove the Taurus billboard from the slide :)

With the cheap price of factory 9mm, it would seem that 1911 manufactures would get with the program and start making 9mm guns that would sell -

As stated, hopefully Taurus will actually produce these guns, and maybe prompt other companies to do the same -

I can't afford $1000 for one pistol - since I like to have two of everything!

SW

[ILikeFtLbs]

I'd go with the Kimber in 9mm. You can also get a barrel in .38 super or 9x23 made for it.

[Jim Watson]

It took Taurus two years to get the .45 on the market. They will probably take a while to saturate the market with them before bringing out other calibers and variants.