1911 .45 to 9mm conversion?

[Davo]

Is there one availible for the springfield 45? If so what do they run for and where can I find reviews?

 

[cdrt]

Never seen one. It would require changing out the ejector, which is not hard, just a pain to do.

Navy Vet & SWIFT Boat OIC

 

[bannockburn]

I don't think it is possible with the .45 slide, as I remember an article many years ago which stated that the ejector channel is too far left and the extractor hole is too far to the right for a 9mm conversion. Better off with a 9mm slide and ejector, or install a shorter Super 38 ejector and use both cartridges. I have made up these convertibles on full size and commander size frames with great results. One slide, one ejector, two barrels, and two magazines are all you need.

 

[Davo]

interesting bannock, gonna have to look into that, it would give me 3 calibers.

 

[cdrt]

I guess I should have clarified my post. Such a conversion would require a whole new top end; slide, etc. Even the firing pin is different in a 9mm slide vs. the .45 ACP. The only change to the frame would be to change out the ejector since they are of different configurations for each caliber.

It's the same concept as the .22 Ace conversion for the Govt Model except that the Ace and other .22 Colt conversions have a ejector that is added to the slide to make the whole thing work.

Because of the ejector issue, I've never seen a company offer such a conversion. Lots of guys sell slide/barrel combos on eBay, so the parts are out there.

Navy Vet & SWIFT Boat OIC

 

[legion3]

GAO Report March 8, 1982:

Convert a standard 45 acp M1911A1 to 9mm involved substituting a 9mm barrel, magazine and recoil spring. "the conversion took less than 10 minutes, and we estimate the parts to cost $100." The conversion was done by an Air Force gunsmith. The converted gun was then put through a 2000 round testfire, resulting in only 7 malfunctions.

This report was when the GAO was trying to stop the march to the 9mm trials because in their view, there was no purpose in buying a new 9mm when existing stocks of 45's could be converted.

You guys need to find that report or the Air Force guy and you will be all set

 

[bannockburn]

I'm not so sure. In both the Guns Illustrated 1977 article that I referred to, and another one from Guns and Ammo, June 1982; both James D. Mason and Jan Libourel say the same thing-the Gov't .45 slide will not work with the 9mm or Super 38 ejector. Libourel's article dealt with a 5-in-1 conversion; .45, 38/45 wildcat, Super 38, 9 mm. and the Ace .22 conversion kit. Again, he states that the .45 slide will not work on Super 38 frame, and vice versa; however he did find that a .45 Commander sized slide would work. One thing to keep in mind that in both these articles, the authors were using commercial Colt frames and slides, probably Mk. IV Series 70. Perhaps there were differences with how Colt made them, and regular G.I. frames and slides. Maybe a gunsmith could shed some light on this question.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

It can be done, and it has been done.

Colt used to sell a 9mm conversion kit for thier .45 caliber Government models. I don't know if the kit included an ejector, but I do know they sold the kit.

The conversion does require a 9mm (or .38 Super) slide as well as the 9mm barrel. Beyond that, the ejector should be changed for reliability, but it can work with a standard .45 ejector. How do I know? Because a friend stuck the slide and barrel from my 9mm Commander onto the receiver of his .45 Commander and proceeded to shoot about 100 rounds through it with zero malfunctions.

You also should use a lighter recoil spring to match up with the 9mm, of course.