9mm 1911

[lono]

I love shooting my 1911 but 45 acp is just so expensive to shoot often. I would like to buy a 1911 in 9mm. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

I know Kimber, Springfield, Para and RIA all make them. Note want a full size five inch barrel and it will be used for frequent trips to the range and will not be a carry weapon.

 

[ProCarryNAustin]

You might also take a look at STI.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=7257374#post7257374

 

[cpirtle]

I went through this decision recently and went with the Smith & Wesson 1911 Pro Series. If I had the extra money I would have bought a Dan Wesson PM-9 but I bought several guns last month which cut the budget a bit.

Although I didn't look at the STI specifically in 9mm it was a contender in my last three 1911 purchases and I was not impressed with their fit and finish when compared to similarly priced guns.

I went with the Smith because that gun has an excellent record when doing research aside from the normal few who had some problems. Out of the box the trigger is excellent and the gun ships with 2 Wilson Mag's. In the under $1200 category it offered the best bang for the buck and comes with a nice list of features.

I compared it side by side with a Kimber Aegis II and the Smith was better hands-down. Better trigger by a strong margin, bettter fit & finish & a mag well which I wanted for this particular gun.

The good news is there are a lot more to choose from now than just a few years ago so have fun researching and buying one.

 

[TonyT]

I have shot the STI Trojan, SA 1911 Target and Dan Wesson PM-9.

The DW PM-9 is the best, reliable and excellent accuracy - it has a tight chamber which shoots factory ammo without any issues. With reloads I use the barrel as a case gauge..

The SA 1911 target ate everything but would not group better than 4 inches at 50 feet from a rest after two trips to the factory.

The STI Trojan is not as accurate as the Dan Wesson PM-9 and it's blue/black finish appears to wear quickly, also not quite as reliable as the DW PM-9.

 

[WC145]

I have two 9mm 1911s, a S&W Pro series and a Fusion CCO. Both are great guns - fast and accurate. I carry the S&W on duty and the Fusion off duty.

 

[BYJO4]

About 2 years ago, I bought the Kimber Custom SS Target II in 9MM (I already had the same gun in 45 ACP). It has been totally reliable and very accurate.

 

[Damon555]

My Stainless Target II 9mm has been an excellent gun......

 

[lono]

Thanks for the responses, some great options there. I had forgotten that STI makes a 9mm 1911. I am stopping by a local dealer today that carries STI would like to handle a trojan 5 inch. Need to get a look at a DW also. Anyone know the street prices for these guns?

 

[MCMXI]

I love shooting my 1911 but 45 acp is just so expensive to shoot often. I would like to buy a 1911 in 9mm. Anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

I know Kimber, Springfield, Para and RIA all make them. Note want a full size five inch barrel and it will be used for frequent trips to the range and will not be a carry weapon.

If you're worried about cost, have you considered a .22LR conversion kit for your 1911? I have a Kimber conversion kit that works really well. It's fun and cheap to shoot and it helps with trigger control.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=864181

My other suggestion is to invest in reloading equipment ... assuming that you don't reload already. I load .45 ACP ammunition for about $0.10/round (200gr LRNFP). Buying a dedicated 9mm 1911 and ammunition doesn't seem like the cheapest option to me.

 

[lono]

Thanks for that comment, I have a 22/45 mkIII that I use for rimfire target shooting. So I am not really interested in the 22lr 1911. However, I am interested in reloading and I am amazed that you have gotten 45 ACP down to 10 cents a round. I have reloaded 12 gauge and 30-06 in the past and was thinking about doing pistol calibers but when I look at component prices they seem to be expensive and close to factory ammo prices.

 

[cpirtle]

I am amazed that you have gotten 45 ACP down to 10 cents a round.

I don't want to speak for 1858 but I think he is not including the cost of brass, so the number assumes you already have a supply of brass and are using it multiple times. I have about 8000 pieces of 45 acp brass purchased over a period of years that I keep cycling through so it doesn't equate into my costs any more.

With today's prices I think 10 cents is a tough mark but attainable with some bargain shopping or casting your own bullets. 2-3 years ago when primers were $15/1000 and hard cast bullets were $30/500 it was easy.

It also depends heavily on the load and powder you use. One of my pet loads is with Clays so it's fairly cheap, easy to find and easy on the brass.

About the 22, I recently picked up one of the dedicated 22's (a GSG 1911) new on a dealer special for $299, cheaper than most uppers and runs like a champ plus no need to swap things out.

 

[Glockeroo]

Springfield EMP

 

[browneu]

I have a 6inch Fusion 9mm 1911. Next to a .22lr it's the softest shooting handgun I own. It also has a very nice trigger and is very accurate. You should look at Fusion if they're in your budget. Their prices have gone up significantly since I bought mine.

 

[Sniper X]

I just got a Para LTC 9mm 1911 and it is very nice. I have to take it to the range this weekend and really shoot it to see how reliable and accurate it is.

 

[MCMXI]

I think he is not including the cost of brass, so the number assumes you already have a supply of brass and are using it multiple times. I have about 8000 pieces of 45 acp brass purchased over a period of years that I keep cycling through so it doesn't equate into my costs any more.

You're correct, I didn't include the cost of brass. Like you, I have thousands of cases that just keep going and going. I shoot with quite a few people that don't reload so I get to take their brass home too.

My reason for suggesting a .22LR conversion rather than a dedicated 1911 is that with the conversion you get to use the same trigger, frame and grip which is a good thing ... for me anyway.

 

[cpirtle]

My reason for suggesting a .22LR conversion rather than a dedicated 1911 is that with the conversion you get to use the same trigger, frame and grip which is a good thing

Agreed, I waffled over that as well but since I have 8 other 1911's with a variety of triggers I figured I would get over it. I liked the idea of a dedicated gun which is what won in the end. If I only owned one I would have been all over a conversion.

 

[Quack]

I have a few 9mm's.

EMP that i recently sold to a friend.


DW Guardian


SA Loaded Target


This started as a .38Super mil-spec and a .45ACP Hi-cap. The work was done by the Custom Shop and the 9mm uses a Nowlin barrel.
Both frames are now mix & match between the 9mm and .38Super top-end's.




Bought this as a 9mm to get started, and then if i was to do USPSA on a regular basis (and reload) I was going to build a .40S&W top-end.


out of all of the above, the STI Edge and the Parkerized Springfield are the most accurate of the bunch.

 

[Quack]

Need to get a look at a DW also. Anyone know the street prices for these guns?

IIRC, there are only 50 DW PM-9's being made this year. I think the price is $1500 for them. The DW Guardian can be found for just under $1400.

 

[EAJ]

I believe that I paid about $1000 for my PM-9 and $900 for my EMP. Purchased 3-4.5 years ago, and both have been well worth the money.

 

[ckone]

This was my best and probably last forey into the 9mm 1911 waters, the STI 9mm's and the DW PM-9's are the best bet in getting one to run but sadly even at their best they'll never be as drama free as some other guns more purpose-built for 9mm. Only do it if you're a total 1911-aficionado, I discovered that I am not and prefer my 9mm's to be tuned CZ's, but they are fun and I am kind of sad that it now belongs to someone else...

 

[cwp3420]

Taurus makes their 1911 in 9mm also. The only drawback to that is the fact that it's a Taurus.

 

[Jed Carter]

I have an old Colt Mk IV Series 70 9mm that is an ok shooter, but my STI Trojan is a great shooter. Will take the Wilson Combat 10 round magazines, has a Wilson / Nowlin ramped barrel and has not had a single misanything since I got it in September 2010, just over 4000 rounds through it so far. I have changed the grips, installed a magwell and used it stock with the full length guide rod, added a Wilson shock buffer (actually works), and got an STI Recoilmaster guide rod system off the prize table at a local match. The Recoilmaster smoothed out a near perfectly shooting pistol, it has replaced the stock setup, except for the noise you would swear you were firing a .22LR.

 

[bluetopper]

Reload free brass pickups at the range and cast lead bullets and shoot the 9 for what good 22 ammo costs.


Dan Wessom PM9-9mm 1911

 

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

I will be buying the RIA 9mm Tactical, to match my RIA 1911A1 Tactical.