Anyone have a 1911 style 9mm?

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offthepaper

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Lately I've been thinking that I would like to have a 1911 platform in 9mm. Does anyone have experiences /good-bad/ with these? I would want it to be a reliable shooter. I understand the Star B's can be tempermental with ammo feeding.
Any suggestions?
 
Why not get a 1911 instead of messing around with the long defunct Star?

Mine started out as a 9x23. I bought a .38 Super barrel then had a 9mm barrel fitted, which I use the most by far.

If asked to describe it in one word, I'd say "Fun!"
 
I got a Springfield EMP.

It's reliable, accurate, and fun.

A wee bit on the expensive side however.
 
Rock Island

Rock Island sells a 1911 in 9 for a little over $400. Sarco has them listed on their web site.All reviews on RI guns have been good.I haven't heard anything bad about any of their 1911s.I agree that those old Stars could be problematic Something new at least to me is almost always better.:evil:
 
I had a Rock Island 9mm full-size (5") 1911 that was an absolute joy to shoot. Very accurate and always reliable with the right mags. I sold it in a moment of weakness, but there was really nothing wrong with it.
 
offthepaper said:
Lately I've been thinking that I would like to have a 1911 platform in 9mm.
Click to expand...

What do you think you want (full size or compact) and why do you think you want one?

I bought a Colt Government Model in 9mm because I thought it would be less costly to shoot and a better trainer than a .45 ACP.

The Good:
The gun was accurate, reliable, and a hoot to shoot.

The Bad:
When I went shooting, I typically shot more 9mm ammo, so the resulting cost to operate was about the same as the larger caliber.
Some novices liked the lower recoil of the 9mm, but others preferred the .45's big push over the 9's snappiness.
 
My 5", 9mm 1911 is probably my favorite "range/fun" gun.
There isn't a better pistol to introduce new shooters to an "autoloader-great trigger, negligible recoil.".
 
I took an IDPA class and the ex-Green Beret instructor was carrying a STI Spartan 9mm that he loved. I have the same gun in .45ACP and I like it a lot.
 
I used a Star BM to scratch the 9mm 1911 itch until the RIA 9mm 1911 came out as I couldn't see spending $800+ for the Kimber or Springfield offerings for a gun who's only purpose was to shoot cheap ammo (back then 9mm Wolf or aluminum Blazer could be had for $4-6/50).

Main problem with the Star is getting mags. Triple-K makes them but they are as bad as Pro-Mags :(
Original factory mags are pretty hard to find and rather expensive when you do.

My RIA 9mm 1911 has become one of my favorite pistols to shoot. Metalform, Checkmate and Mec-gar all make good mags for 9mm 1911s at reasonable prices.

My RIA 9mm Tactical came with a Checkmate mag.
 
I have a Kimber tactical pro 9mm. I love the way it looks, feels and shoots. It's snappier than I thought it would be but I don't really mind that because it forces me to have a solid grip. The factory mags were junk - would fail to lock the slide back after the last round - but Wilson combat mags fixed that problem.
 
I have an RIA tactical in 9mm, it shoots well.

My RIA 9mm Tactical came with a Checkmate mag.
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Same. It works fine, although I bought stainless Springfield spares and they apparently can do hollowpoints (which I do not shoot) better.

It is accurate; however I wish it had target (adjustable) sights and it was my first (and possibly last) parkerized handgun. Man I hate the finish. And the rollmark! :eek:

So If I did it again I'd try the 1911 9mm Taurus in stainless and have a different list of complaints. Eventually I will buy one of those and have both.
 
I've put a LOT of rounds thru Kimber Custom IIs, Kimber Target IIs, Kimber ProCarry II, RIA Tacticals, and Springfield Operators in 9mm. Only the Springer gave me any issues, due to extractor clocking that was readily fixed via fitment of a proper firing pin stop.

Use the Springer/Leatham 9mm mags and any of these guns will work reliably for you.
 
I like to go the .38 Super route with my Commander models then add a 9mm. barrel assembly to it. Works perfectly and is a lot less expensive to practice with.
 
I like to go the .38 Super route with my Commander models then add a 9mm. barrel assembly to it. Works perfectly and is a lot less expensive to practice with.
Click to expand...
I fitted a Filipino 38 Super barrel to my 9mm RIA Tactical; works great with nothing more than a slightly stiffer recoil spring (not needed but I wanted to ensure RTB was reliable with the longer casing) and a 38 Super mag.
 
I EDC an STI Spartan IV in 9mm.

The large frame of the 1911 makes shooting 9mm stupid easy to control. I don't even know what "muzzle flip" is.
 
I have an RIA 1911-9mm commander length. I've had it at the Armscor repair station twice. They were great to work with and I like the gun because it points very naturally for me. But I would recommend one with the full length barrel.



I also have a Star b. I would describe it as a 7/8ths size 1911 type. Small sights keep it from being easy to use shooting offhand. When I tested it from a rest it was surprisingly accurate. Reliability is only fair. The hammer will bite your hand if you're not careful. For $150-200 more you can buy a 1911 with better ergonomics and the ability to swap parts. Star Bonifacio Echeverria been closed for a long time and spare parts can be hard to find depending on what you need. A better choice for a small milsurp pistol would be the CZ 82 (9mm Mak), better ergos better sights parts are no problem.
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Love my STI duty one in 9mm. I have only put maybe 100 rounds through it so far but many more will come. 5 inch btw.
 
I have a full size all stainless Springfield Armory 1911 in 9mm. Fun gun with virtually no recoil. Only problem is it will not feed with Wilson Combat magazines.
 
I have an old Colt 1911 series 70 in .38 Super.

I also have a full sized 1911 built by my local smith from Caspian frame/slide and Ed brown innerds in 9mm.

Both are an absolute joy to shoot. Mega fun, accurate, easy on components &/or ammo cost and easy on the recoil. Longer strings of fun before you begin to tire.

Love 'em.
 
I have a Kimber SS Target II in 9 MM and it has been excellent. I have 8,000 rounds fired through it so far.
 
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