Input Wanted on 9mm/38 Super 1911's

[orygunmike]

My wife and I have been researching and shooting lots of pistols to decide on her first hangun purchase. She wants an auto-loader, not a revolver.

At the top of the list as far as guns she most enjoyed shooting were single stack 1911's. She could operate all controls easily, rack the slides, etc., and the ergonomics were the best of all guns tried. She loved everything about them but would enjoy a lighter explosion/recoil. This brings me to my question.

For 1911's in 38 Super and/or 9mm, I believe Kimber and Springfield are the primary choices. Perhaps there are others? I want input on whether these seem like good choices.

Please keep feedback limited to the 1911-9mm/38 Super question.


thanks.

 

[KadicDeshi]

A friend of mine just picked up a used Rock Island Armory in .38 Super. I haven't talked with him since he told me he bought it, so I don't know how it shoots. It's stainless and I believe he payed about 350 for it before taxes.

He's supposed to let me shoot it the next time I'm visiting, so maybe I'll be able to give you a comparison as to how I perceive the recoil vs. my Springer GI.

Good luck.

Barrett

 

[Jim Watson]

Great guns.
.38 Super is a better length for the G.M. action but 9mm can be made to work and store bought ammo is much cheaper. If you handload and don't mind picking up brass, it makes little difference.
I have a Colt 1991A1 9mm not currently in the catalog. They are running .38 Supers now, however.
Our club psychologist shoots a 9mm Kimber 5".
Our club teenybopper shoots a 9mm Springfield when her Dad is too busy to load .45s for her.
We use them for IDPA ESP.
A step up is a STI Trojan single stack available in 9mm P or .39 Super but the only ones I have seen were .45s.

 

[QB]

In 1911 style there is Springfield, Colt, Kimber, STI, SVI, Nowlin, Wilson, Ed Brown, etc. I currently have Colt although I've had STI and SVI (double stack versions). The Colts I have are Special Combat Government Competitions and they are absolutely fabulous. Run 100%. Today, at Cabelas, I saw two of the Lightweight Colt Commanders....didn't take one out to look at it but is had ambi safety and slide serrations front and rear, silver finish (not hard chrome but not black...forget what it was). My .38 supers have all been fullsize with the exception of one of the SVIs that had a commander size slide and a fullsize grip so I can't say how the lightweight commander would be in terms of recoil/muzzle flip.

I can tell you that the .38 super round is a little more stout than the 9mm and seems even more so because of its louder retort. Make sure she shoots a .38 super before going that route. While it is my favorite caliber (second is .45ACp and third is .357 SIG), most of my women friends (occasional shooters) prefer the 9mm.

Springfield makes (or made) a fullsize 9mm 1911 (also a smaller one but I can't remember what that was). I had a run of bad luck with several Springfields I purchased so I don't currently own any (10 pund SA trigger on a new gun, mis-sized chamber on the 9mm, etc). I'm not saying they are bad guns, just that I had problems with 3-4 of them right out of the box that were NOT break in issues. Same can be said by others concerning other manufacturers I'm sure. But you may want to look into Springfield if they still make the fullsize 9mm....or STI.....they really aren't that much more, if any, than the Springfield would be. Kimber makes a 9mm also. I'd go Kimber or STI before Springfield.....Nowlin makes a 9mm I think.

I agree that the 1911 platform is easy to rack and operate and the single stack feels great in my hand.

 

[Shootcraps]

Eyeglasses Alert!

The Rock Island 38Super is hard chrome, not stainless:

I paid $399 NIB at the gun show back in January. It's a very soft shooting gun. My daughter likes it better than 45ACP. Check it out, I bet you won't be disappointed.