9MM 1911’s, Why?

[txbirdman]

First of all let me say I’m a fan of the 9MM cartridge and the 1911. I just don’t see that they compliment one another. I appreciate the 9MM for being an effective round that works in a trim high capacity handgun. I presently own three 9MM’s and carry my Sig P365 daily. Also my all time favorite pistol is my 1980 vintage Colt Combat Commander. I love the ergonomics and the 45 acp round seems perfect for the 1911 platform to me. However it seems that lately the trend is toward the 9MM in 1911’s. I have one friend who bought a SA Prodigy and another friend who just bought a Stacatto. Both of these guys already owned quality 1911’s in 45 acp. I even see that Bill Wilson has switched to the 9 in his 1911 carry gun. It seems to me that if the switch is due to mag capacity that the hipower and CZ 75’s filled that void decades ago and both are known for their ergonomics. In a single stack 1911 what’s the advantage of the 9 over the 45? Why not go with 38 super if you want that extra round in the mag? I’d truly like to hear from those who have made the transition.

[challenger_i]

+1 for the 38 Super. Having said that, I will stick with 45 ACP in my 1911s. If I want a 9mm, there are better options.

[justindad]

If I was doing .35 cal in a 1911, it would definitely be .38 Super. I guess 9mm in a 1911 could be good for competition shooting.

[Kai]

I bought a Kimber 1911 9mm and put a red dot sight on it. Quite the accurate firearm. More cast bullets per pound than the 45acp and less powder too. Don't get me wrong I also own a Hi-power, other 9mms, as well as 1911s is 45acp. I guess I'm not a good example of someone who has "switched". Lol. I just prefer a 1911 style autoloader.

[imashooter2]

A lot of shooters don’t reload. The classic 1911 platform with much cheaper ammunition has appeal.

[35 Rem]

I don't see it either especially for concealed carry. The 1911 in 45 ACP has little recoil so I see no advantage to giving up power by going to a weaker cartridge.

[Thumbcocker]

I have a Rock Island 9mm 1911that shoots very well. Classic platform. Better ergonomics than a lot of double stack 9mm's. Free brass at the range. Lots of aftermarket parts and accessories. What's not to like?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

[Mk42gunner]

An all steel 5" 1911 in 9mm has very little recoil. They make a fun gun for a range toy, not sure I would want to carry one concealed all day though due to the weight.

As to 9mm vs. 38 Super as a defensive gun, there are a lot more options for modern expanding ammo for the 9mm than there are for the .38 Super. Not to mention availability.

Robert

[Half Dog]

I too have a Kimber full size 1911 in a 9 mm (until the boating accident where I lost it). It’s a great fit, low recoil, and fun to shoot. I’m not a fan of carrying a 1911 for defense but it’s lighter than a 45 ACP.

[txbirdman]

From what I’ve seen on the spec the weight of a full size 9MM is almost the same as the 45. I noticed that Stacatto shows their weights without the mag. Don’t quite understand that. I can see the economic advantage but to buy a $2K pistol ( like the Stacatto) to save money on ammo doesn’t compute. Now if you’re buying your first 1911 the economics makes sense. I don’t find the recoil of a 45 to be bad but a 9 definitely has less. I guess I was just wondering why someone would replace their 45 1911 with a 9MM.

[deltaenterprizes]

I have 2 1911s in 9mm, one is a Rock Island and one is a Colt Competition.
I fell in love with 9mm 1911 when I was shooting steel plate matches at the local indoor range in the late 80.
I built a Springfield Armory and it was a sweet shooter. I sold it when I quit shooting the matches and regretted it.
I have been carrying Glocks for over 30 years but they don’t fit my hand like a 1911 so my groups are larger than with the 1911s.
I am a Reserve Deputy and bought the Colt Competition and use it occasionally as a duty weapon because I like the ability for me to put my shots more precisely than with my Glock 17.
I attended a training session and used the Colt and it definitely has its drawbacks. Trying to manipulate the safety between rapid strings of fire when moving and having to do magazines changes more often really slows down my performance.
I let my Captain shoot it when we were qualifying and he was amazed at how little recoil it has!
Did I say that I love my 9mm 1911s?

[nueces5]

I think there are as many opinions as circumstances.
In my case, I have a 1911 in 45 ACP, it was my first pistol 20 years ago, and I have shot it a lot, it has taught me a lot and I consider it an excellent weapon.
A few years ago, tired of shooting ipsc with glock, I had the idea to shoot in the classic category, which use single stack. At that point, I was going to pull the old 1911 out of the safe and get some 45 brass. But a friend, told me that it was a problem, that it was better to get a 9mm, to shoot the same bullets that I used in my glock
I almost, almost did.
I estimate that whoever has it to defend himself, will want the most powerful bullet he can handle.

[FergusonTO35]

I respect 1911's and the .45 Auto, but just never got the bug for either one. For old school 9mm shooting, BHP all the way!

[tazman]

I own a Springfield Range Officer in 9mm. I doubt I could find a handgun I can shoot more accurately than this one.
This one is a range/fun pistol for me. I have no intention of using it for defense although it would work for that quite well.
I have other handguns for home defense or carry where I might need extra rounds.

[txbirdman]

If I wanted a high capacity handgun to carry cocked and locked it wouldn’t be a double stack 1911 or even a hipower or Cz75. All of them are too heavy. I’d go with a Cz 09 or 07. The 07 weighs 28 oz and carry’s 15 rounds while the 09 has a flush fit 19 round mag and and weighs 31 oz. Either can be bought for less than $500.
Now for a range gun I can sure see buying a single stack 1911 in 9 MM. Especially if you don’t already own one in 45 acp. But the double stack 1911’s in 9 MM are just not for me.

[Scrounge]

First of all let me say I’m a fan of the 9MM cartridge and the 1911. I just don’t see that they compliment one another. I appreciate the 9MM for being an effective round that works in a trim high capacity handgun. I presently own three 9MM’s and carry my Sig P365 daily. Also my all time favorite pistol is my 1980 vintage Colt Combat Commander. I love the ergonomics and the 45 acp round seems perfect for the 1911 platform to me. However it seems that lately the trend is toward the 9MM in 1911’s. I have one friend who bought a SA Prodigy and another friend who just bought a Stacatto. Both of these guys already owned quality 1911’s in 45 acp. I even see that Bill Wilson has switched to the 9 in his 1911 carry gun. It seems to me that if the switch is due to mag capacity that the hipower and CZ 75’s filled that void decades ago and both are known for their ergonomics. In a single stack 1911 what’s the advantage of the 9 over the 45? Why not go with 38 super if you want that extra round in the mag? I’d truly like to hear from those who have made the transition.

Weak wrists? I would actually love a more powerful round than the .45acp. Some folks like little fast bullets, some like big slow bullets, and I like big fast bullets. I do have moderately large hands. I fell in love with my dad's .45acp GI 1911 when I was 12. I've owned and shot revolvers in the .22LR & WMR cartridges.38 S&W, .38 special, .357 Magnum, and .44magnum. I've owned and shot automatics from .25acp to .45acp. I want something a bit tougher. And I do not own a single 9mm firearm. Once upon a time, I did have an FN Browning Hi-Power, and it was OK. But that was it. Just OK.

I'm not the kind of guy who wants to die in a large pile of brass. I'd much prefer to do my gunfighting from the cockpit of an A-10. BIG FAST BULLETS! Blow big holes in things, and let them fall where they may. YMMV, of course. Small hands or weak wrists are not necessarily under your control. Mine aren't as strong as they used to be, but I've been shooting since I was 4 years old, and started with a SAA Colt in .45Long. Don't want to use one of those for a gunfight, either. Jonathan Browning was making magazine fed flintlocks in 1831. His son perfected the magazine, AFAIAC. I might be interested in a Hi-Power in .45acp, or a more powerful .45 caliber cartridge... ;)

[armoredman]

Last 1911A1 I owned was a Springfield over 30 years ago. I agree, the 1911 and 45ACp go hand in hand like baseball, apple pie and Chevrolet, but I can see one reason I might choose a 1911 in 9mm - I reload the heck out of that caliber and cast for it as well. If I get a 45ACP I need new dies and a new mold...not saying that's a BAD thing by a long shot, but it's what would have to happen.
Having said all that, that Tisis Tanker 45 is really calling my name...might be time to say hello to Mr JMB again.

[contender1]

Lots of good thoughts above.

But one big reason, not already mentioned is the various competition games out there. The .9mm has taken over as THE caliber to use in almost all categories in USPSA competition. Plus,, in IPSC, or IDPA, & others,, again, it has become dominant due to ammo availability, AND expense.
The 1911 design is a PROVEN design, and as such,, a 1911 in .9mm allows for more rounds, or lower recoil, (quicker return to target) options that top level shooters enjoy.
And a LOT of shooters are involved in competitions of some type. As such, when top level, world class shooters use a 1911 design, and in .9mm, others follow.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

The reason will vary with the shooter, I think. The 1911 9mm holds a couple more rounds, and the weight dampens the recoil; perhaps giving a faster, more accurate double tap. Having both, I like both, but like the .45 a bit better.

DG

[Bigslug]

You get all of the good ergonomics of the 1911. Frankly, double stacks suck in this department. They engineer for capacity first and the human hand second, and not many of them are something that make you say "OH YEAH! I wanna shoot this one-handed!". Especially if the human hand in question is smaller than those seen on the 7-foot tall centers of the NBA.

Half of the recoil of the .45. Go back to the Civil War - the Army got .44's, the Navy .36's, because one had to stop horses and the other didn't. Not many goblins on horseback these days. . .

With modern, properly conceived ammo, the coroners can't tell the difference.

If you reload, you don't have to deal with the endless list of expletives that having to deal with getting new small-primer .45 brass in your mix of your large-primer that you've been hoarding for three plus decades inspires

Massive logistical superiority when using the round the entire bloody world has gone to. How much .38 Super do you see on the shelves? Let alone .38 Super in a quality duty load?

Only the Glock is easier to work on than the 1911 (Hi Powers, CZ's etc... are a comparative nightmare) . . .

I lean harder in the direction of the Glocks these days for their greater simplicity and no-fuss/no-fiddle maintenance, but that said, if it ain't a Glock, 1911/2011, or DA revolver, it ain't worth my time.

[rintinglen]

When you can buy 100 rounds for less than the price of 50 and you are one of the 90+% of shooters who don't reload, the 1911 9mm makes a ton of sense.

[Divil]

9mm 1911 are soft shooting. Almost that perfect niche of knowing you are shooting a centerfire pistol but it has the gentle shoot all day recoil of a rimfire.

[kerplode]

In a single stack 1911 what’s the advantage of the 9 over the 45?

Higher capacity
Significantly less recoil
9mm is much cheaper and much more available than 45


Why not go with 38 super if you want that extra round in the mag?

Have you tried to buy a box of 38 Super lately? If you can find it, it's $$$...2x or more what 9mm costs

[txbirdman]

I seldom buy any commercial ammo. I cast and load for all my handguns. So I guess I wasn’t considering. cost/availability of factory stuff so much. I can see how that would be important to some people.

[Frank V]

9mm 1911 are soft shooting. Almost that perfect niche of knowing you are shooting a centerfire pistol but it has the gentle shoot all day recoil of a rimfire.
This! I’ve shot a friends 9mm 1911, it was soft shooting & accurate!

[cwlongshot]

First of all let me say I’m a fan of the 9MM cartridge and the 1911. I just don’t see that they compliment one another. I appreciate the 9MM for being an effective round that works in a trim high capacity handgun. I presently own three 9MM’s and carry my Sig P365 daily. Also my all time favorite pistol is my 1980 vintage Colt Combat Commander. I love the ergonomics and the 45 acp round seems perfect for the 1911 platform to me. However it seems that lately the trend is toward the 9MM in 1911’s. I have one friend who bought a SA Prodigy and another friend who just bought a Stacatto. Both of these guys already owned quality 1911’s in 45 acp. I even see that Bill Wilson has switched to the 9 in his 1911 carry gun. It seems to me that if the switch is due to mag capacity that the hipower and CZ 75’s filled that void decades ago and both are known for their ergonomics. In a single stack 1911 what’s the advantage of the 9 over the 45? Why not go with 38 super if you want that extra round in the mag? I’d truly like to hear from those who have made the transition.


100%!!

Month ago I saw some SINGLE ACTION Revolvers now chambered for 9mm!!! OMG, ITS FLAT WRONG!!!

I completely see a extra cyl but ZERO READON for one chambered exclusively. I for one, cannot wait for this absurd love affair with the 9mm to end.

CW

[bedbugbilly]

Or . . . . one might also ask . . . "why not?"

As already mentioned, some don't reload so 9mm is cheaper. Some may like 9mm, the 1911 platform AND the history of the 1911.

I owned a Colt 1911A1 for probably 30 years - it was given to me - a navy pilot brought it home at the end of WWII. I liked the 1911 platform - I shot it some - even took a woodchuck on the farm with it once, but I just never cared for the 45acp that much . . . . but I'll shoot 45 Colt or Schofield all day long out of a SAA . . . go figure. I ended up selling the 1911A1 as it was pristine and a collector wanted it in the worst way. If I hadn't, it would be a safe queen. At times though, I've thought about getting a 9mm 1911 'cause I reload 9mm and like the cartridge, have more than a lifetime supply of brass, etc.

I'm surprised that nobody has asked "why make a 1911 in 22 rimfire?" Yet they are made. I have one that is a Sig - not a target pistol . . . not a "carry gun" . . . but certainly fun to shoot and plink with.

Kind of boils down to some like blonds, some like redheads . . . . but regardless of blond or redhead, they're all women.

[Texas by God]

I wouldn’t mind having a 1911 in 9mm- but I’d rather have one in .40 S&W.
But…I’ll probably just keep shooting my .45s.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[wilecoyote]

the same Man already created the hi-cap 9mm and the .45._
both full size, both battle-proven_
in full awareness of my superficiality of judgement,
compared to the efforts and money invested to invent better full size mousetraps,
this don't seem to me to have innovated much, except mixing and remixing both with difficulty using alloys, plastics and injection molds.
some overall weight on unloaded alloy/plastic ones has been saved, sometime_bulk not.

[M-Tecs]

I really want one of these. https://www.springfield-armory.com/1911-ds-series-handguns/1911-ds-prodigy-handguns/

[Bmi48219]

I have three 45 caliber 1911s. A Hardballer long slide, a custom Caspian race gun and another custom Caspian SD. All are great, but the one I shoot best AND thus enjoy shooting the most is an STI Targetmaster long slide in 9mm.
Why a 9 mm 1911, why not?

[slim1836]

315517

Made in 1917, got my concealed carry using this, my favorite.

Slim

[txbirdman]

Several have said that they “shoot the 9MM” in the 1911 better. Surely that’s a personal quirk. The 45 acp is legendary for it’s accuracy.

[Bigslug]

Several have said that they “shoot the 9MM” in the 1911 better. Surely that’s a personal quirk. The 45 acp is legendary for it’s accuracy.

It's also somewhat legendary for the inability of many to shoot it well. I love it personally, but we have to call a spade a spade here - thumpy recoil and casual practitioners don't usually mix well.

[M-Tecs]

Several have said that they “shoot the 9MM” in the 1911 better. Surely that’s a personal quirk. The 45 acp is legendary for it’s accuracy.

Less recoil equals less sensitivity to minor grip variations. I shoot my 22LR 1911's and my 45 ACP Bullseye and Hardball 1911's about the same if I stay on top of my grip. If a get sloppy with my grip the 22's shoot the same. The 45 ACP not so much. I experience the same with the M-14/1A's verse the 5.56 AR15 when shooting HighPower competition. With the M-14 inconsistencies in your position show a lot more than with the AR15.

[Forrest r]

Long before the 9mm became popular in the 1911 platform we were fitting 6" 9mm bbl's in our 38super race guns. That setup started my love affair with the lyman 358311. 4.4gr of unique would put that 158gr rn in the +/- 1060fps range in those 6" bbl's. Ran that round nosed bullet in everything after that, 38spl/357/9mm.

Call me old fashioned, grew up shooting 1911's and still prefer them along with their grip angle to this day. Several years ago I thinned the herd of a lot of firearms. Did a clean sweep of the 1911's and the 22lr pistols and revolvers. Bought a springfield armory range officer in 45acp and used a marvel 22lr conversion kit on it that I had laying around when I wanted to shoot a rimfire 1911.
https://i.imgur.com/vYEjhGW.jpg

Loved the accuracy of that ro/45acp. Shot a lot of bullseye and a h&g 68 clone in it.
https://i.imgur.com/lxO5I66.jpg

The ro/45acp actually does pretty good with any 200gr cast bullet. 3 different bullets/same powder & weight.
https://i.imgur.com/N17hNIE.jpg

Shooting the marvel conversion on that 1911 was soft shooting and accurate enough. It reminded me of the 1911/9mm platform and how much I missed it. Ended up selling the marvel conversion and buying another springfield ro chambered in 9mm. Much better!!! The pair of 1911 ro's.

https://i.imgur.com/8NOmyg6.jpg

Bought a mihec 125gr fn mold for that 1911/9mm and came up with a +/- 1050fps load that is accurate and is soft enough for my aging arms/hands to do 400/500 round range sessions.
https://i.imgur.com/N6XBlbc.jpg

Well worth considering

[txbirdman]

Forrest r, I’d say you do better than “pretty good” with whatever 1911 you’re holding.

[boingk]

I for one, cannot wait for this absurd love affair with the 9mm to end.

121 years and counting, I don't think it's going anywhere soon.

Personally I think a well-loaded 380 is about where its at, the 9x19mm has an issue with case taper and base diameter that makes re-sizing and reloading a bit finicky but that's really nitpicking.

As for the 1911? Many people want a classic, reliable, well-handling all-metal design and they see that in the 1911. Many jurisdictions worldwide have legislated for magazines holding no more than 10 rounds, and some legislate against calibre as well - under .45 or under .40 - and some ranges have restrictions on the calibres used as well. And here you're starting to get into the popularity of 9mm.

9mm in a 1911 complies with all that mumbo and gives a competitive, easy-shooting, accurate and still substantially powerful round that enables participation in recognised competitions (eg IPSC) as well as being an original chambering in many military / law enforcement sidearms and submachineguns.

Are 9/1911's everyone's cup of tea? No. Are they suitable for a very wide range of users? Yes.

- boingk

[cwlongshot]

I mean one COULD put a 4cyl. Even a turbo'd - boosted - nitroed motor into a Corvette... BUT THEY DON'T

Everything has its place, and 9mm DOES NOT need be everywhere! ESPECIALLY when a superior 38Super is a STANDARD CALIBER ESTABLISHED!

CW

[lar45]

A friend of mine just took a class on building 1911s. He built it in 9mm for his wife who because of nerve damage cannot handle a 45acp any longer.
The 9mm is very soft shooting.

[txbirdman]

I mean one COULD put a 4cyl. Even a turbo'd - boosted - nitroed motor into a Corvette... BUT THEY DON'T

Everything has its place, and 9mm DOES NOT need be everywhere! ESPECIALLY when a superior 38Super is a STANDARD CALIBER ESTABLISHED!

CW
CW,
Didn’t Sig make their 1911 in .357 Sig? That should out perform a .38 Super.

[cwlongshot]

CW,
Didn’t Sig make their 1911 in .357 Sig? That should out perform a .38 Super.
I like the 357 Sig cartridge. Mine will out step my Super loadings but I dont push the super and do push the lil sig.

The Super does better with lil weight.

CW

[45_Colt]

That is what I did, split the difference between the .45 and the 9mm Luger and built the last 1911 as a .357 SIG. Still a 9mm as that is the boolit diameter. Found the .357 SIG to be a very accurate cartridge. Much more so then expected.

And of course it does have some oomph behind it.

Not to worry though, the other 1911's are all .45 ACP...

45_Colt

[txbirdman]

Here’s a couple of ways to deal with recoil in the 1911

[boingk]

...38Super is a STANDARD CALIBER ESTABLISHED!

Sure it is - just 27 years after the 9mm. And its slipping away, too, at least according to this:

https://freerangeamerican.us/38-super/

[VariableRecall]

A lot of shooters don’t reload. The classic 1911 platform with much cheaper ammunition has appeal.

Given the prices of .45 ACP these days I can see why many shooters want something more cost effective but also providing a similar frame size and intimately familiar platform. Plus, the heavier frame and smaller cartridge means extremely pleasant recoil.

I personally think a lot of people ruin their first time firearms experiences by choosing a compact 9mm as their first, and wonder why it's so difficult to control, and have that be their impressions of firearms and how they handle. It certainly is nice to see the popularity of larger framed 9mm's come more forward into view for the general public.

[tazman]

I spoke with a small arms training officer from the military at my local range last year while he was home on leave.
He stated the military keeps a number of 1911 pistols chambered in 9mm on hand specifically due to their soft recoil. He said this weapon is the only one many of the people training at his location can qualify with because they can't seem to handle the recoil of the standard 9mm pistol for some reason.

That training officer also stated that he, himself had fired the recorded targets in some cases so certain individuals could qualify to carry handguns on duty.

I don't particularly care for the idea of people qualifying with a specific handgun and carrying a different one that they cannot shoot proficiently. Sounds like a very dangerous situation for everyone involved.

[Plate plinker]

Given the prices of .45 ACP these days I can see why many shooters want something more cost effective but also providing a similar frame size and intimately familiar platform. Plus, the heavier frame and smaller cartridge means extremely pleasant recoil.

I personally think a lot of people ruin their first time firearms experiences by choosing a compact 9mm as their first, and wonder why it's so difficult to control, and have that be their impressions of firearms and how they handle. It certainly is nice to see the popularity of larger framed 9mm's come more forward into view for the general public.

Excellent post.

I love my 9mm 1911, but those with heavy slide do not operate super smoothly.

[txbirdman]

That is what I did, split the difference between the .45 and the 9mm Luger and built the last 1911 as a .357 SIG. Still a 9mm as that is the boolit diameter. Found the .357 SIG to be a very accurate cartridge. Much more so then expected.

And of course it does have some oomph behind it.

Not to worry though, the other 1911's are all .45 ACP...

45_Colt

I’d like to have one of those .357 Sigs in 1911 with a conversion for a 10MM too. Is that possible?

[MostlyLeverGuns]

I've got a half dozen (+?) 1911 45's, do not have a 9mm 1911, BUT for fun, teaching someone, or for those older folks and others lacking hand strength for slide manipulation, the 9mm 1911 makes sense. Reloading 9mm takes half the lead, recoil is very mild and the cost of factory rounds make reloading 'almost' unnecessary. I do have 9mm's that are not 1911's, but less recoil and easy operation is appealing. A double stack 9mm 1911 is on my list, but I do have other handguns to carry/shoot. The Ruger 22/45 is a pleasant substitute, but the feel of the factory trigger is not the same as a 1911, probably should do some aftermarket work to really enjoy, the magazine disconnect is also annoying.

[txbirdman]

I've got a half dozen (+?) 1911 45's, do not have a 9mm 1911, BUT for fun, teaching someone, or for those older folks and others lacking hand strength for slide manipulation, the 9mm 1911 makes sense. Reloading 9mm takes half the lead, recoil is very mild and the cost of factory rounds make reloading 'almost' unnecessary. I do have 9mm's that are not 1911's, but less recoil and easy operation is appealing. A double stack 9mm 1911 is on my list, but I do have other handguns to carry/shoot. The Ruger 22/45 is a pleasant substitute, but the feel of the factory trigger is not the same as a 1911, probably should do some aftermarket work to really enjoy, the magazine disconnect is also annoying.

The 22/45 pictured above with the Sig 1911 BB pistol (my failed attempt at subtle humor) has a Volquartzen trigger and it makes a world of difference.

[nueces5]

You get all of the good ergonomics of the 1911. Frankly, double stacks suck in this department. They engineer for capacity first and the human hand second, and not many of them are something that make you say "OH YEAH! I wanna shoot this one-handed!". Especially if the human hand in question is smaller than those seen on the 7-foot tall centers of the NBA.

Half of the recoil of the .45. Go back to the Civil War - the Army got .44's, the Navy .36's, because one had to stop horses and the other didn't. Not many goblins on horseback these days. . .

With modern, properly conceived ammo, the coroners can't tell the difference.

If you reload, you don't have to deal with the endless list of expletives that having to deal with getting new small-primer .45 brass in your mix of your large-primer that you've been hoarding for three plus decades inspires

Massive logistical superiority when using the round the entire bloody world has gone to. How much .38 Super do you see on the shelves? Let alone .38 Super in a quality duty load?

Only the Glock is easier to work on than the 1911 (Hi Powers, CZ's etc... are a comparative nightmare) . . .

I lean harder in the direction of the Glocks these days for their greater simplicity and no-fuss/no-fiddle maintenance, but that said, if it ain't a Glock, 1911/2011, or DA revolver, it ain't worth my time.

I agree

[billmc2]

I spoke with a small arms training officer from the military at my local range last year while he was home on leave.
He stated the military keeps a number of 1911 pistols chambered in 9mm on hand specifically due to their soft recoil. He said this weapon is the only one many of the people training at his location can qualify with because they can't seem to handle the recoil of the standard 9mm pistol for some reason.

That training officer also stated that he, himself had fired the recorded targets in some cases so certain individuals could qualify to carry handguns on duty.

I don't particularly care for the idea of people qualifying with a specific handgun and carrying a different one that they cannot shoot proficiently. Sounds like a very dangerous situation for everyone involved.

Back in the early 80s the Air Force stuck a revolver in my hands and said go qualify (the Air Force wasn't much of a gun culture). I had never fired a revolver before. The extent of my training came from watching TV shows. I couldn't hit a thing. I did, however, qualify. I could shoot a rifle though.

When we qualified with the M-16, we were either at a 100 yard range or a 200 yard range. We were given 50 rounds. More than one guy scored higher than 50.

[45_Colt]

I’d like to have one of those .357 Sigs in 1911 with a conversion for a 10MM too. Is that possible?

Nothing more then a barrel swap and the correct recoil spring. The case heads are the same, so the slide, extractor, ejector and so forth are common between the two. Could also do this in .40 S&W.

45_Colt

[StrawHat]

My cousin is over 80, my brother is approaching it. Both can no longer handle the recoil of the 1911 in 45 ACP. Their solution, same pistol in 9mm. For them it works. I still prefer the 45 ACP, but I am merely approaching 70 and shoot a S&W revolver.

Kevin

[rintinglen]

Several folks keep saying "38 Super" like it was dirt cheap and nearly as common. I'm calling shenanigans on that malarkey. 9 mm ammo costs roughly half what 38 super costs, and 38 super runs neck in neck with 45 ACP in cost per shot.

Now I shoot 32-20, 9 mm Browning Long, 32-40 and a couple of other cartridges that are less than likely to be found on the shelf. But I do not for one minute contend that that any of them approaches the popularity or availability of the 9mm. The 9mm Luger cartridge, while harder to reload, feeds better than the rimmed 38 Super and is much easier to find. Reloaders make up the tip of the little finger on the overall hand of the shooting body. For everyone else, cost and availability make the 9mm a better choice.