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I really like my .45 1911's. Does anyone have a 9 mm 1911? Due to the cost of ammo, I thinking of stepping down to 9 mm, but really like the 1911 style. Any suggestions that won't require a second mortage?

Inexpensive (around $400.00) but still a good shooter: Armscor / RIA
RIA 1911A1 FS 9MM GI 8

You can buy a STI Spartan III, IIII, V (IE) 3 inch/4inch/5inch. Mine is holding up well and it doesn't break the bank. I got mine for about 670 + tax. I'm sure you can find one for about the same.

http://www.stiguns.com/the-sti-spartan-iii/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I had high hopes for my EMP. Beautiful and expensive as it is, it doesn't like SD ammo . 'bout on par with the formerly my Loaded Champion. The Taurus PT1911 was flawless in the short time I owned it. It was a .45, but they do offer it in 9. Going back to the EMP, and having some experience with a Colt Gov't Model, I kinda wish I had either tracked down or waited for a Defender in 9MM. These were all, with the exception of the Gov't Model, purchased with the idea of carry. You didn't specify that as your intent. I will admit that I totally went dark-side. Yes, rented, fired, bought, and now carry a Glock 19. For what TAM referred to as "swagger factor" I really wish that Colt would re-introduce the Commander in 9 mil... I might give up some capacity for that. This is all assuming, of course, that the Defender or the Wishful Thinking Commander was as hungry for a variety of ammo as my Gov't. It's the dimple in the load ramp, don't ya know.


On par with AEA, though I have never dealt with one personally, I have heard NOTHING but good things about the RIA and some other ARMSCOR 1911's. Across several forums, with even snobbery to boot. And ignore.

I have a Taurus PT1911 in 9mm and LOVE it. I have put several thousand rounds through it both in competition as well as letting students borrow it to qualify with. It eats any ammo you feed it, and if there is a malfunction it is always magazine related. (they get dirty dropping them in the dirt)

The only negative about mine is that the extractor could be tuned a tad. If you loosen your grip the brass will hit you in the head. LOL It's good in a way because it will remind you to grip better. (I tend to get loose when trying to shoot fast)

I have a Rock Islan in .45 and it is super reliable too, so I can only imagine the 9mm would be as well, but I have not tried one.

9mmfan wrote:I had high hopes for my EMP. Beautiful and expensive as it is, it doesn't like SD ammo .

Don't know what ammo you are trying. My EMP shoots every kind of ammo I've tried EXCEPT Speer Gold Dot 124gr +P ammo. It prefers 147gr JHP standard pressure but I also carry standard pressure 124gr JHP with no feeding issues at all.

The EMP (in my experience) does not like any +P ammo due to excessive slide velocity.

Regards,
James

I have two....A full house custom Ed VandenBerg built ground up on a Caspian commander frame and slide and a SA "loaded" I finally found at the Reliant show after a two year hunt.

Both are great shooters (especially the Capian custom) and so far have fed everything I have put through them ammo wise. The SA has become my favorite for IDPA. Very accurate, soft shooting and easy on the wallet. What's not to love?

I bought a Rock Island 1911 in 9mm a month or so ago for, IIRC, under $300. One trip to the range confirms that it is a good shooter. I see a lot of inexpensive shooting heading my way.

Thanks everyone for the inputs! Looks like my search can now begin. This will be a shooter/possible IDPA gun, so time to check out what's available.

Colt

You can buy a used Commander for around $700.

For another $500-$700 you can end up with a custom, accurate shooter.

They're a dream to shoot!

STI all day. they got 9mm to a science. Great guns, made in TX too

BTW. that colt above me is super nice.

Some (which ones I do not know) of STI Frames/Slides are in fact made by Armscor (Philippines). Same company that makes Rock Island. So, not all STI's are "truly" made in TX.

STI's are put together in Texas. And they are nice guns. But are they worth double the price of a Rock Island? Probably yes to many, but probably NOT to someone looking for a good, budget 1911 that has a very good C/S policy (if needed).

I do not own a Rock Island or a STI. I have never seen a STI, other than pictures.

I have held and examined a Rock Island but never shot one. I have seen that the quality, fit & finish and C/S make their pistols a good value for the money.

2firfun50 wrote:I really like my .45 1911's. Does anyone have a 9 mm 1911? Due to the cost of ammo, I thinking of stepping down to 9 mm, but really like the 1911 style. Any suggestions that won't require a second mortage?

IMO stepping down to a 9mm makes sense if you can't shoot a .45ACP accurately of you want a smaller gun. Stepping down for ammo cost doesn't make sense to me.

WildBill wrote:

2firfun50 wrote:I really like my .45 1911's. Does anyone have a 9 mm 1911? Due to the cost of ammo, I thinking of stepping down to 9 mm, but really like the 1911 style. Any suggestions that won't require a second mortage?

IMO stepping down to a 9mm makes sense if you can't shoot a .45ACP accurately of you want a smaller gun. Stepping down for ammo cost doesn't make sense to me.

If you are looking at a few boxes of factory defensive ammo you are right. When you shoot a 1000 rounds a month like we do, I can save a little over $100 a month on factory ammo and pay for the rock island in 4 months. Since I roll my own and usually come back from the range with more 9 mm brass than the .45 brass I went with, it gets even cheaper. Since 9 mm bullets are around 30% less, and brass is close to 50% less (if I have to buy any), I can reduce my ammo expenses by around 40% a month or stockpile nearly twice the round count. In my ammo budget, thats a significant saving.

The only 1911 I have in 9mm is my EMP. It's a great gun, and the slight dimension changes to the frame make it fit my hand better than my full size 1911s. Like the earlier poster, I had issues with SD ammo, but a ramp polish and good break-in took care of those issues. Now it goes all day on all types of ammo. It's a tack driver when it comes to accuracy.