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This has been discussed several times the past couple of years.
Basic answer: NO
See:
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=196199

Rob

 

What is a 9mm "clip"?

 

As long as you've been around, I'm surprised that you didn't understand what the OP was asking. Considering your professional back ground I don't believe your intentions were to be sarcastic as it appeared. Magazine.

LOG

 

davemuzz, Short answer yes, it can and has been done. That said realize that you will probably need to invest enough to just buy a 9mm 1911. Slide, slide parts, barrel, ejector, 9mm magazines, and the frame ramp on a 45acp is different, so the remedy for that is to cut the frame for a ramped barrel.

LOG

 

Well....there ya go.....I always seem to get in trouble and\or spend money when I cruize thru a Brownell's or a Midway catalog.

I guess the consensus of opinion is it can be done....but your just better off buying a 9mm in the long run.

Thanks for the response.

Dave.

 

The frame feed ramps are very different profile but that seems to be the only difference in that area.

I suppose some day I should swap top ends and see if or how well this works.

-- Chuck

 

Hi

I've never looked at a 1911 in 9mm when it was taken down. (shot one though). I just ordered a Caspian Frame, and my choices were .45 frame or 9mm/.38 frame. My point is that Caspian sells different frames depending on what caliber you're buying.

From my reading hereon 1911 forum, if I wanted to shoot a 9mm cartridge and I wanted to shoot a 1911, I would buy an STI. Personally, if I wanted to shoot a 9mm, I'd be saving for a Browning High Power.

Later

 

My 9mm M1991 Government Model is my main training/practice pistol as my main carry pistol is a M1911.

The only reason for me to own a 9mm M1911. If I was going to carry 9mm it'd be a Glock 19.

-- Chuck

 

The short answer is no because the feed ramp is differently as everyone has said. You can go from .38 super to 9mm.

However I have heard many reports from people that have bought 9mm slide assemblies and Colt conversion slide assemblies and most work ok, however I wouldn't rely on them in a defensive situation. I believe the ejector rod should also be changed when switching to 9mm.

I really cannot believe that the demand is not there for Colt to make a 9mm 1911 again and Springfield to get serious about making their 9mm in quantities. With the ammo prices and so forth I would buy a Colt XSE, Gold Cup, or series 70 gov't in 9mm in a minute. I have a Colt Combat Commander in 9mm and love the way it shoots and feels.......

 

Your probably better of buying a new 1911 in 9mm.

 

Plus you will need to get a 9mm ejector, fit it, then change it each time you change the top end. Not sure I'd want to do that...the retaining pin hole for ejector would probably get a little larger.

The 40 S&W has similar effectiveness as the 45 ACP. YOu could build a switch top 9mm/40 and only have to change barrels and mags.

 

The question that must be asked is"Why would you want to?"

 

Well......like Mt. Everest......"Because I can". (Wasn't that because it's there???)

Yeah....I hear ya. The "gamble" is spending the $500 and then doing the work, only to find out you now have a sub-par shooting 9mm, or even worse, a 9mm that only functions on Fridays when it's sunny.

And then, what is the "market" should I ever decide to sell the gun? Probably not much.So.....we come back to the answer that Rob S gave me of "should I do this?" Too which Rob S stated a big fat NO! :rock:

At this point in "my life" and in "my shooting hobby" I'm kind of at the point where I have all of the calibers that I want. So, just buying another gun too shoot isn't all that exciting. I have enough guns too shoot that I find very enjoyable to shoot.

My last rifle "acquisition" was....I bought a Savage stainless action (new), and then a stock.....then I ordered a Shilen stainless barrel, bought the headspace gauges, put it all together and ended up with a very fine looking gun and one great shooter. Now, that was a fun project.

I guess I could look at buying a 1911 frame and then go from there.....or even buy a used 1911 with a good frame (mil-spec or Gov't) and strip 'n build a 9mm or 38 super or 40S&W. This would take some time and the finished project would be great...if it looked professional and shot the same. And.....I'm sure it would be a fine gun as I would take my time in the build process. I mean heck....I'm retired.....what else am I doing?

Dave

 

davemuzz,
You have a partially correct list of needed items for the conversion. But I think you're missing something--or else I am totally wrong. The feedramps are slightly different for 9mm and 45. Therefore, you would need to have the frame cut. You would then need a NEW 45 barrel with an integral feedramp and a 9mm barrel with the same. By the time you buy the 9mm slide and all the extra parts and pay to have the frame cut, you should just get a separate 9mm pistol. That is why I said several days ago that the basic answer to your initial question is NO.
Rob