1911 RECEIVERS

[htxred]

are all receiver size the same when comparing between calibers?

can i convert a .45acp 1911 9mm just by fitting a complete 9mm slide onto the .45 receiver?

i ask because of the position of the ejector, same??

im trying to find the most cost effective way to build a 9mm 1911 without purchasing one already assembled.

my original plan was to have fusion build it, but i sort of want to do it myself, what i can do myself anyway.

so my next plan would be to purchase a RIA 1911 that a buddie of mine is selling, and get a complete 9mm slide assembly from fusion and have a local smith fit it. thoughts?

[lawrnk]

conversion kits baffle me, especially the .22s...but I digress. Assuming you want cheaper ammo. I read this earlier online.

here is the Norkenstein Multical

http://www.members.shaw.ca/jpmenard/Nor ... ltical.jpg
photo by Gunnar of Armco Machine and Plating


the bottom-end is a Norinco NP29 1911A1 single-stack 9mm....
top left is a .38 Special barrel, recoil spring, and magazine
left is the Norinco .45 ACP slide and bushing shared by the .38 Special and the .45 ACP barrel, spring, and mag.....each of these barrels has it's own matched extractor, the .38 Special extractor is tweaked to fit the case-rim. the breech-face is also tweaked....

top right is the Norinco NP29 slide modified for the recoil system shown....
it has two bull-barrels fitted, no bushing, one 9mm and one in .38 Super, both use .38 super magazines...

the trigger was done by Gunnar and breaks at 2.5 Lbs....

if a person uses the 9mm bottom-end (which comes with burr-hammer and beaver-tail), all you have to do to use a .45 slide, is either to mill the ejector channel or thin the side of the ejector toward the inside of the frame, thinning is the method used here.....

if you want to start from scratch, you can buy a parkerized bare 1911A1 Norinco frame from Marstar for $99.95 Cdn....
unfortunately for our cousins to the south, I believe they can only be sold in Canada.....pity

all of the above bits and pieces were fitted by Gunnar at Armco Machine.....he is a IPSC specialist Pistolsmith in Prince George BC Canada

[Skiprr]

My gut feeling--but don't trust me--is that there will be more work than just a new slide, barrel, and magazines. I think the ejector would need to be replaced, and I have my doubts about the feed ramp; I think the .45 ramp will be deeper and steeper than what you'd need for 9mm, meaning filling in material rather than the easier taking it away.

However, I am in no way, shape, or form a gunsmith. You might want to try asking over at http://www.pistolsmith.com/ or at http://www.1911forum.com/.

[htxred]

im not trying to use a .45acp slide on a 9mm receiver

im trying to use a 9mm slide on a .45acp receiver. but thanks.

im trying to figure out if ejectors are the same or in the same position on both receivers, obviously size can be changed.

and thanks for your input skiprr, thats actually what im wanting to know, if a 1911 receiver that was built to chamber .45acp can be used if a complete 9mm slide assembly was fitted.

[ghostrider]

I'm new here, but maybe I can answer your question. 1911
frames (receivers) aren't manufactured calibre specific. With
the proper parts you can use one frame for multiple calibres.

The stock ejectors are different for 9mm/38Super vs 45. You
will either have to switch ejectors everytime you want to switch
different calibre topends OR you can modify the ejector to fit
both slides.

[htxred]

I'm new here, but maybe I can answer your question. 1911
frames (receivers) aren't manufactured calibre specific. With
the proper parts you can use one frame for multiple calibres.

The stock ejectors are different for 9mm/38Super vs 45. You
will either have to switch ejectors everytime you want to switch
different calibre topends OR you can modify the ejector to fit
both slides.

thanks alot, i got this info over the weekend from a friend but i appreciate you taking the time to help me.

[Rex B]

Check Sarco for frames under $100

They also have "decorator" frames for $19.95, but require some machining.
If you have a minimill they are a bargain.

[ghostrider]

you may also want to consider Essex frames. They are available from Brownells.

[G.C.Montgomery]

are all receiver size the same when comparing between calibers?

can i convert a .45acp 1911 9mm just by fitting a complete 9mm slide onto the .45 receiver?

i ask because of the position of the ejector, same??

im trying to find the most cost effective way to build a 9mm 1911 without purchasing one already assembled.

my original plan was to have fusion build it, but i sort of want to do it myself, what i can do myself anyway.

so my next plan would be to purchase a RIA 1911 that a buddie of mine is selling, and get a complete 9mm slide assembly from fusion and have a local smith fit it. thoughts?

Yes you can convert a .45 cal 1911 to 9mm with a simple top-end swap provided both top-ends have the same type of barrel (non-ramped, Clark/Para, or Nowlin/Wilson). Beyond that, .45 and 9mm/38Super ejectors have a different offset in nearly all 1911's. There are two common approaches to this issue. One option is to swap ejectors when swapping top-ends but if the ejector is snuggly pinned (as it should be) this may not be practical. The other option would be installing a 9mm/38super ejector and then modifying your .45 cal slide so that the additional offset of the 9mm/38Super ejector clears the slide. If you modify a 9mm ejector to clear a 45 slide, you will get sporadic ejection or no ejection at all when shooting 9mm. Even if everything works, which it won't, the ejector will be so thin that it will be just a matter of time before the ejector breaks.

I've known a lot of folks who run 1911's without pinning the ejector. This allowed them to readily swap calibers despite the difference in ejector offset. In my experience, this compromised reliability so I prefer not to do it. Still, I have seen guns that ran just fine in this configuration. A key factor here may be the fit and relationship of the slide, ejector and frame relative to each other. Basically, if the ejector has room to move excessively, it can shift and bind against the slide under recoil and during feeding. YMMV.

Edited to add: IIRC, some manufacturers did use 9mm ejectors in .45cal 1911's but to my knowledge, all of these were 4-inch or shorter 1911's. In fact, look into Springfield Armory's Champion pistols. Seems like I remember both 9mm and .45cal Champions shared a common ejector.

[ghostrider]

>If you modify a 9mm ejector to clear a 45 slide, you will get sporadic ejection or no ejection at all
>when shooting 9mm. Even if everything works, which it won't, the ejector will be so thin that it will
>be just a matter of time before the ejector breaks.

Its certainly an area for concern, but I have a frame used for 460 Rowland that I put
an extended ejector in that is modified to work with a 9mm top end that works just
fine. Admittedly, I haven't put a lot of 9mm rounds through it yet, but its currently
very reliable with 9mm factory and reloads. Anecdotal information suggests this won't
always be the case, so people generally recommend a new gun if you want to go to
a calibre that requires a different slide, but it can be done.

>IIRC, some manufacturers did use 9mm ejectors in .45cal 1911's but to my knowledge, all of
>these were 4-inch or shorter 1911's. In fact, look into Springfield Armory's Champion pistols.
>Seems like I remember both 9mm and .45cal Champions shared a common ejector.

Correct. Even with the same calibre I think you'll find that (for example) a Colt Commander
.45 and a Colt Gov't model .45 use different ejectors.