Folks, watch out for the sky falling today, because in this video, our very own Prophet of the .45 ACP talks about... 9mm? Buckle up, this may be the sign of end times.
We have advocated for the 9mm 1911 for a number of years. Sure, I understand 45. Shot and carried one professionally for the most of 19 years. But…. 1. For working or performance focused shooters, we recommend 9mm 1911s. 2. Why..it’s a gun you can build a resume off of: Quals, time standards, etc. 3. Take any level of shooter who is super-great with a 45 caliber 1911 and give him a 9mm 1911. He will shoot it better and faster. When in doubt, let’s get dudes on the line shooting drills and quals. Watch what happens. 4. “Working” guns should generally be chambered in the caliber of the day. Today that’s 9mm. If it was 1989, 40 caliber would be fine. If it was 1937, 38 Super would be fine. My point being I don’t really care it’s 9mm. I care about it being logistically supportable and team interchangeable. Note. I’ve been that “One guy” in the ORG who shoots 45, while pallets and pallets of 9mm come in every few months. That was stupid. 5. More ammo is “generally” better. 6. At longer and longer pistol range distances (which seems to be envogue with pistol RDS), the learning curve for 9mm vs 45 is easier for less experienced shooters. Translation. 9mm tends to be point-and-click, even for head shots. 7. Downside 1: Traditionally 9mm 1911s were dumpster fires. Even as recently as the early 2000’s, they ran like trash and weren’t suitable for serious work. That is basically solved now. 8. Downside 2: In my opinion, and you allude to it with your friction comment, taking a bog standard format 1911 and just re-chambering it for 9mm is a problem. The guns end up being over-railed and over-lugged for 9mm. Especially for 5” 1911s. Reduce some of the rail and lug surface, and things are better. You can kinda get away with not reducing these surfaces in shorter 1911s like 4.25 & 4”. 9. Downside 3: Double stack 2011 format guns in 9mm structurally have problems. The main one being a mag body size that was designed to hold 45 & 38 super length rounds. Stuffing 9mms into that footprint makes the guns needlessly large with a lot of wasted space. It’s akin to taking a Glock 21 and stuffing it with 9mm. Sure guys with large hands like me would probably like it, but choosing that over a Glock 17 sized tube / frame is silly. 2011s need to leave that 45 caliber tube and frame behind ultimately. Summation: If you want to get into the 1911 world and are drawn towards the 9mm, just do it. Most of these dudes on gun forums who complain about 1911s needing to be in 45 don’t shoot, or can’t shoot well. If at all. Regards, Marky John1911
Agree. I recently bought a used Springfield Range Officer, full size 1911-9mm. It’s so hard to miss with it. Factory or my handloads, one jagged hole with no recoil. Great for plinking or steel challenge
My second 1911 ever was a 9mm Springfield Range Officer Elite Operator in 9mm. I got it in college on a little horse trading because I couldn't afford to shoot my Colt .45 as much as I wanted to. I carried that gun for like two years.
My first dozen or so 1911s were all 45 ACP. I also bought a number of "hand cannons", e.g., 3 Desert Eagles, 2 S&W 500 Magnums, 45-70 BFR, various 357 magnums, etc. As I've gotten older and my arthritis worsens, I have had to switch to buying 9mm. I still take a 45 ACP along w/ my 9mm a couple of times a month, but I am shooting mainly 9mm. Many years ago the 9mm 1911s weren't as reliable as the 45 ACP, but luckily that has changed. I have quite a few 9mm 1911s (mainly Cabot and Nighthawks) and I am happy to say it is very, very rare that I have a problem w/ any of my 9mm 1911s. Thx for the video and Thx for the suggestions.
I've owned Springfield Armory, Kimber and Ruger 1911s in 9mm. The ONLY one that I've found to be 100% reliable with ANY ammo and ANY mag has been my Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander-type.
I've shot a 10mm 1911 ALOT. Love it! That said , my 9mm 1911 is such a fun gun. Sweet shooting. I suggest having one in every cartridge. Agree on the NATO SPEC 9mm as your break in round. I break in my 1911s dry. Then use Wilson lube. They are smooth as glass.
Between the M2, BAR, Colt 1911, and, if you credit Browning and not just Saive with the Hi-Power, the FN Hi-Power, Browning has killed way more people with his inventions than Oppenheimer. But nowhere near Kalashnikov.
Only reason I’m sticking with 45 is all my 1911 mags are 45. If I wanna shoot 9mm I’ll grab my glock. After buying a bunch of semis I’m done buying different mags. It’s gonna be glock 19 compatible, or 1911 in 45 acp, or a revolver. That is unless it’s just a range toy. I don’t wanna worry about buying different mags. Just finding out if a gun likes a mag over the other
without getting "too in the weeds" our caliber breakdown from DELIVERED ACWs is about 64% .45 ACP, 31% 9mm, and the rest Super .38 caliber. Although we discontinued Super earlier this year.
I prefer the MetalForm 9mm mags that are “crimped” on the front of the mag - no spacer in the rear. Several thousand rounds thru several 9mm 1911s with zero issues
The .38 Super is very different from the 9mm. The OAL of the .38 Super is almost the same as the .45 ACP and the cartridge rim is much wider than the 9mm giving it a better cartridge to extractor claw engagement. I would say, the .38 Super is more reliable than the 9mm in the 1911 platform.
I was speaking ballistically, they're not crazy far off from one another. Yes, you're correct, from an OAL and general reliability stand point, the Super is a better choice- on paper. I have never really had any issues with Supers or 9mms to speak of. The major point I was making by bringing up Super was that the 1911 has been chambered in many different rounds since it's conception so having a 9mm 1911 isn't as blasphemous as it sounds.
Although not a big fan of the 9mm, I've owned several BHP P-35s due to its' high-capacity & similar ergomomics of the 1911; However, when all is said & done, I always come back to the 1911 in .45 ACP. You have to ask yourself, when was the last time, if ever, that you heard of an aggresor needing to recieve 15 rounds of .45 ACP to be stopped?
Not all the time. I have been feeding my Quantico hi cap for last 3 years with all kinds of ammo. 115, 124, 147 etc. the 124 nato is recommended for a break. Which most of the hotter 124 works which is not special ammo
The major benefit of a 1911 is the trigger. Lets face it, the 1911 trigger is by far the most beneficial to average shooters. After that. Consider all the other factors, weight, recoil, size, capacity, maintenance. Prefer a high power over a 9mm 1911.
We have advocated for the 9mm 1911 for a number of years. Sure, I understand 45. Shot and carried one professionally for the most of 19 years. But….
1. For working or performance focused shooters, we recommend 9mm 1911s.
2. Why..it’s a gun you can build a resume off of: Quals, time standards, etc.
3. Take any level of shooter who is super-great with a 45 caliber 1911 and give him a 9mm 1911. He will shoot it better and faster. When in doubt, let’s get dudes on the line shooting drills and quals. Watch what happens.
4. “Working” guns should generally be chambered in the caliber of the day. Today that’s 9mm. If it was 1989, 40 caliber would be fine. If it was 1937, 38 Super would be fine. My point being I don’t really care it’s 9mm. I care about it being logistically supportable and team interchangeable. Note. I’ve been that “One guy” in the ORG who shoots 45, while pallets and pallets of 9mm come in every few months. That was stupid.
5. More ammo is “generally” better.
6. At longer and longer pistol range distances (which seems to be envogue with pistol RDS), the learning curve for 9mm vs 45 is easier for less experienced shooters. Translation. 9mm tends to be point-and-click, even for head shots.
7. Downside 1: Traditionally 9mm 1911s were dumpster fires. Even as recently as the early 2000’s, they ran like trash and weren’t suitable for serious work. That is basically solved now.
8. Downside 2: In my opinion, and you allude to it with your friction comment, taking a bog standard format 1911 and just re-chambering it for 9mm is a problem. The guns end up being over-railed and over-lugged for 9mm. Especially for 5” 1911s. Reduce some of the rail and lug surface, and things are better. You can kinda get away with not reducing these surfaces in shorter 1911s like 4.25 & 4”.
9. Downside 3: Double stack 2011 format guns in 9mm structurally have problems. The main one being a mag body size that was designed to hold 45 & 38 super length rounds. Stuffing 9mms into that footprint makes the guns needlessly large with a lot of wasted space. It’s akin to taking a Glock 21 and stuffing it with 9mm. Sure guys with large hands like me would probably like it, but choosing that over a Glock 17 sized tube / frame is silly. 2011s need to leave that 45 caliber tube and frame behind ultimately.
Summation: If you want to get into the 1911 world and are drawn towards the 9mm, just do it. Most of these dudes on gun forums who complain about 1911s needing to be in 45 don’t shoot, or can’t shoot well. If at all.
Regards,
Marky
John1911
Fantastic write-up!
Agree. I recently bought a used Springfield Range Officer, full size 1911-9mm. It’s so hard to miss with it. Factory or my handloads, one jagged hole with no recoil. Great for plinking or steel challenge
My second 1911 ever was a 9mm Springfield Range Officer Elite Operator in 9mm. I got it in college on a little horse trading because I couldn't afford to shoot my Colt .45 as much as I wanted to. I carried that gun for like two years.
My first dozen or so 1911s were all 45 ACP. I also bought a number of "hand cannons", e.g., 3 Desert Eagles, 2 S&W 500 Magnums, 45-70 BFR, various 357 magnums, etc. As I've gotten older and my arthritis worsens, I have had to switch to buying 9mm. I still take a 45 ACP along w/ my 9mm a couple of times a month, but I am shooting mainly 9mm.
Many years ago the 9mm 1911s weren't as reliable as the 45 ACP, but luckily that has changed. I have quite a few 9mm 1911s (mainly Cabot and Nighthawks) and I am happy to say it is very, very rare that I have a problem w/ any of my 9mm 1911s.
Thx for the video and Thx for the suggestions.
I've owned Springfield Armory, Kimber and Ruger 1911s in 9mm. The ONLY one that I've found to be 100% reliable with ANY ammo and ANY mag has been my Ruger SR1911 Lightweight Commander-type.
I've shot a 10mm 1911 ALOT. Love it! That said , my 9mm 1911 is such a fun gun. Sweet shooting. I suggest having one in every cartridge. Agree on the NATO SPEC 9mm as your break in round. I break in my 1911s dry. Then use Wilson lube. They are smooth as glass.
Between the M2, BAR, Colt 1911, and, if you credit Browning and not just Saive with the Hi-Power, the FN Hi-Power, Browning has killed way more people with his inventions than Oppenheimer. But nowhere near Kalashnikov.
Only reason I’m sticking with 45 is all my 1911 mags are 45. If I wanna shoot 9mm I’ll grab my glock. After buying a bunch of semis I’m done buying different mags. It’s gonna be glock 19 compatible, or 1911 in 45 acp, or a revolver. That is unless it’s just a range toy. I don’t wanna worry about buying different mags. Just finding out if a gun likes a mag over the other
That's just practical. Work with what you have, and practice with it.
Do you have any stats on how many builds you ship out the door that are in .45 vs 9mm? It would be interesting to see the percentage breakdown.
without getting "too in the weeds" our caliber breakdown from DELIVERED ACWs is about 64% .45 ACP, 31% 9mm, and the rest Super .38 caliber. Although we discontinued Super earlier this year.
@@alchemy1911discontinued because of low sales?
@@dewdrummer4384 Correct.
I prefer the MetalForm 9mm mags that are “crimped” on the front of the mag - no spacer in the rear. Several thousand rounds thru several 9mm 1911s with zero issues
Mec Gar mags have that feature too.
2 world wars, but don't forget all the other wars of the world. The 1911 has been stacking bodies in all of the smaller conflicts on the globe.
Damn right!
And when WW3 pops off,
1911 be like 😎
The .38 Super is very different from the 9mm. The OAL of the .38 Super is almost the same as the .45 ACP and the cartridge rim is much wider than the 9mm giving it a better cartridge to extractor claw engagement. I would say, the .38 Super is more reliable than the 9mm in the 1911 platform.
I was speaking ballistically, they're not crazy far off from one another. Yes, you're correct, from an OAL and general reliability stand point, the Super is a better choice- on paper. I have never really had any issues with Supers or 9mms to speak of. The major point I was making by bringing up Super was that the 1911 has been chambered in many different rounds since it's conception so having a 9mm 1911 isn't as blasphemous as it sounds.
That intro was 🔥 lol
ROLLIN LIKE A BIG SHOT
lol- seems to me you need a 45 1911 to really understand the joy of a 1911
Although not a big fan of the 9mm, I've owned several BHP P-35s due to its' high-capacity & similar ergomomics of the 1911; However, when all is said & done, I always come back to the 1911 in .45 ACP. You have to ask yourself, when was the last time, if ever, that you heard of an aggresor needing to recieve 15 rounds of .45 ACP to be stopped?
I mean, we won two world wars with it, baby!
John Moses Browning was a fan of the .38 handgun concept
I had to send my Ruger SR1911 9mm back to Ruger twice. I went back to Glock.
It’s common knowledge that if you shoot 9mm, you’re not man enough to handle .45 ACP, or, Gods Caliber 😂
Are you a heretic? That is the question!
All that money and you have to shoot specific ammo. Hmmm
Not all the time. I have been feeding my Quantico hi cap for last 3 years with all kinds of ammo. 115, 124, 147 etc. the 124 nato is recommended for a break. Which most of the hotter 124 works which is not special ammo
I specifically say in the video that once you get the gun jiving you can start to introduce other ammunition weights and velocities.
When you started this video I was really hoping you would bust out into that song after the first couple of words.
what are your thoughts of all the double stacks
We have an awesome double stack, the ACW Quantico HiCap. I love that gun. To me, it's the perfect blend of old looks with modern **pizzaz**.
The major benefit of a 1911 is the trigger. Lets face it, the 1911 trigger is by far the most beneficial to average shooters. After that. Consider all the other factors, weight, recoil, size, capacity, maintenance. Prefer a high power over a 9mm 1911.
I would rather have a 9mm 1911 than a HP, but I do work for a 1911 company, so that checks out.
They don’t suck. 9mm is made for the Luger the Browning hi power Glock 17. 1911 should only come in one caliber it was originally made for period.
A red dot on A damn pistol is crazy let lone A damn 1911 lol
Will you guys sponsor me? Im shooting uspsa single stack.
???stupid question, is +p the same as NATO spec?
Just play with the springs, and you can match it with your favourite 9mm load. It doesn't have to be a NATO load.
ORRR, just shoot hot ammo like a man.
@@alchemy1911 I would say, practice with what you have, be it .45 ACP, .38 Super, 9mm, etc., and be good at that platform.
Make a 2011. Compact
I'm looking to buy a high end 1911. I can't decide between Alchemy, Les Baer and Nighthawk. Any ideas?
Both are great however my ACW is just right where my Baer is a little too tight. I'd say go for the ACW.
ACW. I just posted my 10k round reveiw of the Quantico high cap.
Valtro
If you’re looking for hard fit, Night Hawks are not.
Yes.
forget 9mm mags with spacers in them. just buy mec-gar's and be done with all the garbage. they work, and they are affordable.
😂
Isn’t it sacrilegious to put 1911 and 9mm in same sentence? Why? Because they don’t make a 46!!!!!
9mm 1911s are blasphemies of the highest order.