[Rockys Pop]

with my hands disentegrating with arthritis ...especially after 2 operations on each, i'm realistically looking at having to slow my roll a bit and drop down to a 9mm 1911 to reduce the pounding my hands take.

does anyone here personally own such an animal?? tell me ALL about it if you do !!

Maybe even a .380 acp 1911 as an EDC piece......i'm looking at them too.....

 

[RJF]

Rocky, I scaled down to a Bersa Thunder 380 Combat: lighter, easier to conceal, and 100% reliable. Studied for a long time as I didn't want yet another caliber to stock. But I did that anyway and have never looked back!

Small enough to easily conceal, but stout enough that a day at the range doesn't leave you in pain.

I carry mine everywhere, loaded with FMJ. It is comfortable enough to shoot all day long, and has enough heft to smack an aggressor up-side the head should you run out of ammo. FMJ out of it meets the FBI recommendation for penetration, so that is what I use. If one doesn't do the trick, another 8 (or nine) should suffice.

Just my input. Have a 92FS and a P-8 for 9mm (as well as a 1911 in its original .45ACP) Will go with mt Bersa every time. Until I run out of ammo, then pistol/semi-autos/shotguns rule...

 

[Rockys Pop]

thanks RJ........i'm going "window shopping" @ my LGS today after physical therapy.

yes, i'm still in physical therapy for both hands.....2.5 months and the only advances are torn scar tissue and swelling / locking into position WORSE than pre-op.

the pain is worse than the ridiculous amount of opiods i'm on (for my collapsed spine AND my hands) will touch.......my knuckles (at the hands) are grotesque.....and my Doc says i'm done with work.

 

[Rockys Pop]

i've taken to loading both my 1911s with the light loads I rolled up for my wife a while back........should be fine on my hands for a while.

at 12.5 yds she can center mass a rapid fire 5 shot string with outside vertical edges of 4"

mine are slightly larger but still well within acceptable range for self defense.

 

[MG34_Dan]

I assembled this 1911 back in '86 and still have it. The complete upper was acquired at the Fresno Gun Show and the frame was acquired at the old LA County Gun Show from Ken Hallock himself.

Ken told me what pieces and parts to get and which sellers to get them from.

A trigger job was done by an armorer at the Honolulu Police Department. This old girl has had thousands of rounds through her and still shoots fine. Not only is 9mm 1911 accurate, it is also a light recoil shooter and best of all cheap to shoot. It's hard to beat.

 

[Rockys Pop]

I assembled this 1911 back in '86 and still have it. The complete upper was acquired at the Fresno Gun Show and the frame was acquired at the old LA County Gun Show from Ken Hallock himself.

Ken told me what pieces and parts to get and which sellers to get them from.

A trigger job was done by an armorer at the Honolulu Police Department. This old girl has had thousands of rounds through her and still shoots fine. Not only is 9mm 1911 accurate, it is also a light recoil shooter and best of all cheap to shoot. It's hard to beat.

i'm loving that !

here are my 2

EDC....Sig Ultra 3.5" 1911



Clanking steel plates......Philippene slide & frame, mixed internals, call it Frankenstein......shoots like a Screamin' Demon !!
You can tell it's seen some use.....



And my Wifes 1911 Fat Boy double stacker that she uses to send 12 rds. of .45acp downrange quickly and accurately.
this is the one she rapid fires 5 shot strings w / 4" outer edges @ 12.5 yards...



and after I replaced its' recoil system & nose cap with one from a Kimber Ultra Compact....the Cheap factory system self destructed, so I went with the stainless Kimber system for $35 and an hour fit & install

 

[Gearhead Jim]

OP-

If you do scale down to a .380, get one with a locked breech (barrel and slide move backwards together for about 1/4" before barrel drops down and slide continues rearward).

I've shot a fair number of different .380's, locked breech makes a big difference in recoil.
Even though my Glock 42 weighs about 1/2 of a PPK or old Colt Pocket Model, the recoil is actually a lot less.

 

[HopalongCassidy]

I feel your pain. I’ve had 4 hand surgeries, including both thumb joints replaced. (CMC excision arthroplasty, if you want to get technical)

I prefer 9 mm as well.

I’ve got 5 9mm pistols, two of which are 1911 style, and easy to carry; Springfield EMP, and Sig P938 sas. Manageable recoil for small package, the EMP is 9+1, the Sig is 7+1 with the extended mag.

My Beretta 92fs, is like butter, not much recoil, but too big to carry.

My CZ P01 feels nice in the hand, but the slide is inside the frame, not much to grab on to, and hard to rack.

My EDC is my H&K P2000sk. Love it. Not as thin obviously as a 1911 style, but conceals nicely. Lighter than the EMP. HK touts a recoil reduction system, with dual recoil springs. Not sure exactly how it works, but it’s great for a guy with arthritic hands like me.

10+1, several trigger configurations. DA/SA, or LEM light or medium.

Plus you can become a HK snob!

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

you're SOL dude. there is no school for anything other than .45acp in a 1911 pattern Colt.
I feel for you - so - buy a Hi-Power Browning.

 

[Rockys Pop]

thanks guys....i've settled on using light loads in my target pistol and EDC Pistol both......
I trained on the 1911 .45 acp, and have shot it for 38 years now....... I have 89 lbs of it reloaded and already have the die set and load recipe down as well as I know my name.

No sense buying another gun, in a caliber I don't use, when I already have 2 that are like G/Fs to me.

 

[Herd Sniper]

A 1911 in 9 mm is a fun gun to own and shoot. They hold more rounds than a standard .45 ACP pistol. While the recoil is a little less powerful than that of a .45 caliber pistol, there is still enough recoil that you might want to consider going with a .380 as has been suggested.

In addition to a single stack 9 mm 1911 pistol you might want to take a look at a Sig Sauer P-220 in 9 mm as well. A Sig would give you the option of single action or double action shooting like a 1911 would do for you. The thing is that a Sig Sauer with a honed action can be such a smooth shooting firearm it can amaze you.

 

[Rockys Pop]

Thanks H/S .....but i've decided to stick with light hand-rolled .45acp loads.

my 3.5" Sig Ultra 1911 is my EDC and a darned fine gun at that.......my Target Gun is Philippene slide & frame with all hand fit (by me) internal race parts and never misses a 5" plate @ 25 yds.

The loads I originally formulated for my wife are 100% reliable re: F&F/E........mild on the hand shooting targets (I always shoot 1 handed as John Moses Browning and the U.S.Army intended the 1911 be shot).....and more accurate at 25 yards than any "store-bought" ammo.

 

[Bender]

Seriously look into 38 Super......a crap load more reliable than 9mm in a 1911

 

[daddyusmaximus]

I highly suggest NOT to go with a .380. That is a low power caliber, and as such, you won't be able to find it in a full size frame. Trying to hold on to a handgun with your pinky hanging off the end of the grip is best left for someone with a good strong grip. I have problems as well. I went with a Glock 17. I got the Glock on a trade. Should have bought a 9mm 1911, when I sold mine, but have been happy with the 17.

 

[Rapier]

Every time I try to shoot a 9mm anything, I end up selling it. Glocks are not what a 1911 trained shooter needs, they just do not fit. My solution to my surgery, was to go to light loads, light recoil springs, adjustable sights, etc. so I could still use my match 1911 guns with softball loads. The guns I built were what fit me and to modify them for my use, made way more sense after trying other guns that were OK but not for my hands.

I started wearing a glove that had a gel pad to protect the nerve in the heel of my hand. The combo worked for my miseries.

 

[LousyShot]

Not that you'll pay attention to me, Rocky, but...

If I wanted a pistol that was a bit smaller than a 1911, was available in SA only or DA/SA, and shot a good load, I'd look into a variant of the CZ-75 in 9mm. Virtually no recoil, very little muzzle flip, mags up to 18 rounds, very reliable action, accurate.

 

[curt mini14]

besides a BHP there is no substitute for a 1911 after all it is AMERICAS gun.:2guns:

 

[45acpskng]

If you're a die hard 1911 nut, and have to have a 9mm, I'd take a serious look at Springfield's EMP 9mm, the new all blue/aluminum frame model. I've read nothing but good things about it.

 

[Gotfour]

I have a SR1911 9mm that is a pleasure to shoot..........

 

[Jonjeo]

Seriously look into 38 Super......a crap load more reliable than 9mm in a 1911

Is that cartridge and pistol even offered by any manufacturer anymore?