1911 Platform in 9, 38S, 40 & 45, accuracy ?s

igolfat8 · October 29, 2013, 08:58 AM

I know accuracy lies mostly in the hand controlling the gun. I am not a 1911 owner nor an expert but I have noticed that the 1911 is available chambered in several different calibers. Have you noticed an edge in accuracy of any one certain [centerfire] caliber over another in the 1911 platform?

zukiphile · October 29, 2013, 09:04 AM

some of the nicest and more accurate pistols I've handled were 1911 patterns in 9mm and 38super.

Good sight radius, nice trigger and low recoil make nice groups relatively easy.

papa shooter · October 29, 2013, 09:06 AM

I own a Colt National Match in .38 spec. It shoots wadcutters better than anything else I own!

papa shooter

Hunter Customs · October 29, 2013, 09:24 AM

Remove the shooter from the equation and the accuracy in a 1911 lies in the quality of the barrel and the tolerances of the fitting of the parts in the gun, not really the caliber.

I've built 1911's in 9mm,38super,9x23,357Sig,40S&W,10mm,400Corbon,and 45ACP, fed good ammo they all were very accurate and I've never seen one caliber more accurate then the other.

The most accurate barrels I've used in a 1911 were Schuemann with gain twist rifling.

Best Regards
Bob Hunter
www.huntercustoms.com

WESHOOT2 · November 1, 2013, 04:04 PM

1911s in 9x19, 40 S&W, 400 CorBon, and 45 ACP.

Mr. Hunter states the truth

BigJimP · November 1, 2013, 05:45 PM

They're all accurate if the gun is well made.....I have 1911's made in 9mm,
.40S&W and .45 acp .....and have had them in .38 super ...

There is a huge quality range....in 1911's ....and often, in guns, you get what you pay for ....but some of the guns under $1,000 are pretty accurate...but guns in the $ 3,000 price range - that come out of shops like Wilson Combat - are very hard to beat ( Wilson sells many of his guns with a 1" guarantee at 25 yds ....and they will perform that well !! ).

rodfac · November 1, 2013, 06:55 PM

With due deference to the posters above who posses a wealth of experience with 1911's, I'll offer this. I've owned 1911's in 9mm (3); .38 Super (1), .40 S&W (1), and .45 ACP (9). All were Colts with the exception of 2 Rugers, one Remington Rand, and a Smith & Wesson. Of them all, the .45's were all more accurate out of the box than any other caliber; and that includes that the WWll Remington Rand. With good gun smithing, as Hunter Customs points out, and possibly, a better barrel/bushing than what is usually attached to the as issued piece, the other calibers can be made as accurate....so for me, tho I do like to experiment with the sub-calibers as I prefer to call them, the venerable .45 ACP is the best bet for an accurate, hard hitting defensive gun.

The pic below, posted before, is of a Colt Combat Commander of Series 70 vintage, with add'l barrel/slides in .22 lr, .38 Super, and 9mm. With some tweaking, the 9mm and .38 Super units got close to the .45's grouping....and the .22 lr was its equal. In that pipsqueak caliber, both my Ciener and Marvel units are tack drivers...

HTH's Rod

Sharpsdressed Man · November 1, 2013, 09:22 PM

I too have a multi -caliber 1911, a progressive project that had the attention of Scott Mulkerin (SDM Fabricating) when he was able to take on regular 'smithing, and all of the units were able to deliver 1 1/2-2" groups at 25 yards when I had the right load and was doing my part. I once shot a groundhog at 89 paces with open sights, and at 159 yards (lasered) with a Leupold 2x scope mounted. Both were with the 9mm Kart barrel installed in the .38 Super slide. Bullet was a 124 Golden Saber in a handload. As stated, each unit (.45, 10mm, and .38s/9mm) did about the same, thanks to EGW bushings, and Scott's handiwork at accurizing. [IMG]

[/IMG]

KyJim · November 2, 2013, 03:17 PM

While I have had 1911s with different levels of accuracy, they seem to be unrelated to caliber (own .45, 9mm, 10mm).

thedudeabides · November 2, 2013, 03:22 PM

I have 1911s in 9, 38, 45, and 10mm...

Can't really tell the difference between chamberings. It's more of a manufacturer thing when it comes to accuracy.

October 29, 2013, 08:58 AM	#1
igolfat8 Member Join Date: October 13, 2012 Posts: 93	1911 Platform in 9, 38S, 40 & 45, accuracy ?s I know accuracy lies mostly in the hand controlling the gun. I am not a 1911 owner nor an expert but I have noticed that the 1911 is available chambered in several different calibers. Have you noticed an edge in accuracy of any one certain [centerfire] caliber over another in the 1911 platform?

October 29, 2013, 09:04 AM	#2
zukiphile Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2005 Posts: 4,450	some of the nicest and more accurate pistols I've handled were 1911 patterns in 9mm and 38super. Good sight radius, nice trigger and low recoil make nice groups relatively easy. __________________ http://www.npboards.com/index.php

October 29, 2013, 09:06 AM	#3
papa shooter Member Join Date: August 20, 2007 Location: South Mississippi Posts: 66	1911 I own a Colt National Match in .38 spec. It shoots wadcutters better than anything else I own! papa shooter

November 1, 2013, 04:04 PM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	have or had 1911s in 9x19, 40 S&W, 400 CorBon, and 45 ACP. Mr. Hunter states the truth __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

November 1, 2013, 06:55 PM	#7
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,623	With due deference to the posters above who posses a wealth of experience with 1911's, I'll offer this. I've owned 1911's in 9mm (3); .38 Super (1), .40 S&W (1), and .45 ACP (9). All were Colts with the exception of 2 Rugers, one Remington Rand, and a Smith & Wesson. Of them all, the .45's were all more accurate out of the box than any other caliber; and that includes that the WWll Remington Rand. With good gun smithing, as Hunter Customs points out, and possibly, a better barrel/bushing than what is usually attached to the as issued piece, the other calibers can be made as accurate....so for me, tho I do like to experiment with the sub-calibers as I prefer to call them, the venerable .45 ACP is the best bet for an accurate, hard hitting defensive gun. The pic below, posted before, is of a Colt Combat Commander of Series 70 vintage, with add'l barrel/slides in .22 lr, .38 Super, and 9mm. With some tweaking, the 9mm and .38 Super units got close to the .45's grouping....and the .22 lr was its equal. In that pipsqueak caliber, both my Ciener and Marvel units are tack drivers... HTH's Rod __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73.

October 29, 2013, 09:24 AM	#4
Hunter Customs Senior Member Join Date: March 26, 2005 Location: Osborn, Missouri Posts: 2,697	Remove the shooter from the equation and the accuracy in a 1911 lies in the quality of the barrel and the tolerances of the fitting of the parts in the gun, not really the caliber. I've built 1911's in 9mm,38super,9x23,357Sig,40S&W,10mm,400Corbon,and 45ACP, fed good ammo they all were very accurate and I've never seen one caliber more accurate then the other. The most accurate barrels I've used in a 1911 were Schuemann with gain twist rifling. Best Regards Bob Hunter www.huntercustoms.com

November 1, 2013, 05:45 PM	#6
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	They're all accurate if the gun is well made.....I have 1911's made in 9mm, .40S&W and .45 acp .....and have had them in .38 super ... There is a huge quality range....in 1911's ....and often, in guns, you get what you pay for ....but some of the guns under $1,000 are pretty accurate...but guns in the $ 3,000 price range - that come out of shops like Wilson Combat - are very hard to beat ( Wilson sells many of his guns with a 1" guarantee at 25 yds ....and they will perform that well !! ).

November 1, 2013, 09:22 PM	#8
Sharpsdressed Man Junior member Join Date: June 21, 2009 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 1,176	I too have a multi -caliber 1911, a progressive project that had the attention of Scott Mulkerin (SDM Fabricating) when he was able to take on regular 'smithing, and all of the units were able to deliver 1 1/2-2" groups at 25 yards when I had the right load and was doing my part. I once shot a groundhog at 89 paces with open sights, and at 159 yards (lasered) with a Leupold 2x scope mounted. Both were with the 9mm Kart barrel installed in the .38 Super slide. Bullet was a 124 Golden Saber in a handload. As stated, each unit (.45, 10mm, and .38s/9mm) did about the same, thanks to EGW bushings, and Scott's handiwork at accurizing. [IMG][/IMG]

November 2, 2013, 03:17 PM	#9
KyJim Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2005 Location: The Bluegrass Posts: 9,142	While I have had 1911s with different levels of accuracy, they seem to be unrelated to caliber (own .45, 9mm, 10mm).

November 2, 2013, 03:22 PM	#10
thedudeabides Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2012 Posts: 1,031	I have 1911s in 9, 38, 45, and 10mm... Can't really tell the difference between chamberings. It's more of a manufacturer thing when it comes to accuracy. __________________ OK, so not all plastic guns are bad