RIA 1911 9mm Conversion

[mspiredm3]

Looking to pick up my first 1911, a RIA. I am looking at getting it in 9mm, mostly to be able to shoot more and pay less. However, I would love to be able to have the option to shoot both .45 and 9mm.

So, my question is, can a .45 RIA be converted to 9mm? What is needed and where can I find it?

Thanks in advance!

[erikdjs]

.45 & 9mm cannot be swapped with a conversion kit.

You can barrel swap a 9mm & 38 Super, but you may need to tune the extractor to fit both.

[Saigon1965]

No can do -

[Woodworker2]

Although it is possible to change a .45 pistol into a 9mm, it is cheaper to buy a 9mm than to pay the cost of the parts and gunsmithing.

The 9mm has a different breach face and would require replacing the slide. The firing pin, and ejectors are different too. The 9mm barrel usually requires machining the frame (better 9mm barrels include the ramp).

[OutkastSL]

Although it is possible to change a .45 pistol into a 9mm, it is cheaper to buy a 9mm than to pay the cost of the parts and gunsmithing.

The 9mm has a different breach face and would require replacing the slide. The firing pin, and ejectors are different too. The 9mm barrel usually requires machining the frame (better 9mm barrels include the ramp).

this guy hit it right on the spot. I just recently purchased a RIA 9mm Tactical, I'm actually about to go pick it up today. You can get one locally if you find a place that will do a single shot conversion for you or you can buy a 38 super and get a 9mm barrel and magazines. Valkyrie Arms in Milpitas will do the single shot conversion if you want one and they should be able to send it to a local FFL if you aren't up here in the bay area.

[InGrAM]

It is a pain in the assets. If you want a .45 and a 9mm 1911 buy 2 different guns.

An RIA .38super to 9mm barrel swap is very easy and for most works just fine as long as you buy the right barrel (sarco sells 9mm RIA barrels)

Also 7.62x25 tokarev will work with a barrel swap and a 38 super 1911.

[raycm2]

It is a pain in the assets. If you want a .45 and a 9mm 1911 buy 2 different guns.

An RIA .38super to 9mm barrel swap is very easy and for most works just fine as long as you buy the right barrel (sarco sells 9mm RIA barrels)

^^ This. Storm Lake makes barrels that require a minimum of fitting but great lockup and accuracy. About $100 for a 'drop-in' with matching bushing. Been there, done that and it's a tack driver.

Ray

Edited quote to display correctly.

[robcoe]

Looking to pick up my first 1911, a RIA. I am looking at getting it in 9mm, mostly to be able to shoot more and pay less. However, I would love to be able to have the option to shoot both .45 and 9mm.

So, my question is, can a .45 RIA be converted to 9mm? What is needed and where can I find it?

Thanks in advance!

Dont think it's cost effective, the ammount of work and parts needed it would be cheaper to buy a .38 super RIA and convert it.

For shoot more/pay less I would see if there is a .22lr conversion that fits the RIA .45, if you just want a different caliber you could go with .400 cor-bon but it's expensive and hard to find.

[mspiredm3]

So, it looks like I either have to go with .45 or 9mm. Thanks guys, I think I will be going with .45 and get something later, down the road, in 9mm. Maybe a 92fs or Sig

[IrishPirate]

RIA is nice and cheap....get .45 first, then get 9mm if you still want a 9mm 1911.



or save up and get a Nighthawk 9mm..... That's my plan!

[mikaarce]

Would definitely go with 2 1911's

[JaMail]

mike at OC armory told me he has had pretty good luck in keeping the 9mm tacticals in stock as single shot converts.