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I finally got my switch caliber 1911 built. It was easier than I expected, but it took me a bit to work up the nerve to do it. I managed to locate a Rock Island Armory take off 38 Super Gov't slide and barrel, and then a RIA 9mm barrel. My initial plan was to install those on my new Rock Island Armory Tactical 45 acp. But the feed ramp on the 45acp frame was cut to a differenct angle, so that the feed ramps on the chambers of both the 38 Super and 9mm barrels had a slight over hang. However, the feed ramp on my Springfield Armory Inc 1911A1 was perfect, so it got volunteered.
All Colt 1911 slides, except the Gov't model, are cut for a wider, taller ejector. This extra width is on the inboard(towards the firing pin). Looking at the rear of the slide, the extra width is on the right. So, I had to get a 9mm/39 Super style ejector. I had one from Fusion, and also got several used Colt ejectors. I decided on the Fusion, because it was just a bit longer(about .05") and a bit wider(.0050") which I felt would give me better ejection for the 9mm, but not cause many ejection problems with loaded rounds with the 38 Super or 45acp. Replacement was a simple matter of knocking the pin out to the right a bit, installing the ejector, then tapping the pin back into place. Unfortunately, the Fusion ejector was in stainless steel, but that can be changed at any time.
I next located a 3/32" End Mill Cutter, and widened and deepened(made taller) the ejector slot on the Springfield Gov't slide. I wanted a Woodruff cutter, but decided I didn't want to pay $80 for a piece of tooling I might only use once. Once I got the Springfield slide working, I tried the RIA slide, and found that Armscorp/Rock Island had narrowed the ejector slot slightly, and I had to widen it slight on the outboard side. Looking at the rear of the slide, I had to widen the left side of the slot. I still need to polish the machine work I did, and apply some cold blue.
I then polished the feed ramps on the both the 9mm and 38 Super just to make sure, loaded up some dummy rounds and tested everything by hand feeding. 9mm works really slick from 38 Super magazines.. 38 Super has a few issues with loaded rounds getting stuck between ejector and front opening of the slide, but my rounds were loaded a bit long. 45acp still worked perfect.
I still have to fit a beaver tail grip safety, extended thumb safety, and an adjustable trigger, and those are on the way from Brownells. I replaced the low original sights on the 38 Super slide with higher white dot sights, and now have to sight in all of them. I had previoulsy replaced the sights on the SAI slide. Unfortunately, CA is finally getting some rain, so it may be a while.
Now to find a 10mm slide and barrel!
All Colt 1911 slides, except the Gov't model, are cut for a wider, taller ejector. This extra width is on the inboard(towards the firing pin). Looking at the rear of the slide, the extra width is on the right. So, I had to get a 9mm/39 Super style ejector. I had one from Fusion, and also got several used Colt ejectors. I decided on the Fusion, because it was just a bit longer(about .05") and a bit wider(.0050") which I felt would give me better ejection for the 9mm, but not cause many ejection problems with loaded rounds with the 38 Super or 45acp. Replacement was a simple matter of knocking the pin out to the right a bit, installing the ejector, then tapping the pin back into place. Unfortunately, the Fusion ejector was in stainless steel, but that can be changed at any time.
I next located a 3/32" End Mill Cutter, and widened and deepened(made taller) the ejector slot on the Springfield Gov't slide. I wanted a Woodruff cutter, but decided I didn't want to pay $80 for a piece of tooling I might only use once. Once I got the Springfield slide working, I tried the RIA slide, and found that Armscorp/Rock Island had narrowed the ejector slot slightly, and I had to widen it slight on the outboard side. Looking at the rear of the slide, I had to widen the left side of the slot. I still need to polish the machine work I did, and apply some cold blue.
I then polished the feed ramps on the both the 9mm and 38 Super just to make sure, loaded up some dummy rounds and tested everything by hand feeding. 9mm works really slick from 38 Super magazines.. 38 Super has a few issues with loaded rounds getting stuck between ejector and front opening of the slide, but my rounds were loaded a bit long. 45acp still worked perfect.
I still have to fit a beaver tail grip safety, extended thumb safety, and an adjustable trigger, and those are on the way from Brownells. I replaced the low original sights on the 38 Super slide with higher white dot sights, and now have to sight in all of them. I had previoulsy replaced the sights on the SAI slide. Unfortunately, CA is finally getting some rain, so it may be a while.
Now to find a 10mm slide and barrel!
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