Some help with 1911 mods

[gehlsurf]

Hi guys, haven't been around in a while.... got caught up in revolver land!! 

While looking at guns to sell, I came across my 1911 RIA 10mm and fell back in love with it, just fits my hands perfectly!!  So, I thought I'd play around with it a bit.

It's a RIA Tac Commander in the ramped bull barrel style (10mm).  I was wondering if it's possible to buy it a new slide in 9mm or 45 acp?  RIA sells them, but would they fit my frame?  And would I just need to buy magazines as well?

Thank you in advance for any help!

[dred]

Howdy,

The answer to fit is:  probably.  Chances are pretty good that a rock slide will mate with another rock frame, but no promises.  Proper fit is a gunsmith thing.  All that said, I've done what you are inquiring about.

45ACP will require you fit a different ejector to the frame.  9mm should work with the 10mm ejector already installed in your frame.

Any slide is going to need firing pin, firing pin spring, firing pin stop and an extractor sized to the cartridge you are building for.  Of course, you will also need barrel, link, pin, guide rod, recoil spring and possibly a bushing sized to your target cartridge as well.

[gehlsurf]

Thanks dred, I was looking at getting the whole slide (upper portion).  I know this sounds ridiculous, but for $400 or so, in a few steps I can change calibers, instead of messing with the spring and guide and all in my bull barrel.  I could just see parts of my slide flying down the range while undoing the spring, haha.

Right now I have a ramped barrel, would I need to get a ramped barrel for the new barrel, slide, etc.?  I'm not sure if the frame is ramped to accommodate the upper un ramped style.

[dred]

Yes, your frame is rampless.  So, you will need ramped barrels.  Advanced Tactical is our US Armscor parts specialist - https://advancedtactical.com/

And, for clarity - the ejector is fitted to the frame.  There are basically two ejector styles - 45ACP and not 45ACP.  So, if you fit a 45 slide, you may still have ejection troubles.  Also, some ejectors are tuned - 9mm, 10mm, 38sup all use a longer ejector, but the ejector can be shaped/stoned to a specific gun/caliber.