I have a 9mm Colt Combat Commander (Series 70) and am considering having it converted to 9x23. 9mm is okay; but, not for 1911--at least according to my tastes. I do have a Series 70 Govt slide so I could just stick with tried and true .45 acp. In any case, I know some of you out there have 9x23 1911s--tell me, then, what all would it take for my 9mm Commander to be set up for 9x23? Thanks.
Hobbes
The 9x23 is a great round in a Commander sized 1911.Make sure you have a good gunsmith do the conversion.I sugest you have Dane do the work.
I am a big fan of the 9x23 too. A lot of people are coming to understand the merrits of this round in a 1911 envelope. While I don't have a Commander length 9x23, I think the idea is an interesting one. IIRC, Richard Heinie recently mentioned his next personal gun was going to be a 9x23 Commander (lightweight?).
While several individuals have been able to buy the parts and do it themselves, I would caution that the 9x23 requires a very specific understanding of some subtle tweaking that is required to make them really run 100%. It also requires the right reamer. No question, Dane Burns is considered the "King of 9x23". If you intend to use the pistol as a self defense piece, you would be well advised to see da King.
DD
While several individuals have been able to buy the parts and do it themselves, I would caution that the 9x23 requires a very specific understanding of some subtle tweaking that is required to make them really run 100%. It also requires the right reamer. No question, Dane Burns is considered the "King of 9x23". If you intend to use the pistol as a self defense piece, you would be well advised to see da King.
DD
Excellent choice. You'll need a new barrel, don't try to rechamber what you have. Send it to dane and let him do the conversion and keep the 9mm barrel and parts in case you want to shoot it as a 9mm. I have 4 full size 9x23's and my next project will be a carry combat commander in 9x23. But that will have till wait until I move back into the United States. I'm currently stuck in New Jersey.
I can't answer your questions but I'd like to ask you one. How's the recoil from a 9mm 1911? The Springfield I just got is fairly hefty and it seems like there will be almost no recoil, compared to .45, when I go shoot it this weekend.
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Eugene: Right you are. Perceived recoil from my 9mm Commander is very slight indeed.
Also I want to thank you all for the helpful information. Just a couple questions more: I had assumed that I would need to have a new barrel/bushing fitted and the recoil spring would need changing. Other than this, what else is necessary? Tell me about your own 9x23s. What exactly did you do or have done to them? Thanks again for helping me out guys. Take care.
From talking with Dane (who isn't here to correct my dumb ass if I'm wrong), you'd need a new barrel, bushing, and spring...probably ejector and extractor too. I know he at least tweaks just about everything in the guns he builds, so there may be other bits that need to be changed out to make it run right.
I don't usually plug products, but let me just say this: I have one of Dane's 9x23, and it is the finest pistol I own. Don't know diddly about what parts you need, but if you want advice? Pack the thing up and send it to Dane, pay what he says it will cost, and trust me, you will never part with the gun.
Or, sell that old ratty thing to me...and I will send it to Dane
Or, sell that old ratty thing to me...and I will send it to Dane
Peter: Thanks. I have a better idea concerning specifically what is involved. Since Colts (especially Series 70) hold their value well and are collectable and since I inherited it from my Dad, I am concerned about doing something irrevocable to the gun. (Pardon my sentimentality fellas)
In any case, I don't want the rest of you to worry--I will not be attempting anything myself and I will not have the work done by anyone whose mark does not carry some genuine respect among gun people. And yes I know that Dane Burns is *the* 9x23 man. The first 9x23 I ever heard of was a Burns gun that was written up in Combat Handguns a while back.
Oh yeah, Bruce--I reckon I'll keep it; but, I *do* keep my mind open...You all take care.
In any case, I don't want the rest of you to worry--I will not be attempting anything myself and I will not have the work done by anyone whose mark does not carry some genuine respect among gun people. And yes I know that Dane Burns is *the* 9x23 man. The first 9x23 I ever heard of was a Burns gun that was written up in Combat Handguns a while back.
Oh yeah, Bruce--I reckon I'll keep it; but, I *do* keep my mind open...You all take care.
Hobbes,
You will need a new Barrel and bushing. The ejector can be shortened and the extractor may need some slight tuning. The extractor may have to be replaced, depending on its condition. A new recoil is a must and I would also use a C-P Recoil Buffer. I like the way
my 9X23 Commander handles.
You will need a new Barrel and bushing. The ejector can be shortened and the extractor may need some slight tuning. The extractor may have to be replaced, depending on its condition. A new recoil is a must and I would also use a C-P Recoil Buffer. I like the way
my 9X23 Commander handles.
Richard Heinie:
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question. By the way what is a C-P Recoil Buffer? (Is it something like a shok-buff?)
I imagine that 9x23 Commander you make handles tolerably well, Sir. Take care.
_________________
"Quid hoc ad aeternitatem?"
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Hobbes on 2001-04-03 15:09 ]</font>
Now I know why you assumed the "dog" name DD :grin:
Like I know! Dick has a 9x23 Commander. Seems to work for him. I do a major rebuild and a barrel is mandatory in everything but a Springfield IMO.
I change a bunch of things and the guns run with factory ammo from the get go. $600 is the starting price for a full conversion.
A Commander is not my first choice for a 9x23. Garthwaite and Heinie seem to like them just fine :grin:
Like I know! Dick has a 9x23 Commander. Seems to work for him. I do a major rebuild and a barrel is mandatory in everything but a Springfield IMO.
I change a bunch of things and the guns run with factory ammo from the get go. $600 is the starting price for a full conversion.
A Commander is not my first choice for a 9x23. Garthwaite and Heinie seem to like them just fine :grin:
I have asked this same question and not gotten an a good answer.
Les Baer and Ed Brown ONLY offer the 9x23 in 5" 1911s.
A Pistolsmith once told me that the 9x23 was too fast (1400fps) for a 4.25" barrel and would become un stable in flight? As well as having a lot of Muzzel Flash, being too short for a FULL POWDER BURN.
Good Question, I don't know the answer, BUT want to.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Frank Sottile on 2001-06-23 11:22 ]</font>
Les Baer and Ed Brown ONLY offer the 9x23 in 5" 1911s.
A Pistolsmith once told me that the 9x23 was too fast (1400fps) for a 4.25" barrel and would become un stable in flight? As well as having a lot of Muzzel Flash, being too short for a FULL POWDER BURN.
Good Question, I don't know the answer, BUT want to.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: Frank Sottile on 2001-06-23 11:22 ]</font>
G
Frank,
I am unsure of the 1911 platform but I do have a 4" G29 that was rebarreld to be a 9x23 with a Barsto barrel. It is one of my most accurate pistols and in ballistic testing the 9x23 silvertip round is very good averaging 16.7" of penetration and expanding to .68".
I will have a compact 1911 style gun in 9x23 shortly as I am buying a Craig F15 Fantom in .38Super that will be reamed for 9x23.
I am unsure of the 1911 platform but I do have a 4" G29 that was rebarreld to be a 9x23 with a Barsto barrel. It is one of my most accurate pistols and in ballistic testing the 9x23 silvertip round is very good averaging 16.7" of penetration and expanding to .68".
I will have a compact 1911 style gun in 9x23 shortly as I am buying a Craig F15 Fantom in .38Super that will be reamed for 9x23.
This is hog wash, plain and simple. Take a look at Heinie's targets with his Colt 9x23 Commander.
The recoil impluse is very quick on the 5" 9x23 guns. That is controled by barrel weight and slide weight and spring weight among other things. When the gun is shorter it cycles faster. Controling the cycle is an issue with full house 9x23 loads.
Yes, I carry a 9x23, although I only teach with a 45. I want the students to fixate on the material being presented not the esoteric gun I am carrying. I compete with either caliber in single stack guns, 9x23 in a limited gun dbl wide.
IMO BarSto for a bushing barrel and Brown in a cone barrel. I use only unramped barrels.
IMO BarSto for a bushing barrel and Brown in a cone barrel. I use only unramped barrels.
One of the obvious things I think may need to be considered for your conversion that hadn't been mentioned is Mags.
While you will need to do some work with that barrel, either reaming, or replacing, etc, and some tweaks for other parts, you should understand that the 9mm Colt mags you have won't work with the 9x23. Some people may be able to remove the insert and make them work, but you will probably want to get some Wilson 38 Super mags for the conversion.
While you will need to do some work with that barrel, either reaming, or replacing, etc, and some tweaks for other parts, you should understand that the 9mm Colt mags you have won't work with the 9x23. Some people may be able to remove the insert and make them work, but you will probably want to get some Wilson 38 Super mags for the conversion.
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