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marksiwel wrote:So basically, you can get parts from a Full Sized Kimber 1911 and throw them in a Rock Island, I mean like the Barrell, Trigger, Slide? Can they take the same magazines? If I go on the Brownells website can I order parts and put them in my Rock Island?

AFAIK you can. As long as the barrel is the same design (ie Ramped or NonRamped) it will work. All this except the trigger might require some fitting but even replacement parts of the same brand might need fitting. Of course you can just put the parts together without fitting usually but accuracy/reliability might suffer, albeit not enough to matter in a CCW. I have mixed and matched parts a few times building mutts and had few issues. I have swapped slides around to get a model thats not available even, my ccw has Kimber Pro CDP slide on a Kimber BP Ten Hicap frame. Only parts i would stress having fitted properly for safety is the fire control parts, dont want a runaway.

ghostrider wrote:That's the beauty of the 1911 'platform' with so many suppliers of parts and accessories, there's hardly a limit to the changes you can make or the calibres that you can convert it to.

The following are (or have been) available as factory calibres AFAIK:

45ACP (obviously), 9mmLuger (aka 9mm), 38 Super, 40 S&W, 10mm, 9x23 Winchester, 9x25 Dillon, 45 Super, 460 Rowland, 22lr

Also, .50GI, .380 (mini 1911 Llama IIIa), 9mm Largo

ES4Me wrote:I really appreciate all of your input on 1911's. Hubby is wanting one badly and looking for the best bang for his buck (no pun intended). Please keep sharing the info!

Best bang for the buck to me as a starter would be the Rock Island. Basic pistol, reliable, can be upgraded later and cost under $400 new if you shop around.

9mmfish wrote:

some say its gotta be .45acp, others will say its hard to beat a 9mm 1911

I would love to find a 1911 in 9mm but they seem to be hard to find.
I do think that a true 1911 is a .45 but shooting it is about 3x cost per round over a 9mm.

Kimber's
http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/p ... inless_II/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Springfield's
http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?model=24" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

STI has some as well:
http://www.stiguns.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

You can always get the Swartz junk removed and a proper firing pin installed. Dont listen to any garbage about "defeating safety devices will hang you in court" junk. Kimber sells models like the Warrior and SIS without the Swartz safety. I prefer Springfields and Kimber myself so I can say you wont go wrong with either. Recently acquired a Loaded SS Springer and havent any issues yet after 200rds. Best, like already mentioned, is very subjective. Best to me is my Kimber Pro CDP with a bobbed MSH. Conceals well, shoots great, looks great and never hiccupped.