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>I just feel bad for anyone wanting a 1911 and trying to sort through all of the choices to find the one that is right for them!


For many, the question will not be "which one do I buy?", but rather "which one do I buy FIRST?"
:-)

>However, my favorite is the one SRVA built with collected and hand fit parts. It has a Vega frame and
>Remington Rand slide

pictures?????
:-)

Here's why I like 9mm in a 1911:

http://www.jpgmag.com/photos/2183276" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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>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?

yes. Generally, a 1911 is a 1911 is a 1911. In theory, parts from different manufacturers will work together if the parts are all made to spec. However, final fitting of the parts may be require - but this is really what custom pistolsmiths do: select the best (or customer requested) parts to build a 1911.

The 1911 in the picture is really a 'parts box' special in the sense that it was handbuilt with selected parts:

# Caspian Frame (machined for a fully ramped barrel)
# Springfield 9mm slide
# ParaOrdnance fully ramped 9mm 5" barrel
# EGW fibre front sight
# BoMar adjustable rear sight
# Metalform 9mm magazines
# Chip McCormick hammer & sear
# the remaining internal parts are either Ed Brown or Wilson Combat

The target is my CHL qualification target.

Wilson sells their Hunter model in 460 Rowland and 10mm Norma:

http://www.wilsoncombat.com/p_460.asp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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

The Browning hipower is a great 9mm. Here's one of the best sources of info on it:

http://www.hipowersandhandguns.com/HiPowerComments.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

>Dont get a 1911 in 9mm, its just...WRONG somehow.

but it can be cheaper to feed, low recoil and it can make for a really accurate 9mm.

ParaOrdnance (now ParaUSA) also make 9mm 1911's:

http://www.para-usa.com/new/product_pistol.php?id=72" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

>I would love to find a 1911 in 9mm but they seem to be hard to find.

There's a stainless springfield one for sale here:
http://texasguntrader.com/index.php?a=2&b=41482" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

'best 1911' is going to depend on personal preference and experience:

# preference:
- some say its not a 1911A1 unless its a 70 series; others say its not hard to get a decent trigger on an 80's series
- some say its gotta have a barrel bushing, others say a bull barrel is better
- some say its gotta be .45acp, others will say its hard to beat a 9mm 1911

# experience
- look around long enough and you'll find some swear by certain brands, and others swear at the same brands

You really can't go wrong with a 1911 from the major manufacturers: Springfield, Para, Colt, Kimber, Wilson, STI, SVI, but there's always a chance of a lemon. Problems can generally be traced to ammo or magazines.