Jeremiah Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I've shot CDP in IDPA mostly over the years along with a little SSP. I'm interested in trying a little ESP, but I need a gun to do it with. I have a tweaked S&W 1911 now that I use in CDP with all the standard competition upgrades on it (mag well, sights, action work, ect). I think I'd like to play around with a 9 mm in a 1911 platform. Since this is just an experiment, I want to go fairly cheap. Should I look for a cheaper whole gun or get a slide and barrel for my current frame? Which way would you guys go, and with which parts? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris_C Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I'm not an IDPA shooter but I just picked up a Para Pro Comp 40S&W for USPSA Single Stack. It's a lot of gun for the money, and Para just announced the Pro Comp in 9mm. I'd look into that based on what I've seen from the 40 model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Build one. 9mm Springfield RO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xdcr Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Not really cheap but an STI Eagle in 9mm with a bushing bbl would be nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 This site has always been great for quick replies! Thanks guys, I'll check into these early recommendations. That range officer intrigues me a little. I like the stock bomar sights out of the box. Do they take standard sized mag wells? And how's their triggers out of the box, worth smoothing up, or do you have to replace parts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xdcr Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 If you stick with a single stack 9mm you will want mags that hold 10rnds or you will be at a disadvantage on occasion (arguably not often) . I have shot my Trojan 40 in ESP for practice and 9rnds is all you will get in those mags. Still fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oak hill Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 This site has always been great for quick replies! Thanks guys, I'll check into these early recommendations. That range officer intrigues me a little. I like the stock bomar sights out of the box. Do they take standard sized mag wells? And how's their triggers out of the box, worth smoothing up, or do you have to replace parts? Yes, the 1911 magwell of your choice will work. Factory triggers can always be easily improved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonyK Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 The Range Officer in a 9mm is not a cheap option, good option yes but not cheap. And the 45 RO I picked up at the store didn't need a thing, trigger was super smooth probably around 4 lbs. Very nice guns And getting just a barrel for your S&W is probably not an option as I do believe all the 9mm in the 1911 platform have ramped barrels and I doubt your S&W frame is machined for one, difference is in the frame not the slide... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah Posted January 22, 2014 Author Share Posted January 22, 2014 The Range Officer in a 9mm is not a cheap option, good option yes but not cheap. And the 45 RO I picked up at the store didn't need a thing, trigger was super smooth probably around 4 lbs. Very nice guns And getting just a barrel for your S&W is probably not an option as I do believe all the 9mm in the 1911 platform have ramped barrels and I doubt your S&W frame is machined for one, difference is in the frame not the slide... That's exactly right, I forgot about the ramped barrels in 9 mm. That's out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marv Z Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 STI Trojan in 9mm, Dawson no gap Ice magwell, 10 round Dawson or Tripp mags, good to go. That's my setup and it's great for ESP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 I have seen RO's very reasonably priced on gunbroker. Just start looking, if you have a good relationship with your lgs, price isn't horrid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EkuJustice Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Sti spartan add a magwell trigger job and new front sight and your good to go. A ramped barrel is not needed in a 9mm and mine runs great Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glocktogo Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 STI Trojan in 9mm, Dawson no gap Ice magwell, 10 round Dawson or Tripp mags, good to go. That's my setup and it's great for ESP This is what I did. Except I went with a Dan Wesson PM-9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Th3Un4givin Posted January 22, 2014 Share Posted January 22, 2014 Single stack options: STI Trojan or Spartan (depending on funds) Double stack: STI Eagle / bushing barrel Or other option is to have one built, from any good gunsmith. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebwake Posted January 23, 2014 Share Posted January 23, 2014 +1 on the Trojan. The Dawson or Brazos competition ready pistols are sweet and run great. I did have to change out my mag release to a good forged one as the stock retaining pin kept camming out on me (even the 2 replacements STI sent). I got the good Dawson one and haven't had a problem one after over 8K rounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah Posted January 24, 2014 Author Share Posted January 24, 2014 Thanks guys, lots of great leads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisW Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I vote for the RIA tac 2 in 9mm. A great gun for a really good price. It comes with VZ grips, a fiber front site and adj rear with white dots. Mine was $610 out the door. Lots of money left to buy everything else you need to start playing. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike21STI Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Sti sentry in 9mm. Mine has been great. I might be listing it in the classifieds soon because I just got a 2011 that can play both games Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgardner Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I had the STI Spartan in 9mm and it was 100% reliable but not very accurate. The S&W 1911 E series is a great pistol and shoots well but expensive for what you are getting. I have a Springfield RO in 9mm on order for $ 755.00 and can't wait to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebwake Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Has anyone dropped their recoil spring weight on their 9mm 1911's Ive seen a ton of data on a 2011, but was thinking about trying a 8,9 and 10#. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike21STI Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 I run a 9# with factory ammo (mostly 115 grn rn bullets) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob DuBois Posted January 24, 2014 Share Posted January 24, 2014 Have both Spartan and Trojan, spend the little more for the Trojan it's worth it. What ever you select expect to spend a little to tune it. If you can swing an Eagle it's easier to reload putting a narrow mag in a huge hole is quicker. Once STI guns are tuned they then to hold up for quite a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gator11 Posted January 25, 2014 Share Posted January 25, 2014 Another vote for the Trojan, Dawson magwell and mags. Reliable and shoots so flat it's like cheating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2MoreChains Posted January 26, 2014 Share Posted January 26, 2014 I think I'd like to play around with a 9 mm in a 1911 platform. Since this is just an experiment, I want to go fairly cheap. Should I look for a cheaper whole gun or get a slide and barrel for my current frame? Which way would you guys go, and with which parts? I did this a couple of years ago and converted a 5" 2011 Eagle from .40SW to 9mm. it depends on what you call cheap, but I want to say it cost about $700 in parts (slide, barrel, extractor, FP, FPS, sights) not including my gunsmith's time to fit everything together. In the case of a 2011, it was way cheaper to do that then to buy a second gun. But in a 1911... depends on how much you like that S$W 1911 I guess. I went with an STI slide, Kart X-act fit barrel/bushing, STI firing pin and stop, Dawson ejector, and Dawson sights. Mine is still in the white (I'll get it finished one of the these days) but that is add cost to consider as well. On the other hand, I love shooting that gun. A 9mm 2011 is extremely fun, very soft shooting (I found that I much prefer shooting a 9mm instead of a .40 loaded to minor) and perfect for 3-gun with 140mm mags, Steel Challenge, or even IDPA with the 126mm mags. I even ground down an STI aluminum magwell to fit the IDPA box. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremiah Posted January 26, 2014 Author Share Posted January 26, 2014 After looking around, I may end up with another gun. I'd love to get a STI, but if I did that it would probably end up my primary gun instead of a curious experimental fun gun. Would you guys go with a Springfield loaded or a range officer? Or, is there something better in that price range? One guy mentioned a RIA, but would those be in that same class? I wasn't impressed with the last one of those I had my hands on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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