That's a tough decision.
Although I only have three 1911's (presently) - all in are in 45ACP.
I DO want a 9mm and have looked on an off quite a bit but just never pulled the trigger
BUT it seems the issue is carry and the age old caliber debate surfaces.
I probably would go 45ACP for the stopping power.
I don't think you can go wrong on ether direction but I tend to think the 45ACP is a great defense round but if you want more capacity then ...
... sorry I am not much help.
Tough decision.

Well I've got several 1911's. My two Dan Wessons are both full sized steel framed Government models; one in 10mm and one in 9mm. The 9mm is my IDPA Cheater Gun, 9mm recoil in a full sized steel framed 1911 is minimal.

I do have a Commander sized Smith & Wesson Scandium framed gun in .45ACP. I don't feel recoil is that big of a deal in that gun. I carried it regularly and then it got replaced by a Sig C3 1911 in .45ACP. The C3 is an officer's length alloy frame with Commander length slide. It got carried regularly and then I bought a Colt Defender in .45ACP. It's an Officers sized gun that has proven reliable. My thoughts were with the short barrel a 9mm may fail to expand but a .45 is not going to shrink. Recoil with it is noticeably snappier than either of my Commander length slides.

I'd say if being used as a carry gun, go with .45ACP. Capacity between the two is 1-2 rounds depending on mags used. I'd just rather have the larger round.

If you are truely considering a 9mm a 1911 is probably one of the poorer choices. If you want a 45ACP, then a 1911 is wondeful.

Others may disagree but the 1911 designed was for the 45ACP and doing it in 9mm is a waste of a large pistol. And, of course a 10mm is fine.

For a compact 1911, I would go with something like the EMP. Really a wonderful pistol.

For a full-size 1911 I would stay with .45. The only other caliber I would get in this size gun would be .38 Super - and one day I will have this gun in this caliber in my collecton.

Am I the first to say "get them both?"

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Am I the first to say "get them both?"

YOU are not helping Vtail. Not one bit.

Mrs. Mike has already seen the price so I gotta stay in that range…she looked up one similar ;the Ruger 1911 commander with the two tone look she says she like it

quote:

Originally posted by henryaz:

quote:

Originally posted by Delta-3:
since that time I discovered the 38 Super. It gives me more capacity, greater muzzle energy & better penetration than my old 45.

Earl Swagger agrees with you.

Yup.

My wife has a t-shirt that says "45ACP, like a 9MM but for adults".

I really can't go one way or another on this. I have an EMP4 in 9mm, which I love. I have an SA Loaded in .45, which I also love. And I still want a full-size range officer in 9mm. And I want a 10mm, and maybe some day a .38 Super. This is one of those situations where the answer truly is: get both!

One answer.
A 9mm might expand, a 45 doesn't have to.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Bob C.:
My wife has a t-shirt that says "45ACP, like a 9MM but for adults".

I have that shirt too! One of my favorites.

As for the OP: C'mon, you KNOW there's only one caliber to use in a 1911, don't you? Seriously though, I'm looking at both the Vigil and the Guardian for a new carry gun right now. I carried a DW V-Bob for a couple years but found the steel framed gun to be too heavy to carry comfortably all day without using suspenders. I'm also drooling over the DW Specialist for a range and bedside gun.

I know all the reasons for having a 1911 in 45ACP, and I can agree with them, but I got old. It is just no longer fun to shoot a 45. Hurts my hands and wrists. Can I do it, yes. Do I enjoy doing it, no. Shooting should be fun and enjoyable.
Rod

Shooting .45 feels like a 1911 ought to feel, when fired, the push, rather than flippy/snappy. The oomph...

It's the ergonomics / svelte lines, and the straight-back and tuned trigger, and that push that *are* what a 1911 is all about, I think.

Just say no to 9mm 1911s, or double stack 1911s, or "racegun" 1911s. Hideous abominations, these things.

IDPA is more fun with .45 ACP because you can see the damn holes.

I went out yesterday for what was probably the last day shooting until Spring. I shot my 70 Series Gold Cup in .45 and my RIA FS 9mm. The 9 has much less recoil and is very pleasant to shoot.

However, I shot much better targets with the .45. Granted I have had it for over 40 years.

I have a pile of 1911s. I love them and I just shoot them better than almost anything else.

I have a .45 government because that's the classic.

I have a 10mm bobtailed commander that was my carry gun for a long time and a 10mm long slide for hunting.

But I have more 9mm 1911s than anything else - a railed government with a light, two bobtailed lightweight commanders, a railed commander, and a little compact one.

9mm is cheaper to practice with, I think the performance is "good enough" in a defensive scenario, and for a given level of precision, I can put rounds on target significantly faster with a 9mm than with a 10mm or .45.

Mike, I have 2 commander sized (consecutive serial number), special ordered from Gun Crafter Industry, in 9mm and .45 cal. The 9mm have the ramped barrel. I carry that more than the .45, when I feel the urge to carry a 1911. I am a 1911 guy. But recently, I have been carrying my G19 for more round capacity. I still prefer 1911 though.

I will sell all of my other guns first (if I have to). But not the 1911. These will be given to my son when he turn 21.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: ador,

I like 9 mm for carry and 45 for home.
I try to get a matching pair so what I am carrying matches what I have besides my bed.

When not carrying my P365 or Rohrbaugh in the pocket Ive been carrying 1911 CCOs recently and its the perfect EDC big gun for me but recently I have been wanting a rail for a light (not to always carry but to have the option (easy enough to toss an extra X300 in the truck vault and OWB holster for it). I just ordered two Wilson Combat Protector Compacts one in 9 and one in 45 and when they arrive I will be sending the slides to PMM for the RMRcc cuts)
OK sorry too much info, I went on a rant sorry.

I picked up a Ruger Lightweight Commander in 9mm about 2 years ago and it's been a great gun. It's my carry gun at work in a Galco shoulder rig and does indeed carry light and easy.
The Ruger has been boringly reliable with everything I've tried in it and more accurate than I am.
I did replace the safety detent spring with a stronger one from Wolff, as well as a 13 pound recoil spring, but that was more a matter of personal preference than necessity.
If you can find one I highly recommend the Ruger.
FWIW!

Added some pics of my twin commander on my first post.