Which Conversion is the best for 1911′s?
I am considering purchasing one of your 460 conversion kits and had a few questions. I have several 1911′s and wonder which would be the best for this type of conversion. I have Kimbers, Colts, Para Ordnance, and some very old GI colts. I am leaning toward the newer Cold Combat Govt Elite or the Kimber Custom II. The Kimber is a very tight well functioning pistol. The Colt is a blued steel slide on a stainless frame and is not very tight but is 100% reliable also.
Being a drop in kit it has to take into account the variations in dimension and I am not a gunsmith. The Kimber is factory painted in dark earth but I believe it is actually stainless top and bottom. The Colt is chrome steel slide and stainless frame. If you would give me your thought I would appreciate it.
—Kirk
We are temporarily back ordered on our 1911 kits which I hope we can overcome soon. I recommend the Colt or the Kimber as first choices to convert to our 460 cartridge. If the Kimber is stainless, then I would definitely go with the Colt and its carbon steel slide– blued or carbon steel is a better material for auto guns in general. (note: there is not a single stainless steel first line military weapon in use. Stainless steel is fine for barrels and revolvers, but sometimes gives reliability issues when stainless steel parts rub against each other as in a stainless slide on a stainless frame; the blued slide on a stainless frame should be fine.)
We try to avoid old GI guns because of variations in heat treat processes by different war time makers– we want to be sure the “chassis” of the gun is up to handling the performance of the cartridge.
—Johnny Rowland
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