Posted: 1/4/2011 6:13:11 AM EDT
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I found a deal on an AO .45 that is in really ruff shape for about $250. If wouldn't mind picking it up and playing with it, but I do not shoot .45 at all. I do have an bunch of 9mm around the house. So, to the question: How hard is it and what does it take to change to a 9mm while I am working on the pistol? |
| unless you're the V.C., it's not going to be worth it. Buying and fitting a barrel alone make the price ambitious for an auto ord. I am sure you'll need a ramped barrel that anticipates a different feed ramp dimension beteen 9mm and 45, along with a different ejector. You'll need a new slide, because the breachface dimensions are different. You have already priced yourself at a 9mm RIA by this point. |
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/ac-ri1911-9mm.aspx $379 save yourself the hassle |
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Quoted:
http://www.centerfiresystems.com/ac-ri1911-9mm.aspx http://www.centerfiresystems.com/productimages/handguns/AC-RI1911-9MM_rt_D.jpg $379 save yourself the hassle This was my second option. I just figured if it was cheap why not try it out. Thanx |
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If yu want to do it on the cheap it can be done........Sell off all the parts you are not going to use to recoup your costs for the new parts........you will need a new slide, ejecter and extractor.......you may or may not be able to use the barrel bushing...although I did......get a drop in ramped barrel from fusion firearms and have the frame cut accordingly........you can use the 45 slide stop and it will work......but will not reliably lock back the slide...........of course you will need some 9mm magazines.........
This was a GI Springer that started life as a 45acp........this was a project from several years back.........great shooter . 
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Entire upper (barrel, slide, slide stop) and you may have issues with the ejector and the feed ramp in the frame.
I have made 'switch tops' using ramped barrels but it is almost as expensive as buying another gun unless you have the tooling and do all the work yourself. Ejectors are a big issue since there is no 'official/standard' location for the ejector cut inthe bottom of the slide, and the 9mm needs to be acloser to the center for the smaller diameter. I had to modify ejectors, and once to enlarge the 9mm slide ejector clearance groove. |
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Aside from what everyone else has said, the early AO's aren't exactly the easiest base to work with either. QC wasn't that great on those, and things tend to be slightly out of spec on the old AOs. Replacing parts on them leads to alot of fitting work you just don't have to do on a gun with tighter quality control (i.e. they're all alike). So you're looking a probably alot of work you wouldn't have to do on something like a Springfield, etc.
You're better off just selling/swapping it for a 9mm. Oh, and 9mm M1911's are fun as heck. |