reliability?? fullsize 9 or 3 inch 45 - The Firearms Forum

mintaka · 03-08-2012, 03:32 PM

Especially if you've owned both...
Given good brand fmj and hollowpoint...did you find any reliability difference between 5 inch 9mm and officers size 45....
And which was more reliable...
I have 3 inch 45 and finally got the right combo for 99% reliability...was thinking of full size 9 for ammo savings etc...

Shooter45 · 03-08-2012, 04:12 PM

I have the full sized STI Spartan in 9mm and like it. Is it reliable ? There's a link here somewhere.

NGIB · 03-09-2012, 06:59 AM

Impossible to answer without looking at specific guns. I have a Colt Defender and it's 100% reliable. I also have a Taurus 9mm 1911 and once I fixed a few small issues it's 100% reliable as well. Is every 3" 1911 reliable? Is every 5" 9mm 1911 reliable? Who knows...

Oneida Steve · 03-10-2012, 07:39 PM

My Colt Lightweight Officers 3 inch is 100% reliable with 230 gr. FMJ loads. I've run hundreds through it without a hiccup. I don't trust hollowpoint .45's with a short barrel so I don't use them.

My favorite full-size 9mm pistol is the Browning HP. Brownings are famous for reliability. My High Power feeds everything I put in it.... FMJ, HP of any weight, reloads, everything.

Helix_FR · 03-10-2012, 07:40 PM

Really depends on what your looking at. The Kimber and STI compacts for the most part are very reliable. The EMP's need some work but once that is taken care of they run well but they do not come in 45.

Captain Jack · 03-22-2012, 10:33 PM

I just got a sw pro 1911 9mm and have about 600 rounds thru it and split that up with 3 different brands of ammo and i have not had one jam or hickup love this gun accurate as hek nail driver at 50 ft really started shooting strait after about 150 rounds and did fool around and hit a 6in circle at 50 yrds 3in out of 8 rounds i bet if i put it in vise would be better percentage , i bought it to lower my cost of 45 ammo gets up there i need to start reloading soon I also have a sw 945 3.25 in barell and it shoots whatever when ever

03-08-2012, 03:32 PM	#1
mintaka V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 54	reliability?? fullsize 9 or 3 inch 45 Especially if you've owned both... Given good brand fmj and hollowpoint...did you find any reliability difference between 5 inch 9mm and officers size 45.... And which was more reliable... I have 3 inch 45 and finally got the right combo for 99% reliability...was thinking of full size 9 for ammo savings etc... -->

03-08-2012, 04:12 PM	#2
Shooter45 Administrator Join Date: Feb 2001 Contributor Posts: 8,755	Re: reliability?? fullsize 9 or 3 inch 45 I have the full sized STI Spartan in 9mm and like it. Is it reliable ? There's a link here somewhere.

03-09-2012, 06:59 AM	#3
NGIB V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Hinesville, GA/Sumter SC Contributor Posts: 152	Re: reliability?? fullsize 9 or 3 inch 45 Impossible to answer without looking at specific guns. I have a Colt Defender and it's 100% reliable. I also have a Taurus 9mm 1911 and once I fixed a few small issues it's 100% reliable as well. Is every 3" 1911 reliable? Is every 5" 9mm 1911 reliable? Who knows... __________________ Proud to be a veteran and still serving (USAF Retired, Army Civilian) I'm old, experienced, grumpy, and jaded - still vertical though...

03-10-2012, 07:39 PM	#4
Oneida Steve Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 1,028	Re: reliability?? fullsize 9 or 3 inch 45 My Colt Lightweight Officers 3 inch is 100% reliable with 230 gr. FMJ loads. I've run hundreds through it without a hiccup. I don't trust hollowpoint .45's with a short barrel so I don't use them. My favorite full-size 9mm pistol is the Browning HP. Brownings are famous for reliability. My High Power feeds everything I put in it.... FMJ, HP of any weight, reloads, everything.

03-10-2012, 07:40 PM	#5
Helix_FR TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Imperial, MO Posts: 3,628	Re: reliability?? fullsize 9 or 3 inch 45 Really depends on what your looking at. The Kimber and STI compacts for the most part are very reliable. The EMP's need some work but once that is taken care of they run well but they do not come in 45. __________________ Only cowards shoot with their eyes closed.... helixgunsmith.com

03-22-2012, 10:33 PM	#6
Captain Jack V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: wakefield ma. Posts: 79	Re: reliability?? fullsize 9 or 3 inch 45 I just got a sw pro 1911 9mm and have about 600 rounds thru it and split that up with 3 different brands of ammo and i have not had one jam or hickup love this gun accurate as hek nail driver at 50 ft really started shooting strait after about 150 rounds and did fool around and hit a 6in circle at 50 yrds 3in out of 8 rounds i bet if i put it in vise would be better percentage , i bought it to lower my cost of 45 ammo gets up there i need to start reloading soon I also have a sw 945 3.25 in barell and it shoots whatever when ever __________________ DADS AGAINST DAUGHTERS DATING DEMOCRATS If you`re not catching FISH or shooting DUCKS then you don`t know JACK Last edited by Captain Jack; 03-22-2012 at 10:35 PM..