I have a Colt Series 80 mk4 1911, government. I'd like a shorter slide I could swap onto this frame.

Questions:

1. They'll mate up and function, just look stupid, right?
2. Does anyone make an aluminum slide (for government, commander, or officer)?
3. Any experience with 400 Cor-Bon on an aluminum frame? Probably not the best idea, but I'm thinkin.

-jkpq45

1. Function: Probably not. The dust cover is longer on the Government frame and there are other differences. You would have better luck starting with a Commander frame and adding a Government slide, but even that will probably require a lot of fiddling around.

2. Aluminum slide. Not to my knowledge. Even cast steel slides didn't last.

3. No experience.

Your best bet would be to just sell your gun and buy a Commander. There are differences in the Government and Commander frames, so if you went with the shorter slide, modification would have to be made to your Government that would be permanent. A good slide will cost you $200.00 and a decent barrel is at least $100. If you want a properly fitted barrel, then you're looking at $175-$200 for the barrel plus the cost for a gunsmith to fit it. Then there's the cost for the gunsmith to modify your frame. So a conversion from Government to Commander would be in the neighborhood of $500.00 if you want it done right.

Just put your government model up for sale, and you may have to kick in a C note or two for your new Commander. The money saved would pay for a few very fun trips to the range.

.400 Cor Bon looks nice on paper, until you have one. The ammo is VERY expensive and it's not the most fun round to reload. If you like the ballistics, then sell your government and get a 10mm instead of a .45.

I appreciate the ideas. The government model stays as it is my first pistol--they only reason I'm considering 400 Cor-Bon is that I have ammunition, dies and a barrel already.

The goverment vs. commander idea was just that, an idea. Separate from the conversion-ability of calibers.

Slides on quality 1911's are heat treated.

There used to be a source for slides for this conversion that matched up the dust covers to a government frame...I think they were made by Caspian but I don't remember exactly...either Brownells or Caspian.

They will work in 45acp, but the throw is shorter so I don't know if that will work for a 400 Cor-Bon...if you can find a slide.

Also check if you have a ramped or bushing-less barrel.

A lot of guys are shooting 40sw 1911s.

I would continue to enjoy the Colt as a 45ACP and sell the 400 Cor-Bon components. Keep life simple.

Or, sell all and get a new Commander .45.

Best plan, or just leave it alone as is & buy the Commander, too.

MM

Spot on having done exactly what you desire 20 years ago.

Every 1911 owner should have a 5" government model as well as a lightweight commander, in my opinionated opinion.

And holsters to fit both. Thank you for the endorsement. Request submitted to CFO......

Since the OP already has the barrel, ammo, and dies, I'll tell him to enjoy the experiment.

But make damn sure the bullets don't set back in feeding, after you get them seated, because the fun will then be over.

The interesting thing is, you can load a .400CB down say 135's at subsonic speed, and it will still run fine. It's a fairly neat and inexpensive way to reduce the recoil of a .45 cal 1911. But do your research carefully as there a lot of subtle things about getting the .400 CB to run reliably.

Caspian and Fusion both make high end lightweight alloy and titanium frames. They'll spot weld the channels for prolong wear and custom fit your slide to their frame. I've built half a dozen. I like the officer frame and Commander slide or Gov't slide with long dust covers.

Titanium Frame (Officer's model with long dust covers)


Alloy Frame (Officer frame / Commander slide.)



DMc

OP here. Found the following pistols--anyone know if they've shortened the dust covers on the frames for these? Any idea if they sell the slides separately?

Para Expert Carry
Para Elite Carry
Para Executive Carry