1911 Aluminum or Steel?

[10mmLife]

What are the pros and cons of aluminum vs steel 1911 pistol frames?

Which frame is superior and why?

What are some of your preferred features on a 1911?

List a few pros and cons of each and let us know what frame you would choose.

 

[Talyn]

I have both.

Aluminum

Pros - lighter weight of course.

Cons - reduced service life.

Considering above a 9mm would work best for aluminum framed 1911's, although mine is 45.

Steel

Cons - Heavier weight of course.

Pros - greater service life.

Considering above I have a steel 9mm and 45. In 10mm should stick to steel.

I have the 1911's I want now & don't plan on adding another except another 9mm for a 9x23 Winchester conversion.

My .02

 

[10mmLife]

I have both.

Aluminum

Pros - lighter weight of course.

Cons - reduced service life.

Considering above a 9mm would work best for aluminum framed 1911's, although mine is 45.

Steel

Pros - Heavier weight of course.

Cons - greater service life.

Considering above I have a steel 9mm and 45. In 10mm should stick to steel.

I have the 1911's I want now & don't plan on adding another except another 9mm for a 9x23 Winchester conversion.

My .02

Just a question because I have zero experience with the aluminum frames.

Has the greater service life been proven or is this just something we all assume?

 

[Annihilator]

Agree with Talyn on his pros and cons. My thoughts are most will never shoot enough in 9mm or .45 to harm any frame aluminum or steel, so I guess it just comes down to ones personal preferences.

 

[Bassbob]

Agree with Talyn on his pros and cons. My thoughts are most will never shoot enough in 9mm or .45 to harm any frame aluminum or steel, so I guess it just comes down to ones personal preferences.

I think he may have gotten the pros and cons reversed on the steel frames.

 

[Annihilator]

I think he may have gotten the pros and cons reversed on the steel frames.

Saw that too, edit time.....

 

[Annihilator]

Just a question because I have zero experience with the aluminum frames.

Has the greater service life been proven or is this just something we all assume?

Supposedly this was related to the Colt light weight commanders in the early days from what I remember, also, if I remember right, several manufacturers had issues of hollow points digging into the feed ramp on frame, then one manufacturer came up with the fully supported feed ramp on the barrel. I could be wrong, been awhile since I heard anything on this topic.

 

[Usnrelic]

I have both, and haven't had any issues with either. I have a RO elite champion light weight in 9mm, and its very light, and have had zero problems with it.

 

[Talyn]

I think he may have gotten the pros and cons reversed on the steel frames.

Yea you're right. Thx. Steel is more durable than steel, and its heavier than Aluminum.

 

[Bassbob]

A minute ago, under the steel option, you had greater service life listed as a con and heavier weight listed as a pro. Did you not?

 

[Talyn]

Long day = mental error

 

[Talyn]

A minute ago, under the steel option, you had greater service life listed as a con and heavier weight listed as a pro. Did you not?

See above I fixed both.

 

[10mmLife]

I have both, and haven't had any issues with either. I have a RO elite champion light weight in 9mm, and its very light, and have had zero problems with it.

Roughly how many rounds have you put through it?

 

[Bassbob]

Long day = mental error

Ya know I kinda look at heavier as a pro.

 

[Talyn]

I have an older SA full-sized lightweight (Al) in .45. I don't remember which model it is since I got it around Y2K.

 

[Talyn]

Ya know I kinda look at heavier as a pro.

Sometimes the fingers type something the mind doesn't agree with.

 

[10mmLife]

Ya know I kinda look at heavier as a pro.

Makes a great club if you run out of ammo.

 

[Talyn]

I'm so used to poly framed pistols now my 1911s feel like bricks, except that one.

 

[Usnrelic]

Roughly how many rounds have you put through it?

Between 1000 and 1250 federal 124.

 

[Talyn]

My SA Target model 9mm steel-framed 1911 shoots really easy though.