[azhunter122]

I want to buy a new gun while I can still get one, right now my primary guns are a Glock 22, a Bersa Thunder, and a Taurus 85. I do do not have a .22 or a 1911 in my collection. What kind of gun should I get? .22 pistol or a 1911?

[CountGlockula]

"Everybody needs to own a .22lr or a 1911".

It all depends on your budget.

[ZombieKiller]

What would be more useful to you?

[rcmodel]

If you don't have a .22, then you should get one.

They are excellent training tools, and will make you a much better shooter with your big guns.

Also, ammo prices being what they are, you can afford to shoot much much more then you are now.

[bumm]

If you don't have a .22, go for it. Inexpensive to shoot, lots of fun, and excellent practice. I worship at the alter of John Moses Browning's 1911, and think it's the greatest pistol ever built, but everyone should have a .22.
Marty

[DRYHUMOR]

Why not get a 1911 and a .22 conversion. Kill 2 birds with one stone.

[Schofield3]

1911

http://www.dlsports.com/signature_firearms_1911/pic_2008_02_18_1911_med2.jpg

[Schofield3]

just don't go too crazy with it....




http://sviguns.com/photo_gallery/36.jpg

[shooter429]

I would suggest the Browning Buckmark in 5.5." These guns are great in every way-accuracy, reliability, ergonomics, cost and easy to work on. They also are configured just like a 1911, so they are the perfect training tool. With a couple mags, cleaning kit and 5000 rds, you will be into it for less than $500 OTD.

A quality 1911 will cost 3-5Xs as much just for the gun.

Once you are proficient with the .22, the transition to a sa .45 will be much easier, IMO.

Shooter429

[weisse52]

Yes, both.

Which one first depends on which one you want first. Toss a coin and then make a choice. Then, start saving for the other one.

[Deanimator]

Why not get a 1911 and a .22 conversion. Kill 2 birds with one stone.
+10,000

And you don't have to do both at the same time. You can always get the conversion unit AFTER you get the M1911.

[WNTFW]

I like my 1911. But you already have carry weapons.
I love my .22. That would fill a hole you don't have covered.

I hear a lot of guys claim to shoot a lot of .22LR. I'm not talking about here on THR but on a local level. Locally I'm usually the only guy shooting a .22 be it pistol or rifle. Guess what. I'm outshooting the guys shooting centerfire. I'm not a inherently better shot, just more practiced. I've been the 1st guy there & last guy to leave the range and went through 1100 rnds when the rest of the guys burned up there $30 bucks on less rounds. I bring .22s to the range every time. I figure I'm driving to the range & back so might at least put 250 .22s down range. The only down side is I have to shoot the .22 last if I need to do anything with other guns. I'll just keep shooting the .22s obsessively.

Consider a Beretta Neos also. I got a 4" because it is closer to what a carry gun would be in terms of length.

The conversions are nice but you can get a whole .22 for similar money. So that is another decision to make.

I also like shooting air rifles where "Discharging Firearms" is not a good idea.

[Eightball]

Why not get a 1911 and a .22 conversion. Kill 2 birds with one stone.Do this. It's the route I took; I got a good used 1911, and with the money I saved, I bought a good .22 conversion; so now I have a .22, and a 1911, for less than the price of a brand-new 1911.

EDIT: For the record, my .22 Conversion is fairly reliable with good, high-quality .22 ammo (which is still world's cheaper than .45ACP ammunition, and allows for good, fun, cheap practice).

[Schofield3]

I’m sorry but I have to put this out there, I’ve never been a fan of the .22 conversion kits on a 1911. :barf: It’s not right! Shooting 22 out of what should be 45. get a dedicated 22 pistol and shoot a 1911 for what its intended to shoot! ;)

[rondog]

I have five 1911's in .45, but no .22 pistols. The .22 conversion kit sounds like a good idea, just have to convince myself to get one I guess.

[Deanimator]

I have five 1911's in .45, but no .22 pistols. The .22 conversion kit sounds like a good idea, just have to convince myself to get one I guess.
Look into the Marvell unit. They're good enough that a number of people in our league use them for bullseye competition.

[CWL]

If you believe that there will be a ban, then get the bigger caliber first.

.22lrs probably wont be included in pistol bans.

(I have to add that I do not believe that there will be any bans though)

[cobra2411]

I'd go for a used .22 before I got a conversion. Mark II's can be had for $200-250 in good shape, sometimes less. I've got a couple .22's and they're great range guns. No problems spending 2-3 hours at the range and going through a 550 rnd box that I bought at Wally world for less then $15 with tax.

That said I also like the 1911... Ammo's 10x more then .22's.

I'd lean toward a 22 first.

[chris in va]

Yup, just get both. 1911 and the 22 conversion kit.

I have a CZ 9mm and the Kadet 22 kit, couldn't be happier. A 22 on a full size platform, not some weird dedicated 22.

[TonyDedo]

I went the 1911 & .22 conversion route, and I was really unhappy with the result. I got a Marvel unit, and it was terribly unreliable. Lots of FTFs, light strikes, maybe 3-7 failures per 10 round mag (depending on the ammo). I tried different 1911 frames, different ammo, and while I was able to minimize the failures, I never made it through a full mag.

I wrote Marvel several times but never got a response from them. I called, they took my number and never called me back - terrible.

I ended up selling the conversion kit for $225, and bought a Ruger Mark II for $230 two weeks later. I think it worked out pretty well for me in the end.

[earplug]

I have a Springfield 1911 with a weaver scope mount version Marvel. Accurate and reliable for me. I bought both units used.

[rondog]

How are the Ciener kits?

[cobra2411]

My 2 cents on the conversion vs. dedicated 22 is for the same money you can end up with two guns that you can shoot both without swapping back and forth.

IMO unless you need to practice with a 1911, you REALLY have an aversion to the standard 22 choices or you really want a 22 that looks like a 1911, get two guns. You can do it for the same money or less by getting a clean used gun.

[shooter429]

The question was which one first. I think a dedicated, quality .22 makes the most sense. Not only do you not have to worry about swapping parts, but the .22 is a second gun. Reliability with the conversions is iffy at best, from what I have seen. I say go with a .22 that mimicks the 1911. Then you can shoot one and carry the other at the same time. Besides, if you want a .22 that is exactly like the 1911, there is the Kimber .22.



Shooter429

[jhansman]

I owned a 1911 for awhile, really tried to love it, then like it, then sold it and bought a Browning Buckmark .22LR pistol (and a ton of ammo with the leftover cash), which is now my favorite gun. Nothing wrong with 1911s, but I'd suggest you shoot both as much as you can before plunking down your hard earned cash.

[greener]

Tough choices. Both a 1911 and a .22 (Ruger, Browning, 22A). I always take at least one .22 to the range. I've got all the reasons for shooting .22's: more rounds for the buck, great for practice, etc. Mainly I shoot a lot of .22 rounds because it's just plain fun.

[gunseller2]

Find a good used 1911 and then buy a conversion kit. I have a Wilson conversion that works near flawless on my 1911s.

[buenhec]

My Ciener took about a brick of .22 to break in. I use it on a STI lower and love it. It is fun to shoot, very reliable, not picky about ammo and has 15 round mags. I like it so much more than my P22 I got ride off.

[DRYHUMOR]

I've actually got 1911's and a .22. I think if I didn't, I would be looking hard at a conversion for one of my 1911's. I've heard good and bad about all of them it seems, I would lean towards the Marvel unit however.

I still have to put on my drool bib whenever I look at a Colt Ace. I was stationed in Annapolis, the armory there had BOXES of them for the Midshipmen to use. Wish I could afford one, and the 4-5 mags I would want for it. :cool:

The .22 I have now is a Beretta 87, very nice, very accurate. But, it was pricey enough I had to save and sell off something else to afford it. I actually found some new mags for it last week, at what had to be 4-5 year old prices. :D

[onebigelf]

Why not get a 1911 and a .22 conversion. Kill 2 birds with one stone.

The voice of wisdom. I have a Ciener 22 conversion I bought used for $100. Not as accurate as my Ruger MK3 with the aftermarket barrel that I shoot Rolaids with (targets, not ammo...), but plenty accurate enough for fun and practice.

John

[bannockburn]

For now, with ammo prices being what they are, I would probably opt for a .22; either a Browning Buckmark or a Ruger 22/45.

[BlindJustice]

SInce the O.P. asked about the Defender, but most responders
recommend a middle level 1911, I would also point the O.P.
towards BUds. the Colt 70 Series re-intro.are just over $820
but an excellent platform to customize/tune. Buds also
offered a Colt Commander under $700.

SA Loaded
SA Mil SPec
& RIA Tactical

could also serve you well.- depnds on where yah go with it
in the future

Advantage Arms makes a .22 LR conversion kit for the full size
1911 and unlike some the slide stays open after the
last round is fired - like a 1911 centerfire.

Randall

[BlindJustice]

Hey, you could blow the budget on a NIB S&W 617
4" or 6" Bbl. 10 shot cylinder - I have one, very nice
plinker, target, whatever, FUN handgun. I got mine for
$629 Added Guy Hogue Coco Bolo wood grips $100
to dress iit up. Great SA/DA trigger pull on the K-frame.

Randall

[krs]

I have a hard time imagining a pistol shooter who doesn't have a .22 pistol.