[arthury]

Currently, I have 2 45ACP 1911's and I am looking for .22 caliber 1911.

I understand that there are many .22 caliber 1911 out there. Which ones, do you think, can meet these requirements:

High availability of common parts (like magazines, slide-stop,etc)
Better than average reliability
Better than average accuracy
Shoots smoothly with most 22 ammo
Good customer service
Long-lived manufacturer that has a reputation
Has, more or less, the same internal mechanisms, like a Govn't Model 45ACP 1911


If you think 22 conversion kits are worth it and you had good experience with them, feel free to recommend as well.

[Dr_B]

I'm interested in conversion kits for the 1911 myself, so I look forward to see what others post here.

[CMC]

CIener 22 lr conversion works for me and I have thousands of rounds thru mine.
The advantage is the you practice with the same weapon , trigger ,etc.
It takes about 15 seconds to change calibers and it only cost 200 bucks.
http://www.22lrconversions.com/1911-pg.htm

[Sniper X]

Well, I will never buy another .22 1911 conversion because I have had two, and they were nice, but not perfect. I looked at the Chiappa 1911 .22 but it was very basic and not well appointed, and has a reputation of not being super reliable, nor accurate.

I happened across a local gun shop that HAD a few GSG 1911 .22s in stock, and after seeing what you get for your hard earned $339.00 (cheaper than new conversion kits), it was about a 2 second decision. It comes stock with beavertail, nice trigger, ambi safety, and good sights and even two optional taller sight blades. German made and I shoot it very well. It has been 100% reliable with either Remmington green box walmart bulk, and the hottest .22 I can find, Zapper .22s. The other thing I love about this is I have another full GUN and do NOT have to pull one of my beloved 1911s apart to shoot a 1911 in .22.

http://sniperx.smugmug.com/Sniperx/Sniper-X/i-XgLtWkv/0/M/GSG-1911-and-santa-C-M.jpg

[Sniper X]

http://www.thehighroad.org/%3Cobject%20style=%22height:%20390px;%20width:%20640px%22%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22movie%22%20value=%22http://www.youtube.com/v/WrOWLaCzujk?version=3%22%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowFullScreen%22%20value=%22true%22%3E%3Cparam%20name=%22allowScriptAccess%22%20value=%22always%22%3E%3Cembed%20src=%22http://www.youtube.com/v/WrOWLaCzujk?version=3%22%20type=%22application/x-shockwave-flash%22%20allowfullscreen=%22true%22%20allowScriptAccess=%22always%22%20width=%22640%22%20height=%22390%22%3E%3C/object%3E

[arthury]

For the GSG's, are the frames and slides steel or aluminum alloy?
I am assuming the bbl is steel.

[Vette]

I bought a gsg 1911 22 about a month ago. I do not regreat it in the least. Buy one and never look back. Many parts are interchangeable with 1911 parts. The slide is alloy but fit and finsh are good. The only thing i would change is it has a mag lock so if the mag is out you are not suppost to dry fire or you will damage the triger, but i dont dry fire rimfire anyway.

[mongo4567]

I have a Kimber conversion, I love it. The conversion is very accurate. I only shoot with bulk pack and it is very reliable...it would probably be 100% if I ever cleaned it.

[19-3Ben]

I looked at the Chiappa 1911 .22 but it was very basic and not well appointed, and has a reputation of not being super reliable, nor accurate.

I realize that the OP specifically said in criteria #2 that the pistol have better than average reliability, so what I'm about to say may be off topic.

I actually would want a gun that would jam up. One of the first people who ever really took the time to teach me how to shoot pistols properly and train me for defensive shooting type stuff used an interesting strategy. He taught me on his Wilson Combat CQB...but threw a cheapo .22 conversion kit in it. That way it would jam up once or twice every magazine, and I got to really practice the tap-rack-bang.

By purposely having a gun that was unreliable, I really got to train myself in how to handle a failure of some kind. Had we just been shooting stock pistols, they would have run reliably and I would not have had that opportunity. Food for thought.

[TonyT]

The 1911 clones specifically designed to fire only 22 ammo are not real 1911's and I refuse to consider them for purchase. If you want a reliable inexpensive 22 then purchase either a Ruger or Bowning Buckmark.
If you want trigger time with your favorite 1911 then a 22 conversion unit is the way to go. I have used several and my comments are as folows:
Original Colt - all steel, plinker in terms of accuracy and the floating chamber in the barrel fouls easilly and is a pain to clean. Worth more as a collector than a shooter.
Ciener - about the same accuracy as the original colt, all aluminum slide, does not lock back after firing the last round, 15 round magazines function reliably. Only caveat is that the words "customer service" are not in Ciener's vocabulary.
Marvel Unit No 1 - the bulleye shooters use this one and it is both very reliable and accurate with standard velocity ammunition, aluminum frame which does not lock back after firing the last round, customer service is exemplary. I have two junits one with the open sight the other with a red dot. HV ammo requires a heavier recoil spring.
Jarvis, all steel unit, now discontinued, accuracy better than original Colt but not competitive with the Marvel #1, requires either CCI miniMag or Remington Golden to function reliably.
Tactical Solutions - an improved version of the Jarvis unit with similar aqccuracy, all steel, superbly machined, slide locks back after firing the last round, works well with a broader range of HV ammo than the Jarvis, excellent customer service.
Advantage Arms - I do not own an AA unit for the 1911 but have one for the Glock-17, aluminum slide with a steel insert allowing for slide lock back after firing the last round, the steel insert can come loose and fallout, works best with CCI MiniMag or Remington Golden ammo
Hope this helps you decide.
Tony

[Vette]

THE 22 1911 CLONES MAY NOT BE TRUE 1911s BUT MY GSG 22 HAS THE SAME WEIGHT AND BALANCE. SAME TRIGGER FEEL. SAME LOCK BACK AFTER LAST ROUND AS MY 1911 A1. THE DIFFERANCES I CAN SEE IS IT TAKES LESS EFFORT TO RACK SLIDE. LESS RECOIL. A WHOLE LOT CHEAPER TO SHOT. AND ITS THE ONLY GUN MY WIFE WILL SHOT. I HOPE TO MOVE HER UP IN CALIBER AS SHE LEARNS.:)

[arthury]

I don't understand why the 1911 .22 are not real 1911.

If the internal mechanisms are the same single-action Browning design, why would it be technically different besides the caliber?

I have not seen or studied the internals of the GSG 1911. Owners, please respond.

[Vette]

Internals are very simalar. Many are interchangeable. Disassembly is very much the same . One differance is a screw you have to remove along with pushing out the slide lock to remove slide. Has grip safty and lever safty just like my 1911 a1. I havent put much over about 300 rounds thru it and it didnt like the remingto lightings i used first. Switched to some cci ammo and never had any more problems.

[Sky]

German Sports Guns GSG 1911 .22lr Pistol


Firearm Purchase Requirements


FFL Dealer Sales Only. Not for sale in MA, & NY. Shipping Restrictions Apply.

Making its debut just before the 100th anniversary of the 1911 pistol, the GSG-1911 couldn’t have hit the market at a better time. This dedicated .22 LR pistol features one 10-round capacity (detachable) magazine, semi-automatic recoil operated system, 5" barrel length, and is 8.5" long overall with 6 grooves. The GSG-1911 features the same weight and feel of a classic 1911 pistol and 80% of the parts are interchangeable with a standard 1911. Features a 5lb trigger and threaded barrel.

Aimsurplus has the GSGs

[jonathanmill]

I wanted the compensator from the movie Punisher for my 1911 .22's (i know they don't need them but they are awesome). Turns out they don't make them... So I did. Let me know what you think.

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l595/jonathanmill/327694_2058428017883_1160103241_3069944_1779985179_o.jpg

[wally]

I actually would want a gun that would jam up. One of the first people who ever really took the time to teach me how to shoot pistols properly and train me for defensive shooting type stuff used an interesting strategy. He taught me on his Wilson Combat CQB...but threw a cheapo .22 conversion kit in it. That way it would jam up once or twice every magazine, and I got to really practice the tap-rack-bang.


I'll be glad to sell you my Chiappa 1911-22. it'll stovepipe at least 2-3 times in 70 rounds, more if you mange to avoid frustration and get it dirty.


If the internal mechanisms are the same single-action Browning design, why would it be technically different besides the caliber?
.22 pistols are as far as I know always blowback operated, just not enough recoil impulse from .22lr in a pistol to function reliably. Other than the High Point, 9mm & up are locked breech recoil operated. The super small .380s are recoil operated as well.

[Sky]

As TonyT said there are many problems with 1911 .22s

Having said that it would appear that the few I know who have the ATI GSG .22 1911seem to be very happy with their purchase. Kinda thinking about one myself.

[Sniper X]

Tony, I don't know why you say that about being a REAL 1911. Some might say that any 1911 save for a Colt Government Military Issued 1911 is not a true 1911. Some may say that any 1911 that has the bulk of it's parts IS a real 1911. I feel that since the complete OPERATION of the GSG 1911 is 1911, and the parts are about 80% swapable to a .45acp 1911 it is close enough to be called a REAL 1911. Here's what I have found out IS different. Barrel locked to the frame, aluminum slide, mag drop safety in that it will not fire with the mag removed unless a simple mod which takes five minutes is done. Otherwise, the feel, function, and everything is real 1911. I have probably fired at least 2000 rounds thru mine and it is still 100% reliable, and save for the front sight hex nut coming loose and shifting my groups off to the left till I noticed it, it is very accurate.

[jmorris]

If you want the real feel of a 1911 you will have to search for a used Colt ACE conversion. I picked up this one for $225 a few years ago. For a short time they made (or had made) aluminum slide versions, without the floating chamber or a slide lock, that one is just like the Ciener and others that don't go to slide lock. The one below uses a 14# recoil spring and with CCI stingers feels like a 9mm 1911. It also fits the goldcup frame its on better than the original slide.

http://i664.photobucket.com/albums/vv5/qvideo/gn/ace.jpg

[SIGMA40]

Browning released a 1911-22 this year...I have yet to fire one but it is on my list of things to buy...I've read quite a bit about them and everyone who shoots it seems to think it is the best 1911-22 on the market...Food for thought...

[atblis]

The Chiappa is junk. Don't even bother considering one.

Get a Marvel and be done with it.

[Nakanokalronin]

I shoot nothing but Federal HV 22lr bulk ammo through my GSG-1911 with zero problems.

http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg600/scaled.php?server=600&filename=gsg1911.jpg&res=medium

[Sky]

The Browning is a little over $500 at Buds and the GSG is $303 to $339 at several places. Just depends on what you want and how much you want to spend.

[Sky]

I ordered the GSG and it should be here sometime this week.

Funny right after ordering it I saw in another thread around here about someone saying it was a "POS"! Wow that made me feel really good!!

Anyway, I will do a range report with Federal bulk, CCIs, and Aquila (1750 fps) when I finally get it.

[Caliber]

I have the Kimber 1911 .22 conversion and it works great. Use in on kimber CDP 2 and my springfield 1911 E series with no issues. Federal Bulk ammo works fine.

[Dueling1911s]

The Chiappa is junk. Don't even bother considering one.

Get a Marvel and be done with it.
chiappa is owned by high point or vice versa. no surprise on its quality

[sirgilligan]

I am waiting for a Browning 1911 22. I saw one of the fancy models at a gun store in Cody Wy. a couple weeks back. My brother teased me, "You said you wanted one, there it is!" Well, I can't afford the fancy one, but the plain jane will be just right for me.

[cpirtle]

Another plug for the GSG - it's enough like a regular 1911 that all of the training skills you use shooting it will be the same. Trigger may be slightly different but unless you shoot only one 1911 you're going to have that anyway.

I was at a local shop and they had one they some they made a special purchase on, got mine for around $270 out the door. It's been flawless with everything I've fed it and I notice no difference switching out to other guns.

[ken grant]

I have the GSG, an Advantage Arms kit and a Ciener kit.
Have had several Colt Ace and Service Ace over the past yrs.

Prefer the GSG over all of the others

[Doubting Thomas]

I first got acquainted with the Colt conversion unit way back in the mid 60s, and got my own in 1974. Found it at a gun show for $70. The previous owner had clogged up the infamous floating chamber. I used it quite a lot while shooting IPSC, then set it aside. Had few problems with functioning; as I recall I used CCI Green Tag ammo at the time.

Years later I got it out again and found that the ammo I was running through it would plug it up in half a box of shooting. Luckily Federal bulk HVHP ammo shoots very clean in it and it runs free for hundreds of rounds with that stuff. With the prices of ammo (and even components now) I shoot it quite lot nowadays. Unfortunately they're long out of production and pricey now--but if you feed them clean burning ammo they run quite well.

I doubt that they'll outshoot a dedicated target pistol or unit, but they're just fine for plinking or sub caliber practice for a defensive pistol. Mine sits on a Gold Cup frame and looks pretty classy.

[BullfrogKen]

I bought a Kimber .22 slide last year. I'm very pleased with it. And mine will work just fine with Federal bulk ammo as well. One of the best gun accessories I ever bought.

[Skylerbone]

I believe Ciener makes the Kimber unit. I had several opportunities to look at the GSG and when I finally decided to jump my LSG had sold both. He had a new Chiappa in stock but suggested I take a pass on it.

The GSG looked to be a winner and is also sold as the Sig, rebranded.

[rondog]

chiappa is owned by high point or vice versa.

Can you show some proof of that? Never heard that before.

[BullfrogKen]

Can you show some proof of that? Never heard that before


Start another thread, or this will get bogged down with that banter.

[GMAN26]

Anyone have comments or shooting experience with the new colt/ umarex .22? I asked this question a week ago with no replys. Still looking for input if anyone's got any.

[Peter M. Eick]

I shot one and it was not bad. Reliable, reasonably accurate but it just lacked that feeling of quality that I like in a firearm. It just felt cheaply made to me. My suggestion is to handle one before you buy.

I have money down on a Browning 1911 22 for my daughter.

[Flatlander1]

Years ago I had a government model 45 and a Colt 22 conversion kit. Liked shooting it but it was a hassle to change over. It seemed like whenever I was planning on shooting, I had the wrong slide on the gun.

It was fun to shoot, so several months ago I bought a Kimber 1911 rimfire. I like the gun but it has one drawback. My wife started shooting it and fell in love with it. I'm now relegated to keeping the 3 magazines loaded while she's using it.

[Sky]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=618114

First review on the GSG 1911 I received.

[dtsdave]

I recently bought a used marvel unit 1 on gunbroker. For me I shoot mostly 9mm 1911's but have a 45ACP that I did not shoot very often. The marvel is unbeleivable. Accuracy is amazing. The mags are a little tight with 10 rounds but with 9 the reliability was great with decent ammo. I practiced mag changes for about an hour a few weeks ago and getting back on target. The 22lr 1911 was very productive while saving a few bucks on ammo. I also have an airsoft 2011 and the trigger is not the same. The marvel on my frame really is perfect for my setup. It is on a DW PM-7 45 and I have a DW PM-9 and a Guardian as well so the trigger is almost identical.

[HisSoldier]

Here goes again, with apologies to those of you who have already bought one.

I've worked with metals for most of my 62 years, have owned a machine shop for 30 and have a lot of experience with almost every engineering material in common use anywhere. I know what I'm talking about when it comes to metals.

Many or all of the 1911 lookalikes now made have varying amounts of Zamak or some other zinc based alloy in them. Zamak (Any zinc alloy) is at the very bottom of the engineering materials group, in fact I can't imagine anyone other than a dishonest entrepreneur who would choose any zinc alloy as the main material of a gun with his name on it.
Colt's Ace, as far as I know they are made of good materials.
Kimber's conversion, the slide is aluminum, not my choice for best but a gazillion times better than zinc. (GSG's slide is supposedly aluminum but the frame is zinc)
As for the rest, I don't know.

But also, to say that any of them is a 1911 is a stretch, none of them locks up like a 1911, the Kimber and Colt are 1911 from the slide down, so the trigger and sear are the same, that's what you want right? Llama made a true 2/3 1911 in .22, all steel, if you can find one. But for the full sized 1911
I'd probably go for the Colt, as the slide is, I believe, steel, and though the admission price is high the value can only go up.

I just wish high quality gunmaking wasn't a dying art, and I wish the American gun buyers knew more about materials.

[cpirtle]

With all due respect, I know metals as well and feel for the application and price point the "metal" used in the GSG suits the use just fine. Zamak has been successfully used in 22's for quite some time now and has proven to hold up well (Walther P22 comes to mind). Would I want a knife made from it or a centerfire pistol? Heck no, but it does the job for an overbuilt low energy 22.

I also take umbrage with the implication that we "Americans" are not intelligent consumers. I don't think anyone here is saying these are world class guns. If I want to shoot a world class 22 I'll grab my 41 or 617, of course neither is really practice for my 1911's.

For $300 if it only lasts 15000-20000 rounds I'll gladly melt it in my forge and make a door stop then get another 20 years of use from it. Based on the wear I've seen on mine I think it will last a lot longer.

These guns have a purpose, they closely replicate the feel, weight and firing of a genuine 1911 and fire dirt cheap ammo. People may choose to make more of them, but that's what they are.

The guns you are comparing them to are over double the price and up. Some Colt ACE's go for 5-10 times the price of the GSG. The current "Colt" is made by Umarex in Germany and not a shadow of the ACE. Pretty sure by the same people that make the Zamak Walther 22 mentioned above..

[Jed Carter]

Most of the dedicated .22 1911 clones have a less than acceptable trigger (at least to me). I have tried the SIG, GSG and Chiappa, I decided to pass on these and got a Kimber .22 conversion. It works well, and the trigger is just like my STI competition pistol, which it is. Or is it just like my SA Loaded Longslide...

[atblis]

Zamak has been successfully used in 22's for quite some time now and has proven to hold up well (Walther P22 comes to mind)
We need a chortle smilie.

[Rex B]

I bought a nice Ciener Target model a few years ago. Then I built up a receiver for it. Nice gun, but I have about $450 in it.

I am also waiting on the Browning, but I want the miniature version. I understand they are making a full-size .22 and also the 80%.

Otherwise I'd buy the GSG. Lots of happy GSG owners out there.

[Flatlander1]

At the present time I don't believe that Browning is making a full size 1911 .22 cal. They are making two 85% scale models of the original 1911 for their centennial celebration. One will have a 4 1/4" barrel and the other a 3 5/8" barrel. Both will weight around 15 oz.

I have one on order and have since also bought the Kimber 1911 rimfire which is 23 oz. I enjoy shooting the Kimber, as does my wife and I'm looking forward to the Browning.