[JoeOden]

I passed my Buckmark 22 to my sister. Great gal and a great gun. So now I need another 22. I could get another Browning or a Ruger, but find myself considering a 22 conversion kit for my 1911 or my High Power. My thinking goes something like this. Why buy a conversion kit when I can get a complete gun for about the same money? answer: Why shoot a $300 gun when I could be shooting my $1000 Colt Commander or Browning Hi Power? Id like some feedback regarding this decision. How do y'all feel about 22 conversion kits?

[Pilot]

I have a CZ Kadet Kit .22 LR conversion that I use on my 75B, and compact PCR. It rivals my Ruger MK II for accuracy. I really like it, but I also like having dedicated .22's.

[earplug]

I'm happy with my Marvel for Bullseye
I think others might work better for plinking or other games. I'd look at a Tactical Solution conversion.

[Radagast]

I've the Beretta practice kit for the 92FS. Lots of rounds down range cheap and good training. I would recommend a conversion unit for anyone interested in improving their ability with their main centerfire weapon.
Caveat: The Ceiner conversions have a very spotty reputation for quality control/reliability and an awful reputation for poor customer service. Mr Ceiner was recently arrested for fraud, so future parts & repairs may be non existent.
Marvel have an excellent reputation for near match grade accuracy with their 1911 conversions, I would go down that path if I was a 1911 shooter. I'm not aware of a Browning conversion.

[JoeOden]

I gave my Buckmark 22 to my syster so now I need a 22. I can buy another Browning or Ruger but find myself considering a 22 conversion for my 1911 or Hi Power. I'm wondering; Why buy a conversion kit when I can get a complete gun for about the same money? Answer: Why shoot a $300 gun when I could be shooting 22s through my $1000 Colt Commander or my Hi Power? I would like to hear (read) some discussion about these conversion kits. Other threads say that that conversion kits do work..... usually. and that some sellers are jerks. That really hasnt helped me decide which way to go.

[locnload]

I'm of the same mind that you first mentioned, why buy a conversion kit for the same money you could get a whole gun? Somehow I suspect your Colt Cammander will not quite shoot the same with a 22 conversion kit as it does normally, so I have to wonder if your truly practicing with your dailey carry. There are a few variations in 22 cal 1911s on the market, I think even Colt offers one now. Same size, same grip, same maual of arms, and same holster. Whats not to like? Besides, I'm always looking for an excuse to buy another gun. :D

[rosewood151]

All the fun, half (or less) the cost to use. I have a a Beretta kit from Ciener. No problems with it. ( it's over 10 years old and has a LOT of ammo through it) Best part about the Beretta is that it fits, 92F, 92FC, and the 96.

[Ghost Tracker]

Unless you're shooting a .22 conversion that's used for small bore competition (1911/Marvel, CZ 75/Kadet) you may not be happy with the accuracy of most .22 converted centerfire pistols compared to your Buckmark. However, if your intent is practical shooting practice with your carry gun (3-4" groups at 25 yards) most any of the conversions will do that. I've heard the same shady rumors about Ceiner for years, I'll pass on those products. I'm a complete BHP fan, but don't know of any conversion that I WOULD BUY. Your Commander will run a Marvel or Kimber .22 swap & shoot tight little groups, but the kit will also buy you a nice, used Ruger MK? or Buckmark. So, for the pistols you mentioned, the ticket cost about the same for a nice, accurate conversion OR a dedicated .22 autoloader. I pondered the same decision a few years ago...and bought a new Match Target Buckmark. :cool:

[iLikeOldgunsIlikeNewGuns]

I do want a Ruger MK very badly, and will get one when I have the dough, but for now I've opted for more trigger-time on the same platform I carry-with by buying the Kimber conversion kit. i bought it almost a year ago now, to use on my SW1911 and I have NO complaints. I've fired several thousand rounds through it, and love it. There are a few types of ammo it doesn't like, but it didn't take me long to figure out what it does generally like. It is very accurate, as accurate as a pistol gets in my hands. I can shoot out the face of the queen of hearts at ten yards :) Also, I participated in a competitive rimfire-only steel plates event at a local shooting competition day, and smoked the course with my Kimber conversion/SW1911 combo. One of the board members had to come over and see what I was shooting (the rapid 'ping ping ping' of plates falling got his attention), and he could hardly believe it! I was up against folks with big red-dot sights and muzzlebrake/compensators (on .22s! lol) and I did better than most, pretty much knocked the plates down as fast as the slide cycled :cool:

Seen in the photo below with other .22s of mine (the Jennings was given to me by a friend who convinced someone who should NOT have had it to get rid of it, I know all about 'em so don't feel like you need to tell me :rolleyes: )


http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6043/6274839225_b9320c1814_z.jpg

[tuj]

Get the Marvel. All the other kits are nice plinkers, but they are not accurate enough for bullseye. I have an advantage arms conversion and it works fine, but its just not accurate enough for me.

[robinkevin]

Double thread...

[robinkevin]

Do you really want to wear out parts on your $1000 Colt faster than normal? Myself I believe 2 guns is better than 1 1/2 guns. Personally I think there is just too many dedicated .22 1911s on the market for around the same price as a conversation kit to fool with switching uppers on my pistols and wearing out parts faster.

[mongo4567]

I have a Kimber kit on my Kimber full size. It is very accurate, like right there with a Ruger Mark 2. I love it! That said, I kind of miss shooting my Kimber with .45...will probably look for another host.

[marb4]

I had the Ciener kit for my Beretta 92FS. It actually functioned pretty well most of the time and was very smooth on the Beretta frame. The reason I returned it (thankfully I bought it through Midway and not Ciener directly) was because once in a while the slide would cause an out of battery firing by pinching the rim. Its one thing to have to clear a jam once in a while but the oob was an unacceptable safety issue. Not just safety for me but for my 92 frame as well. I didn't want an oob firing from a 3 cent 22 round to do damage to the frame of my $500+ gun. Too bad. It was a lot of fun to shoot. I've since bought a couple of 22 plinkers and have had a lot of fun with them.

[mljdeckard]

I use my Ciener for everything. I inherited a Mk I and a Woodsman, but I don't use them as much. I am thinking about building a dedicated frame for it. You get to train with the same trigger and setup as your carry gun. It was a little stiff to begin with, and very picky about ammo, but now it will crank through anything.

[JoeOden]

Thanks for the replys everyone. I think I'm going to get for a kit to go on th BHP. And then Ill buy a 1911 22 AND another Buckmark.

[LCPor9mm]

I really am not a fan of switching, calibers, barrels, lowers, uppers, etc. If I want a different gun I buy a different gun.....but that is just me. Different strokes for different folks.:D

[TonyT]

If you desire more trigger time with your favorite 1911 then a conversion unit is a plus. If you desire a reliable 22 hen purchase a Browning Buckmark or Ruger.

[dtsdave]

I have a Marvel Unit 1 on one of my 1911's. It is fantastic. I did not shoot that pistol much at all and when I did it was a 460 Rowland conversion. I got the Marvel off Gunbroker for a very good price but I hunted for months. The practice with the conversion on a 1911 is helpful. I love accurate setups so in my book conversion was a winner.

[Rembrandt]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v405/Rembrandt51/BHP-3.jpg?t=1242303133

I have several high quality target .22's.....but the BHP w/Ciener conversion is my favorite.

[PO2Hammer]

I've always been a fan of conversions because it's more than rimfire shooting, it's trigger time for your centerfire auto. Maybe not the same as live fire, but better than dry fire practice. Plus there's no Gov't involvement when you buy one.
I've had them on a 1911, a Beretta, a Sig and I just got my CZ Kadet conversion in the mail today. The Kadet is nice, all steel!

[robctwo]

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e186/robctwo/DSCN0183.jpg

I put new Ed Brown ignition parts in a SA Black Stainless, then put the Ciener Platinum conversion on it. Very nice, 15 round mags and quite accurate. It has become a dedicated .22, lol. How about a $1,600 .22?

I own the Kadet Kit as well on the 75BD and the P-01 it shoots lights out.

[gyvel]

I'm not aware of a Browning conversion.

As Rembrandt has shown, a Hi-Power kit from Ciener does exist. There is also an all-steel conversion from Argentina, but I'm not sure if they are being imported any more.

I have a couple of the Argies, and they work very well, but they make the gun look more like a SIG with a big blocky looking slide, and the internals aren't all that well finished (but you don't see it from the outside anyway).

[NMGonzo]

I got mine used for half of what a .22 1911 costs.

Works well.

[BigG]

I got a Ciener conversion kit I use on my .45 Colt Gold Cup NM. I shoots better groups than I can hold.

[VINTAGE-SLOTCARS]

I bought a Ciener conversion for my 45acp in 1994. I got 2, 15 round mags w/the kit. The cost then was $219 shipped. I have since bought several .45's. This gives me the option of swapping over several guns. The kit needs to be well oiled on a clean gun. I have taught serveral persons how to handle and shoot a 45acp using this system,, cheaply. It has served me well and have never thought, "I could have bought another gun". I'm sorry the company has come on hard times, but the unit I bought has been nothing less than Great.

[Walt Sherrill]

Do you really want to wear out parts on your $1000 Colt faster than normal? Myself I believe 2 guns is better than 1 1/2 guns. Personally I think there is just too many dedicated .22 1911s on the market for around the same price as a conversation kit to fool with switching uppers on my pistols and wearing out parts faster.

Which parts are going to get worn out faster than normal?

If you've already got a great-shooting 1911 with a nice trigger, a conversion kit makes a lot of sense. The wear should be trivial

[ken grant]

LUV THE KITS!!!

Ciener 1911----works great with all ammo I have tried
AA 1911------- Ammo picky but locks slide back
AA Glock 19/23 --- ammo picky as well
AA Glock 20/21-- ammo picky

Ciener AR15----- works great
Military M261 for AR--- works great

[gyvel]

In case anyone's interested, there is an Argentine .22 coversion kit for the Hi-Power on eBay right now as of 1/19: #220932065586.

As I stated before, I have two of them and they have been flawless in operation, despite the fact that they are a little rough on the inside.

[Zach S]

I'm not big on conversion units... I tend to build firearms out of them.

Here is my customized Ceiner on a dedicated host frame. Its the only .22 pistol I own, and currently, is my most expensive pistol. The only thing I hate about it is holster fitment (due to the tall front sight), and I shoot high thumb, so I have to make an effort to keep from dragging the slide. I plan on adding an EGW thumb shield in the near future.

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/zephyr351c/DSCN1332.jpg

I also had a Ceiner for my AR15. It was used to build a complete firearm as well.

http://i699.photobucket.com/albums/vv360/zephyr351c/DSCN1335.jpg