Carbine Conversion Unit questions for 1911

bera · February 9, 2013, 10:26 PM

Greetings

I was looking at the Carbine Conversion Unit for the 1911.
(http://mechtechsys.com/what_is.php) ~for those that have no clue what I'm talking about.

Anyone have one? Review and opinion are appreciated.

Thanks,
Bera

grendelbane · February 9, 2013, 11:49 PM

I have had one for several years now. It works great!

If you use good magazines, it is reliable. It is accurate, or as accurate as I think a pistol caliber carbine needs to be.

Its appearance is not as good as its performance. The receiver is sheet metal. It works well, however.

Mine is .45 ACP. I sort of wish I had one in .38 Super, also.

Carne Frio · February 10, 2013, 09:24 AM

While mine is for the Glock Model 20, it is well made,
reliable and makes the 10mm more useful at long range.

MifflinKid · February 10, 2013, 10:42 AM

My wife gave me a .45 ACP version for Christmas. It is very accurate but surprisingly heavy.

I use a Kimber Gold Match frame as the lower assembly. The only problem I had was that it would not reliably feed using Wilson 47D magazines. But it fed and functioned perfectly with the Colt-style magazines with the split sheet metal follower that have the little raided dimple in the center of the follower.

I was shooting medium power 200gr RNFPs and some more heavily loaded 225gr TCBB loads. The bolt is very heavy (I guess it has to be as this is a blow back operating gun) and the bolt recoil spring is also stout. Sometimes the last case would not fully eject -- the case would get caught between the returning bolt and the front edge of the ejection port. As I recall this was with the 200gr loads.

I was using a reflex sight on it but have since mounted a 3x5 variable scope. I have not yet shot it with the scope. But I expect this will allow it to get out to 100yds pretty easily.

Nimble1 · February 10, 2013, 12:00 PM

Have had one for quite a few years..may be one of the first ones. I bought it one in 460 Rowland anticipating some south Fla hog hunting but never got around to it. Its lots of fun to shoot in 45ACP. I think they all have a peculiar "twang" when they are fired..maybe the recoil spring?? Mine functions well with all my mags and the Wilson 10 rnd is nice. There was a company making large cap 1911 mags but never tried one.
If you have a 1911, they are a pretty neat accessory.

scaatylobo · February 11, 2013, 11:40 AM

I have one for my Glock 23 lower and it can also work [ according to manufacturer ] with the Glock 19.

Its in .40 caliber and is a bit heavy for a pistol caliber.

Function was gtg,but taking it apart was a bit more of a hassle than I expected [ first time ? ] and that would not be a good thing if ina real hurry to transition.

I fired a friends in .45 acp and that is the one I might have gotten in retrospect.

Still a very handy tool that can be left in vehicle and NOT be a firearm until assembled using the NEEDED pistol for the lower.

BCRider · February 13, 2013, 09:40 PM

Haven't shot one but I handled it in a store.

It's nicely made. No doubt about that. But it's HEAVY! ! ! ! Quite a bit heavier just for the upper unit than just about any other handgun caliber carbine seme auto I've hefted or shot. All in all I'd say that the complete conversion ready to shoot would be about the same weight as a Thompson. And if you've ever shot one you KNOW that this is a rather heavy weight comparison.

Given the weight I'd rather just buy a Sub2000, JR Carbine or Thureon that takes whatever favourite handgun mags you have. It'll be a lighter overall package and lack the time needed to move your frame from handgun to carbine and back.

bigfatdave · February 13, 2013, 11:34 PM

Will a MechTech work with an officer 1911 frame?

Lucky Derby · February 14, 2013, 06:41 AM

Bigfatdave, according to their website, yes.

bigfatdave · February 14, 2013, 08:55 PM

Thanks, I missed that last time I was playing on their site

Hopefully they'll catch up with orders, I've got an order sheet filled out, looks like the total will be $530 + shipping

bera · February 14, 2013, 11:50 PM

Thanks for all the info

Dirty Bob · April 29, 2013, 10:58 PM

That weight does reduce felt recoil! I don't think they're as heavy as a Thompson or a Suomi, or maybe even a Sterling. None of the older, SMG-based pistol-caliber carbines are lightweights. The lightest of the SMG clones may be the MAC-based carbines by MasterPiece Arms.

I think that one of the reasons the M-T feels so heavy is that it looks like it would weigh less. It's gotta be lighter than a Garand, for example!

All my best,
Dirty Bob

February 9, 2013, 10:26 PM	#1
bera Member Join Date: May 28, 2012 Posts: 14	Carbine Conversion Unit questions for 1911 Greetings I was looking at the Carbine Conversion Unit for the 1911. (http://mechtechsys.com/what_is.php) ~for those that have no clue what I'm talking about. Anyone have one? Review and opinion are appreciated. Thanks, Bera __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.' ~ TJ

February 9, 2013, 11:49 PM	#2
grendelbane Member Join Date: January 4, 2004 Location: KY Posts: 835	I have had one for several years now. It works great! If you use good magazines, it is reliable. It is accurate, or as accurate as I think a pistol caliber carbine needs to be. Its appearance is not as good as its performance. The receiver is sheet metal. It works well, however. Mine is .45 ACP. I sort of wish I had one in .38 Super, also. __________________ "You don't pay back, you pay forward."

February 10, 2013, 12:00 PM	#5
Nimble1 Member Join Date: January 30, 2005 Location: Pine Island, Fla. Posts: 131	Fun Have had one for quite a few years..may be one of the first ones. I bought it one in 460 Rowland anticipating some south Fla hog hunting but never got around to it. Its lots of fun to shoot in 45ACP. I think they all have a peculiar "twang" when they are fired..maybe the recoil spring?? Mine functions well with all my mags and the Wilson 10 rnd is nice. There was a company making large cap 1911 mags but never tried one. If you have a 1911, they are a pretty neat accessory.

February 11, 2013, 11:40 AM	#6
scaatylobo Member Join Date: October 7, 2010 Location: Western NYS Posts: 935	Glock .40 caliber I have one for my Glock 23 lower and it can also work [ according to manufacturer ] with the Glock 19. Its in .40 caliber and is a bit heavy for a pistol caliber. Function was gtg,but taking it apart was a bit more of a hassle than I expected [ first time ? ] and that would not be a good thing if ina real hurry to transition. I fired a friends in .45 acp and that is the one I might have gotten in retrospect. Still a very handy tool that can be left in vehicle and NOT be a firearm until assembled using the NEEDED pistol for the lower. __________________ A bad day living,Beats a good day dead

February 13, 2013, 09:40 PM	#7
BCRider Member Join Date: November 15, 2008 Location: Pacific North"Wet" Coast of Canada Posts: 4,982	Haven't shot one but I handled it in a store. It's nicely made. No doubt about that. But it's HEAVY! ! ! ! Quite a bit heavier just for the upper unit than just about any other handgun caliber carbine seme auto I've hefted or shot. All in all I'd say that the complete conversion ready to shoot would be about the same weight as a Thompson. And if you've ever shot one you KNOW that this is a rather heavy weight comparison. Given the weight I'd rather just buy a Sub2000, JR Carbine or Thureon that takes whatever favourite handgun mags you have. It'll be a lighter overall package and lack the time needed to move your frame from handgun to carbine and back. __________________ Sent from my boat anchor desktop via my pizza greased fingers....

February 10, 2013, 09:24 AM	#3
Carne Frio Member Join Date: August 28, 2008 Location: Near Fairbanks Posts: 665	While mine is for the Glock Model 20, it is well made, reliable and makes the 10mm more useful at long range.

February 10, 2013, 10:42 AM	#4
MifflinKid Member Join Date: October 19, 2008 Location: Maryland (but I'll get back to Pennsylvania some day) Posts: 90	My wife gave me a .45 ACP version for Christmas. It is very accurate but surprisingly heavy. I use a Kimber Gold Match frame as the lower assembly. The only problem I had was that it would not reliably feed using Wilson 47D magazines. But it fed and functioned perfectly with the Colt-style magazines with the split sheet metal follower that have the little raided dimple in the center of the follower. I was shooting medium power 200gr RNFPs and some more heavily loaded 225gr TCBB loads. The bolt is very heavy (I guess it has to be as this is a blow back operating gun) and the bolt recoil spring is also stout. Sometimes the last case would not fully eject -- the case would get caught between the returning bolt and the front edge of the ejection port. As I recall this was with the 200gr loads. I was using a reflex sight on it but have since mounted a 3x5 variable scope. I have not yet shot it with the scope. But I expect this will allow it to get out to 100yds pretty easily.

February 13, 2013, 11:34 PM	#8
bigfatdave Member Join Date: July 13, 2008 Location: Near Camp Perry Posts: 5,399	Will a MechTech work with an officer 1911 frame? __________________ Write your legislators Really, stop reading this and write your legislators, at all levels

February 14, 2013, 06:41 AM	#9
Lucky Derby Member Join Date: August 23, 2006 Location: Metro Denver Posts: 1,109	Bigfatdave, according to their website, yes. __________________ America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves. Abraham Lincoln Although personally I am quite content with existing explosives, I feel we must not stand in the path of improvement. Winston Churchill

February 14, 2013, 08:55 PM	#10
bigfatdave Member Join Date: July 13, 2008 Location: Near Camp Perry Posts: 5,399	Thanks, I missed that last time I was playing on their site Hopefully they'll catch up with orders, I've got an order sheet filled out, looks like the total will be $530 + shipping __________________ Write your legislators Really, stop reading this and write your legislators, at all levels

February 14, 2013, 11:50 PM	#11
bera Member Join Date: May 28, 2012 Posts: 14	Thanks for all the info __________________ 'A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.' ~ TJ

April 29, 2013, 10:58 PM	#12
Dirty Bob Member Join Date: July 10, 2003 Location: The Great State of Texas Posts: 806	That weight does reduce felt recoil! I don't think they're as heavy as a Thompson or a Suomi, or maybe even a Sterling. None of the older, SMG-based pistol-caliber carbines are lightweights. The lightest of the SMG clones may be the MAC-based carbines by MasterPiece Arms. I think that one of the reasons the M-T feels so heavy is that it looks like it would weigh less. It's gotta be lighter than a Garand, for example! All my best, Dirty Bob