1911 .22 conversion - Practical question

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Talin342

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Hi all, new forum member, not new to shooting, but relatively new to handguns. Just a few questions about .22lr conversions on a 1911.

I picked up a Springfield Armory GI.45 w/ 4" barrel - they label it as their "Champion" line. The 1911 sports a ramped bull barrel and a "reverse" recoil spring configuration, since it doesn't have a barrel bushing.

I was considering purchasing a Ciener or Kimber Kit. Doing my research I found out that neither will work with a ramped barrel. Both of those are out.

I contacted Advantage Arms, Marvel, Tactical Solutions, and Wilson Combat to ask about their .22 conversions. I have heard back from Marvel and Tactical Solutions and both confirm that their kits work on 1911s with ramped barrels.

Does any one have any experience using a .22 conversion kit on a 1911 with a ramped barrel, if so what brand? I like to get confirmation from two sources to be on the safe side of things.

Secondly, it seems like most of the makers offer a Standard or Commander length configuration. Does anyone know if you could place a Full-length slide on a Commander frame? I'd like the extra length, but I'm okay with using the Commander kit.

Thanks everyone....
 
I believe you can put a full length Colt conversion on a commander-length frame, but the dust cover will not cover the spring fully. I'll let you know for sure tonight. I don't know about the ramped barrel issue. I supposed on some kits the .22 barrel needs to be butted against the frame or something, rather than secured by the takedown lever?
 
For the record:
Marvel makes the Wilson conversion kit.

Ciener makes the Kimber conversion kit.
 
you're partly correct. the previous Kimber (as well as the old Wilson) conversion was made by Ciener. Kimber now makes their conversion kit, but it's still a Ciener design.
 
Well the colt conversion unit would appear to work fine on a Colt commander frame. Click for larger pics if you like.
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I've hand cycled action proving dummy rounds through it and it seems to work okay for the most part... not that that guarantees it will cycle flawlessly with real ammo, but it's encouraging. I wouldn't try this with a .45 govt slide/barrel as I believe the ejector is different (someone correct me if I'm wrong) but the .22 conversion comes with its own ejector and I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't work fine... experts jump in here and stop me at any time. :D
 
Thanks for all the help everyone. For purely asthetic reasons I think that I am going to go with the "Commander" length setup. I don't think that I really like the idea of the gap. Since my 1911 is a Springfield GI.45 I think that extractors, etc are all "mil-spec". The only thing different is the guide rod ("reverse") and a ramped bull barrel.

Marvel seems like the best place to get one, I am still waiting on info from Advantage Arms to see if their kit works with ramped barrels.
 
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The Advantage Arms conversion is the next generation of the Bob Marvel design.
The STI conversion is an AA conversion and works with ramped barrels.
the difference between the AA and the Marvel is that the AA locks the slide back on empty.

Bob Marvel and Marvel Precision are not connected.
 
FWIW I just installed my new AA commander kit on my Para P-14-45 frame... fits fine and appears that it will work if I had any AA/para 22 mags. I asked the company if there are any differences in the uppers they sell for Paras and am waiting to hear back.

My first impression is that all the AA 1911 uppers (other than the target models with the sights fixed to the barrels) are identical; only the mags are different.
 
So I'll just break down and call AA tomorrow and see if it works with ramped barrels it looks like the STI conversion is out of stock/no longer being made.
 
Let us know what they say, but they do list them as 1911/para ordnance, and all paras have (or at least used to, until the GI) ramped barrels.
 
Just an update, I got a e-mail back from Wilson Combat concerning their .22 kits. Apparently they will work on a frame that is cut for a ramped barrel. A copy of the e-mail exchange is below.

ME: To be clear, there would be no issue using [the Wilson conversions] on a frame that is cut for use with a ramped barrel.

Wilson Combat: That is correct because you are replacing the barrel with the conversion kit.
Click to expand...

I called Advantage Arms as well, all their techs were at the SHOT show. The very nice lady answering the phone suggested that I send an actual e-mail instead of using the form on the website. She did say that the tech was checking e-mail while at the show so I hope I get a response soon. Makes sense that they'd be pretty busy working the SHOT show.
 
After seeing the prices for a GSG 1911, I am tempted since they essentially cost what I would end up paying for a conversion kit. It is something that has crossed my mind. Thanks for the tip 340PD, now if I can find a place in my area that carries them. I saw a lot at the Fort Worth gun show.

Still going to try and get a conversion kit though since it's exempt from the "ANOTHER GUN" conversation I'll inevitably have with the wife if I get the GSG.
 
I was thinking the same thing since the GSG 1911 costs as much as some of the conversion kits. So the other day I broke down and picked one up from my LGS, and it turned out to be one of the few in the area. Hopefully I'll get out to the range tomorrow to see how it shoots.
 
Finally got an e-mail from Advantage Arms, their kit will worked on a ramped barrel. Their reply follows below.

Our kits are design to work on any Mil Spec 1911 full size or Commander size frame. Our kits have their own feed ramp so your "ramped bull barrel" will not affect the kit.
Click to expand...

So there you go...aside from the Ciener and Kimber kits that specifically state that they don't work on guns with a ramped barrel it seems like every other kit does.
 
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weird answer... milspec frames don't have cutouts for ramped barrels anyway. Meh... I'm sure it will work fine. It appears to me the barrel is primarily secured by the slide stop anyway, then screwed tight via the threaded recoil spring guide/screw. The area of the frame with the cutout for the ramp (or not) doesn't enter into the equation.

Here's some pics of the AA kit just for fun.

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Talin342 said:
So there you go...aside from the Ciener and Wilson kits that specifically state that they don't work on guns with a ramped barrel it seems like every other kit does.
Click to expand...
You said in your post above that wilson states their kit WILL work on frames cut for a ramped barrel. Or am I misunderstanding you?
 
Our kits are design to work on any Mil Spec 1911 full size or Commander size frame. Our kits have their own feed ramp so your "ramped bull barrel" will not affect the kit.
Click to expand...

meaning that it will work.
 
1K -

First, thanks for the well written reply, your information was just what I was looking for. I meant to say Kimber, not Wilson I'll amend my earlier post for clairity.

I know that the Kimber catalog specifically states that their kits do not work on frames for use with ramped barrels.

Newly manufactured Cieners may be a different story, but everything that I have been reading indicate that they DO NOT work on ramped barrels.
 
Hey Quack, do you know why the Ciener won't work on ramp-cut frames? Does the barrel need to be braced by that bit of frame or is there some other issue?
 
I have an STI Trojan in 40 S&W with a ramped barrel. I have used Marvel, Jarvis and Tactical Solutions conversion kits on it without any problems.
 
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