1911 .22

[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:

1. High availability of common parts (like magazines, slide-stop,etc)
2. Better than average reliability
3. Better than average accuracy
4. Shoots smoothly with most 22 ammo
5. Good customer service
6. Long-lived manufacturer that has a reputation
7. 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.

 

[Sniper X]

 

[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]

Not true 1911???

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]

Gsg 1911 22 internals

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]

Punisher Compensator for 1911 .22

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.

 

[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.

 

[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.

 

[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.