.22 caliber conversions for 1911

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1911 guy

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I admit to being a much more accomplished user of the 1911 than I am fixing, gunsmithing or pretty much anything beyond basic troubleshooting. I also admit to having never owned a .22 conversion for any of mine, always using .45acp for everything from paper punching to training to CCW.

In fact, the only .22 conversion of any sort I've ever owned is a Cenier unit for an AR.

So with ammo cost going up and availability going down and companies refining and inventing all the time, what is a good .22 top end you can recommend from personal experience? I know the Marvel unit has a good reputation and my local shop has Kimbers for sale fairly often.

Also, anything I need to know regarding compatability? All my pistols are non-series 80 type with no firing pin blocks.
 
I have used a Colts Ace conversion and while it was reliable enough it came up short in the accuracy department. Pretty much relegated to being a decent plinker or for getting a new shooter accustomed to shooting the M1911 without the .45ACP recoil.

Currently I have a TacSol .22LR conversion on an old frame that I had put together many years ago. Fit and finish are first rate and I have been very pleased with the overall results. I also liked that it's made out of steel and that the magazines are constructed out of aluminum.
 
I have an old Bob Marvel .22 conversion that is real accurate though not an exact interchange for the standard .45 slide so some of the FTF drills won't work. For everyday plinking and weapon handling it is great. I see he is making them again with Nighthawk Custom and would highly recommend it.
 
I've got a Kimber conversion kit. Overall I give it pretty high marks. With the right ammo it runs very well but it is a bit picky.

fwiw, in my neck of the woods 45ACP is much more available than 22LR!
 
There are a number of conversion kits. All of them work reasonably well, however they do not all have the same level of accuracy. Some of them need high-velocity ammo to cycle reliably.

The Marvel Unit 1 is the most accurate of all of the conversions. It will eat CCI SV with no problems.

I have the Advantage Arms conversion and it works well, but it is not what I would call 'target-shooter accurate'.
 
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Advantage Arms makes a good one. 100% reliable with RGB, mags are $15-20 and easy to load, slide locks back empty. I really like mine. I have a Colt Conversion unit upper as well, and it is a lot of fun. The steel slide makes it feel more like a "real" 1911. Mags are VERY pricey, and harder to load. It is also reliable, however, as long as you keep it relatively clean.

Some info on the AA 1911 kit FYI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scT5lmSzcDk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpLokpmK8tk

Info on the Colt Conversion Unit (Ace)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYLkZsWnlhM
 
FWIW... I looked at all the conversions and went with a GSG-1911-22 used for $200. It works, reasonably accurate, controls are in the right place, overall size is right..... but it's too light.

For $200 I'll keep it because my daughter who shoots a 1911-45 likes to practice with it.
 
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