redneck2
Member
i have an original WW II 1911 in exceptional condition. Been offered a conversion to .22 for $200. Be nice to shoot them rather than .45's. Wondering what it takes to convert and how well they work
TIA
TIA
.22 conversion for 11911A1
- Thread starter redneck2
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Dog Soldier
member
I liked the old Colt Ace conversions with the floating chambers. They allowed the .22 rimfire to give the recoil of a 230 grs. RN. They were not popular with paper shooters and the chambers fouled. But damn getting a .22 to feel like a full house .45 was Deeelightful. 
jmorris
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I also like the ACE conversion, if you can get one for $200 make the deal now.
Mine won't recoil like a 230gn 45 but is about the same as a 9mm 1911 as far as felt recoil is concerned.
Quite accurate and kept clean it runs well with the different bulk ammo I have tried, even stuff that didn't run in other semiauto .22's.
Mine won't recoil like a 230gn 45 but is about the same as a 9mm 1911 as far as felt recoil is concerned.
Quite accurate and kept clean it runs well with the different bulk ammo I have tried, even stuff that didn't run in other semiauto .22's.
Lafitte
Member
I use a Ceiner conversion on a Colt 1911 and a Remington R1. Just take the slide and barrel off, put the 22 conversion on and insert the slide stop. Load the 22 magazine with 22 long rifle ammo and you are set to go.
bannockburn
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I had a Colt Ace .22 conversion for my Colt Government Model many years ago. It worked okay for the most part but accuracy was nothing to write home about. Awhile back I had a 1911 frame that I had assembled but didn't have a slide assembly for it. I looked into getting a Marvel conversion unit but they were on back order at the time, as were the ones made by Advantage Arms. Found that TacSol made one and as I liked the design and quality of their guns and other accessories I went with one of their conversion kits. Very well made and goes right on without any mods to the frame and works perfectly. Very accurate with the right ammo.
Cannibul
Member
What brand of conversion is it?
Almost all the new conversions just require replacing the upper end. Slide, barrel and recoil assembly. I've got a Ciener conversion I've used for years. Runs like a top.
$100 for a working conversion of any brand is a steal!
Almost all the new conversions just require replacing the upper end. Slide, barrel and recoil assembly. I've got a Ciener conversion I've used for years. Runs like a top.
$100 for a working conversion of any brand is a steal!
Starter52
Member
Another happy Ceiner owner here.
Twenty years ago I bought a Ceiner .22 conversion kit for my Series 70 Colt Gold Cup. I never had a problem with it. It is still going strong.
Twenty years ago I bought a Ceiner .22 conversion kit for my Series 70 Colt Gold Cup. I never had a problem with it. It is still going strong.
OP
OP
redneck2
Member
It's $200, not $100. Still seems like a really decent deal
I have no idea what the brand is. It's a kinda friend of mine that has a lot of stuff and is getting rid of stuff he doesn't use.
Thanks for all the replies. Looks like a deal.
larryh1108
Member
Another happy Ciener conversion owner here. This is recent issue unit that performs great. The old man seems to be out of the picture so his bad disposition seems to be history. What brand is the one you are looking at? That makes a difference.
$200 for a new one.
http://www.22lrconversions.com/1911-pg.htm
$200 for a new one.
http://www.22lrconversions.com/1911-pg.htm
I had one of the Colt 22 conversion units, it worked very well and didn't foul like some have reported in the past. It had the target sights just like the National match I used it on. It shot pretty well on that frame. I foolishly sold it with the National Match (another fools idea).
Came into another one recently, so far the little Ive used it its worked OK. Would like to find another magazine, but they aren't common now.
Came into another one recently, so far the little Ive used it its worked OK. Would like to find another magazine, but they aren't common now.
Old Shooter
Member
I've used the Kimber version. Worked well, went bang every time, easy to install, fairly accurate. Mine didn't have last round hold open and that was the only thing that bothered me about it.
Taurus 617 CCW
Member
When I had my Springfield 1911A1 I bought a Ciener kit for it. It worked great with no modifications to the pistol frame. The magazines were of very good quality. Only thing was it didn't lock open after the last round. I bought some .22 action proving dummies and put one in first when loading a magazine to save the firing pin.
I am surprised nobody has mentioned the Marvel units yet. I don't have one, but a lot of people swear by them.
http://www.marvelprecision.com/
http://www.marvelprecision.com/
bannockburn
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Pilot
I mentioned them in my post. Beautifully made .22 conversion kits and very accurate, only problem was when I was looking for one (a Unit 2 version), they were always out of stock. Same thing with the Advantage Arms conversion kits; currently their website shows all of their 1911 kits to be out of stock. Got tired of waiting on them so I went with the TacSol conversion kit.
I mentioned them in my post. Beautifully made .22 conversion kits and very accurate, only problem was when I was looking for one (a Unit 2 version), they were always out of stock. Same thing with the Advantage Arms conversion kits; currently their website shows all of their 1911 kits to be out of stock. Got tired of waiting on them so I went with the TacSol conversion kit.
Cannibul
Member
If I want a high dollar conversion I'd get a Nelson. Guys on the 1911 forum swear by them.
HOWARD J
Member
I have a Colt Ace 1911---whole unit made by Colt.
These were used by military to train men to shoot a
45 1911.
It must have come as quite a shock when they finally shot a real
45 cartridge.
On mine a 45 ACP slide would jamb on the frame
These were used by military to train men to shoot a
45 1911.
It must have come as quite a shock when they finally shot a real
45 cartridge.
On mine a 45 ACP slide would jamb on the frame
1KPerDay
Member
I have a Colt .22 conversion upper from the 70s or therabouts, after they stopped calling it the ACE. Steel slide with the separate floating chamber/booster. Very cool but mags are expensive and finicky. Fun to shoot with the added recoil.
I also have an Advantage Arms upper and it is the bee's knees. Mags are $20 or less and very reliable, locks open empty with a steel insert in the mag catch slot, and is exceptionally reliable with recommended ammo (remington golden bullets or CCI Mini mags or similar powered ammo). If it's a Colt, $200 is a good deal. If it's Ceiner or AA, not so much.
I also have an Advantage Arms upper and it is the bee's knees. Mags are $20 or less and very reliable, locks open empty with a steel insert in the mag catch slot, and is exceptionally reliable with recommended ammo (remington golden bullets or CCI Mini mags or similar powered ammo). If it's a Colt, $200 is a good deal. If it's Ceiner or AA, not so much.
1KPerDay
Member
Advantage Arms .22 upper
Colt conversion unit
Dog Soldier
member
i like cartridge conversions of any kind. I also like anything 1911 so these conversion are a big favorite. I also like the SIG 1911 .22 rimfire. The SIG 1911 .22 is not a match grade pistol. Yes, it is made out of mystery metal. But it is a damn fun beer can banger.
Vern Humphrey
Member
I also like the Ace style Colt conversion kit with the floating chamber -- I have mine mounted on an M1927 Argentine, and it is a great little woods gun -- but not as accurate as my 1938 Woodsman, nor my Ruger MKII with the heavy barrel and trigger job.
One thing to beware of -- there are many different .22 conversion kits for the M1911, and some of them are quality, others are junk. Be sure you know what you're getting.
One thing to beware of -- there are many different .22 conversion kits for the M1911, and some of them are quality, others are junk. Be sure you know what you're getting.
bannockburn
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Vern Humphrey
Quite true. Bought one inexpensive .22 conversion kit (I believe it was made in Italy and the slide was made out of aluminum), took it home and couldn't even get it started on the frame of any of my 1911s. Got my money back on that one. This was what got me started looking at the more higher-end conversion kits, like those made by Marvel and Advantage Arms,finally gong with one made by TacSol.
Quite true. Bought one inexpensive .22 conversion kit (I believe it was made in Italy and the slide was made out of aluminum), took it home and couldn't even get it started on the frame of any of my 1911s. Got my money back on that one. This was what got me started looking at the more higher-end conversion kits, like those made by Marvel and Advantage Arms,finally gong with one made by TacSol.
Steve Cover
Member
I bought a Colt Ace conversion almost 40 years ago.
Kept clean and fed decent ammunition, it shoots very well with no jamming.
Note that this conversion was designed to be a 22 conversion for an out of the box 1911 and not a target modification.
As such, it's accuracy is about the same as an out of the box 1950's Government model.
I love mine and up until the 22 ammunition drought shot it quite often.
One caveat, the 22 has ten round magazines.
During the time I carried a cocked and locked 1911 for protection, my 22 practice was always with magazines loaded with only seven rounds.
You do under pressure what you have trained to do.
I didn't want to risk an unconscious belief that my 45 still had three rounds in it in a gunfight and not reload it.
The gunfight never happened, and I now roll pop cans with full magazines.
If you carry your 45 for protection, you may want to consider this.
If it is an old Colt Ace kit, for $200 jump on it.
Steve
Kept clean and fed decent ammunition, it shoots very well with no jamming.
Note that this conversion was designed to be a 22 conversion for an out of the box 1911 and not a target modification.
As such, it's accuracy is about the same as an out of the box 1950's Government model.
I love mine and up until the 22 ammunition drought shot it quite often.
One caveat, the 22 has ten round magazines.
During the time I carried a cocked and locked 1911 for protection, my 22 practice was always with magazines loaded with only seven rounds.
You do under pressure what you have trained to do.
I didn't want to risk an unconscious belief that my 45 still had three rounds in it in a gunfight and not reload it.
The gunfight never happened, and I now roll pop cans with full magazines.
If you carry your 45 for protection, you may want to consider this.
If it is an old Colt Ace kit, for $200 jump on it.
Steve
il.bill
Member
I have a $200 Sig Sauer branded 1911 .22LR conversion made by GSG (German Sport Guns) and am altogether happy with it. It runs great on CCI MiniMags and Federal Auto Match ammo, and it takes less time to mount the conversion to the frame than putting the original slide, barrel, and link back on.
highlander 5
Member
I have an Advantage Arms kit and I do like it but I found that of the 4 1911s I have it will fit only 2 both of which are S&W. It will not fit on my 2 SR1911s. The kit will slide so far then it binds up,I probably could lightly stone the guide rails on the frame to get it to fit but since the kit works on the S&W frames that good enough. Also the AA kit works on series 70 or 80s frame.
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