22LR Conversion vs 22LR Handgun

[D.B. Cooper]

So....I'm considering getting back to my local club's USPSA styled weekly pistol league. Participation has dropped off precipitously. Most folks still involved are shooting 22LR handguns. So my question is: is it better to go with a conversion kit for my centerfire handgun, or buy a purpose built rimfire handgun?

I'm considering a Umarex 22LR conversion kit for the Beretta 92FS. (The kit is available whereas the Umarex-made, Beretta-licensed, M9-22 is not.) This is basically a slide with barrel, spring, etc. Just swap slide assemblies. However, I've read that these cause excessive wear on the frame due to the friction between the aluminum frame and aluminum slide. (Doesn't makes sense to me: isn't the slide on a 92FS aluminum as well?) In the end, I don't want to go that route if the 22LR slide is going to tear up my frame.

In general, how reliable are conversion kits? I've already seen the reliability problems of rimfires in this league, so I'm just wondering how a kit would compare and which is the better money spent.

 

[kidneyboy]

I have experience with Nelson, CWA, Marvel and Ceiner conversions for 1911s and Tactical solution conversions for Glocks. Wear is not an issue. Compatible, reliable magazines are.
For a pistol league I would use any Ruger MK series or a S&W Victory.

 

[Mars5l]

If you do the conversion kit it takes conversion magazines which id imagine are harder to come by than the specific ones for the Beretta/Umamrex made 92FS-22. I know when i bought my 92FS-22 they had a few in stock. In the discount bin they had the conversion magazines so thats what id base that assumption on. Plus for the price it wasn't much more to get a complete gun. I had to get extra magazines from gunmagwarehouse when they had them.

I wouldn't mind having the conversion kit to try for my Sig P226 though.

 

[WestKentucky]

I have had 2 Ceiner conversion kits. One 1911 and the other a Taurus pt92. $50 out of stock mags that were not remotely reliable is a huge turnoff and has made me question how the business continues to stay afloat. I traded my way into both kits and gladly traded my way out of them. I will not own a semiauto 22 conversion kit again. As much work as it would be I would gladly go with a crane and barrel swap on a revolver before I did an upper swap again. For pure plinking they are fine because reliability does t really matter, but for a league competition gun, no way.

 

[Don_P]

If the Beretta is your only option, I can't offer anything there.

In general I think most conversions are reasonably reliable for plinking. However I also believe the better the product, the better the performance.

If you're looking for rock solid performance and reliability, look at Nelson. My 1911 Nelson and Marvel conversions are a pleasure to shoot. My Advantage Arms is ......okay. The Nelson will shoot most any ammo, the AA needs CCI mini-mags to function reliably.

Reliable 22 conversion mags for the 1911 kits are pretty common and affordable, the GSG's being my favorites.

My CZ Kadet for my Shadow 2 is also super reliable.

If it were a rimfire only handgun you decide on, I would recommend the Ruger Mk pistols also. They are very reliable with many aftermarket upgrade parts available, and the new model Mk IV is very easy to care for. I really liked the Victory and was on the brink of a purchase until I shot with a couple of guys who had them and both guns were very ammo brand sensitive.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I've read that these cause excessive wear on the frame due to the friction between the aluminum frame and aluminum slide. (Doesn't makes sense to me: isn't the slide on a 92FS aluminum as well?)

The slide of a 92FS is made of steel

In the end, I don't want to go that route if the 22LR slide is going to tear up my frame.

I could imagine wear on the slide, but not on the frame...were they referring to galling between the two aluminum surfaces?

In general, how reliable are conversion kits? I've already seen the reliability problems of rimfires in this league, so I'm just wondering how a kit would compare and which is the better money spent.

I've never used a kit on a Beretta 92, but I have used several of them on the SIG 220 and 226. The conversion kits were very reliable...but I only ran them with CCI MiniMags

If your goal is to become better with your 92FS, the conversion kit would be a better choice. If your goal is to be highly competitive in the league you've described, I think a Ruger 22/45 might be a better choice...mostly due to increased reliability and availability of additional magazines

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Wear is not an issue. Compatible, reliable magazines are.

...I had to get extra magazines from gunmagwarehouse ...

Yep. Brownell's sells mags as well as thekit, but the mags are out of stock. (I expect the kit will be soon as well.)

 

[D.B. Cooper]

If the Beretta is your only option, I can't offer anything there.

It is and it isn't. It's my easiest option, largely because new guns are unavailable.

If it were a rimfire only handgun you decide on, I would recommend the Ruger Mk pistols also. They are very reliable with many aftermarket upgrade parts available, and the new model Mk IV is very easy to care for. I really liked the Victory and was on the brink of a purchase until I shot with a couple of guys who had them and both guns were very ammo brand sensitive.

We had a Mk I or II in my later teen years, but my dad sold it at some point, or gave it to a friend or something. Good gun, very accurate. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one again, but, as I mentioned earlier, there are none to be had locally, not even the Mk IV new. I once owned a S&W 22S (predecessor to the Victory, very similar looking.) Also very accurate. Kept breaking the little plastic buffer between the rear of the slide and recoil spring/rod. I foolishly sold it many years ago because I was no longer shooting handguns.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

The conversion kits were very reliable...but I only ran them with CCI MiniMags

I suspected as much, and that right there is a no-go. I have some mini mags, stingers, etc., but I'm not burning them up in league shoots. The hi-vel ammo I have is for hunting. The bulk ammo for is plinking, training, etc.

If your goal is to become better with your 92FS, the conversion kit would be a better choice. If your goal is to be highly competitive in the league you've described, I think a Ruger 22/45 might be a better choice...mostly due to increased reliability and availability of additional magazines

Getting better with the 92 would be the priority over placing higher in the league. Although I agree with your assessment of the Ruger.

 

[bannockburn]

If your goal is to become better with your 92FS, the conversion kit would be a better choice. If your goal is to be highly competitive in the league you've described, I think a Ruger 22/45 might be a better choice...mostly due to increased reliability and availability of additional magazines

This from 9mmepiphany is probably the essential factor to consider. I have several .22 conversion kits for my 1911s, CZ P01, and CZ P07. All of them work just fine and the accuracy is fairly decent. I also have a Ruger Mk. II that is very reliable and very accurate as well. If it was my choice primarily for competition I would go with the Ruger; if it was for getting better with my primary carry gun, then I would go with the conversion kits.

 

[mgmorden]

I like a dedicated .22 LR pistol more, but they both work. I have a GSG .22 LR conversion upper for my 1911 and in dedicated handguns both a Buckmark and a Ruger Mk 1. The Buckmark and Ruger are both more accurate and lighter with better sights.

Ironically the .22 LR conversion has actually been more reliable for me, though admittedly I've shot it less than the dedicated handguns so I might not have shot it enough to really notice any issues.

 

[Jim Watson]

I have no experience with a Beretta conversion but would not worry about wearing out my frame shooting .22s over it. Just keep it clean and lubed.

As far as activities go, at one range in my area, the IDPA MD-AC has been running a .22 division but I haven't gone in winter weather. I am looking forward to it, forecast for Saturday looks OK.
IDPA put out an all hands bulletin this morning officially approving .22s for Specialty Division.

I will shoot my Nelson Conversion on my least used 1911 action, or maybe my CZ Kadet Conversion, both are very reliable as .22s go. Unfortunately, my Colt ACE .22 is not.

I seldom shoot Steel Challenge in centerfire, it is usually Rimfire Pistol; S&W M41 iron sight, High Standard Citation Military in optic.

I keep mostly good ammo and only have a little off brand or salvage for practice.
The Nelson is OK with Aquila HV and CCI SV or HV. The CZ wants CCI.
The M41 is OK with Aquila SV, the HS with CCI SV.

One of my shooting partners is having a holster made for her Buckmark.