Browning 1911-22

[Charlie1022]

We stopped by our lgs last night and I saw this used 1911-22 that looked like new. The price was right so I showed it to my wife and she liked the very light weight and how it fit her small hands so I bought it for her. We took it out in our backyard and she shot it on our handgun range. It took her a few magazines to get used to it but then she started hitting the metal spinners and an old bowling pin. she even was hitting some leaves I put out as targets. I was impressed with this new handgun and how it shot. I told her that I could not shoot this one because of my large hands and the hammer would pinch my hand. Garn and I wanted to try it !!

 

[cheygriz]

I'm happy for you that you got a good one.

I bought one last year, and have to use both hands to push the so-called grip safety in far enough to make it fire. I called Browning and they said my grip was wrong. REALLY?? I used 1911 pistols in bullseye competition for 20 years, and hold an Master rating.

I also asked for a spare magaxine, and was told they were not available.

The little weapon has a nice feel to it, and I think I would like it if I could get some customer support from Browning.

 

[dirtman]

My wife has the black label 1911 browning 22, which she wanted because it felt right in her hands... we have 2 mags for it and it has been a ton of fun... they are good little shooters and we have had NO problems. We will not be getting rid of it. We have not needed customer support, but are not impressed with your experience. Good luck Chey....

 

[Hasaf]

I am very likely to get a 1911-380. If I do I will almost certainly also get a 1911-22 for practice. However, while I am pretty sold on the Medallion Compact for the 380 (I just like the way it looks), for the 22 I will just go with whatever is cheapest.

By way of comparison, my current .22 pistol is a Norinco TT Olympia that I purchased in the 80s' (this may seem odd, I actually have two of them). I add this to put some perspective on my willingness to spend more than I need to on a 22 pistol.

 

[dirtman]

My wife liked her 1911 bl 22 so much that she went out and bought the 380 browning. Hasaf, We were unable to get the medallion model so settled for the lesser model..... We really liked the looks of that medallion just could not find one anywhere.... The Black Label 1911 22 does have better sights then the regular model and you may find them more to your likeing. all the best.

 

[ttarp]

You should give it a shot(pun intended), no sense in assuming it will pinch before you try it. They're fantastic .22's, I even ended up buying one of the .380's despite my strong dislike for the plastic frame, and ambi safety, but I was shocked at how well it shot, and fell in love with it too.

In a world where the goal is to cram the largest caliber in the smallest unshootable pistol, the scaled down Brownings are a refreshing(and positive) change.

 

[Patocazador]

I bought one last year, and have to use both hands to push the so-called grip safety in far enough to make it fire. I called Browning and they said my grip was wrong. REALLY??

AFAIK, Browning doesn't make any guns and never did. They farm them all out, originally, to FN in Belgium and then to other manufacturing facilities. It's a pretty good bet that the reps don't know any more about the product than the customer.

 

[Hasaf]

AFAIK, Browning doesn't make any guns and never did. They farm them all out, originally, to FN in Belgium and then to other manufacturing facilities. It's a pretty good bet that the reps don't know any more about the product than the customer.

That is a bit like Nike doesn't make shoes or Apple doesn't make phones. While it may be (is) true, the products they market are associated with their company. Further, Apple service department probably knows quite a bit about the phones.

While Browning may be (is) a marketing company, that does not mean they are ignorant of their product.

 

[dirtman]

geez, browning didn't make my 45 acp either, just figured out how to do it..... some other company made it and put a silly little horse on the grip....
I have always like that horse and that pistol and design......

 

[Patocazador]

While Browning may be (is) a marketing company, that does not mean they are ignorant of their product.

I have personal proof that their reps don't know much about their products. Back in the '70s I had a Browning Explorer I compound bow. It was actually made by Browning in Morgan, Utah. Every year when I started practicing for hunting season, one or both Bakelite bushings broke when the bow was drawn. I would call and send the bow to Utah. They would replace the bushings with other sub-standard bushings and return the bow. This happened in 4 consecutive years. Each time I called, the phone rep at the factory didn't know what I was talking about. He had to put a technician (line worker) on the phone.
I suggested that they could avoid the problem by using brass bushings which they never did. Finally, they quit making that model and offered me a new bow of my choice at no cost. When it arrived, it too had Bakelite bushings. I never unboxed the bow and sold it to the first person who gave me $100 cash for it.

 

[MrChicken]

I am very likely to get a 1911-380.l.

I like mine, have not shot it much just one range session. No problems with WWB and Gold Dots.
Shoots very gently, my wife keeps making noises about it becoming "her gun".
Black Arch makes a nice IWB for it, and that would fit the 1911-22 as well.
Mags for the 1911-380 are plentiful, my LGS had 10 of them and many online shops showed stock when I looked.

 

[Hasaf]

Black Arch makes a nice IWB for it, and that would fit the 1911-22 as well.
Mags for the 1911-380 are plentiful, my LGS had 10 of them and many online shops showed stock when I looked.

Holsters is a concern, I prefer OWB. I still keep it concealed however, no one if going to panic if my coat or undershirt shifts. I live, and work, in states where the sight of a pistol isn't going to cause upset.

That being said, I see very few holsters for this pistol. I like the style of the OWB concealment holster that browning makes, it is the same style that I use for my Kimber. I am concerned because that holster has gotten some poor reviews.

 

[MrChicken]

Black Arch makes an owb as well, have not tried it.

I remember seeing some owb holsters on eBay.

Browning made both a leather with two way can't and a straight drop plastic/kydex holster. Saw both of those on eBay.

I called Milt Sparks and they said they'd make one if I'd send the gun to them. They'd only have it for as long as it took to make the holster.

 

[47CubPilot]

I'm happy for you that you got a good one.

I bought one last year, and have to use both hands to push the so-called grip safety in far enough to make it fire. I called Browning and they said my grip was wrong. REALLY?? I used 1911 pistols in bullseye competition for 20 years, and hold an Master rating.

I had to really concentrate on my grip to make sure that the grip safety was fully depressed. On mine, it goes in further than the main spring housing. I just added a small hump made of JB Weld so that it is just slightly higher than the main spring housing when fully depressed. Don't even have to think about it anymore.
I also filed the rear sight notch deeper and just a touch wider. Along with a white dot on the front, it is much easier to acquire the sights.
It has been a blast to shoot. 200 to 300 rounds per session is easy! It has given me a boost in confidence that I can hit what I'm aiming at. I now shoot my Sig P938 much better.

 

[larryh1108]

It is easy to file down the trigger contact area of the grip safety to release the trigger sooner. Just like the 1911.
Takes 15 min if you know how to get the grip safety off quickly.

 

[rpenmanparker]

You should give it a shot(pun intended), no sense in assuming it will pinch before you try it. They're fantastic .22's, I even ended up buying one of the .380's despite my strong dislike for the plastic frame, and ambi safety, but I was shocked at how well it shot, and fell in love with it too.

In a world where the goal is to cram the largest caliber in the smallest unshootable pistol, the scaled down Brownings are a refreshing(and positive) change.

There is some plastic, but the frame is mostly aluminum.

 

[rpenmanparker]

I have the Medallion model in the full length 4.25 + threaded barrel. I run it with a TandemKross compensator. I also had the rear sight dovetail opened up to take a Burris FF3 red dot sight mounting plate. Whatever you think of how the gun shoots with open sights, you really should try it with the mini red dot. So sweet.

I should mention that it would have made more sense (to me) to cut down the mounting plate dovetail insert instead of opening up the dovetail slot, but the smith was adamant. If I want to put back on a rear open sight, i will have to buy an aftermarket one that fits the larger Novak cut. That could have been avoided by cutting down the insert instead.

 

[ttarp]

On the .380? No, the frame is mostly plastic, undoubtedly so. Its true there is a good bit of aluminum around the rails and in key spots, but its mostly plastic.

 

[rpenmanparker]

On the .380? No, the frame is mostly plastic, undoubtedly so. Its true there is a good bit of aluminum around the rails and in key spots, but its mostly plastic.

Okay, I’ll stand corrected. Written info says the “subframe” is aluminum.

 

[47CubPilot]

It is easy to file down the trigger contact area of the grip safety to release the trigger sooner. Just like the 1911.
Takes 15 min if you know how to get the grip safety off quickly.

Thanks. At 65, always learning! And the more I learn, the more I realize that I don't know!!!!