Colt/Umarex/Walther 1911 in 22lr First Range report

[TennJed]

I recently got one of the Uramex/Colt/Walther 1911 .22lrs. I got the government model for $389 OTD. Seems well made. Fit and finish is good. I bought it for a fun range plinker. I wanted a 22lr in the 1911 format and I chose this over the others because (Chiappa and clones had bad reviews, cheaply made, and remington was too small and expensive.)

Some of the advantages (IMHO) over the GSG/Sig
12 round mag
no magazine disconnect
fixed barrel
no allen wrench needed for takedown (takedown very easy)

If I understand the company relationships on this one it is made by Walther for Colt and imported by Umarex. (at least that is what it says on the gun).

I took it out for the first time yesterday (along with a new Ruger Mark III i got my son for Christmas) and I must say I am impressed. Accuracy is good. It shoots slightly low (not much), but not too bad for a fun plinker

50 rounds CCI bulk--no issues
50 rounds Remington Subsonic -- no issues
50 rounds Federal bulk (walmart value pack) no issues
100 rounds of Winchester Superx -- no issues
200+ rounds Federal Lightening-- 7 failures to feed, 1 stovepipe. (note I also shot a new Ruger Mark III and had issues with the Federal Lightening with it also)

Overall I am happy with the purchase. It is not a Colt Ace but it is cheaper than the Ruger Mark III that I recently bought and it was just as reliable and was close in accuracy to it.

I have to believe the issues with the Federal Lightening is ammo related. I have had trouble with it in every 22 auto I have shot it out of. Unfortuately I bought a bunch of it while it was on sale (4000 rds) so I guess I need to shoot it up quick to get rid of it

Here are some pics. I replaced the factory rubber grips with some wood ones

 

[1KPerDay]

Handsome gun. Thanks for the report.

 

[tubeshooter]

I agree - nice looking .22 there. If I was a 1911 guy, I'd be very interested in this!


Thanks for the report.

 

[1KPerDay]

Anyone know if the mags for these will work in actual Colts with Ace or .22 Conversion Kit uppers?

 

[Solo]

How is the finish on the Colt? It looks like it's better than the finish on the GSG - I'm basing that on the fact that the finish seems to have less wear than on my GSG, where the recoil plug's finish is starting to wear off on the bottom left after +200 rounds.

 

[TennJed]

How is the finish on the Colt? It looks like it's better than the finish on the GSG - I'm basing that on the fact that the finish seems to have less wear than on my GSG, where the recoil plug's finish is starting to wear off on the bottom left after +200 rounds.

It has held up really well. It is showing no wear and it has been in and out of a holster fairly often.

I credit alot of that to the fact that as soon as I brought it home I gave it a good once over with Johnston paste wax. These pics were taken after the range trip

 

[TennJed]

Just another update. I shot a few more rounds today and I am really liking this gun. Shot a total of 500+ rounds and had 2 failure to feed and 2 stovepipes. All of these were with the Federal Lightening rounds.

Approx 100 CCI Blazer bulk -- no problems
Approx 50 rounds Winchester Super X -- no problems
Approx 50 rounds Remington subsonic bulk -- no problems
Approx 25 rounds of Federal Bulk -- no problems
Approx 300 rounds of Federal lightening -- 2 FTF and 2 stovepipes

Accuracy was very good today. I was shooting off a picnic table top and shooting at small stump protruding out of a pond at roughly 50 feet. (stick was approx 12" high and 4 inches wide) So it was no bullseye paper punch, but i was impressed.

 

[forindooruseonly]

How much does it weigh? One of the real downers about the Kimber .22 that I bought years ago was that it was so light that it didn't feel even close to a .45 1911. I would have really liked it had it weighed more.

 

[TennJed]

How much does it weigh? One of the real downers about the Kimber .22 that I bought years ago was that it was so light that it didn't feel even close to a .45 1911. I would have really liked it had it weighed more.

The specs sheet list it at 2.25 lbs unloaded without magazine. I guess that would be 38oz. Not positive but arn't most 1911 45acp around 40 oz?

 

[TonyT]

Are the slide and frame aluminum or zinc alloy on these 22's ?

 

[TennJed]

Are the slide and frame aluminum or zinc alloy on these 22's ?

For what it is worth, I have read on another forum somewhere that the colt slide is Aircraft grade aluminum (whatever that is). Not posted as fact, just what I have been told