Couple 1911 .22 questions

[bratch]

I've put the pencil to paper (actually finger to keyboard) and came up with a few numbers. To pay for a new Kimber 1911 22 (~$650) I'll need to shoot 3500 22s instead of 45s. A conversion unit would only need about 1500 rounds.

What kind of life are people getting out of the conversion units?
Do you think a new Kimber 22 or a used 1911 45 and a conversion kit would be the better route? They would be comparable in price. I could always just get the conversion unit but I'm concerned about it loosening up my frame when the 45 slide is on it.

 

[Black Majik]

I personally would never pay that much for a Kimber .22 1911. I feel its overpriced. I'd rather have a 1911 in .45 with the option of shooting .22's.

For this, the Marvel .22 Kits are the best. No other conversion kit comes close. I've had my Marvel kit for a while... and its NEVER failed with CCI Minimags.

 

[bratch]

How many rounds have you put through yours? Have you noticed any abnormal wear on the frame?
Thanks

 

[JoeHatley]

Not a Kimber, but I've had this very similar Ciener unit on a dedicated RMT alloy frame for over 10 years.



I can only guess at how many CASES this combo has gone through. Wear doesn't seem to be an issue.

Good Luck...

Joe

 

[Geno]

Kimber .22LR Upper with 5,000+ rounds No Visible Wear

My daughter (LilSureShot1994) and I have combined shot well over 5,000 rounds of .22LR with our Kimber upper. I used it on a Kimber Warrior, a Colt WWI Reproduction, Colt Series 70 Reproduction, Colt XSE, and previously a Kimber TLE/RL (now sold). Excellent accuracy, and no visible wear whatsoever!

I uploaded a picture of the Colt Series 70 STS, with the Kimber .22LR upper and a Redhead red-dot sight. As such, you can see for yourself. I did a post this morning Re: this outfit with a red-dot sight for squirrels (See comment #7):

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=190614&highlight=Doc2005

Edited to add, inasmuch as these uppers are alum., you should use lots of oil! They do soil more quickly, but they last! I am STRONGLY considering having the Warrior hard-chromed, and that will become the lower for the 22LR upper when I want to fire 22s.

Doc2005

 

[Black Majik]

Bratch,

there is no abnormal wear on my frame since the slide is aluminum and the frame is steel. Its a great shooter (it surpasses a plinker )

 

[Jim K]

For that money you could buy a couple or three Ruger .22 autos and shoot them until they wear out or hell freezes over, whichever comes first. (My money is on the freeze.)

Jim

 

[bratch]

Jim,

I've thought about that and may get a Ruger one day. I'm focusing on the 1911s right now mainly because they are my carry guns and HD guns. This isn't so much of a plinker or bullseye puncher but a cheaper alternative to training with the 1911. I'm kind of working on that "fear the man with one" thought process right now.

 

[dmallind]

My vote is an Advantage Arms .22lr kit at a bit over $250 all told NIB. About the same price as a decent Ruger Mk II .22lr but you have the advantage of the 1911 trigger and practice with the same manual of arms, feel and ergonomics as any 1911 you want to shoot.

 

[LHB1]

CORRECTION: A portion of the Marvel Unit One slide DOES move under recoil while in contact with the pistol frame. However, the Unit One slide is aluminum while the 1911 frame is steel so I don't expect any damage to the 1911 frame. Will continue using the Marvel Unit One on the Wilson frame. Sorry for the mistake yesterday. Blame it on senioritis.

I use my Unit One on my new Wilson Classic 1911 frame with no worries about it damaging the frame. The Marvel Unit Two, Ciener, Wilson, and Kimber units are designed differently but also move/slide against the frame rails.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[robvious]

I HAVE HAD NO EXPERIENCE WITH THE MARVEL CONVERSIONS, THOUGH THEY
ARE MADE DOWN THE ROAD FROM ME. I HAVE TWO CEINER CONVERSIONS.
THE FIRST ONE IS ON MY SERIES 70 COMMANDER, I TALKED MY DAD INTO
BUYING IT ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO. WE SHOT BOWLING PINS AND ANYTHING
ELSE THAT SEEMED LIKE IT NEEDED TO BE SHOT. THOUSANDS OF ROUNDS HAVE BEEN PUT THRU IT WITH NO PROBLEMS. MY SECOND CONVERSION IS FOR MY TAURUS 99 (92ish). PUSH THE BUTTON, FLIP THE LEVER, PULL THE SLIDE AND REVERSE THE PROCESS. CHANGING CALIBERS TAKES ABOUT 10 SECONDS. THEY DON'T LIKE THE SUPER FAST 22's, BUT EATS UP ALL THE FEDERAL MILKJUG 22's AND WILDCATS I CAN GET IT. I JUST WISH THEY WOULD MAKE MAGAZINES THAT COULD CARRY MORE THAT 10. THEY DO COST THE SAME AS A PLINKER 22 PISTOL, BUT YOU GET TO USE THE SAME TRIGGER THAT WANT TO PRACTICE WITH ANYWAY.

 

[LHB1]

BTT. Correction edited into previous post.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB

 

[Pebcac]

I've had pretty good luck with my Ciener conversion so far, but the AA unit looks to be a little nicer for about the same money. Marvel kits are very popular and are supposed to be spectacular shooters. I definitely would go with the kit rather than buying a complete Kimber--which is really nothing more than Kimber's conversion kit on top of an alloy frame. I was shocked when I first saw the price tag for one of those complete Kimbers.

 

[bdutton]

I have a Marvel conversion which I put on the 1911 Ball gun frame.

It is a little more expensive than the Ceiner unit but MUCH more accurate. I plan to build a dedicated lower to use as a match bullseye gun.

The Marvel unit I have DOES NOT damage the frame in any way because the slide is not tightly fitted to the frame. It is actually very loose.

I highly recommend the Marvel for those interested in precision. For those interested in plinking, the Ceiner is the better option.