rpenmanparker
Member
- Joined
- Mar 6, 2018
- Messages
- 2,456
I am writing this in advance to kill some time before I am ready to go to the indoor range today to try out my new inexpensive ATI Commander size .45 1911 and the used Marvel Unit 1 .22LR conversion slide for which I bought the ATI in the first place. This has been a huge PITA all through the process, but hopefully, it is good times and clear sailing ahead.
The 1911 was delayed two weeks coming to Houston from Smokey Mountain Guns and Ammo in Tennessee (not their fault at all) by a total screw up by the USPS. It just sat for most of that time in a Dallas postal distribution center without moving and unreachable by any method to get it going again. I guess I should be thankful that all ended well.
While I was waiting for the 1911, the Marvel conversion (off GunBroker.com) arrived. I had decided I would use a couple of spare red dot sights on the 1911 and Marvel slides so I started with the Marvel. I decided to use my spare Busnell TRS-25 tubular red dot optic on the .22LR slide so a dovetail to rail conversion plate was required. I found some at CZ-USA. After getting bad information from Frerking Custom Works (the new owner of the Marvel conversion line) and ordering a rail-type mounting plate for a BoMar dovetail, I had to send it back. Of course the required Novak version was out-of-stock, so I had to go looking elsewhere. I found what I needed at Sight-Mount.com for twice the price of the CZ-USA unit, but the owner, Jim Drago is a prince. Loads of help. Just ask. And he will make just about whatever you need if you don't see it in his product list. Then the dovetail insert part of the fitting was a bit small. Fortunately the mounting screws for the rail plate pull the dovetail insert up tight in the dovetail and make everything secure. Then the TRS-25 mated to it beautifully. So far, so good.
When the 1911 arrived, I removed the mil-spec dovetail , but couldn't install the mounting plate dovetail due to it being too big. Keith the gunsmith at Athena Gun Club took care of that for me, and how. The inexpensive Sightmark red dot looks great on the .45 slide, like the mount was cut into the slide almost.
So much for preliminaries. I finally went to the range today to try out both slides and zero the optics. I am so impressed with the ATI 1911. $329 delivered to the FFL. And does it shoot! Beautiful trigger especially after about 100 cycles of pushing the hammer forward while pulling the trigger. Tight, but smooth. A little takeup to start and then snap like breaking glass. So sweet. Tight groups. Nary a malfunction with the OEM and two Wilson Combat magazines even with JHP ammo. I am so pleased with it.
Unfortunately the conversion slide is a different story. It just doesn't work on that lower. I have tried three magazines and none of them work. It doesn't strip and chamber rounds. When you manage to get a round in the chamber, it doesn't eject the empty. Shoots fine, but so what. I am discussing a return for credit with the seller. He seems cooperative. I'm willing to pay the return shipping and leave him a few bucks for his trouble. Not really his fault. I believe him when he says the conversion worked fine on his 1911. I just don't want to be on the hook for a paperweight.
Assuming I return the conversion and come out okay, I have to decide what to do next. I could buy a Nelson, also a Marvel design, but I think more up to date and more reliable. Or maybe I will look around at what else is available.
Here is what's funny. I really didn't want the .45 1911. I just bought it to mount the conversion slide on. But now I am so glad I did. I am just tickled with it. What a super value! Strange how that worked out. Even if I have to go back to square one on the conversion, I am still ahead of the game.
I almost forgot. While I was waiting for the 1911 to arrive, I found some reasonably priced G10 grips for it to replace the OEM mahogany ones. Big improvement. Also Keith has an ambi safety on order for me and will install it when it arrives. Good thing the gun started out cheap. That won't last for long.
The 1911 was delayed two weeks coming to Houston from Smokey Mountain Guns and Ammo in Tennessee (not their fault at all) by a total screw up by the USPS. It just sat for most of that time in a Dallas postal distribution center without moving and unreachable by any method to get it going again. I guess I should be thankful that all ended well.
While I was waiting for the 1911, the Marvel conversion (off GunBroker.com) arrived. I had decided I would use a couple of spare red dot sights on the 1911 and Marvel slides so I started with the Marvel. I decided to use my spare Busnell TRS-25 tubular red dot optic on the .22LR slide so a dovetail to rail conversion plate was required. I found some at CZ-USA. After getting bad information from Frerking Custom Works (the new owner of the Marvel conversion line) and ordering a rail-type mounting plate for a BoMar dovetail, I had to send it back. Of course the required Novak version was out-of-stock, so I had to go looking elsewhere. I found what I needed at Sight-Mount.com for twice the price of the CZ-USA unit, but the owner, Jim Drago is a prince. Loads of help. Just ask. And he will make just about whatever you need if you don't see it in his product list. Then the dovetail insert part of the fitting was a bit small. Fortunately the mounting screws for the rail plate pull the dovetail insert up tight in the dovetail and make everything secure. Then the TRS-25 mated to it beautifully. So far, so good.
When the 1911 arrived, I removed the mil-spec dovetail , but couldn't install the mounting plate dovetail due to it being too big. Keith the gunsmith at Athena Gun Club took care of that for me, and how. The inexpensive Sightmark red dot looks great on the .45 slide, like the mount was cut into the slide almost.
So much for preliminaries. I finally went to the range today to try out both slides and zero the optics. I am so impressed with the ATI 1911. $329 delivered to the FFL. And does it shoot! Beautiful trigger especially after about 100 cycles of pushing the hammer forward while pulling the trigger. Tight, but smooth. A little takeup to start and then snap like breaking glass. So sweet. Tight groups. Nary a malfunction with the OEM and two Wilson Combat magazines even with JHP ammo. I am so pleased with it.
Unfortunately the conversion slide is a different story. It just doesn't work on that lower. I have tried three magazines and none of them work. It doesn't strip and chamber rounds. When you manage to get a round in the chamber, it doesn't eject the empty. Shoots fine, but so what. I am discussing a return for credit with the seller. He seems cooperative. I'm willing to pay the return shipping and leave him a few bucks for his trouble. Not really his fault. I believe him when he says the conversion worked fine on his 1911. I just don't want to be on the hook for a paperweight.
Assuming I return the conversion and come out okay, I have to decide what to do next. I could buy a Nelson, also a Marvel design, but I think more up to date and more reliable. Or maybe I will look around at what else is available.
Here is what's funny. I really didn't want the .45 1911. I just bought it to mount the conversion slide on. But now I am so glad I did. I am just tickled with it. What a super value! Strange how that worked out. Even if I have to go back to square one on the conversion, I am still ahead of the game.
I almost forgot. While I was waiting for the 1911 to arrive, I found some reasonably priced G10 grips for it to replace the OEM mahogany ones. Big improvement. Also Keith has an ambi safety on order for me and will install it when it arrives. Good thing the gun started out cheap. That won't last for long.
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