Ohhhh, tough call..Ken!
I have a Ciener kit for the Commander/Officer's model I got about six years ago. It has been reliable. How much accuracy you get depends on the ammo and which frame you have it bolted onto. My kit does great with federal ammo on my Officer's frame, but another Officer frame and the Commander frame I originally got it for was not as accurate. The sights are fairly well regulated, but again, depends on ammo you are shooting.
The Ruger 22/45, however, is generally more accurate..in my experience. Though the controls and feel are very similar to the 1911, they are not exact. Milady and I are shopping for a 22/45 just the same(more for her plinking pleasure, but I get to use it too).
The conversion unit is cool, if you have more than one 1911 to try it on(that way you can always have a .45 handy), or if you are in a gun-phobic location where everything has to be registered. Then I would get the Ciener Platinum series at minimum and maybe go for the Marvel unit...which is a bit more cash.
The units are get training tools...it helps you get used to your controls, trigger, and ergonomic set up on your 1911. Though, I always end my plinking sessions with a box of .45 acp, just to remind myself that it goes 'boom, boom' not 'plink,plink'.
I think, if I was doing it over right now, for plinking and general fun....I'd get the Ruger(with the stainless'skinny' barrel eather than the various lengths of bull barrel)..so I could use it as a dedicated field gun. And Have a second gun to teach others the joy of shooting, while not depriving myself of the joy of lobbing 230grainers in another lane!
If I was gonna get real serious about accuracy...I'd get a Marvel unit rather than the bull barreled Ruger(does not balance right in my hand with light frame and long tube out front).
So it is a split with me, depending n what you feel you need. My Ciener has given me hours of fun, cheaply, paid for itself quite fast, and help me teach a half a dozen people about shooting.
Either will be fun!
Jercamp45
