Info on the Browning 1911 22lr requested.
- Thread starter Orion8472
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Orion8472
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Agreed, Jedd. And the Browning 1911 22 seems to be a quality built firearm. Caliber really shouldn't matter. Now, because of the lower pressure of the 22lr round, SOME pistols have resorted to using cheaper materials [ie. zamak] in their construction. That would be a case where they should not bring a high price. Materials used in the Browning are good, from what I understand.
My question is why can Ruger, S&W, Beretta, and even Browning's Buckmark subcontractor make a high quality .22LR pistol with "good" materials and charge around $300 or so for many models yet this 1911-22 has to be pushing $600 in many areas. It is almost twice the price of other quality .22's. Do you really want to pay more than you have to pay to shoot a .22 pistol?
The Browning 1911-22 is unique piece - it's the only 4/5 scale 1911 I'm aware of. As such, it makes a great pistol for folks who want 1911 styling but need a small grip. I bought mine expressly for my grandkids to shoot. It fits their small hands well, has minimal recoil, and mimics a 1911 very well. It's too small for me.
Will my 22/45 outshoot the Browning? Yes, in my hands. Can my grandson shoot the 22/45 as well as the Browning? Nope.
The Browning was twice the price of some .22LR handguns, half the price of others. It was, by far, the best scale model of a 1911 that would fit the grandkids (and wife, for that matter) that I could find. Mine has been 100% reliable, and I have no regrets about buying it.
Will my 22/45 outshoot the Browning? Yes, in my hands. Can my grandson shoot the 22/45 as well as the Browning? Nope.
The Browning was twice the price of some .22LR handguns, half the price of others. It was, by far, the best scale model of a 1911 that would fit the grandkids (and wife, for that matter) that I could find. Mine has been 100% reliable, and I have no regrets about buying it.
Why does a H&K or Sig 9mm/40/45 cost so much more than a Ruger? Plenty of center fire guns cost 2x as much as other quality center fires but it seems to be accepted. My point is there is no reason to expect a 22 to be priced and sold different just because it is a 22
Your last sentence "Do you really want to pay more than you have to pay to shoot a .22 pistol" why would you not apply it to all calibers?
Lots if people would never consider a 45acp 1911 for $550 because it is too cheap, yet that is considered too much for a 1911 22???????
An HK is an imported pistol subject to exchange rates and a very weak dollar. Sig has similar issues, albeit many are now assembled here. They are both higher quality pistols than Ruger semis, although the Rugers are serviceable. In that example you get what you pay for. My point is that for close to $600 you can get an all steel target pistol rather than a plinker. I LIKE the Browning 1911-22, but for me it is not worth $600. I can buy a more accurate, nicer Buckmark, made by the same subcontractor for half the price.
I may have misunderstood you then. You don't think the browning is a $600 gun quality wise. The caliber is irrelevant. My point is that a gun should not cost less just because it is a 22.
I understand what you are saying. I think a typical .22 plinker should cost less than a quality centerfire pistol. I would not want to pay HK, Sig, or even Beretta, or Glock prices for a Ruger MK III or Buckmark, and I don't think the 1911-22 is any better made or a better pistol than the MKIII or Buckmark.
Browning is over charging for these because they can. The market, for now, wants a unique little, quality downsized 1911. It is worth what the market will pay. Whether it can sustain that price point is another matter.
The few that have made it to dealers here have all been sold, leaving Buckmarks, SRs, and M&P 22s still in stock. The market, at least here, has yet to react equilibrium. There are no Mark IIIs to be had, either.
There is a Kimber rimfire in the $1100 range, though....
Everyone has different wants, needs, and desires. The Browning 1911-22 is not my first choice to shoot, but it will see plenty of use from the wife and grandkids. I still might have bought it, just 'cuz it's so darn unique. OK, ok, it's CUTE...there, I said it!
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Orion8472
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My mom really didn't care about the price. She liked the way it looked . . . and because it was a Browning [for what that's worth]. I thought it shot quite well. Better than some [P-22, SR-22], not as well as others [my Mark II]. Still, price wasn't really a part of the equation, and fortunately, it ran quite fine!
Jed Carter
Member
Sights are tiny, I get pretty good hammer bite, shoots and runs well enough to be a back up pistol. Mine is the 3.6" compact, bought it used, well worth the price. Hope my wife never sees it, I never will again.
I will say this. It is a unique pistol in the marketplace due its size and 1911 styling. It gives us another choice which is good. If I find one used at a decent price I may pick one up someday. I always wanted one of the little Llama 1911 style .22's to go with my Llama XXI .380 (same gun just in .380). They are "cute" little buggers.
Speedo66
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"Subcontractor" has been used in 3 different posts to describe the maker of the 1911-22 and the Buckmark.
Could someone please explain this, and let us know who this mythical company is? They seem to do good work.
Could someone please explain this, and let us know who this mythical company is? They seem to do good work.
Browning is a marketing, and distribution company. They don't make ANY guns. Other manufacturers make guns for them. FN in Belgium makes the Browning Hi Power, and a subcontracting firm (I don't have the name) makes the Browning Buckmark in the U.S. I forget where Browning rifles and shotguns are made, but they are NOT made by Browning.
danez71
Member
That makes me wonder who is making the 1911 22lr now.
The name of the company escapes me right now but its the same mfg as the Buck Marks
http://www.browning.com/customerservice/qna/detail.asp?id=90
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