So, for a couple of years, I’ve been pining for a .22 conversion for a 1911 for a few different reasons. First and foremost, as a low-cost training alternative to .45 ACP hand loads, second as something I could carry around during grouse season, and finally as something my lady-friend wouldn’t mind practicing with as well, since it would have the same manual of arms as the house gun. I also wanted something with a fixed barrel, to eek out the best available accuracy on small game, as well as a threaded muzzle for the day that Washington State finally changes its ridiculous suppressor legislation.
Although I thought long and hard about a Marvel Unit 1 due to their recent price bump, and inability to find a stocking dealer that carries the threaded barrel option, I ended up ordering a Tactical Solutions 2211.
Construction:
Similar to the Marvel Unit 1, and the infamous S&W model 41, only a portion of the slide moves (see attached pic). The 2211 conversion utilizes the existing slide stop to lock the conversion to the frame of the donor pistol, with the barrel and recoil spring / guide rod assembly fixed in place at the slide stop hole in the frame. The slide stop also retains its normal functionality, locking the slide back after the last shot. The moving part of the slide has both front and rear cocking serrations, which does help in installing the conversion (since the recoil assembly is captive). The 2211 is available in several configurations, as well as for single and double-stack 1911’s. The conversion I opted for has a combination rail on top of the barrel with an STI (looks like a Bomar) windage / elevation adjustable rear sight, a red fiber optic front sight insert and a section of picatinny rail in between the sights to mount an optic. The conversion is also available with either just adjustable sights, or a picatinny rail without sites, but I wanted the option of adding an optic later, so I went with the combination rail that has both. The barrel is threaded ½” x 28 TPI for use with a suppressor or compensator, and comes with a thread protector installed. The magazine is aluminum with a plastic base plate, and includes a mechanism that trips the slide lock, locking the slide back after the last shot.
On The Range:
I had two government models available to test the conversion with, a Springfield G.I., and a Colt Series 80, both unmodified government models. For the purposes of the range test I brought three types of ammunition:
Federal Bulk Pack from Wally-World (copper washed HP, 36 gr, supposedly around 1250 fps)
CCI Standard Velocity (lead round nose, 40 gr, 1070 fps)
CCI Subsonic (lead HP, 40 gr, 1050 fps)
I’d like to test another type of high velocity ammo, but the Federal bulk is all I have – I may have opportunity to shoot some Remington yellow-jackets later this week, and will give an update if I do.
I shot 30 rounds of Federal bulk pack and 20 rounds each of CCI standard velocity and subsonic through the conversion unit with it mounted on each donor gun (for a total of 140 rounds). I should note at this point that Tactical Solutions recommends a break-in of 500 rounds for these conversion kits. I don’t know if they recommend a specific type of ammo, because the copy of the instructions that were included with my conversion was missing the second and fourth pages (and I’m pretty sure that tid-bit was on page two). I did not clean the conversion in between ammunition swaps, and did not add any lubricant other than the CLP I initially worked into the rails when I first received the conversion.
Results:
Overall, the conversion appeared to function better from both a reliability and accuracy standpoint with my Colt Series 80. With the Federal bulk pack, I had multiple FTF’s regardless of position in the magazine. My Springfield seemed to really hate the combination of the bulk pack ammo and the conversion magazine, often taking multiple tries to pick up a new round. I have to admit that NONE of my .22’s like this particular box of Federal bulk pack (an otherwise tack-driving Marlin Model 60, a custom built 10-22, and a Smith 17-2). I figure if it jams the Model 60, then it must be junk. The bullets on some of these rounds roll around freely at the case mouth.
Tests with the CCI ammunition were much better. I had zero malfunctions with the standard velocity ammunition with both donor guns, and my groups shrank considerably. Although I had 1 FTF with each donor gun using the CCI Subsonic, it also shot the best groups of the day with my last group from the Series 80 being downright impressive (to me anyway). For the sake of brevity, I’ve included pictures of targets shot with the Series 80 using each type of ammunition. All targets were shot at seven yards (21 feet), two hands, no rest, six o’clock hold.
Flyers are all mine. I make no claim of being a crack pistolero (unless you happen to have a Model 41 I can borrow).
Pros:
This thing is well built and serviceable (firing pin, springs, etc. available through Tactical Solutions).
The combination rail is a good idea for those who want both irons and the option to install an optic. Having never shot with a fiber optic front sight, I was pleasantly surprised by how much easier it was to get things lined up.
It seems to perform pretty darn well with both standard velocity and subsonic ammunition, and I would think that performance would only improve for those of you able to utilize a suppressor. I’m hoping that once the conversion is broken in, I can regularly use CCI subsonics which I prefer for most of my target shooting / hunting.
Cons:
Sight rail doesn’t allow conversion equipped guns to fit in a standard holster.
Thread protector loosens easily (this seems to be more of a mark of good machining, but I hate to loc-tite it on).
Magazine does not seat flush (perhaps it is designed to work with magwell equipped guns), and did not seem to work as well with one of my donor guns.
Several failures to lock bolt open on last shot, and some FTF due to the slide running over the top of the next round, or not having enough momentum to completely go into battery. The latter may have been due to not cleaning the conversion, or keeping it well lubed enough during my test.
Magazine cost. As with all conversions, extra magazines are pricy ($60 through Tactical Solutions).
Conclusion:
All in all, I’m pretty pleased with this conversion, but I’d like to reserve my final opinion until it’s broken in.
My apologies for the lousy pictures. Too lazy to drag out the light box.
Regards,
U
Although I thought long and hard about a Marvel Unit 1 due to their recent price bump, and inability to find a stocking dealer that carries the threaded barrel option, I ended up ordering a Tactical Solutions 2211.
Construction:
Similar to the Marvel Unit 1, and the infamous S&W model 41, only a portion of the slide moves (see attached pic). The 2211 conversion utilizes the existing slide stop to lock the conversion to the frame of the donor pistol, with the barrel and recoil spring / guide rod assembly fixed in place at the slide stop hole in the frame. The slide stop also retains its normal functionality, locking the slide back after the last shot. The moving part of the slide has both front and rear cocking serrations, which does help in installing the conversion (since the recoil assembly is captive). The 2211 is available in several configurations, as well as for single and double-stack 1911’s. The conversion I opted for has a combination rail on top of the barrel with an STI (looks like a Bomar) windage / elevation adjustable rear sight, a red fiber optic front sight insert and a section of picatinny rail in between the sights to mount an optic. The conversion is also available with either just adjustable sights, or a picatinny rail without sites, but I wanted the option of adding an optic later, so I went with the combination rail that has both. The barrel is threaded ½” x 28 TPI for use with a suppressor or compensator, and comes with a thread protector installed. The magazine is aluminum with a plastic base plate, and includes a mechanism that trips the slide lock, locking the slide back after the last shot.
On The Range:
I had two government models available to test the conversion with, a Springfield G.I., and a Colt Series 80, both unmodified government models. For the purposes of the range test I brought three types of ammunition:
Federal Bulk Pack from Wally-World (copper washed HP, 36 gr, supposedly around 1250 fps)
CCI Standard Velocity (lead round nose, 40 gr, 1070 fps)
CCI Subsonic (lead HP, 40 gr, 1050 fps)
I’d like to test another type of high velocity ammo, but the Federal bulk is all I have – I may have opportunity to shoot some Remington yellow-jackets later this week, and will give an update if I do.
I shot 30 rounds of Federal bulk pack and 20 rounds each of CCI standard velocity and subsonic through the conversion unit with it mounted on each donor gun (for a total of 140 rounds). I should note at this point that Tactical Solutions recommends a break-in of 500 rounds for these conversion kits. I don’t know if they recommend a specific type of ammo, because the copy of the instructions that were included with my conversion was missing the second and fourth pages (and I’m pretty sure that tid-bit was on page two). I did not clean the conversion in between ammunition swaps, and did not add any lubricant other than the CLP I initially worked into the rails when I first received the conversion.
Results:
Overall, the conversion appeared to function better from both a reliability and accuracy standpoint with my Colt Series 80. With the Federal bulk pack, I had multiple FTF’s regardless of position in the magazine. My Springfield seemed to really hate the combination of the bulk pack ammo and the conversion magazine, often taking multiple tries to pick up a new round. I have to admit that NONE of my .22’s like this particular box of Federal bulk pack (an otherwise tack-driving Marlin Model 60, a custom built 10-22, and a Smith 17-2). I figure if it jams the Model 60, then it must be junk. The bullets on some of these rounds roll around freely at the case mouth.
Tests with the CCI ammunition were much better. I had zero malfunctions with the standard velocity ammunition with both donor guns, and my groups shrank considerably. Although I had 1 FTF with each donor gun using the CCI Subsonic, it also shot the best groups of the day with my last group from the Series 80 being downright impressive (to me anyway). For the sake of brevity, I’ve included pictures of targets shot with the Series 80 using each type of ammunition. All targets were shot at seven yards (21 feet), two hands, no rest, six o’clock hold.
Flyers are all mine. I make no claim of being a crack pistolero (unless you happen to have a Model 41 I can borrow).
Pros:
This thing is well built and serviceable (firing pin, springs, etc. available through Tactical Solutions).
The combination rail is a good idea for those who want both irons and the option to install an optic. Having never shot with a fiber optic front sight, I was pleasantly surprised by how much easier it was to get things lined up.
It seems to perform pretty darn well with both standard velocity and subsonic ammunition, and I would think that performance would only improve for those of you able to utilize a suppressor. I’m hoping that once the conversion is broken in, I can regularly use CCI subsonics which I prefer for most of my target shooting / hunting.
Cons:
Sight rail doesn’t allow conversion equipped guns to fit in a standard holster.
Thread protector loosens easily (this seems to be more of a mark of good machining, but I hate to loc-tite it on).
Magazine does not seat flush (perhaps it is designed to work with magwell equipped guns), and did not seem to work as well with one of my donor guns.
Several failures to lock bolt open on last shot, and some FTF due to the slide running over the top of the next round, or not having enough momentum to completely go into battery. The latter may have been due to not cleaning the conversion, or keeping it well lubed enough during my test.
Magazine cost. As with all conversions, extra magazines are pricy ($60 through Tactical Solutions).
Conclusion:
All in all, I’m pretty pleased with this conversion, but I’d like to reserve my final opinion until it’s broken in.
My apologies for the lousy pictures. Too lazy to drag out the light box.
Regards,
U
