.22LR Conversion Kit

[MikeBjerum]

I've given thought to this and I'd rather put the money into a "1911ish" .22lr pistol.  Then I got two complete pistols instead of 1 1/2.   The "conversion" process seems like a good idea but given the cost and frustration factor people seem to run into, I don't think it's worth it.

This is what I did.  I watched friends at the range switching slides back and forth, I looked at the cost, and for little more than a top end conversion I have a 1911 in .22lr.  The only draw back is when we switch from gun to gun, we switch targets and I shoot ... then they shoot.  Oh well, maybe I'll just buy more magazines and shoot more while they rebuild their guns.

I don't have pictures ... between cameras ... damn electronics.  However, I went with Kimber Rimfire Target.  This is the middle of the road for them, and the only thing I had to learn was to use high velocity ammo.  I was trying standard velocity, because that was what I had along for bullseye.  Cheap high velocity cranks through without a glitch.  I imagine a lighter spring would make standard work just fine, but why mess with it if you don't need to?

I have not tried it for extreme accuracy.  I bought it as a cheap way to practice USPSA.

[Michael Bane]

Lot to be said for just buying a .22 pistol...I have one of the aluminum-framed Kimber dedicated guns, which is a good for training new shooters but doesn't really feel like a 1911. I also have a T-S Ruger 22/45 (the blood-red vampire gun) and it's great to shoot and as accurate as my ancient S&W M41. The Ruger would definitely be the mose economical solution.

(http://www.ruger-firearms.com/Firearms/FAFamily?type=Pistol&subtype=Rimfire%20Autoloading&famlst=54&variation=Bull%20Barrel)

Still, i would really like to have a dedicated .22 1911, a la the old Colt Ace, for practice. USFA, who owns the rights to the Colt ACE nameplate, makes a beauty, but it's a tidy $2000.

http://www.usfirearms.com/cat/ace-22.asp

I will probably end up leaving the T-S unit on a dedicated frame...it's on a Kimber right now, but I might do some disassembly on a Rock Island gun, turn it into a donor gun, overhaul the trigger, blah blah...

I definitely now shoot a lot more rimfire than I used to!

Michael B

[MikeBjerum]

I would have liked to go with a full time conversion of a heavier 1911 as well.  However, I do not have an extra 1911 to convert, and if I had the money to spend to go that way I would just shoot more .45.

[m25operator]

I too thought of building a dedicated lower, and I have 2 spares, to make 2 complete guns. But 1 is a Les Baer matched slide and frame, and needs to stay a center fire. The other however is a Safari arms match master, and I could certainly see it as a .22, as I only have 200 bucks in it, I could sell the slide for 75.  HMMMM, keep talking.

[MikeBjerum]

I too thought of building a dedicated lower, and I have 2 spares, to make 2 complete guns. But 1 is a Les Baer matched slide and frame, and needs to stay a center fire. The other however is a Safari arms match master, and I could certainly see it as a .22, as I only have 200 bucks in it, I could sell the slide for 75.  HMMMM, keep talking.

If it were me I'd go for it.  A little money in the conversion, some time in making it work smooth, and you've got what I'd like to have done.

[Sponsor]

[blackwolfe]

Are there any other 1911 .22 out there besides the Kimber and the Colt Ace?

[alfsauve]

Let me take this one step further.   I also have a .22 co2 air pistol that has a similar angle to a 1911.  It's an old Crosman MK I.   The seals went bad after 20 years and while it was in the shop I had it ported and a new Walther (Lothar not Karl) barrel installed.  I can practice not only in the back yard, but in the basement as well.

I guess the next step would be an airsoft.

[MikeBjerum]

My 1911/2011 toys ...



Top Left - STI 2011 5.5 Eagle
Middle Left - S&W 1911
Bottom Left - Kimber Target Rimfire .22lr

Top Right - Caspian 1911 airsoft 
Bottom Right - Caspian Hi-Cap airsoft

The Caspian airsofts are blow-back using GreenGas (or I use propane with a little silicone added)

I also have an old Crosman Marksman that I forgot to put on the pegs to show.  The gun is forty years old, and still fun to play with.

[alfsauve]

I also have an old Crosman Marksman that I forgot to put on the pegs to show.  The gun is forty years old, and still fun to play with.

Totally forgot about the Marksman.     Yes, I have one too. 

[Big Frank]

I would love to have the Ace but the price is way out of my league. I still haven't been able to find a conversion for a wide-body Para so I got a Ruger 22/45 instead several years ago. It's not the same as having a 1911 .22 but looks and feels more like one than my Mark II and at $185 it was only 1/11 - 1/10 the price of the Ace.