Good .22LR Conversion Kit for RIA 1911A1

[Tower43]

I am looking into a good .22LR conversion kit for the RIA 1911A1 (From the MDS Group Buy). It's just cheaper to shoot

 

[ma_deuce]

It's called a GSG-1911. For not a lot more than a good conversion kit, you've got two guns, your .45 and a dedicated .22, and don't have to fiddle with transitioning back and forth. I take my GSG and a .45 to the range, practice with the .22, then switch over to the .45.

 

[jawn]

Tactical Solutions makes a kit for 1911s. I've heard good things about their conversions and the fact that they use 4140 steel rather than pot metal as with some of the .22 clones and conversions out there.

http://www.tacticalsol.com/tshome/2211-1911-22lr-conversion

They are a bit on the pricier side, though.

 

[Deep Creek Rock]

For the price of a conversion kit (actually less on some of them) you can buy a reloader, and bullet casting equip, and shoot your 1911 in 45 ACP, all you want for cheap.

That way you wont have to neuter your 1911.

 

[jimbobborg]

I'd rather get a dedicated .22 pistol versus a conversion kit, that way I don't have to try to change the slide/barrel assembly at the range, increasing the chances of losing parts downrange.

 

[Kingjamez]

Another vote for the GSG-1911.

-Jim

 

[glock9mm]

It's called a GSG-1911. For not a lot more than a good conversion kit, you've got two guns, your .45 and a dedicated .22, and don't have to fiddle with transitioning back and forth. I take my GSG and a .45 to the range, practice with the .22, then switch over to the .45.

This!

 

[jawn]

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?t=57599&highlight=zinc

On Zinc Alloys.

 

[erwos]

I'd rather get a dedicated .22 pistol versus a conversion kit, that way I don't have to try to change the slide/barrel assembly at the range, increasing the chances of losing parts downrange.

There are some advantages to a conversion kit, though. With a conversion kit, you don't need a second trigger job, second pair of grips, etc. If you dumped a ton of money into the frame and associated bits, it can make sense to go the conversion route.

I would, however, caution against using guns with non-aluminum slides. Seen too many of those break, and there are better alternatives out there (RIA XT22!).

 

[Trumpet]

Just get a RIA XT22. All steel, exact same lower as a RIA Tac. Can't go wrong

 

[Tower43]

I'll take all your ideas into consideration,and when I get a day off of work head over to Engage and talk to the 'Boss'

 

[pwoolford]

Not sure about the 1911 but I just put the Tactical Solutions 22 conversion on my Glock 17 and the first range trip (Friday night) wasn't great. I had feed failures on 1 out of every 5 rounds or so using CCI Stingers. I picked up a variety of .22 ammo yesterday so I'm going to try again today or tomorrow. From all of the reading I did about the conversions ammo makes a big difference so a little trial and error wasn't entirely unexpected.
The kit is very well made and converting my Glock to shoot .22 takes all of 10 seconds so I hope I get the feeding issues resolved.
I've seen plenty of 1911's setup for .22 but I'm not sure about the price. If it were close I'd go for a dedicated .22 because changing over a 1911 would take a little more time then swapping out a Glock slide.

 

[hvymax]

There are some advantages to a conversion kit, though. With a conversion kit, you don't need a second trigger job, second pair of grips, etc. If you dumped a ton of money into the frame and associated bits, it can make sense to go the conversion route.

I would, however, caution against using guns with non-aluminum slides. Seen too many of those break, and there are better alternatives out there (RIA XT22!).

If you are actually training/competing you only have to commit one gun to muscle memory. Kind of like my Dan Wesson and EAA Witness. I can swap barrel/slide setups and shoot stock to unlimited in the same event with the same gun.

Not sure about the 1911 but I just put the Tactical Solutions 22 conversion on my Glock 17 and the first range trip (Friday night) wasn't great. I had feed failures on 1 out of every 5 rounds or so using CCI Stingers. I picked up a variety of .22 ammo yesterday so I'm going to try again today or tomorrow. From all of the reading I did about the conversions ammo makes a big difference so a little trial and error wasn't entirely unexpected.
The kit is very well made and converting my Glock to shoot .22 takes all of 10 seconds so I hope I get the feeding issues resolved.
I've seen plenty of 1911's setup for .22 but I'm not sure about the price. If it were close I'd go for a dedicated .22 because changing over a 1911 would take a little more time then swapping out a Glock slide.

There was another thread about 22 conversions that explained how a rough cocking lug can cause drag and hang up 22 versions/conversions on normal full sized pistols.

 

[BenL]

I've also had issues with Tac Sol conversion and wouldn't recommend anything they make. Have a look at the Marvel conversions; they're really nice.

http://www.marvelprecision.com/

 

[JDove]

Not sure about the 1911 but I just put the Tactical Solutions 22 conversion on my Glock 17 and the first range trip (Friday night) wasn't great. I had feed failures on 1 out of every 5 rounds or so using CCI Stingers. I picked up a variety of .22 ammo yesterday so I'm going to try again today or tomorrow. From all of the reading I did about the conversions ammo makes a big difference so a little trial and error wasn't entirely unexpected.
The kit is very well made and converting my Glock to shoot .22 takes all of 10 seconds so I hope I get the feeding issues resolved.
I've seen plenty of 1911's setup for .22 but I'm not sure about the price. If it were close I'd go for a dedicated .22 because changing over a 1911 would take a little more time then swapping out a Glock slide.

I have one for my 17 and don't have any issues. I only shoot CCI MiniMags (40gr HV CPRN). The manual recommends those along with CCI Blazers and I believe Federal ammo of some sort. I tried Federal Bulk pack and would not feed.

http://www.mdshooters.com/showthread.php?p=1490383#post1490383

 

[Clem]

I'd rather get a dedicated .22 pistol versus a conversion kit, that way I don't have to try to change the slide/barrel assembly at the range, increasing the chances of losing parts downrange.

I have a few .22 conversions, including a Marvel 1911 conversion mounted on my Series 70 Colt frame, but I am finding I seem to prefer a dedicated .22 handgun to the conversions. It can get a little messy switching the centerfire and .22 conversions back and forth on the range.

For about the same price as a good .22 conversion, the Ruger 2245 with removable grips is easily set up to pretty well duplicate the 1911. I got mine for just over $300 in March.

 

[BradMacc82]

For the price of a conversion kit (actually less on some of them) you can buy a reloader, and bullet casting equip, and shoot your 1911 in 45 ACP, all you want for cheap.

That way you wont have to neuter your 1911.

^This.

or

The GSG-1911

Either way you can't lose really, loading .45 ACP is a joy (to me anyways), and the GSG-1911 is a fun lil shooter, and not that hateful on the pocket - trigger's are pretty decent out of the box too.