Dedicated .22 Cal 1911

[cdm]

First time posting, I hope this is the right location.

I am interested in getting into 1911's, but would like to save money by shooting .22s out of a conversion unit (most likely Marvel) for now. I will most likely not get into centerfire anytime soon. So, does anyone know the most economical way of doing this? Can I buy a frame with internals and then purchase the conversion unit. The idea here is to not waste money on the slide and barrel used in centerfires and make a stand alone .22 pistol.

Any ideas?
Thanks for any advice,
cdm

[Hawkmoon]

www.sarcoinc.com

You can buy a Rock Island receiver (frame) for about $80 (IIRC - I can't find the ad in Shotgun News at the moment) and a "frame kit" (all the parts to make it work) for $89. Yes, the small parts are generic -- is it really worth putting a $50 tool steel disconnect in a .22 caliber plinker?

IMHO, if you want a dedicated .22 1911, this is the way to go.

[clughog]

Welcome to the fourm, cdm. Certainly agree with Hawkmoon. The Sarco kits are affordable, especially for a .22 Conversion plinker! In fact, that's what I did...bought the Sarco frame (RIA) and kit to make a dedicate set up for an Advantage Arms Target Model. Then I wound up finding a Colt ACE that I couldn't pass up AND selling the AA Kit. So now I have an assembled RIA frame & kit sitting around gathering dust!

[cdm]

Hawkmoon and Clughog, thank you very much for the replies.
I looked into those frames, but I was wondering if anyone knew of a frame/trigger group which would be of high quality. I guess I'm looking to get into competition with rimfires and the marvel unit 1 and a nice frame + match parts might be the way to go.
thanks for any info
cdm

[Hawkmoon]

If you're looking for high end, go with a Caspian receiver and a hammer, sear, and trigger from Wilson Combat. You can also use a Grieder trigger. All but the frame can be bought from Brownells -- I don't know if they stock the basic Caspian 1911 frame. You might have to go direct to Caspian for that.

[cdm]

Hawkmoon

Thanks for the help, I will look into it. Are the components from wilson combat difficult install, meaning do they require a gunsmith? As you can tell I am pretty new to the 1911, so I apologize for all the questions.

thanks again
cdm

[tony315]

the caspian frame is in the midway catalog.

tony.

[Hawkmoon]

Are the components from wilson combat difficult install, meaning do they require a gunsmith?
It should be assumed that any 1911 assembled from parts will need at least minor fitting of some parts. Caspian's frames are generally VERY close to spec, and so are Wilson Combat's parts. There's a decent possibility that everything might just drop in and function ... but you should not proceed with the assumption that this is a sure bet.

Also, Caspian's frames typically come with the rails just a bit on the "fat" side, to allow for a good fit with any slide. That may (or may not) mean having to file the rails down slightly to fit your conversion kit to the frame.

And Caspian's frames are sold "in the white" -- meaning unfinished. Once you get everything fitted and functioning, you'll have to finish the frame or send it out to be finished.

In re-reading the thread, it appears that you have conflicting parameters. In your first post you asked about an economical solution, which is why I suggested Sarco and RIA/Armscor. Then you wanted top quality. Caspian will give you that, but the price will be a lot more than an Armscor frame and parts kit from Sarco or Advanced Tactical. And the RIA frame will be finished.

By the time you add up a Marvel conversion, a Caspian frame, Wilson Combat internals, and then having the frame professionally finished (unless you go stainless ... but that's more $$$ up front) -- you would save a bundle just buying a Kimber Rimfire for $600 or so.

[res1b3uq]

I bought one of the Sarco frames, and had very good luck putting it together myself. I have a Jarvis conversion, and it is very accurate with target grade ammo-but a problem. It will not eject the spent round. You have to recock the pistol after each shot. You have to use hard hitting ammo to get it to eject properly, and that ammo is not nearly as accurate. I've tried different spring combinations - no help. Buy a Buckmark.

[bmanoftheyear]

wanting to by high end 1911 22lr.Get a ruger mk2 and call it a day man,way cheaper,more accurate.It just fits the bill better.No for me only shoot 25 yards max so a plinker kit is good for me.I just enjoy getting out and punchin holes in paper

[1911Art]

There is another option - a bit costly

Rock River Arms sells a completed frame for 22 conversions
it cost $775
http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=336

Then put a Marvel Unit 1 conversion on it with maybe an UltrDot sight

Total will be just over $1200. You could buy four Rugers for that.

I built up a Caspian frame with high end ignition parts for a Marvel Unit 1 and topped it with an UltraDot - it ran me around $1200.

It took a bit of tinkerin' to get the mags worked out but that's what I like to do.
Light, crisp trigger, it shoots unbelievably small groups - it ain't no Ruger

[Canuck-IL]

A Ruger will take you to Master level in BE - don't sell them short. Don't happen to be my cup o'tea, but they do shoot.
/Bryan

[1911Art]

I wouldn't sell Rugers short - My first handgun was a Ruger single six - bought new in '68. There's no better value in guns than Ruger. I've got lots of centerfire handguns but the nightstand gun is a Ruger P85 - the 1911's are more accurate, my Sig and Glocks maybe cooler but I know the P85 will always go off when I pull the trigger.

I had a Ruger fixed sight autoloader then got a 5 1/2" barrel with adj sights - they were good guns. I traded for a S&W 41, still have it - 2 barrels and one with an UltraDot- in the search for more precision I got the Marvel.

It's the law of diminishing returns - you have to spend a lot of money to squeeze out that last bit of precision, ie. smaller groups.

Over the years my shooting improved such that I could realize the improvement in precision from each gun.