Bought a 1911-22

[FWiedner]

Been thinking about it for a while, and finally decided to act. Went to Cabela's yesterday and bought a Browning 1911-22.

I did not enjoy the experience of buying a gun at Cabela's.

This is my new pistol side by side with my Springfield 1911A1:


For general comments on the firearm itself... It is beyond doubt a 1911. That said, it is small. It's 85% scale per the .45ACP 1911A1, but even knowing that, when I held it in my hand it seems small. No biggie, it's a .22. It is well put together. Nothing loose, no gaps, no pinchy places. It's got a nice finish on it. Looks like Dura-Coat or something similar.

Took it to the range. Took my Ruger 22/45 along for something to compare it to. Didn't collect photos for the 22/45, but lets bottom line that by saying that they are different guns, and shoot differently. Major differences that afffect handling are the dimensional and weight differences. The 22/45 is (believe it or not) a bigger, heavier pistol. I believe the 22/45 was intended to mimic some weight and grip dimensions of the 1911A1. The 1911-22 is quite a bit lighter.

I like the factory sights on the 22/45. The 1911-22 has sights that are the same as a factory military model 1911A1, but ... smaller. Let's translate that into 'hard to see.'

Sent some rounds down-range. 5 and 10 yards, standing.


Same targets, adding more rounds at 15 yards:


The gun shoots straight, but the operator needs some experience with the arm.

I bought it as a little utility gun, a coup-de-gras, and it can certainly handle that, and out of the box it looks like I'm OK just pointing it and pulling the trigger out to about 10-yards.

I'm happy with the purchase... and it's just so darn cute.

[pshort]

Howdy,
I got one awhile back.. I really like it.. Shoots fine, fits great in my back pocket when I go out to the barn. Mags are a little spendy, but MidwayUSA has them from time to time, also try Cabelas..
I sold off some other .22 handguns, but kept this one...

Paul

[Hobie]

I have an earlier one. Finally got some extra magazines. Looks like yours has the neat wood stocks! It takes practice to shoot those little sights and this is the first 1911 to bite me but it is fun!

[Mescalero]

I have a Ciener Platinum on it's own frame.
Another one the state will wind up with when I croak.

[rjohns94]

Very nice.

[pwl44m]

I like it, may have to keep an eye out for one.
Perry

[kaschi]

How have you all been finding the reliability of the 1911-22?

[pshort]

Pay attention BlaineG.. This little gun does give "bite me" a whole new meaning!!
(Hammer bite!)
Hmmm, wish I could just come up with a pun...


Paul

[FWiedner]

How have you all been finding the reliability of the 1911-22?

This one is brand new so I can't comment on the longer term use.

I fired 25 rounds comparing it's 'feel' to my 22/45, and then I put another 50 rounds through it reloading a single magazine with 5 rounds at a time and shooting 5-round groups.

Using CCI Mini-Mags, both solids and hollow points, in those 75 rounds there was not a single jam, failure to feed, failure to extract, or stove-pipe, which are all stoppages that I have experienced using larger framed 1911's.

75-rounds downrange, and no problems.

I'd think that this is what one should expect from any brand new .22LR semi-auto pistol directly out of the box.

pshort and Hobie seem to have had their 1911-22s for a while. Maybe they've got some input on the longer term reliability question.

[Hobie]

How have you all been finding the reliability of the 1911-22?

Mine is good. I had it FTE ONE Junior Target case but since then it has been just fine. No problems with other ammo.

PS - I have about 500 rounds through my gun. It took a while because I only had one magazine for a while... They ship with only one mag and didn't have spares available for a while. Spares wholesale at about $21.76 (maybe a little more now).

After breaking in, I did try it a distances greater than 7-yards. This is a challenge due to the small sights made more so by cataracts and bifocals. Still, one can keep all rounds on the 25 yard slow fire bull at 25 yards.

[Pete44ru]

Thanks for posting - I'm particularly attracted by the Browning's 7/8 size, compared to a 1911 Gov't Model.

Is the fit/finish up to Browning's usually high standards (no pun intended) ?

.

[FWiedner]

Thanks for posting - I'm particularly attracted by the Browning's 7/8 size, compared to a 1911 Gov't Model.

Is the fit/finish up to Browning's usually high standards (no pun intended) ?

.

On mine, absolutely yes.

[Hobie]

I think it is a quality gun with adjustments (slight) made for the cartridge and size of the gun. I won't be selling mine.

[Dewight]

I got my wife the 1911-22 compact a month and a half ago. I liked it so much I bought the next one Sportsman's Warehouse got in for myself. Mine is the standard size. We have run 500-700 rounds through hers without a hiccup. Only have 100 rounds though mine, also without missing a beat. It is the funniest 22 pistol I've ever shot.

[pshort]

Howdy,
Mine appears to be very well made. I had a couple of FTF in the first mag or two. It likes CCI Mini Mags, Federal 510, and CCI SV so far.. It doesn't seem to be the most accurate gun around, but that might just be me. My other one is a S&W 41... I need to bench test it for a better idea of accuracy.. It's a keeper!

Paul