Nelson 22lr conversion

I am looking to get a dedicated lower for a nelson 22lr conversion with the scope rail. What are my best options? Not wanting to build from the ground up, looking to buy a complete frame and will throw the KC roll trigger in it once I get it set up

Ground up dedicated, buying a complete conversion gun, buying a used complete frame, buying a new gun and just using the frame. If you have a 1911 swap back and forth between your 22 and other caliber.

I am ordering the Les Baer Wadcutter, but have heard of problems concerning the height of the baer frame mounted scope mount. I just want the best and affordable frame and internals possible to dedicate to a nelson upper

A Range Officer, KC kit, and Nelson.  Need no more than that.

Might be better to get a Foster frame and build it up?

I am using a Taurus PT1911 frame with KC trigger but think most of the internal parts were replaced.

I just went the Foster route myself. It was a bit of work, and very challenging, but not superhuman. I didn't need any super-specialized tools. There were only two really nerve-racking parts of the job: fitting the thumb safety, and a wee bit of fitting on the rails (.005" wider front, middle, and back than on my Springfield frame, but the slide is smoother). I used a KC roll trigger kit, which required no fitting and produced a stellar trigger pull. All told, I have between 30 and 40 hours on it, and couldn't be more pleased with how it came out. I get a lot of compliments on it, and most people want to know who made it for me!

The new gun is substantially smoother than the Nelson was on my Springfield frame. It also feeds fine with a full-power mainspring, and hasn't misfired once. The old setup wouldn't feed with a full-power spring, but also misfired with reduced-power springs. It feels more "solid" when shooting--it's difficult to describe, but it feels a lot tighter and more solid when in battery, and the action feels smoother through recoil.

The Foster frame was nice, but imo, they really go out of their way to remind you that you bought the "budget" frame. There was a gigantic burr around the magazine catch hole that required some delicate filing and stoning. I also purchased a Foster grip safety, which fit and matched well with the frame, but had another huge burr right in the slot for the hammer spur. I wound up having to Dremel it out with a fine bit, which left a small mark, but nobody's noticed it. There's also a lot of machining marks, unsmoothed flats around the trigger area, and two big casting marks--one on the underside of the trigger guard, and one just forward of the trigger guard on the dust cover. The frontstrap also has some very noticeable machining marks.

I haven't bothered to even attempt to fix any of these purely cosmetic flaws. I'd rather not risk making them worse. Nobody but me notices them now, or if they do, they're polite. And hell--this is a business gun, not a lookin'-good gun.

I will say that the master pistolsmiths that you see posting around here earn their money. I've got a whole new level of appreciation for what they do now. Their rates are quite reasonable for what they produce. Unfortunately, that wasn't in my budget. Instead, I feel I got a very good "Grade C" gun--mechanically excellent, but imperfect appearance. I also feel I was successful in my goal of not "getting in the way" of KC's trigger kit. The first test-fitting was...well, okay, but not great, but after going back in and doing a bit more frame polishing, it improved mightily.

I was reasonably happy with the Springfield frame (when it was working well), but the Foster is substantially better.

If you want, Vol, I can PM you a list of everything I had to do, and what I used (plus some stuff I wish I'd had). I'm not a super-handy guy, and prior to this, I hadn't so much as fit a replacement trigger to a 1911.

Not looking to do all that work. Will the nelson upper fit on the les baer wad gun with the rail? If so, I'll just go that route

Keyholed wrote:I just went the Foster route myself. It was a bit of work, and very challenging, but not superhuman. I didn't need any super-specialized tools. There were only two really nerve-racking parts of the job: fitting the thumb safety, and a wee bit of fitting on the rails (.005" wider front, middle, and back than on my Springfield frame, but the slide is smoother). I used a KC roll trigger kit, which required no fitting and produced a stellar trigger pull. All told, I have between 30 and 40 hours on it, and couldn't be more pleased with how it came out. I get a lot of compliments on it, and most people want to know who made it for me!

The new gun is substantially smoother than the Nelson was on my Springfield frame. It also feeds fine with a full-power mainspring, and hasn't misfired once. The old setup wouldn't feed with a full-power spring, but also misfired with reduced-power springs. It feels more "solid" when shooting--it's difficult to describe, but it feels a lot tighter and more solid when in battery, and the action feels smoother through recoil.

The Foster frame was nice, but imo, they really go out of their way to remind you that you bought the "budget" frame. There was a gigantic burr around the magazine catch hole that required some delicate filing and stoning. I also purchased a Foster grip safety, which fit and matched well with the frame, but had another huge burr right in the slot for the hammer spur. I wound up having to Dremel it out with a fine bit, which left a small mark, but nobody's noticed it. There's also a lot of machining marks, unsmoothed flats around the trigger area, and two big casting marks--one on the underside of the trigger guard, and one just forward of the trigger guard on the dust cover. The frontstrap also has some very noticeable machining marks.

I haven't bothered to even attempt to fix any of these purely cosmetic flaws. I'd rather not risk making them worse. Nobody but me notices them now, or if they do, they're polite. And hell--this is a business gun, not a lookin'-good gun.

I will say that the master pistolsmiths that you see posting around here earn their money. I've got a whole new level of appreciation for what they do now. Their rates are quite reasonable for what they produce. Unfortunately, that wasn't in my budget. Instead, I feel I got a very good "Grade C" gun--mechanically excellent, but imperfect appearance. I also feel I was successful in my goal of not "getting in the way" of KC's trigger kit. The first test-fitting was...well, okay, but not great, but after going back in and doing a bit more frame polishing, it improved mightily.

I was reasonably happy with the Springfield frame (when it was working well), but the Foster is substantially better.

If you want, Vol, I can PM you a list of everything I had to do, and what I used (plus some stuff I wish I'd had). I'm not a super-handy guy, and prior to this, I hadn't so much as fit a replacement trigger to a 1911.

Starting with a Caspian or Jem probably would of cut some time off the build, also order it with front strap checkering done.  A dedicated lower built by a bullseye smith is best...I understand it's not in everyone's budget

My Nelson is on my Remington R1 frame.  I put the KC Battle Axe trigger assy in it along with a Ed Brown NM three hole long trigger with one of Franks trigger shoes on it.  A set of Altmount 1911 target grips finished the project.  The gun is sweet and shoot great.  Don

Chris Miceli wrote:Starting with a Caspian or Jem probably would of cut some time off the build, also order it with front strap checkering done.  A dedicated lower built by a bullseye smith is best...I understand it's not in everyone's budget

Agreed, sort've. The Foster-related problems weren't really time-consuming, just mildly annoying. Things just took awhile because it was a very busy winter, and I worked very slowly. As for checkering, I was a bit of a skateboarder in my mis-spent youth, so I have a lifetime supply of Black Magic grip tape in the basement!

I'm still not ruling out a future build using a Caspian frame. The Jem frames are neat--especially the full-length dustcover Master, although it doesn't seem to be available in stainless. I had a lot of fun at it. While I don't think I could sell this first one, I wouldn't rule out buying another Nelson conversion, and swapping the current one out to iron sights.

Long-term--yeah, I'd really like to have a truly 'smith'd gun. But I've got some other things to collect in the meantime (a 610, a 460, a 25, a 52, a Highway Patrolman...).

a gunsmith lower build is near to $1500. the nelson is under my consideration for a next build,for a light gun.

I bought a dedicated 1911 frame for my Marvel Unit 1 from Frerking Custom Works built on a Foster frame. Excellent workmanship, with a crisp 2# trigger.

http://www.fcwguns.com/

Where is the frame located? Can't seem to find it

You have to call them. I was recommended them by a shooting buddy.

They are located just down the road from Marvel. I am very pleased with it, quality parts, and quality fitting of said parts.

You can just order a complete frame?  How much was it?

$790

VolScorpion, are you surprised that the price was so low, or do you think it was to high?

Chris Miceli wrote:

Starting with a Caspian or Jem probably would of cut some time off the build, also order it with front strap checkering done.  A dedicated lower built by a bullseye smith is best........

This is the route I'm taking, just got the frame a few weeks ago 

No followers of my Range officer plan?  Hmmm?

I looked at the RO, and my Dad kept trying to get me to go with a Ruger 1911, but in my case, I really wanted to try a roll trigger, and I was a little interested in trying a short-length trigger (both of which turned out to be very VERY good ideas).

Putting the roll kit on either would have driven the price up way too high. Even swapping out the trigger itself would have jacked the price up. And I think I wasn't as intimidated as I should have been by the bare-frame build-up!

I figure I'd be lucky to even get the parts cost out of what I did--whereas with a RO, you'd just lose a bit to depreciation--but I'm never going to sell it anyway, so it's all down the hole.

I do recommend the RO a lot. It's a great value, and I kind've want one in 9mm...but maybe after I get a 3rd-gen DAO S&W 39-series!

Just throwing out another suggestion. You might have done a little IDPA shooting or fooled around with other run and jump type shooting. If so you (like me) might have picked up a Commander size 1911 and figure there is no use for it in Bullseye. It turns out that they make a great lower for your Nelson conversion. I had already done a trigger job to mine so all I had to do was minor tweaks to the mainspring to get down to the 2 1/2 lbs I was shooting for. If you not a DIY person you can drop one of KCs kits into it. Just another suggestion.

Len

Nelson on S&W SC1911 lower.

Vol Scorpion,
You aren't going to want to use the Les Baer with the frame mounted rail for your Nelson.  The frame mount is going to be in the way and the zero is not the same if you figured you could use your .45 optic.

I use my wadgun lower for my conversion but I have a slide mounted optic.