Marvel 1 lower recommendations

I have a Marvel 1 unit that's been sitting in the safe for some time wanting to be used. I would be interested in your thoughts and recommendations on a lower for it. Any reason not to go with cheap lower and put in good trigger, hammer, sear, etc???

I am not adverse to buying parts and trying to construct one myself.

Would love to hear about lots of options...

Would use for Bullseye. My shooting .45 is a Springfield RO.

My Marvel only seems to be reliable on a dedicated lower (Foster Frame) that Marvel built that had a 17lb mainspring.

When I had it on any of my 1911's it short-cycled horribly to the point that I just couldn't use it for a match. I just ordered the parts to build a similar dedicated lower.

Maybe you will be lucky. How well does it work on your Springfield?

Well the few times I have tried it not so well. Did not seem to be feeding right but it may just need more breaking in.

I would like to get dedicated lower rather than convert all the time.

DJ,

If you were using standard velocity ammo the problem was likely too stiff of a recoil spring in the Marvel or like the problem Rob had with too stiff of a main spring in the lower. There is a balancing act that need to get figured out but is not that hard to do. I would suggest ordering a recoil spring kit from Marvel and dropping down one pound at a time and see if that gets you going.

Joe

I bought a GI RIA 1911 for $500 after tax/dros/etc... had a gunsmith do a ~2.25lb trigger job on the stock parts, and it's 100% reliable.

Mine is mounted on a Springfield Loaded frame. After I got the magazines tuned, it has been extremely reliable. I did a trigger job.

I originally mounted my Marvel on my Les Baer lower because I loved the trigger. Unfortunately, I would get rather frequent doubling. I then bought a Caspian frame at Perry and gave it to Ed Masaki along with the Marvel, a Koenig hammer/sear set and Videcki trigger. Ed sent back my now dedicated lower and Marvel as a perfectly-functioning bullseye pistol.
The 10-shot 0.331" test target is waaaay better than I can shoot any more but at least I know anything other than an X is my fault.