1911 .22 conversions

First topic message reminder :

I would like to get a 1911 conversion for BE. 

Any recommendations on Marvel vs Nelson? 

They both appear to be the same product to me.

Lightfoot wrote:I had a Nelson that struggled to hold 3" groups off a bag.  Changed the barrel, same story.  My two Advantage Arms did better job.  My Marvel shoots light out, sub 1 1/2".  All four of mine had to be tinkered with to run reliably.  From extractor tension, recoil spring weight, mag catch height, I had to tweak it to get 100%

After my two Nelson conversions barrels were recrowned they shot like a good 22 should. YMMV.

FWIW I just had a firing pin break on my marvel, this is the 2nd one that has broken. It is definitely not something you can fix real quick on the line.

I see KC Customs has a service/product where the customer provides the Nelson conversion and he builds the lower and tunes everything to function reliably. Cost is $1200. Sounds like it may be worth the couple hundred extra dollars to have him put a great trigger job and know that it is functioning flawlessly.

Anyone here suggest against this?

What would it cost if I build my own frame from Caspian and get some quality parts for it? I never built a 1911 so not sure what the cost of good parts will be.

I have a Marvel conversion and have been really pleased with it in terms of accuracy and reliability.  Only minus so far has been broken firing pin previously mentioned but it is an easy DIY fix.  So, if you get a Marvel suggest ordering a spare to have on hand.  I've also found the orange colored recoil spring (forget the #) works best for me with CCI std.

As to the lower I bought one complete/ready to use off of GB and installed KC roll trigger kit and reduced power main spring.  Others should correct me if I'm wrong but I think the slide fitment of the conversion to the lower isn't critical since the conversion doesn't move where it attaches. Only issues seem to be tuning the mainspring weight for cycling and achieving good trigger feel.  Or, maybe I just had good luck.

I dug out my notes and parts list from when a friendly pistolsmith made my lower. Cost for the parts was about $650 maybe seven years ago, and the lower was a special deal where Palmetto State Arms was planning to make 1911s but cancelled their plans and sold good frames at a large discount (maybe $150?) I think my parts list was aimed at solid performance over Gucci stuff. The frame was bead blasted and blued, with the finish matching the Nelson parts very well. I did have to polish some of the blueing from the slide rails to reduce slide cycling friction. Labor cost was I found and traded a large good performing lathe chuck to the pistolsmith.

Checkering was out of the question at the time, but I prefer air chisel stippling and missed requesting that, so I use a piece of stair tread tape. If I was putting together another one I think I would like a frame with a lower accessory rail for a MantisX or a bayonet or curb feelers or whatever gets installed on accessory rails.

And stippling

This was probably the long way of saying I think for the work involved KC's price is reasonable.

hengehold wrote:I see KC Customs has a service/product where the customer provides the Nelson conversion and he builds the lower and tunes everything to function reliably. Cost is $1200. Sounds like it may be worth the couple hundred extra dollars to have him put a great trigger job and know that it is functioning flawlessly.

Anyone here suggest against this?

What would it cost if I build my own frame from Caspian and get some quality parts for it? I never built a 1911 so not sure what the cost of good parts will be.

The first lower I built cost about $850 in parts. I also got a 4140 steel frame so I also bought the stuff to parkerize it. Add in a few specialty tools (plugger tube staking tool, some stones, ect.) I probably had about $900-1000 in the lower all said and done. 

I have shot one of KC's lowers and it was phenomenal, the big plus was that the front strap was nicely checkered. The ones I have built up wear skate tape. It may seem like it costs more up front, but I think it is worth it.

Fwiw…AccuracyX can provide you an excellent lower as well…