1911 22lr conversion?? Marvel, Nighthawk

[NewGuy1911]

Anyone have some knowledge about these two 1911 22lr conversions; Marvel and the Nighthawk Custom/Bob Marvel? The steel slide-lock Marvel is out of my price range. Actually both lock-back Marvels are more $ than I want to part with. Anyone have some thoughts regarding the Nighthawk Custom/Bob Marvel conversion?

Any dealers in the SF East Bay carry/have these?

The 22lr conversion is for IDPA-type practice (with drawing from a holster) and to improve my 1911 shooting sport skills. Also to keep the cost of ammo down; this is a very expensive sport.

[wild_weasel]

I have had a Ciener 1911A1 conversion for years. The conversion manufactured by Kimber looks to be a direct copy. So much so I ordered a couple Kimber magazines to try. My original Ciener magazines are milled from aluminum stock while the Kimbers are molded from plastic. The Kimbers functioned perfectly with my conversion, using Remington bulk 22lr. I just looked at the Ciener web site and the Basic conversion runs $199.00.

Cheers,
W-W

[NewGuy1911]

Surprisingly few responses!

[CamW]

I have an Advantage Arms 1911 Commander kit on an old Fed Ord aluminum frame.So far about 300 rounds of Remington and Federal bulk WalMart ammo through it,feeds and extracts fine.I was breaking clay birds on the berm at 20 yards . I'm very happy with the kit.

[Grumpyoldretiredcop]

Second the Advantage Arms kit. I have one, it runs flawlessly.

[ThatFishGuy]

I was also eying the marvel kit, but found an Advantage Arms match kit locally. Works great, accurate as hell, and even had the lock open feature. Ive also heard great things about the STI kit but only have personal experience with the AA.

[redcliff]

I have a Marvel Unit 1. It's great, extremely accurate; probably the most accurate conversion available. Came with a .82 group target shot at 50 yards from a rest. It shoots and feeds very well with Federal Champion 525 bulk pack. I have the hybrid rail so I can shoot open sights or optics/red dot.

No slide hold open on the last shot with my Unit 1 but it doesn't bother me. For some people its a big deal. On a defense pistol I would agree its a handy feature; on a target pistol no big deal imho. Consider it forced dry fire practice every 10 rounds if you don't count your shots

[SLO1911Fan]

I've used most of the kits on the market and personally I recommend Kimber, Tactical Solutions, or Marvel Unit 1 or 2 depending on what you want to do with it.

Tacsol and Marvel Unit 1 both have less moving mass, only a portion of the slide recoils.
The Kimber and Marvel Unit 2 both function like a normal 1911.

If you're down in LA/OC at all I'll let you test the tacsol and kimber units I have right now.

[NewGuy1911]

Thanks SLO1911Fan,

I bought a used Marvel Unit 2, it has problems (some maybe mag related), I can put the Unit 2 on both a Combat Commander size and standard Government 1911.

It also will fit in the same holster as the 5" 1911 so when I start practicing for the IDPA class/meets I'm good to go.

[SLO1911Fan]

Try using it with the kimber polymer mags, or the AA mags. My marvel Unit 1 ran way better with kimber mags than with the actual marvel one.

[RickD427]

Originally Posted by NewGuy1911

Anyone have some knowledge about these two 1911 22lr conversions; Marvel and the Nighthawk Custom/Bob Marvel? The steel slide-lock Marvel is out of my price range. Actually both lock-back Marvels are more $ than I want to part with. Anyone have some thoughts regarding the Nighthawk Custom/Bob Marvel conversion?

Any dealers in the SF East Bay carry/have these?

The 22lr conversion is for IDPA-type practice (with drawing from a holster) and to improve my 1911 shooting sport skills. Also to keep the cost of ammo down; this is a very expensive sport.

Check out Gunbroker for the Colt .22 Conversion Unit. The older version had a steel slide and used a floating chamber. When mounted it has the same weight and balance as the regular 1911. The floating chamber provides a more realistic recoil feel, though nothing like a .45.

The older version will not work with a Series 80. You also have to keep it clean, but for feel and function, none of the other units come close.

[NewGuy1911]

I was wrong about the 22lr magazines; I believe it was the Marvel (no name on the bottom) magazine. The steel Colt Ace and Kimber (plastic) function. I bought some back-up metal Colt Ace-type (metalform) and I may need to learn how to adjust them.

Thanks for the advice

[RTE]

I heard the marvel was the choice of shooting teams?
I saved my pennies and bought a like new Tactical Solutions 2211
with 2 Billet mags.

[Kodachrome]

The Ceiner and its clones are all aluminum frames, so they are light weight and can damage easily. The AA kit is also aluminum and I have one for my Glock 19. The Marvel units are pricier and beefier like the older Colt conversion units. I use the Colt kits, magazines can be expensive.
They made both 70(without safety) and the 80 series with safety.
I would go with the heavier units if you need to practice so you have the same feel.
Just my .02¢

[RunDMLee]

I just got my Nighthawk Custom 22 conversion kit, designed by Bob Marvel of Bob Marvel Custom Guns.
http://www.nighthawkcustom.com/pisto...ion-units.html
I installed it on my Kimber Supermatch II frame. I'm very satisfied with the quality of the conversion kit. Taking it to the range, using CCI Blazer ammo, it performed well without any malfunctions. It shoots as accurate as my Browning Buckmark and Ruger Mark II's. The magazines are polymer and functioned satisfactory, but I wish they were metal like those used by the GSG 1911 22LR. My friend loaned me his GSG 1911 22LR mag, but unfortunately it did not lock in my magwell. Perhaps a little dremel tweaking could make it work, but I'll just stick the the Nighthawk polymer mags for now.

[NewGuy1911]

RunDMLee,

Keep us posted. In depth review? Where did you find it and how long of a wait? Pictures

[RunDMLee]

I took some pictures and posted them on my facebook account. You can see the pics here:
Pictures
I ordered the conversion kit directly from Nighthawk Custom. After placing the order, I called to ask how long. They said they were out of stock, but were expecting a shipment in a few weeks. That was three weeks ago. So pretty much only took about 2.5 weeks from time I ordered and when I got it.
When I first considered getting a 1911 .22LR, I considered both a Kimber and GSG 1911. I didn't like that the Kimber's didn't lock back on last shot. My friend's GSG 1911 is pretty good, but the trigger, while okay, can't compare to my nicer 1911's. Then one day at the range I saw someone with the Bob Marvel/Advantage Arms Custom Pro. It look good and was functioning flawlessly.
So, while researching about it, I found MarvelPrecision Units. I heard good things about them. But then Bob Marvel, who no longer is with MarvelPrecision had his Custom Pro. I believe that Advantage Arms makes them. On Bob's webpage, he mentioned working on a newer design, the Custon Pro II. I believe that now Nighthawk is making them. I found the following review for it:
Handguns Magazine Review

This youtube video helped me as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxMLQxkDG7A

So, that's why I decided on Nighthawk's. I'm sure they're all decent, but I'm happy with Nighthawk's so far. With the conversion kit mated to my Kimber Supermatch II, that had action/trigger job done by Clark Custom, it's much much nicer than my friends GSG 1911.

I hope this helps...

[brassburnz]

I have a Marvel Unit 1, Colt .22 Conversion, Day 30X, and Advantage Arms Target .22 Conversion.

Colt and AA lock the slide on an empty mag. Marvel and Day 30X do not lock the slide on an empty mag.

Marvel Unit 1, Day 30X, and Advantage Arms Target lock the barrel to the frame with a two-piece slide lock. The Marvel and Advantage Arms use a threaded rod. The Day 30X uses a press fit. The Colt barrel is not locked to the frame and uses a one-piece slide stop, although it is specifically designed to lock the slide back on an empty mag.

For action pistol practice, the Colt would emulate the action of a centerfire pistol the closest. Similar weight and greater felt recoil. Also, the entire slide including the sights reciprocate on the slide allowing you to practice sight acquisition.

The Advantage Arms Standard Model would be next because the entire slide reciprocates and the slide locks back on an empty mag. The AA Target Model would be a close 3rd because the slide locks on an empty mag, but only the rear section of the slide reciprocates while the front portion of the slide and the sights are locked to the frame.

Although the Marvel Unit 1 and the Day 30X are the most accurate of the bunch, because they don't lock the slide on an empty mag.

The Nighthawk Custom Bob Marvel conversion would have the same features of the AA Target Model, but hopefully with the added accuracy of the Marvel Unit 1. I haven't had the chance to shoot one, so I'm not sure.

Only the Colt gives you the heft of a steel slide. I believe the Kart Conversion also has a steel slide.

[freonr22]

The kimber mags break very easy and are not robust. The aluminum slide on the kimber was able to be lapped very easy due to soft aluminum. Would not buy again. I know you weren't asking about this one, but offered anyways.