Browning 1911-22

I've owned mine for several years now.
A box stock full size and one of the first in my areas with the black oxide finish and double diamond grips that has become a favorite general purpose rimfire hand blaster.
It isn't my most accurate .22 handgun, a S&W Model 41 holds that honor but it certainly holds its own against my other small frame .22s those being a S&W 317 Kit Gun and a Walther PP
Reliability is certainly no worse either as long as the gun, like any .22 pistol, is kept clean.
I find 150 rounds is about maximum before it starts to bobble and a quick field clean and lube will bring it back to 100%
I do a decent cleaning on all my .22 pistols within a couple of days of a shooting session and this has allowed me quite reliable guns regardless of the manufacture.
The Browning is not fussy about standard or high velocity cartridges but it didn't like the few CCI Stingers I shot through it at all.
If you're into hollowpoints Winchester Dynapoint feed and group quite well as they also do in my fussier Walther PP which prefers standard velocity stuff as a rule.
The Browning was pricey, as were the 41, 317, and the Walther
I have no regrets and recommend the gun without reservation as long as you can feel comfortable and shoot well with a smaller frame gun.

If you have large hands try to hold one first, being too small seems to be one of the more common complaints from folks. I did have a buddy of mine with gargantuan hands fire it without any complaints though, so its pretty subjective I guess.

Other than 20gr aguila I haven't had any issues with any ammo I've tried, its probably the least ammo sensitive .22 auto out there.

I'm no target shooter, I also have a BT22 and would say they're probably about the same accuracy wise, but I'm a plinker so I don't pay as close attention as some might.

Still going strong and no breakages after somewhere around 2K rounds through.

Take down hasn't changed?

Sights are small, if fullsize 1911 sights are too small for you, these are scaled down further, so...

Biggest issue I have with the trigger is its awkwardly short, a lengthened trigger like the Colt 1991's come with would probably be perfect for me.

Do you need 2? Nah, do you want 3? Sounds like you do. I wouldn't sell the others, especially before you handle and if possible shoot one.

The plain jane ones are all Aluminium, the other models have plastic frames.

I have a Compact, aluminum slide and frame, it is a fine shooting pistol although i rarely put it on paper as to me it is not a target pistol. I shoot cans rocks, dirt clods and varmints with great success, it has probably several (2 or 3) bricks of assorted winchester, federal and four old boxes of Revalation from the now defunct Western Auto. I cannot recall having a problem other than a few duds that would not shoot in anything.
I enjoy the Browning as the design just sits in my hand like a pistol should with good natural pointing. It is the same size and shape of my Llama steel frame and slide pistols that are some of the best shooting plinkers going, both simply being shrunken 1911's.

Dan!

With a heavy work week last week and then the forum migration, I seem to have overlooked your thread, here.

My experience mirrors lbmikey's above. I only have the Commander-proportion model with it's replica G.I. sights, which are, pardon me, crap. They're the reason I don't shoot this otherwise sweet little creampuff of a pistol more often. Once I can fit decent combat sights to the slide, it will go with me to every shooting outing along with whatever else.

Having completely disassembled it to remove the magazine cutoff (or whatever it's called), I can say that aside from the blowback action, it is a 1911 in every respect. Great little gun. Only the sights prevent more frequent use.

I may be at Angleles Shooting Ranges one morning this coming week. You're certainly welcome to join me there and you may shoot this Browning 1911-22... or if you're closer to Inglewo0d, you may meet me at LAX Firing Range.

Was out with the wife and she spied the black label 1911 22 and really liked it..... well of course it followed us home.... its has better sights then the standered model and i really like shooting it.... It is easy to take it for a hike and is plenty accurate for its intended purpose.... cheap to shoot and i don't have to collect any brass to reload..... just a fun little shooter..... Did i need it..... no no no, but just pure joy to shoot.....

The other upside is now the wife has taken an interest in shooting 45 acp .... Just an absolute win win...

^ ^ ^ Well, that's some pretty good news!

Boy I'd love to have that Black Label's combat sights, but according to Browning, the dovetail is a different size, and! they won't sell me the sights.

The Black Label (in both .22LR and the perfect-for-this-gun's-size .380) is not available for sale, legally, in California.

My good old Browning Buck Mark is boring... because it has a superb trigger, it's reliable, and it hits what I point it at! When I grab one of the 22s for fun though, it's the Ruger SR22 or the CZ Kadet conversion slide on my CZ 75. You can't have too many .22s!

RainDodger said:

My good old Browning Buck Mark is boring... because it has a superb trigger, it's reliable, and it hits what I point it at! When I grab one of the 22s for fun though, it's the Ruger SR22 or the CZ Kadet conversion slide on my CZ 75. You can't have too many .22s!

Click to expand...

I feel the same way about my Ruger MK II's. Boringly reliable, and accurate. I have to admit I do enjoy shooting my CZ-75 with Kadet Kit conversion as well. It is just a bit more fun than the others. That's why the Browning 1911-22 intrigues me. They are a bit pricey though, but the ammo savings would make up for it.

Pilot, I love your reasoning.... "They are a bit pricey though, but the ammo savings would make up for it." The age-old saying that makes us all feel good about buying guns. And of course it's so true!

The recoil guide rod doubles as a recoil buffer. Mine is very reliable, surprisingly so. Trigger is poor , but I'm learning to live with it accuracy is as good as I can hold.

200 apps,

Not available in Calif.... hummm now i remember why i left Sandy Eggo....
Browning won't sell the sights..... Geez, thats not good support..... have you found any after market sights you like?
Hope you can find some you like.........

The wife now whats to take a closer look at that 380 black label.... she said that "she usually buys everything as a pair, have you ever seen me walk out of the store with just one new shoe"........ There is just no argueing with a pretty lady, with undeniably good logic ...