.22 Conversion: Marvel or CZ Kadet?

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antsi

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Wanting a nice .22 plinker/target gun. May shoot a bullseye match with it, but rarely and only on a "just for kicks" basis.

The Marvel would give me a nicer trigger (no offense CZ folks). The CZ is about half the price.

Any other factors to consider? How would the two compare for reliability?
 
I had a Marvel for quite a while and could easily recommend one to anyone willing to ante up for it.

Very nice unit... Completely reliable (once you find the right ammo) and supremely accurate.

Here is mine sitting on top of a Combat Commander.

DCP_2440a.jpg
 
I have a Kadet Conversion Kit that can be mounted on my CZ-75B, 85 Combat, or Custom 75B SA. It is amazingly accurate. It was as accurate as my Ruger Target Competition (Slabside) with the long barrel, which I later traded away. I love it. I sometime use it when I practice for IDPA.

But the Marvel conversion unit for the 1911 is a true match-grade target .22 and is the most accurate .22 unit you're like to encounter. (Bullseye shooters use them to practice with their .45s and for competition.)

Both conversion kits require a top-notch lower.

The other option is buying the CZ Kadet, a dedicated .22 -- the standard CZ lower with a .22 upper. I would not buy a CZ Kadet (the .22 pistol); I would, instead, add the conversion kit to an existing CZ in 9mm or .40.

If you already have a CZ-75B or similar CZ, and don't have a 1911 that has a great trigger, then the Kadet Kit and a first rate trigger job would cost about the same as the Marvel.

If you already have a top-notch 1911, then the decision is a little easier -- get the Marvel and mount it on your 1911 frame. If your 1911 is only so-so, the decision isn't as clear.

cratz2:

Don't be so sure of the inadequacy of CZ triggers... While most of them (in SA mode) won't break like a top-notch 1911 straight out of the box, neither will most 1911s.

On the other hand, I've got two CZs that I'd stack up against ANY custom 1911, Wilson, Baer, Ed Brown, etc. And they'll also shoot smoothly in DA mode, too.
 
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Don't have a Marvel but...

I have two Colt Conversion Kits (one for Series '70 and the other for Series '80) and a CZ-75 Kadet Conversion. I'd go Kadet.
 
cratz2:

Don't be so sure of the inadequacy of CZ triggers... While most of them (in SA mode) won't break like a top-notch 1911 straight out of the box, neither will most 1911s.
Me? Knock CZ triggers? NEVER!

Best out of the box trigger on any gun I've ever owned (or handled for that matter) was the CZ IPSC Standard. And a couple of the CZ75B SAs I've handled were very impressive as well. I love CZs and EAAs. Very nearly as much as my 1911s.
 
I know a couple of people who have both kits and have sold their Ruger/Buckmark/etc........22's because of them. The Kadet kit Ive shot and its one of the most accurate guns Ive shot..........PERIOD.

If the Marvel is better for accuracy than the Kadet....they must have done EVERYTHING right.........:D

Shoot well..........
 
Does anyone know if either of the Marvel kits will fit on 9mm 1911 frames?

I've been trying to find out for awhile, but I never got a straight answer from anyone.

Also, I've got a Kadet adapter for my CZ-75B. I love it and I don't recall any problems with Hi-Velocity ammo. It didn't seem to like Blazer ammo much though. Shoots pretty accurately and is about a must have for any CZ owner. I don't particularly care for the "Pinchey Pulley" upper though.

I got mine from The CZ Connection from a phone order for $219.
 
Cratz2 wrote:

Me? Knock CZ triggers? NEVER!

Sorry, I guess I'm losing it.

I thought I was responding to a comment YOU made, but when I reviewed the message chain I see it was ANTSI's comment that I incorrectly attributed to you...

ANTSI: that original comment was meant for YOU! <grin>

My point. The run-of-the-mill CZ generally has a pretty good trigger. The run-of-the-mill 1911 generally has a pretty good trigger. Neither one is likely to be great.

But a custom 1911 and a well-gunsmithed CZ aren't really that different...and as Cratz2 noted, if you go up a line, and work with a CZ Champion or Standard IPSC, they are outstanding.
 
Does anyone know if either of the Marvel kits will fit on 9mm 1911 frames?

Well, if it helps at all, the gun I used the Marvel on the most was the pictured Combat Commander which is in 38 Super.

No absolute promises but I have no reason to think the Marvel won't work in a 9mm 1911... It comes with a different slide stop and of course a 22 magazine... Other than that, it's just a matter of replacing the slide... The Marvel fit on every one of my 1911s that I tried it on including a ParaOrd 14/45 Limited.
 
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