Ammo for 1911 .22 conversion unit

[RANash]

I just received my new Marvel Unit 2 .22 conversion for the 1911. Looks great.

From those of you that have conversion units, and especially Marvel units, I would appreciate some suggestions on ammo to purchase for it.

I haven't bought .22 since I was just a kid! I can't wait!

- I know the unit is made for .22 LR. Can I buy .22 Long, or .22 Short too?

- Is the .22 Mini Magnum or Mini Mag OK?

- I know I am supposed to get high velocity, but is "hyper velocity" better or different, or just another marketing term for high velocity?

- Is there any advantage to lead vs copper-plated or vice-versa?

I appreciate your help!

Rich

 

[Bacchus]

My only experience is with Ciener's unit rather than the Marvel. I think that the conversion units are a ton of fun to use. They are ammo sensitive--like anything else. Here's what I've found for LR:

Avoid Remington bulk packs

Federal lightning (red box) works OK--but I've had a fair amount of duds lately (4 out of 100)

Winchester is hit and miss--the more expensive ones usually are more consistent, emphasis on usually

CCIs are good--look for the "0030" mark on the box

 

[Dorrin79]

i would use the CCI mini-mags. You can get them for about $3/100 at wal-mart, and they are consistent, accurate and snappy.

I've had good luck with remington Vipers too, but they were more expensive than the CCI and certainly not better.

 

[Jim Watson]

- I know the unit is made for .22 LR. Can I buy .22 Long, or .22 Short too?

No.
And no reason to. Demand is way down, they cost more, and there are so many loadings of lr that you can get the same performance out of the correct ammo.

- Is the .22 Mini Magnum or Mini Mag OK?

I don't know what Mini Magnum is. You cannot use .22 Magnum, it is an entirely different cartridge.
Mini Mag is CCI's trademark for their plated high velocity .22 lr. Good stuff.

- I know I am supposed to get high velocity, but is "hyper velocity" better or different, or just another marketing term for high velocity?

Hyper velocity .22s usually have a lighter than usual bullet to get higher velocity than conventional H.V. 40 grain lr. The original CCI Stinger has a longer case which can hurt autoloader function. Note that Marvel says to use a different recoil spring for that stuff. I wouldn't fool with it.

- Is there any advantage to lead vs copper-plated or vice-versa?

I use plated in my CZ Kadet and Colt ACE because I had terrible leading from some cheap promotional bare lead .22s once.
BUT, if you are buying good quality ammo for best accuracy, note that all serious match .22s are plain lead.

I have had good service out of bulk packed Federal hollowpoint, bought about 3500 rounds when on sale. But there are a lot to choose from. Buy a box of everything you can find, shoot it, pick one for reliability and accuracy, and stock up.

 

[444]

The Marvel conversion is pretty much the cream of the crop in .22lr conversions. I would suspect that it was designed to be used with standard velocity cartridges for ultimate accuracy. I would contact Marvel and ask them what they recommend. This might save you a lot of frustration. I own a Ceiner conversion and it is extremly ammo sensitive. I also own a number of other .22 autoloading pistols and they digest anything I ever fed them with ease, but not the Ceiner conversion. I found that CCI Mini-Mags run flawlessly in my Ceiner. Pretty much anything else I have tried doesn't. I have no idea why, but I just accepted that fact and bought a 5000 round case of it. When I bought my conversion, they told me to use CCI ammo in it. I didn't listen and struggled for a couple years, cussing it and even sent it back to the factory once. As soon as I started using CCI in it, I only have problems if I fire in excess of 500 rounds without cleaning it. So, definitely call Marvel or read your manual and see if it recommends a certain ammo for best results. Again, this is just a guess on my part, but I would bet that you will have your best results by using ammo marked as "standard velocity", "target", or "match" ammo just because those Marvel conversions have a very strong following among serious bullseye shooters.

 

[jercamp45]

Good Luck with the Marvel!

That is the way to go for a conversion unit nowadays...and .22 conversions units pay for themselves very rapidly.
I had a Colt .22 Conversion unit for my Series 70 in '78....a real bugger to clean because of the free floating chamber...but I got alot of practise with it and a Private First Class in the Marines did not make alot of money!
I got a Ciener for my LW Officer's about five years ago...and it has punched out ALOT of rounds!! It has bee reliable with any ammo I have shot, as long as you keep the unit clean...but accuracy wise, mine is VERY picky for good groups!! Funny but the cheap blaser .22 seems most accurate!
Probably be different for yours. Second the recommendation to talk to Marvel. I may be wanting to get one for my government model when this job shift is coplete and more duckettes are lining the toy fund......so, a range report when you get it and work it out...please!
Jercamp45

 

[444]

jercamp45: Can't you put your Officer's Model Ceiner conversion on your full size 1911 ? I was told that I could when I bought mine and bought a standard sized magazine for use with the Government Model frame; but I have never actually tried it even though I have owned my Officer's Model conversion for a few years.

 

[RANash]

Thanks for all the info!

This conversion unit is the Marvel "Unit 2" which is not their super accurate one. It's about $100 less money and doesn't support a compensator. I think it's supposed to be a Ciener competitor.

Marvel didn't issue a list of ammo that he recommends, also he very clearly says "Use high velocity ammo", so I e-mailed him, and got the following answer:
----------------
Richard,

I asked Mike and he said to use ammo like
Remington Gold Bullet
Thunderbolt
Cyclone

Mike doesn't use hyper velocity ammo, he thinks
it might be a less
accurate than the high velocity.

And as far as lead vs copper he really doesn't
know if there is an
advantage.

Sheila
---------------

I will definitely give everyone a range report when I get a chance to go shooting next. (Business is very pressing these days...)

 

[444]

Cool.
It looks like you can save a little money by shooting the HV stuff. And it will be much easier to find. About the best thing to do is just try a few brands that are easily available and hopefully it will like it.

 

[RANash]

I promised a range report when I finally got an opportunity to go to the range. You can read it here:

http://www.1911forum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=63567

 

[444]

Great. Nice write-up. Sounds like you got a winner.
I am happy for you.

 

[10-Ring]

The 1911 conversion kits I've used (one EAA & the other Ceiner) went throught Federal Classics (in the blue & gray box) pretty well.
Congrats on your kit, they're lots of fun!