I've been looking for a pistol for my wife and think this slim model 1911 would be a good choice. She will make the final selection of course. It comes with a 4.5" or 3.5" barrel. What is your experience with this model? Accuracy? Tom
Browning 1911 .22
- Thread starter Sniper66
- Start date
- Status
jstein650
Member
Haven't had one, but they sure are purty little things! Do you have a regular 1911? I used to use a Ciener .22 conversion for my Kimber. Worked great, since the Kimber was an excellent pistol in the first place. Have no idea on the current price/availability on either the Browning or the conversion these days though.
1KPerDay
Member
I finally got a chance to shoot one the other week... lots of fun and reliable. Accurate enough to hit 8" steel plates at 20 yards every time... didn't shoot for groups.
Kinda feels like a toy; it's so tiny.
Kinda feels like a toy; it's so tiny.
Since writing my first inquiry, I have done some additional research and this gun appears to be a real keeper. They had one in stock when I was at Bass Pro in Springfield this weekend. I hadn't done any research nor had I consulted my wife, but I sure wish i had bought it. They had both the compact and the 4" barrel. The 4" is better. I loved the sleek design and frankly I would like to have one for myself. So, I return home where I live near the Cabela's in KC and of course they are sold out. Looked on line and it's no where to be found. By the way, if you look on line and find one, make sure it is the one you want since most ads I saw on Gunbroker did not specify which barrel length it had. had to email them to find out and they had the short barrel....not what I want. Darn it...I wish I had bought the one at Bass Pro.
bannockburn
Member
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2007
- Messages
- 26,301
I have checked them out at the local gunshop and while I like the downsized appearance and all they're a bit too pricey for my budget right now.
Sergei Mosin
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2011
- Messages
- 1,918
Lovely little plinker. My wife and I both enjoy shooting ours. Tiny little sights are the only real drawback. Well, that and Browning only shipping with one magazine.
Peter M. Eick
Member
Mine is 100% reliable. Will shoot anything I can shove in the magazine, works well and is reasonably accurate if you follow through well. It is such a light gun that you have to use good form to get the best accuracy.
I like mine a lot and it works well. It sounds like you got one so lets hear your take on it.
I like mine a lot and it works well. It sounds like you got one so lets hear your take on it.
michaelbsc
Member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2012
- Messages
- 374
I've held - no fondled - these a number of times at a couple of gun stores.
Years ago I had a Llama .22 clone 1911 that I loved/hated. It was beautiful and completely, totally unreliable. I can't even remember what I traded it away for, but it's long gone.
I currently have a Beretta 21A that I love, and it works flawlessly with everything but anemic subsonic ammo. It's not a 1911 style, and that's ok. But a 1911 is so classic. It was the first auto pistol I ever saw way back in boot camp.
Man the Browning is expensive, though. If it was $400 I would probably fall all over it just because it's so pretty. (I know, $400 for a .22LR borders on diagnostically committable.)
So, I haven't bought one yet. But I look at it every time I'm in the store. And I see that they aren't moving very fast, which sort of hurts my heart. I perceive the Browning to be every bit the "Gun Jewelry" that my Beretta 21A is. And I suspect the slow sales will eventually lead to cancellation of the model.
And I suspect that the high cost is because of manufacturing costs, not marketing greed. But if Browning could somehow make it sell for $400 I think they would sell like hot cakes. But at the current price I think they're just not going to make it. $500 buys you a lot of real gun to stack up against a .22LR.
One possible suggestion I could make to Browning, and a lot of guys will disagree, would be offer the barrel with a 1 in 9" twist for 60 gr SSS ammo right from the factory. If you look at the terminal ballistics of that much slug the .22 ceases to look so anemic in comparison to everything else. It becomes a hamster gun instead of a mouse gun in the self defense arena.
Years ago I had a Llama .22 clone 1911 that I loved/hated. It was beautiful and completely, totally unreliable. I can't even remember what I traded it away for, but it's long gone.
I currently have a Beretta 21A that I love, and it works flawlessly with everything but anemic subsonic ammo. It's not a 1911 style, and that's ok. But a 1911 is so classic. It was the first auto pistol I ever saw way back in boot camp.
Man the Browning is expensive, though. If it was $400 I would probably fall all over it just because it's so pretty. (I know, $400 for a .22LR borders on diagnostically committable.)
So, I haven't bought one yet. But I look at it every time I'm in the store. And I see that they aren't moving very fast, which sort of hurts my heart. I perceive the Browning to be every bit the "Gun Jewelry" that my Beretta 21A is. And I suspect the slow sales will eventually lead to cancellation of the model.
And I suspect that the high cost is because of manufacturing costs, not marketing greed. But if Browning could somehow make it sell for $400 I think they would sell like hot cakes. But at the current price I think they're just not going to make it. $500 buys you a lot of real gun to stack up against a .22LR.
One possible suggestion I could make to Browning, and a lot of guys will disagree, would be offer the barrel with a 1 in 9" twist for 60 gr SSS ammo right from the factory. If you look at the terminal ballistics of that much slug the .22 ceases to look so anemic in comparison to everything else. It becomes a hamster gun instead of a mouse gun in the self defense arena.
Sergei Mosin
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2011
- Messages
- 1,918
Why are so many people unwilling to pay the same price for a .22 as for a centerfire? Why should a .22 be expected to be cheaper? A quality gun is a quality gun regardless of the cartridge it fires. Sure, my 1911-22 cost $500, but I've gotten as much use and enjoyment from it as I have from most of my centerfire pistols.
jstein650
Member
Because a blow-back .22 is a helluva lot cheaper to manufacture than a centerfire that requires the fairly precise interface machining required for a more powerful round. I'm a firm believer in free market mechanics, but the truth is, any rimfire is a simpler machine than recoil operated guns.
Market demands equal market supply, though.
Market demands equal market supply, though.
michaelbsc
Member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2012
- Messages
- 374
Well, I look at it from the "bang per Buck" aspect in a carry gun too.
My wife wears big loose floppy stuff and can carry a Beretta 92 concealed with a spare 17 round magazine. I can't do that. I carry larger when I can, but when size is restricted I carry a Beretta 21A, which is at very best a mouse gun. But its better than a stick you might find on the ground. Or worse, no stick on the ground.
But $500 can buy a whole bunch of gun in both .380 and 9mm. And if I'm counting on mythical "knockdown power" then both of those pack more than my .22LR. If money was no object then that changes the game. I'd buy both. But if you have to pick one then a sexy gun only trumps a utilitarian gun if both are utilitarian IMHO.
Sergei Mosin
Member
- Joined
- Oct 7, 2011
- Messages
- 1,918
If you're looking at the 1911-22 as a self-defense gun, then in my opinion you're looking at it all wrong. The 1911-22 is not a self-defense gun. It's a fun gun, a plinker, a trainer for full-size 1911s, maybe something to carry when hiking, but it's not a self-defense gun.
I bought one recently for the expressed purpose of teaching my grandkids to shoot a pistol with a pistol that fits them. Mine shoots Mini-Mags without any problems, and that's all I've ever tried in it. It is far superior to my Kimber 1911 conversion, my Ruger 22/45, or any other .22 autoloader I've run across for little hands, both in size and weight. The similarities to "Grandpa's gun" is nice, and the grandkids will enjoy it.
Yes, it's a lot of money, but it will be an heirloom gun. When I saw it, I bought it - and I'm glad I did. A Kimber costs more than a RIA - doesn't make either a bad choice.
Yes, it's a lot of money, but it will be an heirloom gun. When I saw it, I bought it - and I'm glad I did. A Kimber costs more than a RIA - doesn't make either a bad choice.
I do think they are overpriced, but an argument can be made that the savings in ammo cost will far outweigh the purchase price. If you could find .22 ammo that is.
I think it is a good choice for women or kids whom have smaller hands. I also think the Ruger SR22 fills this role, albeit a bit less expensively.
I think it is a good choice for women or kids whom have smaller hands. I also think the Ruger SR22 fills this role, albeit a bit less expensively.
When I first started looking for a pistol for my wife, I looked at some of the special Ruger Lite models, but try finding one...good luck with that. Retailers won't even take orders, which is just weird. Then I found the Browning 1911 .22. I balked a little at the price too, but the quality is there and they are available. I found several on GunsAmerica and GunBrokers. I'll let you know when I end up with one. Should be soon.
U.S.SFC_RET
Member
I recently bought one of those Brownings. It shoots and handles just like a .45 ACP 1911, just scaled down. If you like the fit and feel of a full sized 1911 and want one that is scaled down for the 22LR then this is the gun for you.
I looked at one of the Compact models recently at Gander and really liked the look of it.
I also checked some Youtube reviews and what appears to be one of the best things going with the little pistol is it's ability to digest bulk brand ammo without issues.
I hate ammo picky firearms.
What I dont like about the pistol is the price and as has been mentioned before at $500 plus you can get a very good larger caliber pistol for that kind of money.
I just find it hard to justify that sort of money on any 22LR.
The Ruger SR-22 keeps looking better all the time.
Although in terms of pure beauty it's no match to the Browning.
I also checked some Youtube reviews and what appears to be one of the best things going with the little pistol is it's ability to digest bulk brand ammo without issues.
I hate ammo picky firearms.
What I dont like about the pistol is the price and as has been mentioned before at $500 plus you can get a very good larger caliber pistol for that kind of money.
I just find it hard to justify that sort of money on any 22LR.
The Ruger SR-22 keeps looking better all the time.
Although in terms of pure beauty it's no match to the Browning.
I don't consider a .22LR for self defense.
Of the pistols I currently own, my .22LR pistol has seen the most rounds downrange. For that reason I don't balk too much at paying for a nice .22LR. If that's the pistol you are going to shoot more than the others isn't it worth buying a nice one?
It may not be for others but it for me. That being said my current .22LR workhorse is a Ruger MkIII that was $350ish and I have about $100 in mods. So it's still not that expensive of a pistol.
Of the pistols I currently own, my .22LR pistol has seen the most rounds downrange. For that reason I don't balk too much at paying for a nice .22LR. If that's the pistol you are going to shoot more than the others isn't it worth buying a nice one?
It may not be for others but it for me. That being said my current .22LR workhorse is a Ruger MkIII that was $350ish and I have about $100 in mods. So it's still not that expensive of a pistol.
michaelbsc
Member
- Joined
- Apr 13, 2012
- Messages
- 374
Does it field strip exactly like a USGI .45 ACP 1911?
Obviously the firing pin has to be a little different because it's rim fire. What else, besides 7/8 size, is different?
Obviously the firing pin has to be a little different because it's rim fire. What else, besides 7/8 size, is different?
Jed Carter
Member
Mag safety, big difference from a 1911, I would rather have a full size 1911 in .22LR or a conversion slide. last Sat I found a deal on a used Browning 1911-22. not a bad pistol, would prefer a steel slid on an alloy frame. It shoots very well but I get hammer bite, may have to see if the wife likes it.
- Status
