I've been wanting a 22 conversion for my 1911 for quite some time. Finally, after watching someone shoot a one at my club two months back, I decided to quit dilly-dallying around and do it. I looked at the various models available and decided the Marvel was the way I wanted to go: a bit more money, but the unit's reported accuracy and reliability seem to make it money well spent.
From the time I placed the order on the Marvel web site to delivery was roughly three weeks. As my intent here is to use the conversion to try to beat back the clock and regain some of my open sight skills, I did not order the model with the scope mounts, but I can add that anytime I want (every slide comes drilled and tapped for the mount). I also ordered a second magazine and the mag loader gizmo.
Kit came in a nice, compact padded and zippered case with cutouts in the foam to keep things well organized (there is a mag cutout that will hold up to two magazines in the case). Test target was included, laminated into a button, and measured .735" at 50 yards; group was circular. Very nice.
Also included were a couple stickers, user's manual, screws and wrench for scope mount. Missing in my kit was the small takedown wrench (5/32", my Craftsman 1/4" socket set included one, so no worries there). I sent an email to Marvel, I'm sure one's already in the mail.
First thing I did was take the conversion apart for a cleaning, light oiling and inspection. Craftsmanship is first rate. Slide, frame, barrel and recoil rod are perfectly anodized (black). There are no machine marks, burrs or other signs of rushed production. Everything fits very tight and straight. Barrel is heavy steel, slide and frame are aluminum. Open sights that come with the conversion are adjustable for windage and elevation and are very crisp top-quality units finished in matte black with serrations to eliminate glare.
Installation was a snap: remove the slide from my Valtro, slide the conversion on, insert the conversion's slide lock, tighten the recoil rod using the (5/32") takedown wrench, and you're good to go. Recoil rod tightens down against the slide lock, in essence locking everything together with a single screw (very slick!). Make sure to use the (pivoting) slide lock that comes with the kit or you'll be unable to lock the slide open. The conversion is similar in function to the SW 41 or Sig Trailside; the entire top end and barrel don't cycle, only the breech, etc. If you mount a scope or dot, it will not add to the reciprocating mass. Again, the barrel is bolted down tight onto the gun's frame, which is where some of the unit's accuracy must come from.
At the range, I tried three different 22LR loads. First one was American Eagle LRN, this is the cheepo red box. 100 rounds and not a single failure. Feeding was perfect, extraction strong. Groups were fair, but the POI was off by about 4" high and right at 50 feet. Seems the sights weren't properly regulated from the factory. 10 minutes at the bench and POI = POA.
Next I wanted to try some Wolf Match Target ammo. This is my absolute favorite rimfire pistol ammo and as I have two cases at home, it would be nice if the conversion fed it. Contrary to my concerns, the Marvel conversion feeds low velocity target ammo just fine. 100 rounds rapid fire and not a single failure. Offhand groups were about equal to the bench groups with the American ammo, so back to the bench. Conversion's accuracy with this ammo is nothing short of spectacular, with 10 rounds going into less than 1" at 50 feet (tired eyes and open sights, I know it will do much better if I ever break down and order the scope mount). As this will be my everyday ammo for the conversion, I adjusted the sights a couple clicks to properly zero for 25 yards.
Next I tried some of the Winchester PowerPoints, 40gr HV hollowpoint that I've seen cause feeding problems in some guns. No surprise here: feeding and extraction was 100%. But the gun didn't seem happy shooting these loads. Accuracy was poor (6" @ 50 feet) with flyers and stringing of the group. Sparks from unburnt powder were being ejected, along with very (!!) vigorous ejection of the cases: one case got stuck mouth-first into the particle board skin covering the range's partitions. After one case found its way down my shirt (yow!), I decided to save the PowerPoints for rifle use: I only shot 50 round of this ammo. At this point I noticed some light wear on the anodizing on the left side of the conversion's dust cover. It is possible this was a result of the vigorous PowerPoint ammo and is something I will keep an eye on.
After the end of my <ahem> "formal" testing, I went back and finished off the stock of American and Wolf ammo I brought, with the total number of rounds shot the first time out ending at 550. Towards the end of the session, I had one American case get stuck in the chamber, requiring a cleaning rod from the muzzle to free. Next round and all following rounds loaded and ejected fine. No problems bouncing between ammo. That's it, one failure in 550 rounds.
As the slide does not lock back on last round, it is important to keep count of number of rounds fired to minimize dry firing after the tenth shot. Also, as the slide is often closed during loading, you must make sure the magazines are firmly seated. If you have a magwell, magazine seating on a closed slide may be problematic.
I'm not fond of the magazines, they function fine but loading them is a minor PITA. When I load a Ruger Mk II magazine, I pull the follower all the way to the bottom and dump ammo in until full. Doing this with the conversion's (Colt Ace) magazines will allow a cartridge to go in tail first, mucking up the works. Its necessary to move the follower down only enough to load one round before you move the follower down a bit to load the next. Once you get the hang of it, its not a problem. Mag loader gizmo is a big help here.
All in all, I'm very happy with the kit and know I will be spending lots of quality time with it in the coming years.
From the time I placed the order on the Marvel web site to delivery was roughly three weeks. As my intent here is to use the conversion to try to beat back the clock and regain some of my open sight skills, I did not order the model with the scope mounts, but I can add that anytime I want (every slide comes drilled and tapped for the mount). I also ordered a second magazine and the mag loader gizmo.
Kit came in a nice, compact padded and zippered case with cutouts in the foam to keep things well organized (there is a mag cutout that will hold up to two magazines in the case). Test target was included, laminated into a button, and measured .735" at 50 yards; group was circular. Very nice.
Also included were a couple stickers, user's manual, screws and wrench for scope mount. Missing in my kit was the small takedown wrench (5/32", my Craftsman 1/4" socket set included one, so no worries there). I sent an email to Marvel, I'm sure one's already in the mail.
First thing I did was take the conversion apart for a cleaning, light oiling and inspection. Craftsmanship is first rate. Slide, frame, barrel and recoil rod are perfectly anodized (black). There are no machine marks, burrs or other signs of rushed production. Everything fits very tight and straight. Barrel is heavy steel, slide and frame are aluminum. Open sights that come with the conversion are adjustable for windage and elevation and are very crisp top-quality units finished in matte black with serrations to eliminate glare.
Installation was a snap: remove the slide from my Valtro, slide the conversion on, insert the conversion's slide lock, tighten the recoil rod using the (5/32") takedown wrench, and you're good to go. Recoil rod tightens down against the slide lock, in essence locking everything together with a single screw (very slick!). Make sure to use the (pivoting) slide lock that comes with the kit or you'll be unable to lock the slide open. The conversion is similar in function to the SW 41 or Sig Trailside; the entire top end and barrel don't cycle, only the breech, etc. If you mount a scope or dot, it will not add to the reciprocating mass. Again, the barrel is bolted down tight onto the gun's frame, which is where some of the unit's accuracy must come from.
At the range, I tried three different 22LR loads. First one was American Eagle LRN, this is the cheepo red box. 100 rounds and not a single failure. Feeding was perfect, extraction strong. Groups were fair, but the POI was off by about 4" high and right at 50 feet. Seems the sights weren't properly regulated from the factory. 10 minutes at the bench and POI = POA.
Next I wanted to try some Wolf Match Target ammo. This is my absolute favorite rimfire pistol ammo and as I have two cases at home, it would be nice if the conversion fed it. Contrary to my concerns, the Marvel conversion feeds low velocity target ammo just fine. 100 rounds rapid fire and not a single failure. Offhand groups were about equal to the bench groups with the American ammo, so back to the bench. Conversion's accuracy with this ammo is nothing short of spectacular, with 10 rounds going into less than 1" at 50 feet (tired eyes and open sights, I know it will do much better if I ever break down and order the scope mount). As this will be my everyday ammo for the conversion, I adjusted the sights a couple clicks to properly zero for 25 yards.
Next I tried some of the Winchester PowerPoints, 40gr HV hollowpoint that I've seen cause feeding problems in some guns. No surprise here: feeding and extraction was 100%. But the gun didn't seem happy shooting these loads. Accuracy was poor (6" @ 50 feet) with flyers and stringing of the group. Sparks from unburnt powder were being ejected, along with very (!!) vigorous ejection of the cases: one case got stuck mouth-first into the particle board skin covering the range's partitions. After one case found its way down my shirt (yow!), I decided to save the PowerPoints for rifle use: I only shot 50 round of this ammo. At this point I noticed some light wear on the anodizing on the left side of the conversion's dust cover. It is possible this was a result of the vigorous PowerPoint ammo and is something I will keep an eye on.
After the end of my <ahem> "formal" testing, I went back and finished off the stock of American and Wolf ammo I brought, with the total number of rounds shot the first time out ending at 550. Towards the end of the session, I had one American case get stuck in the chamber, requiring a cleaning rod from the muzzle to free. Next round and all following rounds loaded and ejected fine. No problems bouncing between ammo. That's it, one failure in 550 rounds.
As the slide does not lock back on last round, it is important to keep count of number of rounds fired to minimize dry firing after the tenth shot. Also, as the slide is often closed during loading, you must make sure the magazines are firmly seated. If you have a magwell, magazine seating on a closed slide may be problematic.
I'm not fond of the magazines, they function fine but loading them is a minor PITA. When I load a Ruger Mk II magazine, I pull the follower all the way to the bottom and dump ammo in until full. Doing this with the conversion's (Colt Ace) magazines will allow a cartridge to go in tail first, mucking up the works. Its necessary to move the follower down only enough to load one round before you move the follower down a bit to load the next. Once you get the hang of it, its not a problem. Mag loader gizmo is a big help here.
All in all, I'm very happy with the kit and know I will be spending lots of quality time with it in the coming years.
