1911 calibre conversions

[coltpython]

hi fellas,
I saw a colt 1911 a few days ago owned by a friend. it had two spare barrels ie one each of .45, .32 and .22.
cheers

[mundaire]

hi fellas,
I saw a colt 1911 a few days ago owned by a friend. it had two spare barrels ie one each of .45, .32 and .22.
cheers

It must not just be spare "barrels" he would have had, there would be a complete "top end" for each of the 3 calibres mentioned above (along with dedicated magazines). Top end would be the slide, barrel, recoil spring, etc.

I know of several .22 cal conversions for the 1911 (Ciener, Marvel, Kimber, WC, Colt Ace, TS etc.) but the .32 conversion is interesting. Would it be possible for you to ask the make/ model of that conversion unit?

Cheers!
Abhijeet

P.S. This is an interesting topic, so am splitting this into a new thread

[penpusher]

Colt made a .22 conversion kit for the 1911 with what was called a 'floating chamber'.

There are a number of companies that make .22 conversion kits for the 1911.

I have never heard of a conversion kit for a 1911 .45 in .32 ACP.Would be nice to have some photos.

You may find this interesting http://www.rifleman.org.uk/index-3.html

[mundaire]

That would be the Colt Ace if I am not mistaken. It's a bit of a collectors item these days, though it is at best a plinker.

Of all the .22 cal conversion kits, the Marvel rates the highest as far as accuracy goes. It is also one of the few ones which functions fine with normal/ low velocity .22 ammo. The price is steep (over $500 with spare mag etc.) but the accuracy is rated as match grade.

The Ciener is the most popular kit on the market but works only with high/ hyper velocity ammo. As per many posts on the net they also used to supply their kits to Kimber and Wilson Combat (WC), but these two makers supposedly now make their own. All three are rated as decent plinkers and are priced between $200-$300.

The Tactical Solutions (TS) kit is priced at over $400 and of all the current kits is the only one that offers last shot slide lockback. However, the accuracy is no where close to that of the Marvel.

The Marvel & TS kits also offer a threaded barrel as an optional extra (for a screw on suppressor /barrel weight/ muzzle brake). Other extras that both offer are scope rail, or a combo scope rail + adjustable sight add on. These two kits also seem to be the hardest to source with back orders ensuring that it usually takes several months for them to ship out to customers (after placing your order).

The Ciener has a mag capacity of 15, while all of the others ship with a 10 round mag. The Ciener mag is also reported to function with the Colt Ace kit.

All of the above information is courtesy Google

Still waiting for more info on the .32 conversion... Coltpython?

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[marksman]

.32 conversion kit is news to me. I certainly would like to see the pictures. I have used the .22LR stuff made by Colt Ace on my 1911A1. The floating chamber causes the pistol to malfunction within 75 shots or less unless one used copper coated ammo. not very accurate though but it's fun plinking.
Marksman

[penpusher]

.32 conversion kit is news to me. I certainly would like to see the pictures. I have used the .22LR stuff made by Colt Ace on my 1911A1. The floating chamber causes the pistol to malfunction within 75 shots or less unless one used copper coated ammo. not very accurate though but it's fun plinking.
Marksman

How did you import it?

[marksman]

I said I have used it. Must have come into the country in the late 50s. This was some where in 1973-74 when shooting off imported ammo at the target was unthinkable. This guy had a colt 1911 in 38 super with this 22 convesion kit(Colt Ace). Later this combo was sold by Bombay Gun House to a wealthy client in Indore(MP) for Rs.70,000/. I am still looking for this gun. I simply thought the price was too steep for an old pistol....then. Also I did not possess a handgun license.
Marksman

Marksman

[mundaire]

AFAIK Colt Ace kits have been around since at least WW II, so I would assume there would be more than a few floating around in India...

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[Anand]

Hello,
I have never heard of the .32 conversion either. Either it is a custom made modification/ fabrication (less likely) or else there is a 7.65mmP(also called .30 Luger and not to be confused with 7.65mmBrowning/.32ACP) conversion kit with it.

These kits/pistols were made for export from the USA to countries that did not allow military calibers like 9mmP.,like Italy,Mexico etc.
Regards,
Anand

[Hunter]

Hi folks,

While we are on this topic...what would be the legalities involved in fitting a .22 conversion kit to a .45(provided one can import the kit first!)Would the same require an additional license?

Many thanks for your feed back!

[mundaire]

Hi folks,

While we are on this topic...what would be the legalities involved in fitting a .22 conversion kit to a .45(provided one can import the kit first!)Would the same require an additional license?

Many thanks for your feed back!

The import of barrels is restricted, so you cannot import any of these per se. You would have to source one locally from a dealer or license holder (who has it entered on his license).

The barrel would simply be entered as an additional barrel (along with calibre & serial no.) on your existing handgun license. You would need a proof of purchase along to submit along with the application for addition of this barrel on your license - invoice from dealer, etc.

Do keep in mind the fact that apart from the Marvel (Unit 1), almost all of the others require high/ hyper velocity ammo for proper function and would therefore not work well with KF's.

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[mundaire]

Any further news on the .32 cal conversion? Was it a custom made kit? Please do tell...

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[HydNawab]

Found this video on you tube. Looks like a 1911.

[youtube][/youtube]

I am not sure if any gun manufacturer produces the 32ACP conversion kit for a 1911 but it can sure be made with a good gunsmith in the US.

Ashar

-- Sun Mar 29, 2009 19:20 --

hi fellas,
I saw a colt 1911 a few days ago owned by a friend. it had two spare barrels ie one each of .45, .32 and .22.
cheers

I think you must have seen one with 38 super barrel and possibly you could have mistaken it for a .32 ACP.

Ashar

[marksman]

You are right Ashar, it can be done in the U.S. But who would want to do it in the country of plenty. Once done it shall remain a .32acp or 38 super or what ever. As one has to change the extractor and the ejector. In case of a 32acp, in order to reach the smaller rim of a 32acp, one will have to redesign the extractor channel, Changing an ejector again is not very practical as it sits on the frame with two cross pins. Not to mention the change of recoil spring/main spring/FP spring every time to make it function positively with these different caliber ammo. Simply a futile exercise. They'd rather get the conversion unit for 45 Win. magnum or something.
In all probabilities, coltpython was taken for a ride by a friend. Though I have seen a H&K Squeeze cocker with a 22 LR, 25acp, and 32 ACP inter changeable barrels owned by one of our International pistol shooters but frankly even that did not excite me.
Cheers!!!
Marksman

[timmy]

I've never heard of a .32 ACP conversion either.

I note that the cartridges for which the 1911 has been fitted, 45 ACP, 38 Super, and 9mm P, all have similar energy characteristics that are used to power the short recoil action. When Colt adapted the 1911 to fire 22 LR, they used a straight blowback action with a fixed barrel in the 22 version. The low powered 22 did not cycle the action reliably, and then Colt came out with the Service Ace, which used a floating chamber to increase the amount of rearward thrust, which would cycle the steel slide of the Ace conversion.

You can still purchase the parts from Numrich (Gun Parts) here:

Colt Ace Parts

Since the floating chamber was not a particularly reliable idea, due to fouling jamming the chamber, others have come out with a blowback conversion that uses an aluminum slide, like this one:

Kimber 22 LR conversion for 1911

I think that this is the reason we'd all like to see what a .32 ACP conversion looks like: the 32 ACP round is much closer in power to the 22 LR than it is to 45 ACP or the others, and the question would be whether the conversion is a straight blowback action or something else. In any case, I would also presume that much more than just a barrel would be required do make such a conversion work.

Furthermore, it isn't a whole lot cheaper to shoot 32 ACP than it is 45 ACP, at least in the USA, which makes me wonder, "Why?"