Get her one of these.
https://ruger.com/products/markIV2245Lite/specSheets/43915.html

Light weight, reliable, can mount a red dot and it’s threaded for a suppressor. Comes in lots of cool colors. You can shoot it stock or put in Volquartsen trigger parts. Mine has VQ internals and a Tanden Kross trigger. Love it! I use it to introduce new shooters, especially women.

Mine runs on both high velocity and standard velocity ammo.
I also have a Nelson .22 conversion on a dedicated frame which is wonderful, but lots more money.

 

Get her one of these.
https://ruger.com/products/markIV2245Lite/specSheets/43915.html

Light weight, reliable, can mount a red dot and it’s threaded for a suppressor. Comes in lots of cool colors. You can shoot it stock or put in Volquartsen trigger parts. Mine has VQ internals and a Tanden Kross trigger. Love it! I use it to introduce new shooters, especially women.
View attachment 640837
Mine runs on both high velocity and standard velocity ammo.
I also have a Nelson .22 conversion on a dedicated frame which is wonderful, but lots more money.

Agree 10 billion percent. Have been trying to locate one for my wife. Tough to find right now.

 

Conversions don’t always just bolt on and work on an existing frame, but the guys at Nelson will help you get it running if you decide to go that route. Mine would not run on my Dan Wesson, but did on my Springfield.
Jeff

 

I have a Nelson Upper on my pending wish list, they seem to be the best in terms of reviews and I want something on my 1911 frame, to be as close to my carry gun in every way when I train with it in .22

 

I've got a Marvel Unit 1, a Kart-Ace Conversion, I've got experience with the Glock Advantage Arms kits, and I have a Colt Ace slide waiting to become a full-size gun.

The biggest challenge, as I see it, in getting a conversion slide to run reliably on a .45 is the heavier mainspring of the .45. My own 1911 experiences have all been with dedicated guns, and I use 17lb mainsprings.

.22 ammo has very little power, so the lighter mainspring is easier for the .22 to cycle. I'm not saying that a switch-upper .22 can't work, but I would stay away from the Colt Ace. They're expensive, not as accurate as the modern conversions, and need more frequent cleaning and lubrication. I love having mine, but it's more of an admiration of how neat and old-school it is, rather than anything to do with objective performance.

I prefer Federal Automatch and other types of "semi-auto optimized" ammo, and I lubricate frequently. I think I might advise you to check out Marvel Unit 2 and Advantage Arms Standard conversions.

Once you get a kit, I'd try it out with each of your lowers. You might see much better function with one that with the others. After that, lube & good ammo are your paths to happiness. Good luck!

 

Do the conversions all necessarily require a non-ramped lower?

At any given time, I’d also have a few 9mm 1911s around, running 17# mains.

 

No, my Marvel Unit 1 was built on a ramped-frame STI “Master” single stack. The Marvel and the Kart/Ace have their own feed ramps.

Considering how different the .22 is from any centerfire, I would be surprised if any .22 kit relied on a frame ramp instead of having its own. I’d still check with manufacturers, though.

If you have 9mms with lighter mainsprings than your .45s, I’d encourage you to investigate that path first.

 

Why not just buy a dedicated .22LR 1911?

Then you have 2 guns instead of one for probably around the same price.

 

Why not just buy a dedicated .22LR 1911?

Then you have 2 guns instead of one for probably around the same price.

Mostly because of comments like Newtm’s. Haven’t heard much good about the Colt/Walther units, don’t know about the Kimbers. I know there are others coming from Europe but have the impression that many are based on the Walther setup.

My m&p is a Walther and is good for what it is...a $300 gun.

 

I always wanted a .22 1911. So, I bought one, a Walther. I don't know what I was expecting. But, this wasn't it. Sold it

I'll stick to my old Ruger MK II for .22.

Newt

 

A new Marvel or Nelson conversion mated to its own frame that is set up to shoot .22 is ideal. There are fully built frames for sale occasionally and putting a WTB ad on this forum would probably get you one. Otherwise have it built or DIY if you can.

 

I vote Nelson conversion, have one of the older ones & Larry has very good customer support

 

I have a Nelson on the Caspian frame of my least used .45. It is good with CCI SV, not so hot with Aquila SV. I have not tried a lot of other ammo in it.

I have a Colt ACE gun bought new by me in the late 1970s. It is kind of OK with its original magazines but spotty with replacements. Yes, the floating chamber gives it a bit of recoil but not enough to make it a serious centerfire simulator.

I think the Ruger 22/45 has some advantages, but I would not get the Lite except for a very small statured shooter. A Browning Buckmark is another choice, similar operation to 1911.

 

"Haven’t heard much good about the Colt/Walther unit's"
Please elaborate on what you heard?

I bought this one new in 2012. It accompanies me to every range visit. I have no idea on how many thousands of rounds have been through it, but it still runs like a champ and has decent accuracy. Mine runs fine on Standard Velocity ammunition. This pic was taken yesterday. Targets are at 20 yards. There really isn't anything to not like about it. I'd buy another one if need arrises. Over the years I've changed a couple of parts to suit my tastes but all the fire control parts are compatible with standard aftermarket 1911 parts.

 

I'll also add, given my Forum handle I really like shooting .22's and love the 1911 platform. I own several 1911 .22 Conversion Units. If accuracy is not your game I suggest buying a dedicated pistol instead of a Conversion Unit. Wether it be a GSG, Sig, or a Walther/Colt. As previously posted, sometimes it's difficult to get a conversion unit to run reliably on a frame, and good working magazines generally add to the frustration. Ask me how I know.....
I'll post a couple more of my Conversion Units, again these pic's were taken yesterday.

Marvel Precision Unit#1 on a 2014 Colt Combat Elite XSE lower, Vortex Venom, Brownell's magazines.

Marvel Precision Unit#2 on a Colt Gold Cup Trophy lower, GSG magazines

I also own another Marvel Precision Unit#1 (non lock-back) with a 1" Ultradot, a Nelson Custom, a Kart, Day Arms, and (2) Colt .22 Conversion Unit's. If you need any detailed information on any, just ask.

 

Nelson on a Fusion dedicated receiver. Coupled with a 2.5# trigger pull and my Gallery Bulls-eye scores improved by 15%! I sold one of my M-41's to finance this.

I've had zero issues with CCI-SV!

Smiles,

 

I went digging through some more photos....

Marvel Precision Unit#1 (non lock-back) on a Norinco M1911-A1 lower. Colt Service Model Ace magazines.

Kart 1911 .22 Conversion Unit on a Colt Series 70 Government Model lower, Kart magazines.

Both of my Colt .22 Conversion Unit's on a '64 Colt Government Model lower, a mix of Colt Service Model Ace magazines and GSG magazines

 

The GSG 1911 22LR is a good piece. Generally about $350, mags are about $35.

I have experience with 5 of them. They run well and are reasonably accurate. A great intro or training piece.

I've had a Marvel Type II and Ciener/Baer conversions. The GSG 1911 is just easier.

Jim