.22 Conversion

I'm sure this has been debated before, however, I'm looking for a conversion......
I love accuracy but I don't compete.  
I shoot a SW41, Walther GSP, Contender 14" Match, Ruger MkII Slabside, and a Buckmark Target.  All great shooting guns.

From here I'd like to add a conversion to my 45, but I'm torn between mainly the Marvel Unit One and the Nelson (Nelson for price, I'll be honest.)
Experienced opinions please.

Thanks!

For price, not giving up accuracy, Advantage Arms, another Bob Marvel design

Having used both Marvel and Nelson, I prefer Nelson, for no particular reason. They are both excellent.

Ric

I am very pleased with my Nelson on a SRO frame.  So much so my other .22's usually stay at home... mk4, 22/45, BM, 41 etc.  And I shoot it a lot!  bob

one marvel for general precision
one marvel for .22 eic
dedicated lowers for both
both completely trouble free (except firing pins).

I have two Nelsons (5" and 6") that are great. I also have a Marvel (non-lock back unit 1). I prefer the Nelsons, but have no issues with the Marvel. I believe a dedicated lower is worthwhile, you can more easily tune it to run better. Marvels are known to have firing pin issues, but are fairly simple to mitigate/fix.

I have a Marvel (non-lock back) unit 1.  I've been real pleased with it and I consistently shoot better scores with that than my Ruger Mk 3.  I don't think the gun itself shoots any better but I find the 1911 frame and trigger to be easier to shoot well.  But, as other shooters have noted the firing pin may need replacement after thousands of rounds.  if you get the Marvel, I recommend the metal mags over the poly - worth the difference IMO.   Having a dedicated lower is probably best over the long run but over short run swapping back and forth is fine too.

Another thing I'd say is that I think either the Marvel or Nelson conversion is a great trainer for 1911 45.  Shoot the conversion for a while, switch to 45, back again, etc.  I still have Pardini envy at times but that's another story.

I’ve had both and both worked really well. I prefer non lockback, just for consistency of feel of recoil recovery...if that makes sense.

I had a marvel unit 1, Nelson, and AA. I've sold all but the AA. I found it to be the most reliable and most accurate of the 3. Just my experience.

AA, Marvel and Nelson are all pretty much exactly same concept with different execution. In my experience all shoot the same. AA is not as good finish as other two. You will need to spend some time to fit it, but it will be tighter than the other two (but tight slide not necessary). Nelson and Marvel are better finish for sure. Especially Nelson. Again, all 3 shoot the same and are 95+% same engineering wise.

Nelson and Marvel are both solid conversions, as mentioned already. I shoot a Nelson and it will hold 2” @ 50 yards with a RR. Another club member uses a Marvel, accuracy seems to be equal. If you like the 1911 platform, pick the conversion that gets you excited to shoot and have some fun.

This is Great, thank you All for your expert opinion, this is just what I was looking for.
I will take a look at the AA but I'll probably go with the Nelson.
Thank you all very much.
And yes Spurls, after handling a Ruger 22/45, I though hmmm, yep I need a .22 conversion.

Thanks again All!

My longslide marvel will hold 5/8 at 50 yards with many kinds of ammo.

I own a Nelson I’m quite fond of. I went HM with it. I also had an older Marvel for a while but sold it. Now regrettably. That was a sweet shooter. But my Nelson is great too. And I have other guns. When it comes to conversions I think the Nelson is the most updated and the customer support is second to none but the advantage arms is pretty good too and the most affordable. Can’t really go wrong with any of them but there seems to be a lot of favoritism towards the Nelson.

I have no experience with the Advantage Arms conversion, but I have a steel-slide lock-back Marvel "Unit 1", and a Nelson.  I believe the Nelson is slightly more accurate.  Both are more accurate than I am.  Both can be bought set up for Irons, or dots, or both, and for a threaded muzzle.  I believe the steel slide on the Marvel is much more durable.  I had trouble with both finding a lubrication system that worked, eventually deciding that simply more is better.  I had trouble with both with magazine height, eventually installing a high magazine catch on the 1918 Colt frame holding the Marvel.