Advantage Arms

Anybody have any experience with the Advantage Arms target 1911 conversions?

Excellent!
Same designer as the Marvel and Nelson conversions.

james r chapman wrote:Excellent!
Same designer as the Marvel and Nelson conversions.

I don’t think that’s so? I remember my mentor, the late Bob Brown working with AA on their conversion. I remember him making 17-18 recommended changes during design back in the early 90’s.
Jon

Whats different between AA, Marvel and Nelson? They all look very similar.

Was my understanding Jon.

I have them side by side. Not a lot of apparent difference.

My marvel is showing serious wear, just thinking over which conversion to replace it with when the sad day comes.

james r chapman wrote:Was my understanding Jon.

I have them side by side. Not a lot of apparent difference.

Maybe this explains my confusion.

https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2372-sold-advantage-arms-marvel-custom-pro-22-bullseye-conversion-for-the-1911-a1

Regardless, the several I’ve had were accurate and ran well.

I should have said the same design.

SmokinNJokin wrote:Whats different between AA, Marvel and Nelson? They all look very similar.

I too have pondered this. I have a Marvel (alum non lock back) and a Nelson, I should get an AA to compare. I bet the differences of the trio are all subtle, but beneficial for one reason or another.

james r chapman wrote:

james r chapman wrote:Was my understanding Jon.

I have them side by side. Not a lot of apparent difference.

Maybe this explains my confusion.

https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2372-sold-advantage-arms-marvel-custom-pro-22-bullseye-conversion-for-the-1911-a1

Regardless, the several I’ve had were accurate and ran well.

I should have said the same design.

Jim,
I forgot about the “Marvel” version…..wasn’t much different. I test fired many of the early AA conversions when I would visit Bob. Interesting times.
Jon

I have AA. From the functional aspect it looks almost exactly like Marvel. Key difference is that their slide is aluminum and lock open is achieved via small metal plate bolted in the notch location. Metal finish is good, no burrs, etc. My conversion is several years old and I never cared for the way they anodized it. Finish feels rough like a fine grit sandpaper (military style), think Sig, not smooth metal like Marvel or others. I never cared for that as it caught gunk and junk. Also billboard was ridiculous on mine. It ended up being mirror polished. Functionally this conversion fits tighter than the Marvel. On top of that the finishis gritty and so slide cycled with big hesitation. I had to lap and polish the internal rail for a good fit. Once done it fits much better than Marvel. Functionally I had to work a lot with springs to make it cycle properly. Standard HV spring replaced with standard velocity. Gun's mainspring replaced with lower 17lb. Feeding from original magazine was an issue. Always misfeeds. Replaced with GSG and issues solved. Now after I worked on it, it is a good looking reliable conversion. Accuracy is great. On par with the best of them. I can group a penny sized hole off the benchrest at 25 yards.

Oh, the buffer. Original buffer turned to mush and ripped after few hundrrd rounds. They make them way too soft. Replaced with Nelson buffers, which are direct replacement but a fair bit stiffer (and cheaper

I'll only add that the Marvel and Nelson barrel has a recessed crown where the AA does not. The AA extractor has a different shape to it. Mine works very well with standard velocity and I'm using the AA plastic magazines.

Jon Eulette wrote:

james r chapman wrote:Excellent!
Same designer as the Marvel and Nelson conversions.

I don’t think that’s so? I remember my mentor, the late Bob Brown working with AA on their conversion. I remember him making 17-18 recommended changes during design back in the early 90’s.
Jon

I think the AA received the most growing pains modifications of Bob Marvels design.  I saw three versions each of the slide stop insert and of the buffer.  Bob Marvel told me on the phone of a change on the barrel about the height of the bore or was it the height of the ejector.  I don't remember which.  I do recall a side by side comparison of new to old AA barrels showing something different there.  I also recall Bob Marvel saying the Nighthawk/Nelson slide was widened to beef up the rail for the Nighthawk/Nelson slide stop pin. Measuring the slide today shows the Nelson slide wider than the AA (about .980-.920).   The Nighthawk/Nelson I believe was a continuation of the development. 
I have an AA with Bob Marvel's #012 barrel in it. It is one just before AA moved from CA to Idaho. It works just like a Nelson.  Perhaps I should shoot some groups with it.  Steve at AA was always very helpful.
One more Bob Marvel thing.....He told me to call Nelson for a barrel replacement in my Nighthawk.  I do not remember the issue with the Nighthawk.  Nelson provided the new barrel no questions asked.

Advantage Arms



Nelson

Oh

I have looked at all of the mentioned conversions but have only used the Nelson. I currently have two of them on dedicated frames. I really like the hardened pin inserted in the slide stop enter than the steel add-on. I use my Nelson in a fun steel match we shoot weekly. It involves shooting to slide lock then a quick mag change and shoot to slide lock again. I always close the gun by thumbing the slide stop rather than sling shotting. The steel pin has prevented any visible wear in the slide hold open notch.

Ok

Jim, am I reading that the slide is cut slimmer on AA? So it's not my silly thoughts? ))

I think it is that the Nelson slides are now wider.

Jim
Is that a mark or a crack behind where that AA screw broke?

Jack H wrote:Jim
Is that a mark or a crack behind where that AA screw broke?

Don’t think it’s broke, I’ll look closer.

I think never mind.  Could be a deceiving light reflection in a shiny socket hole.