Ammo, Marvel Conversion

I just scored a Marvel conversion kit, with both a standard sight and a scope rail rib, and for a fairly decent price. It seems to run well on a Colt Combat Commander frame, but it cycles best with hi-velocity ammo, and I'm currently feeding it Auto-Match. Is this normal? What are the rest of you with Marvels shooting through ithem? I hear the unit is delicate, is there anything I should watch out for? Thanks in advance.

what color is the end of the spring? Also is it a unit 1 or 2?

Christopher Miceli wrote:what color is the end of the spring? Also is it a unit 1 or 2?

Actually, there is no color on the spring, and -- unhappily -- I do not know what unit I have.... can you tell by the photo?

looks like unit 1 and 9lb spring. I don't recommend Hi-V, standard is best for the normally reason us bullseye people don't use it. Most people are running Wolf,SK,Eley,CCI,Aguila through 1911-22lr conversions.  Fire control components you have in your lower could be making the slide not run as smoothly. Couple of threads on tuning lowers to run 22 conversions. Couple great gunsmiths on this forum could work on it for you.


Also did it come with a little button that is your test target?

Christopher Miceli wrote:looks like unit 1 and 9lb spring. I don't recommend Hi-V, standard is best for the normally reason us bullseye people don't use it. Most people are running Wolf,SK,Eley,CCI,Aguila through 1911-22lr conversions.  Fire control components you have in your lower could be making the slide not run as smoothly. Couple of threads on tuning lowers to run 22 conversions. Couple great gunsmiths on this forum could work on it for you.


Also did it come with a little button that is your test target?

Actually it came with two, because the previous owner sent the original barrel back (he thought the extractor was wearing on the barrel some way), and he got another barrel with another button.  I have two!  Perhaps this picture will help.....   By the way, I really appreciate the advice.... thank you.  I'll take some Eley club to the range with me next Tuesday and try that....

if you get really fancy you shoot the 50yard with standard and subsonic on the 25

I have fed mine over 5000 rounds of CCI SV and have had zero misfeeds, fail to fires, etc. It has been an awesome combination for me.

Show me a close up of the extractor.

Rob Kovach wrote:Show me a close up of the extractor.

Hope this is good enough..... I don't know how to remove it from the slide...... yet.......

The strangest things seem to make my Nelson unhappy. Over- or under-tightening the recoil spring guide sometimes seems to cause stoppages (although that's next on my list to rule out).

By far, though, trying to load from an open slide almost always results in a second-round failure to feed, sometimes multiple times. No idea why. I've shot the last several matches and a few practice sessions from a closed slide and a dropped hammer with no issues. Practiced tonight, and for the hell of it, loaded my third magazine slingshotting from a locked slide. Result: second round failed to feed twice. So I won't be going back to that.

Other things that feel like they helped: a 19# mainspring, and a significantly lightened disconnecter leg on the sear spring (disco is still firm and positive, but maybe 1/2-2/3 what it was, which was incredibly stiff). I know that the lightened mainspring is a point of contention, and a few pistolsmiths on here I greatly respect would disagree, but it greatly reduced the number of malfunctions I was seeing.

Overall, it was a fun and rewarding experience digging into the guts of a pistol for the first time.

Keyholed,
If you haven't already, give Nelson a call.  While I don't own one of his conversions, I've heard nothing but great about his service both before & after the sale.
Al

Keyholed wrote:The strangest things seem to make my Nelson unhappy. Over- or under-tightening the recoil spring guide sometimes seems to cause stoppages (although that's next on my list to rule out).

By far, though, trying to load from an open slide almost always results in a second-round failure to feed, sometimes multiple times. No idea why. I've shot the last several matches and a few practice sessions from a closed slide and a dropped hammer with no issues. Practiced tonight, and for the hell of it, loaded my third magazine slingshotting from a locked slide. Result: second round failed to feed twice. So I won't be going back to that.

Other things that feel like they helped: a 19# mainspring, and a significantly lightened disconnecter leg on the sear spring (disco is still firm and positive, but maybe 1/2-2/3 what it was, which was incredibly stiff). I know that the lightened mainspring is a point of contention, and a few pistolsmiths on here I greatly respect would disagree, but it greatly reduced the number of malfunctions I was seeing.

Overall, it was a fun and rewarding experience digging into the guts of a pistol for the first time.

Interesting.

I've had the same feeding issues with my Nelson. Often enough that I've given up on it for now. BTW, I'm using a Caspian lower- what is yours?

So how do you load the first round- pull the slide back and release after inserting the loaded magazine?

You guys might be having mag catch issues. On my marvel that was built with a dedicated lower by a smith ran 99.2% reliable.   When my new nelson arrives I expect the same

I agree with Christopher about the Mag catch assuming you are using the Nelson Magazines.. My conversion is sitting on a PSA frame and has been 100% from day one and I always load by releasing the slide stop.

a close-up of a loaded magazine and the feed ramp may help.. the height of the magazine matters. I would talk with Nelson though

I have 2 Nelsons. They both work well with no modifications in the summer.

I found with the Nelson plastic magazines, I have to seat them into the frame gently. Otherwise, the top round can move forward, causing a feed jam. I also make sure the cartridges are oriented in the magazine with the nose slightly up.

When the weather became colder, I switched to 8 pound recoil springs in both of them. With the 9 pound spring, they are iffy in the cold, especially for the first magazine. They function well, using Eley Club ammunition. In the cold, I use a very light oil on the slide.

I have recently switched to Sig 1911/.22 metal magazines. I have come to prefer them to the plastic ones.

Don't hesitate to call Larry Nelson. He is a class act.

Cousin Jack,
Can you show me one more of the extractor side of the slide? Just a little less close up.
Also, do it with the slide open.

Looks like the early .065 thickness part..

I had no idea metal sig 1911-22 mags would work with the Nelson. I know what I am getting next.......

The GSG, Sig, & Marvel mags all share most of the same dna.
All three have been functioning fine with my Marvel.
Sometimes Sig runs a special at 17.00+/-, CDNN usually 19.00

With the SIG mags can you let slide forward with slidestop and chamber a round?
Jon

Jon, with a steel marvel lock back I was able to. But they modified the gsg magazines. I hope the nelson with gsg magazines will.

on my Nelson you can

they also hold the slide open

Neither my original mags, nor the Sig mags will lock back on my Marvel. When they do (rarely) or when I load a mag from a locked position, I always slingshot them and have had no issues at all.

Joel

davekp wrote:I've had the same feeding issues with my Nelson. Often enough that I've given up on it for now. BTW, I'm using a Caspian lower- what is yours?

So how do you load the first round- pull the slide back and release after inserting the loaded magazine?

Springfield Loaded frame, Brazillian fab'd, .45 ACP. If I remember correctly, it's a 2002. And yeah--from lockback, close the slide, drop the hammer, load the magazine, pull back the slide, release. It might not even be the gun itself, just a peculiarity unique to me.

I read all the magazine catch stuff. The top of the magazine already contacts the extractor when inserted--pushing up on the bottom of the magazine bends the extractor. And any lower than it already is and the top round won't contact the slide.

Not terribly concerned about it. Function is 100% now, so long as I load it correctly. I wouldn't blame another gun for a failure to feed if I didn't load it properly. And the conversion itself is absolutely top-notch, superbly accurate and glass smooth. I mean, it worked all fall, and it's working now, even when I'm shooting in 15-degree weather. Can't ask for much more.

davekp wrote:I've had the same feeding issues with my Nelson. Often enough that I've given up on it for now. BTW, I'm using a Caspian lower- what is yours?

So how do you load the first round- pull the slide back and release after inserting the loaded magazine?

Springfield Loaded frame, Brazillian fab'd, .45 ACP. If I remember correctly, it's a 2002. And yeah--from lockback, close the slide, drop the hammer, load the magazine, pull back the slide, release. It might not even be the gun itself, just a peculiarity unique to me.

I read all the magazine catch stuff. The top of the magazine already contacts the extractor when inserted--pushing up on the bottom of the magazine bends the extractor. And any lower than it already is and the top round won't contact the slide.

Not terribly concerned about it. Function is 100% now, so long as I load it correctly. I wouldn't blame another gun for a failure to feed if I didn't load it properly. And the conversion itself is absolutely top-notch, superbly accurate and glass smooth. I mean, it worked all fall, and it's working now, even when I'm shooting in 15-degree weather. Can't ask for much more.