Nelson Conversion Review

I know this conversion has been talked about and reviewed countless times - I just got mine yesterday, and I'm excited about it, and wanted to share my experience

I put the conversion on my Les Baer 38 super, and it wouldn't function right at all - slide wouldn't close, a PITA to open, etc, even with filing the plastic magazine down so it didn't hit the ejector (which it did). I could also clearly see it was hitting the ejector on the Baer lower, and I had to push the slide sideways to get it to go over the ejector. So instead of fiddling with it more, I put the Nelson on a new Ruger 1911 lower, a gun I had just traded an unwanted gun for. Added the flat trigger I like, a KC Crawford long roll trigger kit, and some grips. It's not a great gun as a .45, but I figured the lower would be good enough for this purpose. Lo and behold, it fit perfectly and functioned perfectly. Its a heavy conversion, similar in weight to a normal 1911 slide. Hand cycling ammo through the Nelson was discouraging, but you can't always tell how a gun will function with hand cycling. 

Anyway, I put 150 flawless rounds through it at the range an hour later. Not a single hiccup, the Nelson ran like a champ. When Dick Horton finishes my next set of grips to match my 45, it'll be identical to my 45, and that is why I got the conversion in the first place - to perfect just one gun. Switching back and forth between my Mark III and my 1911 has always been tough for me. Here's a pic of the Nelson next to my Rock River Arms wad gun, and a test target that shows 15 shots, and one 5 shot, 3/4" group just left of center at 25 yards. It was offhand, hence the fliers, and I moved the dot a click or two right to center the groups, but if benched I'm sure the conversion is easily capable of 1/2" groups at 25 yards. I'm really, really impressed with this conversion, and wish I got one a long time ago. 





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Very nice looking pistols.  I have mine set up so they both are the same also.  the only difference is the wood in the grips is different.  I let a guy at the range shoot them both this morning and the only thing he said was one trigger felt just a little different.  They are both KC triggers so I expect it is a difference in the main spring between the LB Wadgun and the R1.  Don

Magload wrote:Very nice looking pistols.  I have mine set up so they both are the same also.  the only difference is the wood in the grips is different.  I let a guy at the range shoot them both this morning and the only thing he said was one trigger felt just a little different.  They are both KC triggers so I expect it is a difference in the main spring between the LB Wadgun and the R1.  Don

Thank you. You know, I think it may actually be the trigger/hammer. I had another of KC's triggers too, it felt very different from these two - very short roll, almost crisp. These two have a long roll feeling to them, though the Nelson trigger feels a bit stop-and-go once pressure is applied, and it felt the same in my Les Baer when I had it in. The RRA is smooth as silk. I think KC may manufacture hammers/sears with different roll characteristics, and possibly though they're all machined really well, minuscule differences from kit to kit may feel different, at least until they're worn in. That's my hypothesis.

I have been told that my triggers have a long roll I thought they had a short roll but never using a roll trigger I don't know.  I just know I like them.  I din't like the Battle Axe hammer at first and they offered to replace it but glad I kept it now and ordered the second kit with that hammer. Don

Very nice! I loved my Nelson so much I ordered a second barrel to go with my spare sight rib. I have two barrels now. One with an Ultradot 30mm and one with iron sights. Wish I had a whole second conversion but my budget allowed only the barrel. Plus I already had sights. A great unit. Excellent on every level.

I also have a second barrel for my Nelson, but it's an Anschutz.

Chris Miceli wrote:I also have a second barrel for my Nelson, but it's an Anschutz.

An Anschutz? I don't even know what Larry uses... how'd you get an Anschutz?

daflorc wrote:I know this conversion has been talked about and reviewed countless times - I just got mine yesterday, and I'm excited about it, and wanted to share my experience

I put the conversion on my Les Baer 38 super, and it wouldn't function right at all - slide wouldn't close, a PITA to open, etc, even with filing the plastic magazine down so it didn't hit the ejector (which it did). I could also clearly see it was hitting the ejector on the Baer lower, and I had to push the slide sideways to get it to go over the ejector. So instead of fiddling with it more, I put the Nelson on a new Ruger 1911 lower, a gun I had just traded an unwanted gun for. Added the flat trigger I like, a KC Crawford long roll trigger kit, and some grips. It's not a great gun as a .45, but I figured the lower would be good enough for this purpose. Lo and behold, it fit perfectly and functioned perfectly. Its a heavy conversion, similar in weight to a normal 1911 slide. Hand cycling ammo through the Nelson was discouraging, but you can't always tell how a gun will function with hand cycling. 

Anyway, I put 150 flawless rounds through it at the range an hour later. Not a single hiccup, the Nelson ran like a champ. When Dick Horton finishes my next set of grips to match my 45, it'll be identical to my 45, and that is why I got the conversion in the first place - to perfect just one gun. Switching back and forth between my Mark III and my 1911 has always been tough for me. Here's a pic of the Nelson next to my Rock River Arms wad gun, and a test target that shows 15 shots, and one 5 shot, 3/4" group just left of center at 25 yards. It was offhand, hence the fliers, and I moved the dot a click or two right to center the groups, but if benched I'm sure the conversion is easily capable of 1/2" groups at 25 yards. I'm really, really impressed with this conversion, and wish I got one a long time ago. 

beautiful pistols and nice group. my next build is a nelson upper and dedicated lower!

beautiful pistols and nice group. my next build is a nelson upper and dedicated lower!

I don't think you'll regret it! I wouldn't spend a fortune on the lower though, I don't think a high priced lower will influence the accuracy one bit.

Tim:H11 wrote:

Chris Miceli wrote:I also have a second barrel for my Nelson, but it's an Anschutz.

An Anschutz? I don't even know what Larry uses... how'd you get an Anschutz?

I had one made for me.

Chris,
What sling do you use?

Turner

Got the Nelson in the mail yesterday, shot my first clean with it today  I'm gonna like this new conversion. (Dave Florczak)

The Nelson requires a .45 ACP ejector. A 9mm or .38 Super ejector will not work. Ask me how I know!

Actually, it does not require the ejector at all--but without one, you're going to have a big hole in the back of the chamber, which can/will blow gas right back in your face.

Fitting a new ejector is a very simple and inexpensive job--there are a number of good guides on it. A triangular needle file and something to mark the new extractor with for filing is all you need. If you wanted to get super-tricky, you'd fit the back of the new extractor to the frame and the slide, but that's purely a matter of aesthetics.

I've been enjoying the hell out of mine lately. Slows are now a consistent 90+, sustained fire is frustrating. I've been working towards cleaning Timed/Rapid (only done it twice) consistently, but I always end up with a 95 and a 98. But--considering that prior to this, it's been a year since I've broken 280, I guess I can't complain. Grats on your clean!

Keyholed wrote:The Nelson requires a .45 ACP ejector. A 9mm or .38 Super ejector will not work. Ask me how I know!

Actually, it does not require the ejector at all--but without one, you're going to have a big hole in the back of the chamber, which can/will blow gas right back in your face.

Fitting a new ejector is a very simple and inexpensive job--there are a number of good guides on it. A triangular needle file and something to mark the new extractor with for filing is all you need. If you wanted to get super-tricky, you'd fit the back of the new extractor to the frame and the slide, but that's purely a matter of aesthetics.

I've been enjoying the hell out of mine lately. Slows are now a consistent 90+, sustained fire is frustrating. I've been working towards cleaning Timed/Rapid (only done it twice) consistently, but I always end up with a 95 and a 98. But--considering that prior to this, it's been a year since I've broken 280, I guess I can't complain. Grats on your clean!

That makes perfect sense, and explains why the Nelson wasn't fitting smoothly over the ejector on the Baer. I'd swap it back over to that gun, but then if I wanted to shoot the Baer in 9mm or 38 super (I have both barrels and magazines) I'd have to swap the ejector back out again. I was planning on selling the Ruger until I fit the Nelson on it, but I think I just talked myself into keeping it! lol. 

Yeah I fudged my slow fire on this match, threw one round into the 5 ring. I'm a little shaky starting off any match. If you want to make your sustained fire easier, you need to get a KC Crawford long roll sear/hammer kit. I'm telling you, it makes sustained fire much easier.

Well, despite all my whining, I'm still fairly pleased with my sustained fire. I'm currently using KC's standard kit. I started shooting better with it the first day I had it out. I definitely find it easier to shoot than a crisp trigger. The reset is excellent, and it's very smooth.

I think my problem is that I should just be practicing a Rapid Fire cadence. I think I start working a little slow when I feel like I have all that time. I know I can clean Rapid strings, and do it at least as often as Timed and perform more consistently--so why bother practicing Timed? Just shoot four Rapids.

As for that first shot--tell you what, I threw the first shot of a big match right over the top of the target once. Nerves! My hold's not great (I can generally hold to the black), but I was all over the place that day. Eventually, my gun failed and I DNF'd, but kept shooting for the hell of it. My very next Rapid, I shot my first clean "match" target!

I agree that having to swap ejectors just isn't worth it. Probably a good recipe for breaking off an ejector peg. You're going to get raked over the coals offloading the Ruger anyway, so you might as well keep it.