1911Forum banner

The GSG-1911 (.22LR) -- first impressions

121K views 114 replies 65 participants last post by  qwiksdraw 
#1 ·
Recently picked up a GSG-1911 -- it was an impulse purchase for sure. I paid $345. Unfortunately the pistol comes with only one mag, and extras don't seem to be in very plentiful supply. But that's the end of the bad news.

This gun is very enjoyable to shoot, for several reasons. First, it costs about $.08 vs. $0.34 per round to shoot (I'm comparing the price of CCI Mini-Mags to the Walmart price of Winchester White Box .45ACP). That's about 75% less ammo cost. If you're not lucky enough to find .45ACP at Walmart, the savings are even better.

The second feature that makes this a fun gun: It's reasonably accurate, i.e., no problem with an under-1" group at 7 yards. I haven't had a chance to test the pistol at greater distances (I rarely practice at anything beyond typical self-defense distances).

Third: The rear sight is windage-adjustable, and the height of the front sight is adjustable by selecting any one of three sights provided. They pop in and out with an allen wrench. It took some patience and fiddling to zero my sights (about 50 rounds), but, as noted above, I was pleased with the 7-yard accuracy when done. All adjustments, including swapping front sights, can be easily done right on the firing line, if your range allows it.

Fourth: The finish on the gun is pretty decent -- but there is more than the usual amount of text printed on the slide and frame. On the plus side, the text is tastefully done, nothing garish in annoying type styles.

Fifth: I had to call customer service with a couple questions, and the gunsmith handling the GSG-1911 at ATI is a real knowledgeable 1911 specialist and a super nice guy. This is a real plus!

CAVEATS: The recoil spring in this pistol is slightly tapered! The wider end goes in the plug. Reassembling with the spring in backwards results in a vicious lock-up of the slide. Be aware! Also, the manual (at least the one I got) makes NO reference to a hex screw that must be removed before the slide will come off the frame. I'm sure you'd see this right away, but it's worth a note. Also, the GSG-1911 requires high-velocity .22LR, so stick with Mini-Mags or the like. I had about 5 failures to feed in over 200 rounds of Mini-Mags, which, for now, I chalk up to normal break-in behavior. No other malfunctions.

MORE CAVEATS: I read a claim somewhere that 80% of the parts of the GSG-1911 are interchangeable with a mil-spec 1911. I detail-stripped the GSG-1911 and I think the 80% figure is high -- but no telling how that 80% was actually calculated! I'll also mention the trigger. It's unlike most 1911 triggers because it has ALMOST no "take up". Otherwise, it's crisp at about (I'm guessing) 4-5 lbs.

All in all, a very fun gun. Does it replace training with a .45 1911? No, for so many reasons. But if you have young sons, like I do, who are ready to begin shooting a handgun, this pistol is a perfect intro to the 1911!

tap n rack
 
See less See more
#37 ·
Cowart - did you find the manual and all the other goodies that came with it?

I thought mine came without a manual until I noticed that it was behind the foam on the opposite side of the case from the pistol. My extra sights were in the bag with the allen wrench that you need to adjust/swap them out.

I ordered mine about 3 weeks ago and got to take it to the range last week. I agree with most of the comments here, it's a blast to shoot and nice to not spend 35-40 cents a "pop". Took a buddy of mine who had never been shooting and he really enjoyed it.
 
#39 ·
As promised, I shot my GSG with the Swarfworks suppressor adapter and wanted to report back. Absolutely perfect. It remained tight on the barrel (as opposed to the suppressor; it needs to be periodically tightened, and I use plumber's tape to put that problem to bed) from beginning to end. No shift in POA/POI with can off, slight shift with can on (not to be unexpected).

Excellent product and excellent customer service!

HTH

Mike
 
#45 ·
Did you look under the foam inserts in the clam shell box? Mine came with the adaptor and extra sigths.

took mine to range today - and the had a serious jam - some how the sear spring middle leaf got under the disconnector and locked up the slide - had to detail strip it - to rest the sear spring. I hope this was just a fluk! I did notice the retainer slot / notch where the tail of the sear spring sets in the base of the frame is wider than anyother pistol. I hope it is not droping down in the notch which makes the spring short at the sear and disconnector.

We will see next outing.
 
#46 · (Edited)
Gentlemen,

The wind was howling @ the range yesterday morning. :(

Being a gentleman of Christian values, I didn't use bad language, but repaired to town; and to my local gunshop to commeriserate with the other fellows about the lamentable state of the winds in West Texas.

Low & behold, a GSG 1911 was in the display case! WOOTZ! :)

Tagged @ $339.00 + tax. My 'Perferred Customer' status brought the price down to $329.00 + tax. :)

Back to the range!
 
#47 ·
I been looking for a pistol in 22lr other than my two rugers MKI/MKII in 22lr. I been torn between a CZ Kadet and the 1911 style in 22lr. I still have plenty of time because my new grandson is only 6 days old now. I also need youth rifles too up to a 243win. I want to set him up incase i pass on he will have it all already.:rock: Now my point is do i want to spend $300 or $600 for a 22lr pistol?
 
#50 ·
I got a gsg 1911 for my bday in sept. My husband picked up at our gun range for 250.00 ish used ( it had 200 rounds thru it) this is my first gun and I am a very novice gun shooter/ owner. But I absolutely love this gun! I've put about 500 rounds thru it and havent had any issues. The accuracy us great w it. I would def recommend it to anyone that's new to guns or wants to get there wife its guns, it's wonderful. - oh and I put pink grips on it :)
 
#52 ·
Thanks! And I'll post pics of it w the pink as soon as I get back to my comp can't for the life of me figure out how to do it on my phone.

Shot a hundred rounds tonight with real nice grouping at about 50 feet away. Out if the clip 2 or 3 were the only strays the rest were n a nice 4 inch circle- the others within 10 inches and prob my fault ive never shot that far away. I'm pretty proud of myself and the gun! I get plenty of comments on it being a very nice looking and shooting gun.

I'm using the Remington 550 pack of bullets from walmart and Ive only had one bullet do something weird the rest have fed just fine.
 
#53 · (Edited)
Bought my GSG on Thursday ($310) along with a Wally World Rem 550 pk and went straight to the range. Ran the 550 rds between Thursday and today without taking it down for a clean or lube till just now. There is a little wear beginning on the dust cover and the buffer washer is toast. I washed it all out with Hoppes #9 and lubed it with the Wilson grease and oil syringe kit . I also put a Wilson shock buffer in place of the ragged original and I'll take it back to the range tomorrow to see if that new buffer works. The gun seemed to loosen up as I went and now that its cleaned and lubed its slide action is way better than out of the box. I put a set of Kimber grips on it along with some skateboard tape on the front of the grip. That narrowed the grip and the tape gives a good feel in the hand and now it looks like some kind of conversion gun. I'm likin' this little gun and it sure beats 500 rds thru my .45 for cost.
 
#54 ·
Love my GSG 1911

I'm new to this so I hope it is ok to do this -- When I did my gun I couldn't find any info -- If anyone wants info on putting a Fiber Optic Front Sight and Novak Rear I posted a thread and pictures with all info --

As a side note -- Money I saved in ammo this month paid for this ten times over -- Great Gun -- 9MM & 45 getting to $$$$$$$$$
 
#55 ·
Ran @ 250 thru it this morning teaching my oldest daughter to shoot for the 1st time. Tore it down for a look at that shockbuffer and washer I put in yesterday. Everything looked good to go with NO wear showing on the replacement washer or buffer. Function was perfect except 2 FTF's that have to be ammo as both had hard hammer strikes.
 
#56 ·
I stumbled onto a GSG a few weeks ago at my local shop. Not what I was looking for when I went in, but, ended up plunking some money down after playing around with it for about 10 minutes. I was impressed with the fit and feel right away. The finish looks good, but, I guess we will se how it wears. Won't be bringing it home until around Christmas. A nice little lay-away plan that my shop offers. Comes in handy when things like this crop up. You can put a deposit down and pick it up later. I have always wanted a 1911 and this is a nice cheap way to get started. I was particularly inpressed with the trigger. There was almost no take up and it broke over crisply with very little over travel. I will likely chnage the sights right away. I tend to be a little bit over the top when it comes to accuracy and like to have adjustable sights so I can dial in. Full report will be coming as soon as I get it in my hands.

As for the 80% parts interchange with standard 1911 parts go, I received an e-mail from ATI with a list. Looks like pretty much everything below the slide is able to be swapped out. here is the list:



Barrel Bushing
Front & Rear Sights
Hammer
Trigger
Grip Safety
the Whole Main Spring Housing
Thumb Safety
Sear
Disconnector
Sear Spring
Grip Panels (but not the screws because they're in metric)
Mag Release
Sear Pin
Hammer Pin
Plunger Tube
Plunger Spring

More to come later...
 
#57 ·
My GSG

came with a page insert for the owner's manual - page 21a - a reminder to remove the hex head screw holding the barrel in during disassembly...

Shoots great - functions perfectly - now I just have to practice shooting it. After shooting .45, .38 Super, 10mm, and 9mm from the 1911 .22lr is like shooting a cap pistol!
 
#62 ·
First impressions.

Picked my up GSG on Thursday. Did a quick field strip, clean and lube to get familiar with the gun. This is my first "1911" and I really like it. Took it out to the range today to fire some lead down range. I am very impressed so far. I loaded 7 rounds in the first clip and just fired them down range not really intending to hit in any particular place on the target. I had one casing that did not eject cleanly(this could be do to the fact that I was shooting in 12 degree weather). I reloaded with seven more rounds and this time was indeed trying to hit where I was aiming. I was very impressed, my first shot went slightly high left. I then over adjsuted and my second shot went low right. The next 5 shot grouped very nicely in about a 1" group centered nicely and just about a 1/2 inch low. I shot about 40 more rounds and had no issues. At this point I was unable to feel my fingers any longer and had to give up.

The trigger is great. No creep, breaks crisply and predictably and has almost zero over travel. I would say I agree with the 4-5 pound consensus for the trigger. The sights appear to be dead on from the factory and I kept the front sight that was installed. With the current sight set up, it is hitting pretty much at point of aim, which is what I prefer. Never been good at the 6 o'clock hold. I will likely change to asjustable sights just because that is what I prefer. The grips are good, but, I will likely change them to a pachmyr grip for comfort mostly. I really like this gun and hope to get to one of the indoor ranges soon. :rock:
 
#66 ·
You guys talking about the M&P15 .22 or are they doing a regular M&P pistol in .22? The M&P15 a completely different style all together, although very cool. All I can tell you is that I don't regret the purchase. Very smooth, well built and more accurate than expected(much more accurate). I love everything about the gun and I have multiple .22's. This one is my new favorite and appears to be every bit as accurate as Stoeger Pro95 Target and this is a gun than groups 10 shots that can be covered by a dime. Good luck with your decision :)
 
#67 ·
I was wondering the same thing. I went to the S&W website and couldn't find a pistol M&P .22, which I'd be interested in if the capacity was 10 rounds or under (I live in New York). But who knows, maybe the 10 round capacity that we New Yorkers have been suffering under will apply to everybody soon. :barf:
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top