Chiappa 1911-22

[Avyctes]

Anyone own one of these and have any comments on it?  I read one review on it that was all praise, and for the price, was thinking of getting one for a plinker.  I see on Chiappa's website that you can buy the fiber optic sights, or target sights, for about $25 which isn't bad.  To start I'd get the standard model, then possibly add the fiber optic sight later.  I handled one at the 2010 NRA show, spoke with the Chiappa representatives, nice folks, and the pistol felt great.  I just want to find a cheaper way to enjoy the 1911 platform.  I love my Springfield Stainless Mil-spec but it's pricy to shoot.  Let the comments fly; I haven't bought one yet, and will probably stew on it for a little while, so would love to hear any comments, good or bad.

Regards,

Chris.

[NickSS]

I had one for awhile and it shot OK and was fairly reliable but the gun had a hard trigger pull that was supposed to get better as you fired it.  It did get a bit better but not a great trigger.  Also the pistol looks like a 1911 but really is not.  I ended up selling it as it was not as good a pistol as I like to own.  I bought a Sig Mosquito to replace it and I had to send that back to the factory as it failed to eject or failed to feed about half the time.  They fixed it and now it is reasonably reliable and an overall nicer pistol.  If I want a rimfire version of a 1911 I would buy a Kimber conversion kit and be done with it.  Cost would be similar and you would have a better trigger and a better quality gun.

[oldandslow]

I bought one earlier this year. I wanted the GSG but it was the same old story at all the gunshops in my area. "We can't get them" was what I was told. The Chiappa was available and I found one at a good price and brought it home. Shooting weather has been terrible this year but I've managed to get about 400 rounds thru it even with a couple of bum shoulders that limit how long I can hold up a gun of any kind.

It definately needed the 200 round break-in period that is stated in the manual. It wouldn't cycle Remington Golden Bullets and Blazers reliably to start and still won't. Winchester, CCI, and Federal do good with an occasional stovepipe with the Fed bulk. The trigger has gotten much better but is still heavy but I haven't weighed it. It's just a comparison with other pistols. Shooting offhand I can get about the same accuracy as I do with my other hand guns which include Rugers, Smiths, and Colts. I'll admit to being a mediocre pistol shot at this stage of life. 

From reading other forums I see that the GSG has had a lot of problems. At least I haven't had anything break or fail on the Chiappa yet but the round count isn't very high either. I think that it might be a gun I'll be willing to trade down the road. Maybe for a conversion unit for my real 1911s.

[boatboy]

I had the same exact thought about loving to shoot a 1911 but it does get pricey.

First I bought a conversion and someone who I value their opinion (local gun smith) explained that this would wear my frame. basically dirty 22s will leave residue and it will act like sand paper.

I read enough about the Chiappa and some folks that had some problems that I had concern.
So I bought a GSG that I found had really good reviews and people that liked them. I have not shot mine enough to really give it a solid review but I like it at this point. Mine shoouts cheap Remington great but struggles with cheap Winchester but like I say I still have "research" to do

but so far so good

Hank

PS anyone in the Flint MI area Hicks in Clio has the Chiappa new for 250.00 I think thats hard to beat

[Plenty Coups]

I don't have a Chiappa but do own a GSG 1911. I love it. Functions without a hitch. Don't care for the plastic sights just because they are plastic but they will be changed in time.

[Avyctes]

Thanks for the many replies.  It does leave me pondering on whether to order one now or not.  I don't want a 1911 with a trigger pull like a 1895 Nagant revolver. 

[Avyctes]

A co-worker who knew I was pondering this pistol made me aware that a gun store in Wytheville, near where I work, had two of them.  I went and looked at them, told them my concerns about the trigger, and they put some rimfire snap caps in them and we all had at it.  One was the standard version I was considering, the other was a different version, American something.  Both did have very stout trigger pulls.   I understand the trigger is supposed to have a break in period, but not sure this stiffness would relax after the 200 rounds, but I doubt it would relax much.  I'm just not so sure how accurate you could be with one of these with such a horrendous trigger pull.  Actually getting to snap the trigger several times on two different models kind of soured me on the whole idea.  My springfield has a lovely trigger pull, I don't want something that isn't equivelant or better.

[Bigeasy]

No experience with the Chiappa, but I have a GSG 1911 Government model .22.  Trigger pull is good, accuracy very good.  Proven reliable with about 600 rounds so far.  Seems well made.  I also have a Kimber conversion kit.  Very well made, and very accurate, but I have not found a load that is even close to reliable R/E feeding, after trying it on three different frames.
 
Larry

[Lloyd Smale]

the ones ive shot have all had terrible triggers and didnt get much better after shooting a while. reliability seems to vary from gun to gun alot. that tells me that quality control probably isnt the best but then at that price who would expect it to be.