Colt 22 Caliber Conversion Unit Mounted On a Colt Model 70 Gold Cup

[JHT]

I acquired a Colt 22 caliber conversion unit. circa 1972-73, I understand that these units are prone to disfunctioning on a fairly regular basis.  I have only shot one or two magazines of .22 standard velocity through the unit, with no apparent difficulty.  I have been told to monitor the part of the conversion unit, the part that helps to mimic felt recoil, closely for leading.  All insights into the functioning and accuracy of this unit will be gratefully appreciated.  JHT

[S.B.]

My series 70 conversion unit works great, well better than others have said theirs does. Keep things clean and the floating chamber lubricated with a Teflon based lubricant(Triflow, FP10, etc.) and shoot very fast ammo in it. I've owned mine for around 15 years now, with very few failures. I shoot mine on a series 70 Government model frame from converted from a .45 ACP and back to the original configuration. Colt, none better! Steel slide and parts.

[9x19]

I think the older Colt conversions have been helped a lot by ammunition that has gotten cleaner over the years.

Back in the 80s, mine would foul and start to have failures after a couple boxes (50 rds per back then), and it was usually the floating chamber being fouled around it's outer surface that was the culprit. That hasn't been the case in recent years...

[JHT]

S.B. and 9X19 I thank you both for your thoughtful responses.  I hesitate to begin using this elderly unit for daily shooting duties.  With that in mind, I wonder what your thoughts are pertaining to occasional use, but with C.C.I. H.V. rounds in order to avoid problems with the floating chamber.  Again, thanks very much.  JHT

[S.B.]

Should work fine! Keep the floating chamber well lubed and the whole kit clean.

[9x19]

I don't think they are so fragile you need worry about wearing one out... shoot it and enjoy it, otherwise it's not much more than an interesting paper-weight. 

This old Colt was built in the early 1900s, but I still take it out and shoot it from time to time!

[tomray]

S.B. and 9X19 I thank you both for your thoughtful responses.  I hesitate to begin using this elderly unit for daily shooting duties.  With that in mind, I wonder what your thoughts are pertaining to occasional use, but with C.C.I. H.V. rounds in order to avoid problems with the floating chamber.  Again, thanks very much.  JHT

NO!..................Don't worry about damaging that conversion unit!.........Take it out and  shoot it......Heat treated  steel components don't get "elderly' unless they are mis treated.............Any HV 22LR round is fine for use in that pistol..........I would stay away from the Hyper vel stuff, hyper stuff is  not inheritly accurate anyway. but any target and regular LR ammo will not hurt your gun.
I have a gun similar to yours ,although with enough accuracy work done to it to make it into a match quality pistol. I've shot this gun for the last 15 years, regularly.............You won't hurt that gun by shooting it............All that is necessary is to clean the gun (the floating chamber)every 150-200 rounds............the "Williams" floating chamber is prone to sootting up, but you won't ever break it.
Oh, I forgot to mention, its a hard gun to learn to shoot accurately, but stick with it, it can be mastered. I use a 20lb recoil spring to help keep the slide in "battery' as long as possible. Mine will hold the 9/10 ring at 50 ft all morning long.
In order to get 9/10 ring accuracy, you need to remove all the clearance between the frame/slide/barrel, and install a very tight (to slide and barrel)barrel bushing.

Tom
NRA LIFE

[S.B.]

Personally, to get one to match accuracy has never been my goal? Reliability is more of my idea for this unit and the use of a sylicone type oil on the floating chamber really helps this. I agree with tomray, shoot your Colt conversion unit and enjoy something from the past.
I recently traded my series 70 Government model and am thinking of buying a stainless Essex frame and putting a dedicated .22LR pistol together?
Steve

[Hank08]

SB, that's just what I did about 35 yrs. ago when Essex frames were $29. Built up a frame just for the .22 conversion.  Have found break free works well at keeping the floating chamber from fouling but it still has to be cleaned often, don't wait til you have to use a wrench to take the floating chamber out.
H08

[S.B.]

What wrench? Didn't know they made such a thing? But, as neglectful as I am(with my firearms)I've never had this problem.
Steve

[Olav]

I am well known with the wrenchtecnique
If I shoots more than 250 rounds without cleaning, the floating chamber not floates anymore.
Here is my STI with the Colt conv.unit on top.



The accuracy is ok, less than 2" at 27yards(cci standard)

[S.B.]

Olav, I've put that many rounds through my conversion kit in one afternoon without the bad effects?
Steve

[Hank08]

SB, you got an exceptional one if It'll do that.
Here's my Essex.