What semi-auto's have .22 Coversion kits?

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boiler03

New member
If you have read through this forum, you have seen my newbie question of the first handgun. Well I am on a new kick.....Buying a centerfire gun with a .22 conversion. This way I practice with one gun and still get the benefits of the .22. So far in my search I have seen that CZ has a .22 kadet kit, but I don't really know of any others. I think kimber does (do they offer there 1911 in 9mm?), and I think I saw one on glock meister. Are there any others. The CZ is appealing because it is cheap! I can get a CZ 75 B and a coversion kit on gunbroker for $540 total (+ shipping and FFL transfer so add $25). And I compare this to just one gun at the same price. Does Ruger have .22 conversions for their P series (again low price). Also when you identify the conversion kits for the various guns, indicate whether they are made by that company (i.e. does glock make the glock conversion or is it some after market (other) company) and the price of the kit. Thanks. I should probably be patient and get both, actually .22 and 9mm seperate, but practicing with one gun (especially to start) sounds like a good idea. Also do these guns need broken in before you start firing .22's? Should I fire say 200 rds of 9mm through it first, then use the .22, or does this have no effect (I understand barrel and mags are different, but I don't know that much yet)? I read on the CZ forum that a lot of guys had to file down there .22 ejectors to prevent stovepiping. 1st of all, I have no gunsmithing experience, and 2nd what are stovepipes? Are the aftermarket conversions for the (glocks, colts, and berettas) any good or do they have similar "fitting problems",and problems with feeding and ejection? I think shooting witht the same frame is beneficial here, I don't want to sound like I am taking the cheap way out of having 2 guns.
 
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I would get two separate guns

I have a CZ 75B, and it's a good gun. But I would not pay the $230+ for the Kadet conversion kit, which would put the total price of my gun at the cost you mentioned above. It's not because the kit is not good; the CZForum members seem to think it is more accurate that .22 pistols. It's because when you are at the range, it's better to have two guns. One to put down after you shoot it a couple hundred rounds so it could cool off, and one to shoot in its place. That's what I would do. Plus, it's twice as cool to have two guns over one.

I like the Browning Buckmark with the 5.5" slab-sided barrel. I saw it at Oshman's for $220 or something. You can get the Ruger MkII, which is a great pistol, but tricky to take down.

Or, you can get a .22 revolver like the Ruger SP101 with 4" barrel, or a used S&W, or a Taurus .22, or even a single-action cowboy type like the Ruger Single-Six with cylinders that change out from .22 LR to .22 Magnum.

That way, you have a semi-auto AND a revolver.

BTW, I thought you consider the CZ 75 to be ugly in one of your other posts. What brought on the change of heart so quickly?
 
I'll have to totally disagree with Mikechan on that. I've got the CZ 75 / kadet kit combo and it is better than having two seperate guns.

The point of a .22 conversion is to make it cheap for you to practice a lot with your defensive pistol. A conversion uses the lower half of your defensive pistol and has the same grip and trigger pull ... because it is the same grip and trigger! the only difference is the amount of recoil. If you want to get really good it helps to keep the number of variables to a minimum. Shooting a target style single action trigger (like on most .22 pistols for plinking) is not going to translate directly into shooting a double action trigger (like most defensive 9mm or .40 s&w )with some slack in it in single action mode. Most plinking .22 like a Browning buckmark or a ruger .22 have very light target style triggers which are relatively easy to shoot well. If you want the .22 to become proficient at shooting your bigger more expensive caliber you need a conversion.

At least that's my opinion.. other may have differing ones.

shiro ;)
 
I thought I try to answer some of your other questions.

I don't think you need to file down your ejecter are you sure that's what you read?

Stovepiping is when the empty brass case is stuck rather than being ejected from the gun. The name comes from the way the empty brass casing sticking up out of the slide looks a little like a metal chimney pipe on a wood stove.

I think you would have to break in both top ends the 9mm and the .22 because the break in period is caused by the metal parts that move against each other rubing off the rough parts and becoming smooth against each other.. like the slide where it rubs against the frame.... that said my CZ has never jamed and needed no breakin. I did have to have the firing pin on my conversion replaced for a newer chisel tip style.. but I understand all the newer conversion kits come with that style and the fix was free anyway from the US distributer.

I've tried only one other .22 convesion it was the Ciener one for a Glock 19 and I was not all that impressed the CZ kit is better.

Lastly never think you have to apologize for being "thrifty".. cheap is what you call the other guy in you it's "thrifty"..LOL :)

shiro
 
I have a CZ75 with a Kadet kit and I agree that it's the best solution for practice. Using the .22 configuration lets you shoot lots of cheap ammo with less recoil fatigue. I agree the CZ in 9mm is not that much recoil, but it adds up after a few hundred rounds.

As far as the "cooldown" idea, I haven't noticed my CZ getting all that hot. The barrel will cool as you reload the mags. I guess if you have a LOT of mags and shoot 'em all as fast as possible it may be a problem, but it would be a small problem among many others.

I can swap between the 9mm and .22 configurations in less than a minute. Maybe 30 seconds if I really push it, but it's not something I've tried to optimize (ooh! here comes a mouse! Change to .22).

Not if you goal is to have two pistols, then a conversion kit is a compromise and I agree that two pistols would be better.

I had to file my Kadet kit just a bit for the best fit. They are designed that way to custom fit each pistol. This is not a malfunction.
 
Kadet

First off, yes in another post, I did mention that I thought the CZ was ugly (in my eyes) compared to some other guns. I am however on the college budget and even though I have allotted $600 for my purchase, between all of the advice to get a .22 first and my wanting of a 9mm, I am looking for a nice comprimise. I like the idea of a conversion because you use the same frame and have the same trigger and controls. This repetitous practicing will help greatly with both calibers. I am not looking to own 2 guns, but it doesn't look like I can go without a .22, but I really want a 9mm. As far as the CZ goes, ya so I think it is ugly, but that was the only gun (so far) that produced its own conversion kit and the gun itself and the kit combined still was under my price, where as if I wanted to do the same thing with a NIB glock I would have to spend like $700. This is why the quick change of heart!
 
I have three conversion kits.

So far the Kadet has been very reliable, but not as accurate as, say, a tricked-out rugerMkII.

I also have the Kimber conversion (which is made by Ciener, I beleive) and it has been something of a disappointment. FTF every 50 rounds or so.

I also have a no-name .22 for the 1911 series that I picked up for $30 a couple years ago. It has yet to fire a complete mag without a hiccup.

Can't go wrong with the 75/Kadet combo, but you could get a nice .22 pistol for the same price that will possibly shoot more accurately.....like a Ruger MkII or the Browning.

You can never have too many guns!!!!

~happy shooting~!
 
CZ75 with Kadet is a great way to go if you are cost conscious and want a 9mm and 22LR combo - they are very reliable. If money is no object, the HK-P7K3 offers a .380ACP with .32 and .22LR conversions. HK also has the HK4 which can shoot .380ACP, .32, .25, .22LR all from the same gun.
 
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