As a 1911 fan and daily carrier, when Browning first introduced the 1911-380 and 1911-22 a few years back I was intrigued. I wasn’t sure if these were practical guns or more of a novelty. I did a little research and read the reviews I could find about them, but the price seemed a little much for something that may be nothing more than a novelty for me.
Browning sells quality firearms, which is why their firearms are generally on the more expensive side compared to similar models from other manufacturers. For the premium you pay for a Browning firearm there is no doubt you can expect to get a gun that is very nicely machined with excellent fit and finish.
Over the last few months I have started to see what I consider very good deals on many of the Browning 1911 variants in both .22LR and .380 Auto. When I saw I could pick up a 1911-22 for around $350, I decided it was finally time to see if one of these mini 1911 pistols were worth adding to my collection. So, I ordered the 1911-.22 pictured below. It’s the compact version of the 1911-22 with the 3.6” barrel.
My 1911-22 originally came with a standard non-threaded barrel.
I contacted Browning’s parts department and found out I could buy a threaded barrel directly from them for around $150 delivered.
While I have many .22LR hosts for my several .22 suppressors, I couldn’t resist being able to see how well the Browning would do with a can.