Browning 1911-22

Browning got it right. There are other 1911-style pistols on the market that are made to shoot the 22 Long Rifle cartridge, but Browning has done something different, they scaled the little 1911-22 to fit the cartridge. Smaller in every dimension than a full-sized centerfire 1911, the little Browning is a delightful little pistol.

Browning also did the design right. Instead of just making a blowback pistol that mimicked the exterior aesthetics of a 1911, Browning built this little jewel to operate, handle, and disassemble just like a true 1911. Built to accommodate the 22 LR cartridge, it does not use the Browning Short Recoil lockup, being a blowback operation, but the barrel is not attached to the frame. The 1911-22 uses the slide lock to hold the barrel in place, just like on a true 1911 centerfire pistol. There is also a removable barrel bushing, and recoil spring plug. The muzzle is slightly flared to fit the bushing consistently, shot after shot. The mainspring housing is arched, and the 1911-22 uses a curved trigger with a trigger bow that surrounds the magazine inside the mag well, just as it should. The grip safety is also true 1911 style, as is the magazine release and thumb safety. The aluminum frame and slide are finished in a matte black, and the grips are checked brown plastic. This pistol looks for all the world like a shrunken 1911. Browning got it right.

Inside, there is a steel insert in the slide to house the firing pin and extractor. The ejector is also 1911 style, pinned to the frame right where it should be. The extractor is not external, but is fully contained within the steel slide insert. This is good, as an external extractor on a rimfire pistol could cause an accidental discharge if the pistol was dropped onto a hard surface against the extractor. The sights are true GI style, scaled down to fit, with the front staked in and the rear set into a dovetail.

The pistol has an overall matte black exterior, with the barrel hood being left in its natural stainless steel finish. The ten-shot magazine is made of blued steel, and the 1911-22 does include a magazine safety, to prevent the trigger from being pulled with the magazine removed. The 1911-22 pistol came packed in a really good-looking and functional padded cloth pistol rug, adorned with leather accents that are embossed with a replica of John Browning’s signature, and a commemoration of the 100 th Anniversary of the legendary 1911 pistol. Also included is a certificate of authenticity, instruction manual, and other literature.

Critical specifications for the Browning 1911-22 A1 are listed in the chart below. The weight is listed in ounces, and linear measurements in inches. Weight includes an empty magazine. The grip and frame widths were measured at their widest parts. The maximum width is measured across the grips. The height includes the sights and magazine base. The trigger pull on the 1911-22 is single action, with a crisp release. The trigger pull is listed as pounds of resistance, as measured on my Lyman digital trigger scale.

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