Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 - The Firearms Forum

gdmoody · 04-03-2010, 11:01 AM

I was over at my local candy store yesterday and he had this little number that caught my eye. I had read a story on them a few weeks ago so I thought I would go ahead and get it. I didn't know whether to put this in the 1911 forum or the .22 forum but I decided this one to be the "winner".

I compared it to both my Rock Island 1911 and to the Taurus 1911. The Chiappa weighs 32.8 ounces empty. The Taurus weighed 1/2 ounce more and the RIA weighed 5.8 ounces more (I have a rubber wrap around grip on the RIA). The weight is comparable to a .45ACP 1911. The feel of it in my hand is exactly like any other 1911 that I have held. By comparing the looks of it side by side with the RIA, I don't think you would be able to tell that it is not a .45ACP. The basic functions are pretty much the same as on a .45.

I fired it form 10 yards with 5 different types of ammo. I shot 10 rounds of Remington Thunderbolt, PMC Sidewinder, Blazer, and CCI Mini-mag. I only shot 5 rounds of the Aguila SSS ammo because of the FTF and they were keyholing. I have attached scans of the targets that I used for the comparison (failures are in the upper left hand corner). I think that it will function much better with a plated bullet over the lead ones. I can't say which ammo is the most accurate because I was shooting freehanded and I am not as steady as I used to be.

I found the pistol to be fun to shoot but I do not like the trigger pull as it is. A few times it felt as if the safety engaged and I had a very hard time pulling the trigger. Hopefully this will work itself out the more I fire it as I did notice a difference after firing 30 or so rounds.

EDIT: PS, I gave $265 + tax for it.

todd51 · 04-03-2010, 11:18 AM

Great range report. Neat pistol and dang! you can't complain about the price. You can't buy a conversion unit for what you have in the total package. Bet you will work out any glitches that come with a new gun and find just what it likes ammo wise. No need to apologize for those off hand shots, they look pretty good to me.

wpage · 04-04-2010, 07:24 AM

Nice gun!
Bring those groups up a bit and your in business...

JUNKKING · 04-04-2010, 09:19 AM

I fired one of those and it also had a rough trigger at times. For the money that gun can't be beat. I wonder if that slide is compatible with other 1911s You can't buy a comversion kit for 265 and tax. I think you did real good GD

mesinge2 · 04-04-2010, 11:16 AM

The more I read on this weapon the more I want to get one.

Great report. Keep us posted

tex45acp · 04-13-2010, 06:04 AM

We have had three of them in our shop.......notice I said "had". We put them in the guncase one day and they are gone the next. Those that have bought them have had good things to say as well. The only thing that they have all complained about is the trigger pull. If we get another in I plan to tear it down to see if a trigger job of some sort can be performed.

tex45acp

gdmoody · 04-13-2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex45acp

We have had three of them in our shop.......notice I said "had". We put them in the guncase one day and they are gone the next. Those that have bought them have had good things to say as well. The only thing that they have all complained about is the trigger pull. If we get another in I plan to tear it down to see if a trigger job of some sort can be performed.

tex45acp

That would be great. Keep us informed on it, if you can perform a trigger job, I will talk to a gunsmith about doing one on mine, if it is snot cost prohibitive.

I put about 300 rounds through mine again yesterday. The trigger continues to be pretty bad even after what the owner's manual calls a break in time (which the book says is 200 rounds). It is still very much fun to shoot, even with the horrible trigger!

gdmoody · 04-13-2010, 12:19 PM

Junk, To answer your wonderings about the slide compatibility. They are absolutely NOT compatible. The similarity in external appearances is where it ends. Once you compare a "real" 1911 slide to the Chiappa, you immediately see the differences. The very first thing you notice is the absence of the barrel lockup grooves. The slide itself is very thin metal and the slide to frame "grooves" are worlds apart in size.

JUNKKING · 04-18-2010, 06:48 AM

Ty GD, I guess they made this gun for a reason. I did like the one I shot and still at that price what a fun piece of equipment for just that, Having fun!

Have you ever looked into having that trigger worked on? Would it be worth the money?

The one I did shoot the trigger didn't seem as though it was like a normal trigger. It was just a hard snap sort of like it was hanging up but not on every shot. There was never a nice feeling to the trigger kind of hard to explain.

Big Shrek · 05-05-2010, 04:25 PM

Out of curiousity, how do those of you who have older (WW2 & before) 1911's find the Chiappa??

I was thinking it's oddly similar to the original, a little rough around the edges, but a good working pistol.

I do believe they need to Parkerize these instead of painting...the paint kinda makes me gag a little...
but other than that, I like 'em

gdmoody · 05-05-2010, 10:47 PM

Shrek, I'm glad you brought this back up. I agree that they would look better parkerized but the paint is not all that terrible.

I have now put between 400 and 500 rounds through it and the trigger pull is not much better. The first shot from each magazine feels like the safety is on and then it is better for the other nine. This month's American Rifleman magazine has a short article about it. It says that the trigger gets much better after a couple of thousand rounds so I have something to look forward to.

glenncal1 · 05-06-2010, 01:07 PM

AR also says they are changing the metals in the trigger (can't remember exactly how) and that should make for a better trigger. If looking to buy, might want to get the "new" trigger.

pawn · 05-06-2010, 05:35 PM

American Rifleman had a review of this pistol. Thanks for posting your experience with it.

tekarra · 05-06-2010, 07:47 PM

Thanks for the report. Guess I will have to mosey by the store this weekend.

oscarmayer · 05-07-2010, 11:47 AM

i was pawing at one of these in my local shop, i was waiting to see some real world reviews before throwing my money down. i do not trust gun magazines even the american rifleman magazine to give a honest evaluation , since these magazines count on gun companies paying for ads. any way thank you for the review keep us posted

Jay · 05-07-2010, 12:40 PM

I too would be interested to know if a trigger jobe is doable.... let us know....

04-03-2010, 11:01 AM	#1
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,345	Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 I was over at my local candy store yesterday and he had this little number that caught my eye. I had read a story on them a few weeks ago so I thought I would go ahead and get it. I didn't know whether to put this in the 1911 forum or the .22 forum but I decided this one to be the "winner". I compared it to both my Rock Island 1911 and to the Taurus 1911. The Chiappa weighs 32.8 ounces empty. The Taurus weighed 1/2 ounce more and the RIA weighed 5.8 ounces more (I have a rubber wrap around grip on the RIA). The weight is comparable to a .45ACP 1911. The feel of it in my hand is exactly like any other 1911 that I have held. By comparing the looks of it side by side with the RIA, I don't think you would be able to tell that it is not a .45ACP. The basic functions are pretty much the same as on a .45. I fired it form 10 yards with 5 different types of ammo. I shot 10 rounds of Remington Thunderbolt, PMC Sidewinder, Blazer, and CCI Mini-mag. I only shot 5 rounds of the Aguila SSS ammo because of the FTF and they were keyholing. I have attached scans of the targets that I used for the comparison (failures are in the upper left hand corner). I think that it will function much better with a plated bullet over the lead ones. I can't say which ammo is the most accurate because I was shooting freehanded and I am not as steady as I used to be. I found the pistol to be fun to shoot but I do not like the trigger pull as it is. A few times it felt as if the safety engaged and I had a very hard time pulling the trigger. Hopefully this will work itself out the more I fire it as I did notice a difference after firing 30 or so rounds. EDIT: PS, I gave $265 + tax for it. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant) --> Last edited by gdmoody; 04-23-2013 at 09:27 AM..

04-03-2010, 11:18 AM	#2
todd51 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Central, Ohio Contributor Posts: 2,574	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 Great range report. Neat pistol and dang! you can't complain about the price. You can't buy a conversion unit for what you have in the total package. Bet you will work out any glitches that come with a new gun and find just what it likes ammo wise. No need to apologize for those off hand shots, they look pretty good to me. __________________ Retired Praefectus Vigilum NRA Endowment Member

04-04-2010, 07:24 AM	#3
wpage Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,471	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 Nice gun! Bring those groups up a bit and your in business... __________________ "You shall recieve power" Acts 1:8 W

04-04-2010, 09:19 AM	#4
JUNKKING Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Just East of Pittsburgh PA Contributor Posts: 1,783	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 I fired one of those and it also had a rough trigger at times. For the money that gun can't be beat. I wonder if that slide is compatible with other 1911s You can't buy a comversion kit for 265 and tax. I think you did real good GD __________________ Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and again!

04-04-2010, 11:16 AM	#5
mesinge2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 538	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 The more I read on this weapon the more I want to get one. Great report. Keep us posted __________________ NRA Certified Instructor "A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise. I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind ... Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks." 1785, Thomas Jefferson.

04-13-2010, 06:04 AM	#6
tex45acp V.I.P. Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Great State of Texas Posts: 190	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 We have had three of them in our shop.......notice I said "had". We put them in the guncase one day and they are gone the next. Those that have bought them have had good things to say as well. The only thing that they have all complained about is the trigger pull. If we get another in I plan to tear it down to see if a trigger job of some sort can be performed. tex45acp __________________ *The only thing needed for evil to exist......is for good men to stand by and do nothing!!!*

04-13-2010, 12:19 PM	#8
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,345	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 Junk, To answer your wonderings about the slide compatibility. They are absolutely NOT compatible. The similarity in external appearances is where it ends. Once you compare a "real" 1911 slide to the Chiappa, you immediately see the differences. The very first thing you notice is the absence of the barrel lockup grooves. The slide itself is very thin metal and the slide to frame "grooves" are worlds apart in size. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

04-18-2010, 06:48 AM	#9
JUNKKING Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Just East of Pittsburgh PA Contributor Posts: 1,783	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 Ty GD, I guess they made this gun for a reason. I did like the one I shot and still at that price what a fun piece of equipment for just that, Having fun! Have you ever looked into having that trigger worked on? Would it be worth the money? The one I did shoot the trigger didn't seem as though it was like a normal trigger. It was just a hard snap sort of like it was hanging up but not on every shot. There was never a nice feeling to the trigger kind of hard to explain. __________________ Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and again!

05-05-2010, 04:25 PM	#10
Big Shrek Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: NorthWest Florida Posts: 923	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 Out of curiousity, how do those of you who have older (WW2 & before) 1911's find the Chiappa?? I was thinking it's oddly similar to the original, a little rough around the edges, but a good working pistol. I do believe they need to Parkerize these instead of painting...the paint kinda makes me gag a little... but other than that, I like 'em __________________ Marlin Specialist Calico Specialist A gun should be a tool in the hands of a deadly weapon, not a deadly weapon in the hands of a tool.

05-05-2010, 10:47 PM	#11
gdmoody Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Northeast Georgia Contributor Posts: 6,345	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 Shrek, I'm glad you brought this back up. I agree that they would look better parkerized but the paint is not all that terrible. I have now put between 400 and 500 rounds through it and the trigger pull is not much better. The first shot from each magazine feels like the safety is on and then it is better for the other nine. This month's American Rifleman magazine has a short article about it. It says that the trigger gets much better after a couple of thousand rounds so I have something to look forward to. __________________ NRA Endowment Member GeorgiaCarry.Org Member Retired US Army Postal Worker Personally, I carry a gun because I'm too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin'.....author unknown (but obviously brilliant)

05-06-2010, 01:07 PM	#12
glenncal1 Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 19	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 AR also says they are changing the metals in the trigger (can't remember exactly how) and that should make for a better trigger. If looking to buy, might want to get the "new" trigger.

05-06-2010, 05:35 PM	#13
pawn Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Crossville, TN Posts: 1,469	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 American Rifleman had a review of this pistol. Thanks for posting your experience with it. __________________ Take care when you get information. The truth is generally seen, rarely heard. -Balthasar Gracian

05-06-2010, 07:47 PM	#14
tekarra Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 17	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 Thanks for the report. Guess I will have to mosey by the store this weekend.

05-07-2010, 11:47 AM	#15
oscarmayer Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Contributor Posts: 2,387	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 i was pawing at one of these in my local shop, i was waiting to see some real world reviews before throwing my money down. i do not trust gun magazines even the american rifleman magazine to give a honest evaluation , since these magazines count on gun companies paying for ads. any way thank you for the review keep us posted

05-07-2010, 12:40 PM	#16
Jay Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Indiana Posts: 1,286	Re: Range Report - Chiappa 1911-22 I too would be interested to know if a trigger jobe is doable.... let us know.... __________________ "For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected cannot taste." "USMC 8652, 2531, RVN Jun '67, - May 69"