USFA "ACE" .22LR PISTOL

[chemarl]

Hello to Everyone,

I have not found any range reports, any feedback on anyone who owns a USFA "ACE" pistol in .22 Long Rifle, I am thinking about buying one, the price is over $1,800.00 USD, I like the pistol so much I am a great fan of the 1911 platform, the price it is not a restrictive Issue as lon as the quality and performance of the pistol makes it worth dollar by dollar.

Before I go and ask to my local FFL to order one I will like to know or if some of you have any experience with this midel, I will like to know, how is the finish on this model, what kind of quality have the pistol and each of its component, how it performs at the shooting range, if its ammo sensitive or picky about ammo, or if it´s beter to buy a .45ACP series 70 from colt and then to buy a conversion from GUNBROKER.

Please tell me how good is this USFA "ACE" pistol.

The other gun I have in mind to buy, is the USFA single six target model in .22 WMR, how good is this pistol, is it made all of steel and how reliable is it?

Have my best regards and thanks to all of you in advance.

[chemarl]

I forgot to ask, between the USFA sigle sixt target in .22 WMR and a Ruger single six in .22 WMR, which is beter quality pistol allaround? forget about the price, first is quality.

My Best Regards and thanks again

[Capt. John Fitzgerald]

Chemarl,
We are a pretty friendly bunch here on the USFA board and more than willing to help out whenever possible.  I can only assume, from the lack of response to your question, that others here, like myself, have no experience with the USFA .22 Ace.
Much as I love USFA, I would have to look long and hard before spending $1800 on a .22 1911.  If you decide to go with a conversion, don't limit yourself to the Colt 1911.   Shop around.  Springfield Armory makes some excellent 1911's and their customer service is second to none.
CJF

[swordboy]

kimber springfield and I think taurus makes a 1911 all are awesome guns ..... stay away from para ordance Q.C. problems and bad customer service  just my dous pesos

[Grogan]

Wow, I don't know!

I'll have to go back and check some of my prewar Colt reference material to look up the Ace and see how close that one is to the original.

I believe (not certain here, yet) that the original Ace was a straight blowback design, just a non-toggling .22  barrel on a 1911 frame with lighter spring, different slide and magazine.

Later, Colt came out with their "Service Ace" which was the version with the "Floating Chamber" to (sort of, but not really) replicate the recoil of a .45 ACP ctg.  It's essentially what was available in Colts 1911 .22 Conversion Unit.

Back then, Colt also offered a ".45 ACP Conversion Unit" to convert Aces and Service Aces back into full-on .45s

I'll have to check my reference material and see how close USFA's Ace is to the original Colt model.  Looking online at their website, it appears their Ace combines various features of both 1911 and 1911A1 pistols.  (Like a 1911 Hammer and 1911A1 Trigger)

It seems to me that for $2K you could come up with a beautiful 1911A1 in some variation and hunt around for one of Colt's Conversion units (or other mfg.'s, like Kimber etc.) and have yourself both.

I have a G.I. 1911A1 that was match accurized by a military armorer and additionally it has the Colt .22 Conversion Unit with it.  It's a fun gun to shoot.

But again, for that kind of $$$ you could look around and find something like a good used S&W Model 41 and even put an extra Clark barrel on it using a Dot Sight as an addition, for less money.

That Model 41 is even MORE FUN to shoot and it'll shoot circles around any 1911 .22 any day!

But if you're looking for USFA's "Ace" markings and just "have to have one", well that's a different story.

[Grogan]

Consulting my reference book, A History of the Colt Revolver   (which is an EXCELLENT go-to reference work IF you can find a copy somewhere)  which includes catalog images of various time periods (these of the "Ace" and "Service Model Ace" are taken from the 1940 catalog) I see:

That Colt's Ace has Standard 1911A1 Grips, Front Sight, Trigger, (square topped) Walnut Grip Panels and Arched Mainspring Housing.

It does have a windage adjustable Rear Sight, however it's a very simple model, and different from that shown on the "Service Model Ace", which looks more like a conventional "Adjustable Target Sight".

It also appears to have an extended beavertail on the Grip Safety.

Contrasting it to USFA's "Ace", I'd say the following are DIFFERENT from the original.

The Grip Safety's shorter on USFA's.

USFA's has a FLAT 1911 style Mainspring Housing

USFA's has a Lanyard Loop on the bottom of their Mainspring Housing.

USFA's has a 1911 (crescent) Front Sight Blade.

I can't see what USFA's Rear Sight looks like that well from the photo to determine what it looks like. 

Colt's catalog shows an exploded Top View of the Rear Sight and it utilizes a couple of vertical Slotted Screws on either side of the sight that appear to allow for windage adjustment by loosening.

USFA's Grip Panels are curved at the top similar their "1910 Commercial Model" and their "1911 Military Model", Colt's 1940 Ace grips are square at the top.

Now this isn't to say that USFA's "Ace" may not be an EXACT replica of an earlier model Colt "Ace".  It may be.  I just don't have reference to what may have existed earlier.  Going back the next catalog pages my book includes is the Colt 1933 Catalog and there are no references to the Ace in it.

[Doc Sunrise]

The one thing I have learned about Colt is that exceptions to the rule are numerous, so many variations can exist.  Especially since Colt would introduce a change when old style parts still existed in great numbers.  These old parts would be installed along with the new introduction, sometimes carrying a transition phase for months and stretching for many serial numbers.

I happen to run into an auction of a colt ace with the lanyard ring, for an example.

[Grogan]

The one thing I have learned about Colt is that exceptions to the rule are numerous, so many variations can exist.  Especially since Colt would introduce a change when old style parts still existed in great numbers.  These old parts would be installed along with the new introduction, sometimes carrying a transition phase for months and stretching for many serial numbers.

I happen to run into an auction of a colt ace with the lanyard ring, for an example.

Yes, that's true and it can be seen in many models, especially the 1st Gen. SAAs.

It appears that often Colt would partially make up small runs of special models.  They'd complete the original special order and ship it off and hold onto the made up frames and wait for another similar special order.  Sometimes it would take years, and an occasional feature, not seen for years, would suddenly be shipped when they assembled a firearm built on one of these earlier special builds.