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The single-stack 10+1 Browning 1911-22 Compacts are .22 LR semi-automatic pistols that take the Browning 1911-22s, keep the same frame but mate it to a shorter barrel and slide. Let’s examine the several models of this class.

The 1911-22 Compact A1 is basically an all matte black gun except its stainless-steel barrel and classic double-diamond wooden grip panels. The gun is 85% the original’s size, so its matte steel barrel is only 3.625” long. The frame is aluminum alloy. The barrel has a target crown and protrudes just slightly ahead of the muzzle bushing. It has small black A1 sights atop the slide in front and back, and they’re separated by a 4.875” sight radius. Overall length is 6.75”. Weight is 15 ounces.

This same gun can be had with a gray slide, black frame and walnut grips, black on black with pink polymer grips, black on olive drab with black grips, etc.

Stepping up, 1911-22 Black Label Compact guns have a polymer frame. They have three dot dovetail sights, of which the front one is a green fiber optic. They also have an ambidextrous thumb safety, diagonal rear slide serrations, a longer beavertail, skeletonized loop hammer, double-rectilinear ported trigger and composite faux wood grip panels without the double-diamond pattern but with a broad swatch of texturizing. Since the sights are bigger, the sight radius between them drops a tad to 4.75”, and thanks to the polymer frame, weight also drops to 13 ounces.

Color options include a brown/bronze slide on a black frame with stippled brown laminated composite grips, black on black with black grips, black on black with rosewood laminate grips, black on a (faux) carbon fiber finished frame with black grips, etc. Some models also come with a three-slot under muzzle Picatinny rail.

1911-22 Black Label Medallion Compact guns have three dot steel dovetail sights and a longer beavertail, skeletonized loop hammer, high quality rosewood laminate grip panels without the double-diamond pattern but with a small block of checkering and the gold Browning logo Buckmark inlay. Key dimensions are the same as above.

At least one model, the 1911-22 Black Label Medallion Compact Suppressor Ready, has a 1/2”-28 TPI threaded barrel and a thread protector cap.

There are several others as the 1911-22 are very much still in production, but there are also many discontinued models based on different features, color schemes, etc.

There are also two Speed Compact models. The 1911-22 Black Label Speed Compact has the A-TACS AU (stands for Arid Urban, but think mountain desert) camouflage frame and black everything else with the compact dimensions. The 1911-22 Speed Compact has the burnt bronze Cerakote finished slide, A-TACS AU camouflage G10 grip panels and frame and matte black for most everything else.

So now back to the general characteristics. The vaulted slide is made of aviation-grade 7075-T6 alloy. It has a beveled and lowered ejection port. The recoil housing, trigger guard and grip front strap are all rounded for snag mitigation.

The entire family of 1911-22 Compacts has a grip safety at back and a manual thumb safety at back left. The magazine release and slide stop are also on the left. The gun’s double lightening ported alloy trigger has a matte black finish. The trigger is single-action and has a crisp, clean break.

The gun ships with a 10-round heat-treated steel body magazine designed for easy, reliable, loading and flush-mounting.

In back is a touch-friendly serrated hammer and an upturned beavertail. The slide has vertical rear grip serrations. The side panels are made of tough G10 polymer that are fastened at top and bottom and that feature laser cut diamond checkering in between.

The Browning 1911-22 Compact semi-automatic pistols are Made in USA.

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