.45 conversion, on an alloy 1911 frame, is just as "hard" to control as is a full size and wt 9mm, so why not just save 10c a shot, hmm? The smithing work is very simple indeed. The .22 units do run about $400, tho, with spare mags at $50 each. Still, they hold their value, and a lousy 5000 rds covers the cost. That's a minor am;ount of shooting, for just one year, really. The main problem is that a lot of the Colt barrels have poorly aligned-fitted floating chambers, so they lead up far too rapidly. If yours won't go 300+ rds without leading up the floating chamber, it needs a replacement barrel and chamber, and such are $200, from Numrich. As best I can tell, Colt no longer stocks these barrels or mags.