Slim Geezer

I'd like to find a handy little carbine to team up with my M1911. Is anyone familiar with the Mech Tech CCU conversion? It looks pretty cool, but I'm always a bit nervous about such gimmicks. This thing has a 16" barrel and a stock. They also make one with a rail for mounting a red dot scope. You just mount it to the frame of a 1911 (avialable for Glocks also). I'm curious about how well made they are—how accurate, and reliable.

RamJet

I'd look around for a good used Marlin .45 Camp Carbine.

Steve in Allentown, PA

I picked one up a couple of months ago. I chose to get the version without the cool looking muzzle brake. They all come standard with a short rail for mounting things on top of the unit.

From an engineering standpoint, I found it quite simple and ingenious. I cannot fault the design or workmanship except for one thing. It doesn't have a last-round, bolt-hold-open feature.

I put an el-cheapo Simmons red dot sight on top of the Mech Tech and took it to the range with my teenage boys to try it out. Accuracy is excellent with ten rounds making a single, small fist-sized, ragged hole at 25 yards. Functioning with my 200 gr swaged bullet reloads was 100%, functioning with factory Corbon 230 gr HP's was 100%.

Actually, initial functioning tests resulted in a handfull of reloads that caught on the sharp rear corner of the chamber thus preventing chambering. A little light work with my Dremel tool to round over this sharp corner completely eliminated that problem. Another 800 rounds of reloads went through it without a single failure of any kind.

It is a complete hoot to shoot. It does make a weird kind of 'spring' noise during shooting kind of like what an M-16 sounds like through the stock. No biggie. I installed the plastic stock fillers which reduced the noise.

I've already recommended the CCU to a couple of my friends and I offer you the same recommendation. It's not a forged and machined Thompson but it's comparatively inexpensive and just plain fun. If they made one in 9X23, I'd add it to the .45 unit I already have.

Slim Geezer

Thanks for the info. I see Wilson Combat makes one too. There's are on sale right now. I wonder what the difference is between them.

Steve in Allentown, PA

I bought mine from these guys: http://www.concealco.com/miva/mercha...ry_Code=15-CCU for $269 which I think is less than what Wilson is asking.

Now if I could only find a 30 round 1911 drum magazine I'd be all set.

Slim Geezer

Wilson has them on sale for $230 right now. I went down to the toy store and was surprised to see that they sell them for about $260, so I think I'll order from Wilson. I'll give it a try but I just might have to pick up a Fulton Armory M2 carbine later. The only thing I don't like right now about the CCUs they sell here and at Wilson is that goofy fake flash supressor. All it does is add about 1.5 inches to the length, which I sure don't want. I'll have to figure out how to get it off. It's factory installed.

Steve in Allentown, PA

Well, there you have it. Buy it!

I agree with your assessment of the "flash suppressor." It's a useless appendage that looks cool. It is press fit and can be removed by careful cutting followed by careful bending of it. It'll probably have to be removed in pieces.