I have an itch for a 1911.

[GJH77]

Does anyone have an opinion about a Rock Island 1911, commander size? I may have the opportunity to get one at a good price, and wondered how they are perceived. They are one of the lower priced 1911's to begin with, and made overseas it appears. I know you get what you pay for, but for a shooter, is it a decent gun?
Thanks for any input, it is always good.

 

[Kanewpadle]

It is a decent gun. Doesn't have the fit and finish as more expensive 1911's but they work very well.

I've had a few of them in different brands but they are all the same. High Standard, Rock Island, American Classic, Armscor, etc.

The American Classic seems to be better priced.

 

[Rule3]

Lots of folks like them. Appear to be well made and good shooters for a low priced 1911. They run in the $400 range new. They have a few different models give or take a few bucks.

Depends on what you want out of the gun. We have so many used makes and models around here it makes you dizzy as to what to get.

 

[RIDE-RED 350r]

While I can't speak from personal experience...

My brother has a Rock Island 1911 with about 10,000+ rounds through it and it has been a good working shooter for him. He has made some changes to it as it began as a basic mil-spec. He added the beaver tail due to him having big hands and not licking hammer bite. Also added a bit stiffer slide spring. But all in all I dont beleive he has had to replace parts due to failure. For a $400 shooter, it's not half bad. He would buy another if he was looking for an inexpensive 1911.....

 

[Fishslayer]

I have the full size tactical model & figure I got way more than I paid for.

They're good guns & their CS is said to be very good.

 

[TACC1]

I currently have a Rock Iskand, full-size. It works just fine.
The first one I had, went to a 1911 afficionado who shoots
it regularly. No problems with either. A lot of bang for the buck.
TACC1

 

[sheriffoconee]

I have a Rock .mil spec that I put an ambi safety and Millet fixed sights on. GREAT gun, never a bobble with a wide variety of mags, I have not treated it well, but I didn't buy it to treat it well, it has been banged around a bit....
With that said, I have a Colt also....I have a LOT of pride in the Colt, the Rock is a tool....

 

[1 old 0311]

For the price it is probably the best thing going.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

FWIW, I solved my 1911 itch with this:

S&W Model 4506

 

[cornfused]

I carry a compact daily, great gun but I have had a FTF problem develop after a long day of shooting.

 

[shooboy]

Sorry, you are wrong. You don't get what you pay for with the Rock Island, you get more ! Machined on new CNC machinery, your RIA is made to exacting tolerances. CNC's hold tolerances manual machinery can only dream of. My RIA runs perfectly, has no slide shake or rattle, and I've got about $500 total in it with the Herrett grips. You won't be sorry picking up one of these, good luck on your purchase, Shoo
My RIA 1911 Tactical:

 

[scooter123]

Shoo, that's a very good looking 1911. Currently I've been having the same itch, a result of purchasing a 625. However, my plan was to wait until the Ruger SR1911 was finally fully rolled out and available. After seeing your Rick Island I may have to reconsider that plan.

 

[neon8]

So far I've had about 500 rounds of ammo (ball/jhp) and no ftf. The magazine that came with it was decent. I bought some Chip McCormick mags but had a lot of problems with it (ftrb). Traded it for some Wilson mags and never looked back. This is the tactical two tone model.

 

[Dragon88]

I do not own a Rock Island. One day at the range though, another gentleman and I were BSing about our guns and shooting each others pieces. I fired his Rock Island .45 and was extremely impressed. I am not a 1911 snob, but I do enjoy quality. His gun shot great, functioned without issue, and seemed to be a heck of a lot of gun for the money. Rock Island 1911s are good to go in my opinion.

 

[venomballistics]

1911's .... even if you find a dud that rattles like a box of loose tire chains ... it's THE gun to hotrod.
refit the slide, hand fit a new barrel tighter barrel bushing and she'll run

 

[papajohn428]

I bought one a couple years ago, loved it, bought another a few days later. Still think I got a good deal! The mil-spec gun is just what you'd expect, only better, and the Tactical model is better still with improved sights, a beavertail, and a better trigger. I took the full-length guide rod out since I don't think the gun needs one, and I've been pounding steel plates with it regularly ever since. It also gets carried off-duty more than any other autopistol I own.

 

[JcMack]

Does anyone have an opinion about a Rock Island 1911, commander size?

If you look under the dustcover of a lot of mfgs. 1911's it's roll marked "Philippines". Cimarron imported/sold one that was a thing of beauty. I'm going to buy a nickle .38 super RIA one of these days. The RIA mid-size (Commander) that I've seen uses a standard spur hammer (which I like) and a bull barrel (which is more like a Springfield Champion 4" than a Colt Commander 4.25"). Everyone likes their RIA's. What is the good price you speak of?

 

[oldafsp]

While I don't own one of the RIA's, they appear to be fine guns. I have shot a couple of them belonging to friends and
they functioned flawlessly.

I had been without a .45 acp of any type for a number of years
and sold my Mark IV many years back.

So not being a gun snob, I started looking around. I found this at a garage sale of all places. Remembering that Llama had made some pretty nice guns way back I took a chance
on this one.

Haven't been dissapointed at all. It works great! No FTF's, no jams even with wadcutters,hollow points just eats everything I run through it.

The best of all....$225 with 4 mags and 250 rounds.

 

[H Richard]

I have had this one for about 5 years now, and no problems. I did add the beavertail, and Millet sights. Clean crisp 4 lb. trigger, and shoots nearly as well as other 1911's, one of which is a Series 70 Gold Cup with a Kart barrel.

 

[dinooch]

It's hard to go wrong with a 1911. The design is such that even if you get a dud it's saveable if it's stock. God can't even save the hacked up butchered by a moron 1911. I got a used but stock satin nickle Colt Combat Commander a few years back. Hammer bite and shells bouncing off my forehead were cause for some mild action. A Kings duck tail grip safety along with Wilson Combat extended ejector and their bullet proof extractor solved those concerns. Even a Colt may need tweaking let alone something less expensive. I don't believe in having a less than 100% reliable handgun even if it's "only a range gun". There is no such thing as "only" in my book when it comes to a firearm.