Rock 38s

[MarkAlt]

Added 2 RIA 38 Supers to the safe that I couldn't resist.

For the price, probably most impressed with the black parkerized model.

 

[waffles]

Haven't messed with the .38 super Rocks, but their .45 offerings I've owned were absolutely amazing for the the price.

 

[Old Corp]

Bought a RIA 'GI Model' M1911 5" in .38 Super a few years back.
I kept expectations in line with it being a 'beer budget' pistol.
Did some work to it, sent slide to Novak for good carry sights (I can't do GI sights), polished ramp and chamber, replaced unknown jungle-wood grips with VZ double-diamond Cherrywood - looking grips that look like original GI, but are very tactile.
Picked up some MecGar mags.

Picked up dies, brass, already had lots of suitable bullets from loading 9mm for years. Researched and found some really good upper-level .38 Super loads that equal .357 Mag. performance using 124/125 gr JHP's.

The pistol has exceeded all expectations for reliability, accuracy and overall performance, especially for it's price-point.

 

[swagmeister]

Some people put down guns made in the Phillippines and I bet they have never owned one. Rock Island Armory makes some impressive 1911 style pistols that give excellent results. Like all other makes of firearms, sometimes you get a lemon but no need to dog out the entire line of pistols because of one bad one. Same for guns made in Turkey. I just bought a Tisas Government Model 1911 .45 for $400.00 NIB. The fit and finish is much better than some Colt 1911 .45s I have owned. I could not find a machine mark anywhere on it, including inside the slide. 300 trouble free rounds thru it so far and it is an excellent performer. In over 50 years of collecting guns, I have never owned a .38 Super; might just have to check out one like yours. Thanks for showing.

 

[Grayfox]

Seven years ago at a gun show I bought a slightly used RIA .38 Super at a good price. Darn thing was a jam-o-matic. Couldn't get through a full mag without hanging up.
Studied on it and discovered the breach face was just a little too tight. The .38 Super is semi-rimmed and just the slight variation in rim diameter in the same box of ammo was enough to cause a failure to feed jam. I honestly believe that slide was cut for 9mm. Anyway, I opened up the breach face just a hair and it solved the problem. Its been completely reliable and one of my favorite .38 Supers ever since.

 

[Pocketrocket]

Rock38

I happened on a RIA 38 Super, in nickel, for a good price a few years ago. It was a large banner, with an idiot scratch, battered grips and no magazine. But $425 seemed reasonable. I bought a box of ammo, some grips, and a mag. Shot up the box of ammo. It shot a little high and left, but not too bad.
I've got to say it was my first 1911. Turned out the 38 Super ammo was kind of pricey, so I got a 9mm barrel(dropped right in) and mag, and shot it a bunch since I already had plenty of 9mm. Then a guy at work asked me about some funny ammo he got miss-shipped on the internet. Seems he ordered 1000rds of 22lr and recieved 38 Super. I gave him $75 for it (!!!) and he reordered the 22. Turned out it was fun and cheap to shoot, so I bought another RIA but this time a .45. Now that I like 1911s I've been looking for a Colt, but these are expensive in CA and hard to find. I would recommend a Rock to anyone, and they might make a good starting point for a cool custom. Hope you enjoy yours.