Rock island 1911s

[joeintexas]

I guess I was just lucky according to some posts. I own 1911s in S&W, Ruger and Colt. I bought a RIA Tactical a few years back, shot over 2000 rounds of reloads through it without a problem and every bit as accurate as any of my other 1911s. Sold it for $150 more than I gave for it. I sell and trade a lot. I'd buy it back and that says something. I'm guessing a lot of the folks that talk down a RIA have never owned one. JMO.

 

[BC38]

Not something you'd ever want to trust your life to. Mine was (and is) a jamamatic.

With a 1911, you get what you pay for, and there's a reason Rock Islands are cheap. If it's just a range toy or something you want to learn on, sure, but if this is for serious defense the cheapest I'd ever consider is something like a Dan Wesson in the $1600 price range and even then Id be sure to send it to a Smith for a full tune up and overhaul.

1911s are not like Glocks. They demand quality and intensive maintenance. My $0.02? Pinch those pennies, save up, and shoot for something like a Springfield Professional (can be had at or just under $3000) or the various Wilson Combat or Nighthawk Custom guns.

The 1911 is the world's top fighting pistol and always has been. But like I said, it is one platform you do NOT want to skimp on.

Wow, gotta' wonder about all those hundreds of thousands of military Colts, Singers, Rands, Remingtons, etc. that generations of GI's carried, fought with, and trusted their lives to over the last 100+ years.

Were they all of the same quality level as those $1600-$3000 pistolas you consider the "bottom tier" for a SD/fighting 1911?

If $1600 is the minimum for a trustworthy reliable 1911, they have to be the worst SD handgun ever invented. You can buy a 100% reliable name brand handguns all day long for 15%-20% of that amount.

 

[oink]

I've had an officers model RIA for several years. I can't get it to malfunction.

 

[kraynky]

I got a hankering for an Officers size 45, just because I like em. Got a 4516 that I LOVE to shoot, and it shoots so well. They actually weight about the same and can share holsters for the most part, and the Shield 45 tor that matter. I need to have a shoot off with those 3 and maybe try the 4566 and the SAR K2, all at the same time. I like a 45, been even considering finding a RIA 10 mm to go with my 1076. My RIA has neve let me down. Come to think about it only the 4516 had a hang up on a bullet I loaded in the brass crooked somehow.

For the dollar spent, I honestly think the Sarsimal K2 (uses P-14 mags) is top pick. But it'a bigg'un, the RIA compact was the best dollar spent for a carry size gun. I may drop a Wilson trigger in it, but the factor one ain't bad.

 

[jeffrefrig]

FWIW, I bought a full-size ATI for around the same price. First shot, free hand, just missed center dot. And the gun has never missed a beat the last 5 or 6 years I've had it. What I'm saying is, I doubt I'd win any trophies with it, but it goes bang every trigger pull. So you spend under $400, keep it clean, and shoot it a couple hundred times; maybe try different ammo to be sure. I don't think you'll be sorry you didn't save up for a $1200 gun. I take it's a .45, right? Good luck.

 

[pawngal]

Personally, I've never shot a RIA 1911 but as a small FFL dealer, they are the only new 1911 I keep in stock. I've had a lot of satisfied customers.
I consider them a great entry level gun to the 1911 platform. If you like it and want a fancy one later OK.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

The Rock Island is a solid performer, you will not sell it for what you can sell a Colt for, but my experience is that they shoot as well as I do. I would carry mine (ATI 9mm) and trust it to fire accurately. There are those who swear that a 1911 can only be made by Colt and in 45 ACP. OK. Others swear that only a Kimber can be trusted with your life. OK. My opinion is that it is the Raeban effect, you can have as much fun and shoot as well with a Rock Island as any other 1911. I would not buy one for resale as I would a Colt or Kimber, etc., but I am a shooter and they are great shooters and self defense guns. I know a few 1911 collectors who keep their high end 1911s in the safe and EDC and have a blast with their Rock Island/RIA's at the range. Other's would not be caught dead without their Colt, Kimber or custom brand 1911. To each their own.

 

[Kiwi cop]

Not something you'd ever want to trust your life to. Mine was (and is) a jamamatic.

With a 1911, you get what you pay for, and there's a reason Rock Islands are cheap. If it's just a range toy or something you want to learn on, sure, but if this is for serious defense the cheapest I'd ever consider is something like a Dan Wesson in the $1600 price range and even then Id be sure to send it to a Smith for a full tune up and overhaul.

1911s are not like Glocks. They demand quality and intensive maintenance. My $0.02? Pinch those pennies, save up, and shoot for something like a Springfield Professional (can be had at or just under $3000) or the various Wilson Combat or Nighthawk Custom guns.

The 1911 is the world's top fighting pistol and always has been. But like I said, it is one platform you do NOT want to skimp on.

US$1600 for a basic pistol plus smithing?

I purchased my EEA Witness .45 Custom for just under NZ$1500 (US$1,000) added a mag well and Double Alpha grips for another NZ$400.

Out of the box it was a nice gun with a better than average 1911 trigger. I spent less than 1 1/2 hours polishing up the trigger bar, sear and hammer with a diamond knife sharpening hone (Usually I'd spend that amount of time on the trigger itself). Turned the trigger set screw less than 1/4 turn to not quite the shortest reset position and it has a fantastic trigger.

On the range I can put 3 rounds touching freehand at 15 meters with another two rounds less than 2 inches from the centre of the group, about as good as I will ever shoot.

As for the OP, If I could buy a .45 1911 for US$350, a little over NZ$500, I would pull out the credit card right now. It would make a fantastic Wild Bunch legal pistol and a great range gun.

 

[JayFramer]

US$1600 for a basic pistol plus smithing?

I purchased my EEA Witness .45 Custom for just under NZ$1500 (US$1,000) added a mag well and Double Alpha grips for another NZ$400.

Out of the box it was a nice gun with a better than average 1911 trigger. I spent less than 1 1/2 hours polishing up the trigger, sear and hammer with a diamond knife sharpening hone (Usually I'd spend that amount of time on the trigger itself). Turned the trigger set screw less than 1/4 turn to not quite the shortest reset position and it has a fantastic trigger.

On the range I can put 3 rounds touching freehand at 15 meters with another two rounds less than 2 inches from the centre of the group, about as good as I will ever shoot.

As for the OP, If I could buy a .45 1911 for US$350, a little over NZ$500, I would pull out the credit card right now. It would make a fantastic Wild Bunch legal pistol and a great range gun.

"Wild Bunch legal"

If it's a range toy, sure. If it's meant for gunfighting? No thanks.

 

[Kiwi cop]

"Wild Bunch legal"

If it's a range toy, sure. If it's meant for gunfighting? No thanks.

Wild Bunch is a branch of Cowboy Shooting based on the movie. 1911 mil spec .45 pistol, lever action .44 or above rifle and pump action 12 gauge ('98).

 

[double-dipper]

"Wild Bunch legal"

If it's a range toy, sure. If it's meant for gunfighting? No thanks.

Jay you maybe watching to many Hollyweird shoot-um movies! I believe the average number of shots fired in a real-life self defense shooting is three. Or was that how licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie-roll-Tootsie pop? Back to the OP for $350 I would get it.

 

[brucev]

Have owned and enjoyed a number of different 1911's. Started w/ Colt and have always preferred them. However, in 2011 I did a swap at a gunshop trading a Glock 22 and a 100 rds. of WWB .40 for a S&W 15. Had credit balance left over. Added $80 to it and took home a plain Jane RIA 1911-A1. Gunsmith friend cerakoated it b/c the finish was very worn. Checkered the front strap, etc. Said the gun was fine inside. It will feed anything including empty cartridge casings. Very satisfied with it. It has been 100 % perfect in function, etc. since day one. I can hit a bucket on the other side of a farm pond when I'm shooting with it at a outdoor range. Distance is at least 100 yds. Very accurate pistol. Down the road, I will almost certainly buy another Colt. Why? Just like them! THat being said, I like this RIA! Sincerely. bruce.

 

[stansdds]

Rock Island Armory 1911's are not incredible 1911's.
Rock Island Armory 1911's are not terrible 1911's.
Rock Island Armory 1911's are good basic 1911's.

They lack the fit, finish, triggers, and lock up of $1000+ 1911's.
They are very similar to military issue 1911's.
They can be built up into nice custom 1911's.
They are a faithful reproduction of the 1911, so parts will interchange.

Some are really good and quite accurate out of the box.
Some are fair and combat accurate out of the box.
Some need a little tweaking or better magazines.
Some require fitting of extractors and firing pin stops to make them reliable.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[Rpg]

RIA 1911's are generally quite functional pistols.

They tend to be rough when it comes to fit and finish but they usually work just fine.

They tend to incorporate some undesirable features, such as full length guide rods, that seem attractive to inexperienced 1911 shooters.

They also feel clunky in the hand compared to a Colt.

I'd rather use a Norinco as the basis for a custom 1911 than a RIA.

All that being said, if you're shooting a RIA all you have to do to outshoot a guy who shoots a $2,000 1911 is be a better shot.

 

[Old Corp]

Have a bunch of M1911's. .22, 9mm, 10mm, .45's. Mostly Colt and Kimber.
About 5 or 6 years ago, picked up a used Charles Daly .45 5". Basically a RIA/Armscor with a nice finish. It had an ambi-safety which I'm no fan of, but figured I'd change it out.
Bought the Daly as a woods beater and expectations were low. It came with a Wilson mag.
Was almost peeved at how well it shot - and with every bullet weight and configuration. Accuracy on par with tweaked Colts I owned.

Last year I attended a 'flood sale' at a LGS affected by Hurricane Florence. They were selling guns that'd been submerged and subsequently cleaned up and oiled. Bought a RIA .38 Super 5" basic.
Obtained loading dies and began to work up loads for it. Sent the slide to Novak and had better sights installed.
That one too has been a very good performer. Much more accurate that I expected and 100% function. Did get rid of the plain jungle-wood grips and put on VZ double diamond Cherrywood-look grips that are very tactile/grippy.

So - will have to agree that for the money, these 1911's are a great value. No one will say they're on par with Wilson's, Ed Brown's, DW's, etc but everyone doesn't have that much cash on hand to invest.
I'd trust either for a CC piece (after an appropriate wringing out) and have done so.

 

[Protected One]

Any love for these, thinking about buying one, green nib fs with 10q grips
Can pick up for 350

Go for it! It won't have some of the bells and whistles of the higher end 1911's, but for fun at the range or even carry it is a reliable, accurate shooter.

I know an army ranger who carries one as his edc.

 

[CajunBass]

For $350.00 it's not a life altering decision (A gun for $3000 would be for me. ) I don't think. Get it if you want it. Shoot the snot out of it if you plan to use for "serious social purposes." If it works. GREAT! If it doesn't, you can get if fixed, keep it as a paperweight, or sell/trade it and take a few bucks loss.

If you just plan to use it as a plinker/range gun, use whatever standards you want to judge it.

Personally, I've owned a couple of RIA's. They worked fine, but I admit that I don't shoot 1911's a lot. Every time I buy one, I'll shoot it a little, then something else come along that I decide I want more and they become trade fodder. I've still got some 45 acp ammo so I might end up with another one, one of these days. Probably a RIA.

 

[palmetto99]

I purchased a RIA Match about seven years ago. I had been running a Glock G17 in IDPA for a couple of years and wanted to try something else. A friend who worked part time in a gun shop had the Match new in the box. I picked it up for $500 and purchased several Chip McCormick magazines and ran it for two years without a hiccup. I went back to a Glock for pew-pew games, but I like the RIA so much I purchase what they call a full size Tactical. I did have it Cerakoted because of the giant roll mark and the slide safeties cut down (that is my big complaint with the RIA's, the slide safeties are to big and kind of sharp). I can only speak to my sample of two, but I have been very satisfied.

 

[Farmer17]

I've heard people say buy a Colt for resale and plan on losing a lot of money when you sell your Rock Island 1911. I sold my American Classic and my Rock Island 1911s for about 20% more than paid for them and I didn't want to get rid of them I just needed the money for something else. Some people don't realize you can buy a nice 1911 for under $450. My 1984 Colt Combat Government model was traded away and I took about a 15% loss on it but if I still had it today it WOULD be worth a lot more.

 

[scoobysnacker]

I have an Armscor (in my case a High Standard), which is for practical purposes a RIA. I also have a Tisas, which is a Turkish manufactured.
Both are 5" .45 acp government models, with little, if any, refinements. Both have the standard milspec sights, nothing to write home about. The High Standard has a parkerized finish and flat mainspring housing, the Tisas has some sort of black paint job and an arched mainspring housing. Neither came with pretty grips; I got the High Standard used with green Hogue rubber plates, and I got the Tisas used with the stock smooth wood grips.
Both feed .45 fmj without issue, using the various mags I've got... this includes one Chip McComick Shooting Star mag my brother gave me, the MecGar 8 rd mag that came with them, and a bunch of cheap Sarco 7 rd milspec mags.
Re the Sarco mags, I took some online advice and disassembled/cleaned them, and they run fine now.

Someone on ebay was selling Remington factory second double diamond grips for $12 apiece, I bought 2 pair and put on both pistols.

My brother has a pair of Colts; a Series 80 and a USGI Reproduction.

For shooting purposes, all seem about equal in our hands, and I've shot some of his HP ammo through my guns without issue (just several mags, so I can't swear to perfect function with this small total). But frankly, 7-8 rds of 230 grain .45 ball should suffice in most situations.

With my range fodder: Magtech, Freedom Munitions, Blazer Brass, S&B- all quite reasonable accuracy, once you get acclimated to the 1911 (I usually shoot 9mm DA/SA, used to a bit fatter grip and a different trigger). Good enough to hit neon plastic coke bottles at 10 yds for me. For useful shooting enjoyment, they all seem alike, with the Series 80 being the most annoying- the front safety is loose and wants to fall out.

My overall take on them:
none of these are true US surplus pistols with real history attached to them. My two foreigners each look reasonably close, for less than a 3rd of the cost of the Colt replica.

I think that both bargain guns are 'true' 1911's, unlike in the past when you had things like Llama's that didn't share parts with the 'real' ones. I've changed springs, and swapped parts back and forth with my brother's Colts, and they fit and run fine.

If you want the satisfaction of owning a "real" USGI, get a CMP- for about a grand. If you want the satisfaction of owning a precise, hand-fitted firearm, get a custom make- for more than that. If you have brand loyalty, go ahead and get the brand you like.
But if you want a functional, reliable shooter 1911 for a reasonable price, these fit the bill.