Suppressors Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

S

springerjb

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 28, 2010
133
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Ephraim, UT
#1
That's right. I said it. I'm pretty sure I'll be banned for life from SH but my new Rock Island Armory 1911 "Tactical" is a thing of beauty.

I'm not a huge fan of the 1911 platform (more blasphemy) but I figured I should have one in my collection. Plus at some point I hope to shoot a 3-gun match with my Garand in the Heavy Metal cagegory.

First I bought a Taurus 1911...that lasted about a month before I sold it off. Lesson learned. Then I started to look at Springfields and the like. Read up on RIA and I figured it was worth a $505 out the door gamble (Buds CC price + way too high $35 FFL fee). It arrived fresh in the UPS box at my FFL a couple weeks ago. I couldn't be more impressed for the money. Sure the finish isn't perfect and the trigger needs to be smoothed out a bit; but I know a lot of guys saying the same thing about their $1,000 and up 1911's. After a quick 100 rounds last week I had one failure that I'm about 95% sure was due to a weak mag spring in a Chip McCormick Shooting Star. I had zero failures with factory mag (much beefier mag spring).

Anyway, I couldn't be more pleased. If you are looking in the "discount" 1911 category (sub $750) don't over look RIA.

Ok, commence with the laughing and name calling...

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#2
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

If you're having mag issues....switch to Novak's. Thats all i run in mine and i havent had any feeding issues. Mine will receive some Caspian upgrades in the near future
 
#4
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

I like my RIA commander length gun. Yes, RIA do need trigger jobs, every one that I've handled anyways. Gonna have to look into that "Tactical model" I have the commander and officer size guns, now a 5" to round out the set.
 
#5
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

I have one of there government models and absolutely love it. A buddy of mine has one also along with two kimbers and says he prefers the RIA over them. There's some pretty good 1911 building going on in the Phillipines.
 
#7
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

I just found out the same guys that make the RIA (Armscor) are the ones that do all of STI steel and aluminum frame guns, as well as the rough casting for the STI polymer hi-cap 2011.
 
#8
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

Just curious, what was wrong with the taurus 1911? I have a stainless one and love it. I have had only 2 or 3 malfunctions in 1000's of rounds of target and 3 gun shoots. Just curios to know what you didnt like.
 
#9
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nuclabuyer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just curious, what was wrong with the taurus 1911? I have a stainless one and love it. I have had only 2 or 3 malfunctions in 1000's of rounds of target and 3 gun shoots. Just curios to know what you didnt like. </div></div>

Good question. The rear sight cut wasn't straight which meant that the rear sight was canted a few degrees. Not enough to be functionally unusable, but plenty canted to piss me off. I ordered this online and didn't inspect it as thoroughly as I should have when I picked it up from the FFL. My bad.

Anyway after noticing this on the first trip to the range. I called Taurus and they gave the standard "ship it to us at your expense and we'll see if we agree...in the mean time it will be weeks/months before you can expect it back...maybe fixed". Plus the finish sucked and I was disappointed in the overall craftsmenship of my weapon.

I have a Taurus 92AF and I love it. Wouldn't trade/sell it for anything. It's not that I don't think Taurus can make anything decent. But I think they are all over the map with QC (or lack there of) and their customer service leaves a lot to be desired. So far, the RIA is far superior and about $100 bucks cheaper. Time will tell...

My .02
 
#10
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

I have a stainless pt1911 and love every inch of it. Very nice gun. But like you said I am not sure the QC, I got to handle this one before I bought it at a gun shop, I was impressed.
On another note, I have been looking at the 4" RIA and I have seen alot of good things about them. They are no Kimber or STI but they are also way cheaper. But they are a good gun to start with and you can build it a little at a time and make it as good or better for the same price as a Kimber.
My best friend is a die hard Kimber fan and I love the fact that I can go out and out shoot him with my Taurus. Pisses him off every time.
 
#11
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

More often than not it is the shooter and not the gun that wins. RIA isn't as pretty as others, but it is a lot cheaper. My friend has one and speaks highly of it. The few times I used it I have found it to as accurate as I am.
 
#13
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

A friend of mine picked one up a few months ago and for the price it wasn't bad at all. He had some feeding issues but that was cured with better ammunition. I felt it shot well.
 
#14
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

You won't catch any flack from me Mtneer. I bought a RIA GI about three years ago & built it into a "Tactical". While my gunsmith had it, building & installing some new sights I found a factory Tactical in the local gunshop. I bought that one, but sold it because my home made one was just better, for me anyway. I have added a RIA 38 Super to my collection & remodeled that one too. There is nothing wrong with a RIA & with the money saved you can afford to spend a little more adding the things that you want.
 
#15
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

I'm more of a rifle guy than a pistol guy so the RIA tactical was a logical choice for me.
I have found it very reliable and I have no problem rolling cans out past 50 yards or so. I don't think I would shoot any better if I spent more money on a SA or a Kimber or whatever.
Mag latch, safety, etc. are crisp. No rattles.
I'm not really into jewelry or other folks approval so I like mine just fine.
 
#16
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nobearsyet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just found out the same guys that make the RIA (Armscor) are the ones that do all of STI steel and aluminum frame guns, as well as the rough casting for the STI polymer hi-cap 2011. </div></div>

You learned WRONG. All STIs besides the Spartan and Texan are 100% Made-in-USA.

RIA tactical is a great gun, however.
 
#17
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Downzero</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nobearsyet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just found out the same guys that make the RIA (Armscor) are the ones that do all of STI steel and aluminum frame guns, as well as the rough casting for the STI polymer hi-cap 2011. </div></div>

You learned WRONG. All STIs besides the Spartan and Texan are 100% Made-in-USA.

RIA tactical is a great gun, however.</div></div>

Downzero is correct, whoever told you that is incorrect
 
#18
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

i picked up a ria two tone awesome sauce recently and it has earned my apreciation. it is pretty solid for the 4 bills i paid and lets me not sweat beating up a pricier gun with me practice. only flaw ive noticed is it dont run for shit with the ciener .22lr slide for some reason.
 
#21
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: AXEMAN</div><div class="ubbcode-body">ive had two guys i know with alot of 1911 knowlege say it was a good base to start with. id like a mid size and its priced right. </div></div>

I have the compact Rock Island ad got a great deal locally at $460 + tax/ love its fit and carry capabilities to boot. Then again I wanted a gun I could shoot the hell out of and still last a while.
 
#22
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

im thinking about the mid size, pro size in kimber terms and commander in colt i think. i want to bob the tail and thats about it really. make be a few more slick tweaks, lol
 
#23
Re: Some Rock Island Armory 1911 Love (w/pics)

i see a 5" and a 3.5" so it looks like there are just those two sizes. several model variations, two tone and all nickel. the tactical has skeleton trigger and novak style sights. the compact says fixed, it looks like a blade. too bad it didnt have a novak cut. but $400 shipped and $20 on my end for a transfer. worth a look at the next show
 
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