[wheelgunslinger]

Is it a faithful copy of the gub'ment model? Is it a knock off with reengineered internals and a familiar looking frame and slide?

What is it?

[Navy joe]

It's a 1911A1 internally. Speaking from a metallurgical and craftsmanship point of view; one gets what they pay for, therefore I don't own a Rock Island.

[steelyblue]

They're really descent weopons. Good price, good gun, IMHO. I have a Charles Daly frame made by the same plant that I use for a ciener kit. It works great. I also know several people who own RIA 1911's that love them and they shoot well.

[chauncey]

a buddy of mine swears by them. I think they are interchangeable parts with standard 1911's. made in the Phillippines, I believe.

inexpensive, acceptable reliability, base on what I've seen of his (he shoots his A LOT).

My generic advice for 1911 purchasers is as follows: Upon receipt of the weapon, follow these instructions: 1) open box 2) take out weapon 3) remove magazine 4) discard magazine, using hammer and available trash can 5) spend some $$, put a Wilson Combat magazine in it.

In my opinion, that the cheapest way to turn an inexpensive 1911 into a reliable one.

[viking499]

A Rock Island is a very accurate and reliable pistol for the money. Shoots almost as good as my Kimber, but was 1/3 the price.

[berkbw]

RIA's customer service is top notch. Check out the RIA forum on m1911.org.
b-

[White Horseradish]

RIA is a faithful repro of the 1911.

I have two. One I had new, on I got thirdhand. The new one has been perfect, the thirdhand one had a broken link. I got a replacement link for free from RIA.

Only complaint I have is that springs seemed to go pretty quickly, but they are a wear item anyway.

One of the guys here on THR whose opinion I trust says their castings should go at least 20,000 rounds. It will take me a long time to shoot that much. If I had money for more than a RIA, I'd have money to shoot more.

99% of derisive opinions on them come from people that do not actually own one.

Speaking of which, Navy Joe, would you care to elaborate on what exactly you find so inferior about them?

[wheelgunslinger]

Sorry guys, but I know nothing about the 1911.
I've just seen a lot of talk about the RIA products and have been wondering about them.
Thanks for the responses so far.

So, I take it you could buy one and upgrade internals from Brownell's?

[HOLY DIVER]

dad has a rock island in 38super....he tricked it out with all the goodies
only thing he hasn't done is change the barrel....man does the pistol shoot good infact i'm going buy myself one in 38super!

[Im283]

I bought an RIA Gov't Model in .45 ACP back in the summer. It did not run great out of the box, but from what i read mine is the exception (figures). After a lot of break in rounds and new recoil spring from Wolff it does okay now. Very accurate gun.

I disagree with the above comment about throwing away the stock mag and getting a Wilson Combat. Nothing against Wilson but the Novak mag that came with mine works just fine. One recomendation I have as for mags is when you get a new gun load the mag and leave it loaded to help break the spring in. Seems to help sometimes from my experiences.

The RIA was made on machinery purchased from Colt and moved to the Phillipines.

It is a fine 1911. nice and tight.

just my opinion which is worth what you paid for it. :)

[White Horseradish]

As far as parts interchange, I have replaced the mainspring housings on mine with Colt ones (I like arched ones) - perfect fit. My bought-new RIA has an Ed Brown hammer strut (I didn't like the looks of the stock one) - also a perfect fit.

I have not seen the need to replace any other parts.

[kermit315]

this is good to hear. I am planning on buying one around April-May timeframe. I shot a springfield armory mil spec rental at the range, and it was as accurate as I could be with it. Hope this is as well.

Jamie

[vikz]

I have owned atleast 4 GI ,3 tactical and 1 compact and they all run flawlessly new out of the box!!I now how a RIA Tactical as my Home defense gun , 700 rounds so far and not a single malfunction!!I also own an STI Spartan which has a slide and frame from Armscor(RIA)...they are of mil-spec so you can change what ever your wallet desires..In my experience with other brands of 1911 RIA is thus far the best bang for your money..i wont say the make of one of my what they say "high end"1911 that i use to have, run 200rounds and have 20 malfunctions!!and i paid 2x the price of an RIA GI..RIA 700rounds not a single malfunction go figure right..

[Navy joe]

Speaking of which, Navy Joe, would you care to elaborate on what exactly you find so inferior about them?

Sure, they're made by KBI in the Phillipines. The first pistol I bought myself was a KBI Chuck Daly. I broke that thing 6 ways to sunday in less than 6 months with about 5,000 rounds. It's an entry level gun. Fine for that. I expect a steel 1911 to outlast me. If I want a frame and slide to tear apart and add all new parts too, I already bought it, it's a Sistema, it was cheaper than the RIA and better made.

I'm glad people like them, but the fact is most people will because they don't shoot their guns much and the RIA will survive their occasional use. I broke a Glock with 30K+ rounds in a 1.5 years.

I stand by what I said, you get what you pay for. Some people only need a $400 1911. By all means buy a RIA. Just don't think the money spent gets you top end parts.

[Xringfighter]

An RIA 1911 is the best budget 1911 you can buy-period. Buy one and trick it out to your liking before everyone else finds out about them....

750 rounds (3 UMC multi packs+ carry ammo[185gr Golden sabers]) plus through my Tactical- bought it last week, XS Big Dots, Wolff Springs EGW "melt" bushing, VZ Operator grips, Caspian Recon Rail, Wilson 47D mags.

500 rounds UMC plus 40 rounds of 165g Pow'r Ball, trough my compact. XS 24/7 sights, Wolff springs, Wilson mags.

Sending them one at a time to Walter Birdsong for Brown-T and Tan-T respectively.

They are "looser" than a match pistol but they work fine out to 25 meters.

[HM2PAC]

NavyJoe,

What parts broke on your RIA? What should be replaced?

How did you do that to a Glock? What broke?

[Navy joe]

Glock framerail fell off, part of their "secret perfection recall." Broken other Glock stuff too. Broke a barrel in my GI 1911, but it was 58 years old when it broke. Point is all guns break, but some sooner than others.

Was not a RIA I broke, it was a Charles Daly made by KBI, same people that make RIA. Ambi safety broke the first month, barrel bushing cracked down the center after about 3 months. Gun never functioned 100%.

I'm not saying don't buy one, just you get what you pay for. I've got an opinion that if you have to cover up your product with historical sounding names your product isn't the greatest to begin with and your trademark is somewhat misleading. So, people hear "Rock Island" and they think http://www.ria.army.mil/sites/local/ , not 1911 made in 3rd world and given fancy name. Suffice it to say the only reason my M-1A is worth a crap is the only thing that says "Springfield" on it is the receiver.

[wheelgunslinger]

Navy Joe, what do you mean exactly by the term "entry level gun?"

[Navy joe]

Now I realize I am not in the favor of RIA fans right now, but this is my opinion. Entry level is good for two things. One, a relatively new shooter gets one for range use and fun and is happy. Good. Two someone gets one to gut it and do home gunsmithing on a cheap project gun. Good as long as it works in the end. As far as HD, I hope it's good if it was running the last range trip. It's just not the gun I'd pick for high round count training, carry, or routine serious use. I think real world bears me out, show me a 1911 authorized police unit carrying Rock Islands. So that is entry level to me. It's a Honda Accord. Drive it to work and get groceries or put some stickers and a stupid tail pipe on it. It will never be a Cadillac or a Race car.

From my KBI experience, when parts that seldom break break that soon it tells me inferior heat treat on inferior steel. Makes me wonder about everything else like lockwork and barrel lugs. No I have not owned a RIA, looked at them in a gunstore field stripped and the workmanship was consistent with what i had seen in the Charles Daly.

As to my perspective, I have one modern 1911, a Dan Wesson PM-1S and I am worried about wearing out the lockwork. From shooting a .22 conversion. It gets shot that much. The next newest 1911 I have is a Series 70 Colt which has been in the family since it was sold in late '69 and has not missed a beat. The GI gun I mentioned is a Remington Rand made in 1945 that I shot heavily for several years, it was my range, carry, and IPSC piece. They all run. I abuse guns, I want them to last.

[highorder]

I disagree with the above comment about throwing away the stock mag and getting a Wilson Combat. Nothing against Wilson but the Novak mag that came with mine works just fine.

+1 The Novak Mag that came with my gun is as reliable and trustworthy as the Wilson's I also use.

never underestimate the bad press that a single unsatisfied customer can spread.

If I didn't own my RIA, and love it, I would probably allow navyjoe's comments to weigh on me. The internet is a powerful tool.







.

[Cowboy2]

I've got two RIA's (.45 and .38 Super). Both have a few thousand rounds through them, both have run like champs. Check out the 1911forum link above. People over there rave about them, and the guy in charge of customer service almost seems to live there. I'd buy another RIA without hesitation.

[Bullet]

Navy joe
I broke a Glock with 30K+ rounds in a 1.5 years.
Glock framerail fell off, part of their "secret perfection recall." Broken other Glock stuff too.

30K+ rounds on a recall frame. Not to bad and I bet Glock replaced it for free.

wheelgunslinger Forget the Rock Island 1911 and get a Glock.


.

[Technosavant]

I would probably agree that the RIA guns are "entry level" 1911s. By which I mean an inexpensive and reliable way to get into the platform, but it isn't something that can be dressed up into a high dollar gun. Now, a person may not want to dress up the RIA. In that case, by all means- go for it. At the price it can't be beat.

However, for those who are thinking "I can get that and then upgrade it" keep in mind that the cast frame and slide are somewhat softer than the forged frame and slide used in more expensive models (say, Springfield Armory, Smith & Wesson, and so on). Some gunsmiths won't do upgrades on Rock Island guns. Others will. But I don't see the point in sinking hundreds into a RIA in upgrades; a person may as well then just spend the cash up front for a higher endgun.

The Rock Island guns, from all accounts, are just fine the way they are. If you are dreaming of turning it into something else, then just go buy that gun, but if you want a basic 1911 for not too much money to use as a shooter, then heck, you can't beat it. But it isn't a Springfield Armory or a Smith & Wesson or a Kimber or even a Taurus for $300 instead of a few hundred more. With any less expensive gun, you have to love it for what it is, and not try to turn it into a "poor man's" anything else.

[Navy joe]

Techno, That's exactly what I was trying to say. Thank you. Not downing anyone's piece, I respect a guy with a Hi-Point if that's all he can swing. I can make those crap boxes run too.

Bullet, frame rail shouldn't have broke. Especially if they left the big Gen II rails alone. They did replace it for free with one better, I sent the frame and slide back stripped bare to keep all my special bits, they sent back a complete gun. Presto, complete spare Glock parts kit. :D Wasn't expecting that, I just knew if I sent the aftermarket they'd throw them out.

[old_ironsights]

1911's made by Armscor under various brand-names are of entirely adequate material and machining for the average shooter.

Chrome, ivory and a name stamped on the slide don't guarantee function.

[Hacker15E]

Here are a couple bits of 1911Tuner wisdom about the Rock Island:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=2395198&postcount=63
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=2396090&postcount=72
http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=2648454&postcount=83

[Navy joe]

Chrome, ivory and a name stamped on the slide don't guarantee function.

Never said it did, that's why it's sad people spend a lot on a Kimber and then have problems. The Dan Wesson I mentioned is a pre-CZ and has developed an excellent reputation. I didn't buy it because it said Dan Wesson, I bought it because it was $150 below retail and came with ten new Wilson mags. See, divorce sales are fun! :D

Chrome and Ivory? Huh? People put that on guns? ;)

[yhtomit]

"Bullet, frame rail shouldn't have broke. Especially if they left the big Gen II rails alone. They did replace it for free with one better, I sent the frame and slide back stripped bare to keep all my special bits, they sent back a complete gun. Presto, complete spare Glock parts kit. Wasn't expecting that, I just knew if I sent the aftermarket they'd throw them out."

Navy Joe:

Wow! That's quite a bit of customer service there. I hope *I* get some guns recalled soon ;)

timothy

[gazpacho]

The RIA 1911 is a great trainer gun, practice gun, loaner gun, etc. It is completely functional, and modifiable. It is perfect for the hobby gunsmith to learn and practice with, without butchering and nicely blued Colt.

My only complaint, is that my RIA was slightly heavier than every other comparable 1911 I've owned.

[Bullet]

wheelgunslinger
If you do decide to get a Rock Island 1911 you might look here -

http://www.centerfiresystems.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=58

Probably not made to last forever but still might be fun.



.

[White Horseradish]

Navy Joe, I have both a RIA and an older Charles Daly. The Daly had most of it's internals replaced before I bought it, having been owned by a IPSC shooter. I can tell you the RIA fit and finish is definitely a cut above the Daly.

Now, I hear the Daly has improved, but I have no experience with the newer ones.

[Sixtigers]

I don't think that anything NavyJoe said was off the mark. In fact, I'm going to agree with him--and I own a RIA .45, and love it. It's not a $2000 racegun, but it is a great $500 shooter, and isn't that what he said?

Mine came with a Kimber mag, for some reason. Seems to work well!

[crankshop1000]

I have 3 1911 type pistols.I have a RIA1911A1, a springfield hi cap loaded and a Defender. The Springfield is a bit better machined and also better fitted out than the RIA being that the Springfield is a "loaded" and the RIA is the base (not tactical) That being said, both the RIA and the Springer feed and fire without fail.The Colt is another story. Well made and a beauty, but it has FTE issues. As far as the RIA line goes, I would buy another in a heartbeat. Their factory rep hang out on the 1911.org site and will make you happy if you have a problem.