Rock Island Armory 1911 Problems :(

The front sight is staked on (sorta like a rivet), replacement is pretty easy if you have the right tools, difficult if you don't.

Was wondering about that piece?? I have thought
About getting the full size and was wondering if anyone
Has any thoughts on it. The price on them for what you
Get seems pretty reasonable.

Semper Fi

If you take the slide off and look at the bottom, you will see a bit of the front sight sticking through and mashed over, somewhat like a rivet (this is called "staking"). This can be cut away and a new sight installed. The rear sight is in a groove in the slide and can be punched or pressed out. If it is really shooting that low, you have little choice but to install a higher rear sight. The front sight would have to be made lower, but being so short already, there is nowhere to go with it. Frankly, I would be inclined to send it back to the importer.

As for the grip safety chewing your hand, this is what a beavertail is supposed to prevent. Perhaps there are gaps or uneven height between the grip safety and the frame cutout, or the rear edge of the thumb safety is digging in. I have also found that a very high thumb grip on 1911s beats up my hand at the base of the thumb.

I'd have sent it back to RIA instead of taking a Dremel to it. They have excellent customer service. I got a whole new gun from them over something that wasn't truly their fault (my sweat is apparently incompatible with copper-base nickel finishes), even though the real reason I'd sent it in was for accuracy issues.

As for it shooting low, RIAs may be sighted to European standards. European pistols tend to require you cover the target more with the sights in order to hit on target. This is something people who deal a lot with surplus pistols know about. If you try to shoot a gun that's sighted to European standards like we do, it'll shoot low.

As for the grip safety, well, I'm not a huge fan of their beavertail. I have one on my RIA 1911 Tactical, and I'm thinking of replacing it with a standard non-beavertail 1911 grip safety. The grip screws you can countersink with a drill if they're a problem.

Like a rock baybeee

Couple things. First, have someone else watch you shoot. Seriously. I have seen a LOT of people who will swear up and down they don't flinch, but they drop their hands several inches just as the trigger breaks.

If you're not flinching, I'd do one of two things. First, try to cover more of the target with the front sight. If that doesn't work or is counter to any current training you have, replacing the front sight is dead simple if you have the tools. To determine the correct height, go to the rifle forum, look at the sticky "Useful Links" and look for my post regarding iron sight adjustment. That will tell you how much higher youer new front sight needs to be.

Third, about the grip safety. I like RIA for what they are, a cheap reliable pistol. But they aren't up to snuff with fit and finish. Disassemble it and look for any burrs or sharp edges. Don't dremel them (drop the dremel and back away with your hands up), but stone them. Protruding burrs and sharp edges. Reassemble and give it another go.

Any grips for officer frame should work . Their are rubber wrap around like on Colt Defender if you like those. I didn't and tossed them right off.

its odd that with standard GI sights it shoots low at 25 meters.

Actually, come to think of it, I may have an explanation: it's a short-barreled 1911. This means significantly reduced velocity. This will, of course, cause it to shoot low at longer ranges like 25 yards / meters.

WW there might be a "little" accuracy difference at that range but not a significant drop in poa/poi. OP says 6" low....

I own 2 Rocks, One FS GI 9mm and One CS GI .45, they both shoot dead on and perform flawlessly. I highly recommend the ROCK!!

Ok so I bought a 3.5 Inch Rock Island Armory 1911 and Had Jamming issues

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You should call RIA in Nevada and talk to a gunsmith, they'll fix it unless you've borked up the gun and voided your warranty

which I fixed with minor dremmel tool work

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you have voided your warranty

grips

i just put a set of hoag rubber grips on mine and i love it ,dond have any problem with the grip saftey un less you are holding it wrong . the only modification i have done is to polish the the feed ramp to better feed wad cutter's other wise it is flawless . they do make adjustable rear sight 's both windage and elivation if you can have a smith push it on the dove tail you can get from midway .
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/71...-cut-steel-black-rounded-blade-fully-serrated

Grips...
Pachmayer


Unknown


RIA also known as Armscor has great customer service, don't hesitate to call them. I'm almost sure they will supply you with a new front sight. Before you change the sights test the gun at 10 yards from a rest.

What sort of ammo are you using? Generally a light bullet & higher velocity will tend to shoot low. I know messing around with 200gr SWC loads I'll find a combo that will shoot a few inches low at 15 yards out of a full size 5" barrel. Not sure how sensative a compact size would be to that.

CPLofMARINES said:

Was wondering about that piece?? I have thought
About getting the full size and was wondering if anyone
Has any thoughts on it. The price on them for what you
Get seems pretty reasonable.

Semper Fi

Click to expand...

They are GTG. A solid pistol for the $$$. Do a Google search. Reviews from owners are overwhelmingly positive. The high end 1911 fanboiz like to say "you get what you pay for." In the RIA's case I think you get more. Unless you really want the old skool GI look pony up the $60-ish for the Tactical model. Lots of upgrades that would cost a lot more if you had them done.

Somebody recommended Officer sized grips, that's wrong. Any grips for any full-sized 1911 will work. Might need to change bushings and screws, but good quality grips that need those should come with them. But those are NOT Officers size grips.

Somebody recommended Officer sized grips, that's wrong. Any grips for any full-sized 1911 will work.

Click to expand...

probably because the OP doesn't know what model he has, see below:

-I Bought a Rock Island Armory 1911 Medium Size (3.5 Inch Barrel)

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The MS (medium or mid size) came with a 4" barrel until recently, when Armscor went to a barrel closer to 4.25". MS guns have a fullsize frame, just like almost all common commander-size guns. Yes, the MS takes FS (full size) - AKA government size AKA normal size - grips
The CS (compact size) has a 3.5" barrel, and an officer-size frame. The CS takes officer magazines and officer grips.

Mid Size
Notice fullsize frame, GI sights, barrel longer than 3.5"


Compact size
Notice officer frame, GI sights, 3.5" barrel

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Go get your new pistol, compare to these pictures (and more on various websites, like galleryofguns, other retailers, or ... I don't know ... maybe, Armscor's own website!?!
... and figure out what you have before you attack it again with a dremel or do anything to it at all, for that matter.