Help me with RIA 1911 .45ACP

[JWarren]

Hiya all.

I've been contempating getting an entry-level 1911. All the reading I've done points me toward the Rock Island 1911 in .45 ACP.


Today, I was in a gun store for a few minutes to see what they had. I looked at a Springfield Armory Mil-Spec, a Taurus 1911, a Paraordanance wide-body 1911, and a Kimber Custom II.

All felt nice in my hand.

The Springfield Mil-spec was closest to what I wanted to spend and I was pleasently surprised to learn that the lack of a beaver tail would not really up my chances of hammer bite (I have smaller hands-- I doubt I could fire the gun and have my fingers up there at the same time).

The Paraordanance wide-body did not feel as "fat" in my hand as I thought it would, but I doubt it would have worked near as well for concealed carry for me-- so it is out.

The Taurus seemed to be a solid gun.

The first thing I noticed about the Kimber Custom II was that it was significantly heavier than the Springfield Mil-Spec. I liked the Kimber, but I did not like the price tag that this shop had on it (this shop is not known for good prices on anything.)


The clerk and I were talking about my options and the Rock Island 1911 came up. I told him that I have read a lot of positive reviews of the firearm on several gun forums-- including the 1911 forum.

His immediate response was "I don't like them." He cited the whys as not liking the trigger, and the slide "rattles" a bit.

Someone please talk to me about this.

I've read both of those things on some forums. On reason I purposely looked at the Springfield Armory Mil-Spec was to check slide "rattle." Someone said that slide rattle was common on "Mil-Spec" 1911s in order to be more reliable with looser tolerances. My logic is that if both handguns are designed to mil-spec, they should have the same tolerances and therefore the same looseness. I really didn't find any "rattle" in the Springfield 1911 slide.

I've also read that the slide "rattle" is one thing that allows the RIA to feed so many different types of rounds with no hickups. I can see that logic.


Still... I am wondering what I would get my hands on if I got a RIA. I don't mind a bit of movement--especially if that allows me to feed it hollow points reliably. But I don't want something that feels like I built it in my basement out of old Datsun parts.

The purpose of this firearm will be:

1. Basic knock-around carry.
2. Concealed Carry

Needs the firearms must meet:

1. Reliability
2. Able to feed hollow points reliability
3. Ability to hit fairly accurate. (Pie-plate at 20 paces is fine)



Would the RIA fit the bill? I'd love to hear from some owners.




Thanks!



-- John

 

[ugaarguy]

From a guy who works in a gun shop. Your clerk probably doesn't like the RIA because there generally isn't much mark up in them. The last examples I've handled had no slide rattle. The triggers were just fine for out of the box 1911s. They're the best value going for a no frills 1911.

The Springfield GI and Mil-Spec 1911s are great if you want to spend a little more money.

If I were buying a Kimber it would be an older one made before the II series guns. These Kimbers lack a firing pin safety and are generally better built than current production. We had one come in on trade that had some holster wear and a few dings on the slide. It was mechanically sound though, and stickered in the mid $500 range. I bought it for a bit less with my employee discount.

Keep your eyes open for used Springfields, used Colts, and older Kimbers.

 

[gc70]

When my son bought a Rock Island, my first reaction was that he had wasted his money. But the newer Rock Islands with the extruded slides seem to be made better than the earlier models. My son added a new bushing and slide release to his Rock Island and, for an all-in cost under $400, has a reliable 1911 that shoots as well as my Colt 1991 that cost nearly twice as much.

 

[MJZZZ]

I bought a RIA from Sarco Inc about a year ago, although it shot great the safety would not engage everytime I tried to use it. I contacted Ivan at Advanced Tactical, and I shipped it back on my dime. While it was there I asked them to install a beavertail and commander hammer. They sent me back a brand new gun with my new parts installed at no charge plus several extra Novak mags to compensate for my shipping charges. I installed an 18lb Wolfe recoil spring, it is not only reliable but accurate too. The gun is heavy and I won't carry it, but I do take it in the truck with me. In Kansas we don't have to have the gun on our body to be concealed, so it sits in a holster tucked down between the seats. It's one gun I'll never sell. Mike

 

[wally]

Colts rattle. My RIA rattles, my RIA TActical doesn't. Both are reliable. Over 10,000 rounds thru the oldest RIA. I think they are the best gun for the money on the market right now.

Doesn't take long to have spent more on the ammo run thru an RIA than spent for the gun originally!

--wally.

 

[hksw]

The clerk and I were talking about my options and the Rock Island 1911 came up. I told him that I have read a lot of positive reviews of the firearm on several gun forums-- including the 1911 forum.

His immediate response was "I don't like them." He cited the whys as not liking the trigger, and the slide "rattles" a bit.

Hmmm. A gun clerk who doesn't like a gun that he happens to not have immediately in stock but has four other more expensive ones on hand. I wonder...

 

[MICHAEL T]

The RIA Springfield and Kimber are all good guns. But I belive you going to get tired of packing all that weight Real fast. After years of the heavy weight I went with a LTW COMMANDER . I couldn't belive the difference . I now carry a Defender Compact and about same weight as Commander but smaller overall. Iam in a car a lot and the defender rides seated to me better.

 

[Quoheleth]

RI Tactical

I bought a RI Tactical this spring with the remainder of the inheritance from my dad's estate. Best money I've spent in a while. In fairness, I was looking for an entry-level 1911; I think I got a whole lot more than "entry" level. It shoots better than I do, doesn't rattle, and is backed by one of the best service departments in the business. If you've been at the m1911 forum, you'll see Ivan's name popping up multiple x a day. (I don't know if he's on this forum).

Out of the box, it shoots dead center for me at 15 yards. I am still early in the break-in period, and have had a few failure to return to battery issues. I'm working on that, but I've been told most RIs seem to have that issue until 300-400 rounds have been pounded through. I've also been told that a heavier spring (like the aforementioned 18# Wolf) cures it, too. So far, I've only shot the budget level stuff, but all I've put through (Win USA, Remington, and Blazer Brass 230 grn FMJ stuff) has fired with no real problems. From the reports I've read elsewhere, the RI will feed darn near anything jacketed you put into it, and shoot it pretty well. The only thing I haven't heard about is lead stuff.

IMHO, the Rock won't let you down. It may not have a few of the bells and whistles of the Taurus, or have the high-dollar reputation of the Kimber or have the Colt name (I know...if it doesn't have the pony, it's not the real thing), but from what you describe, this may be a good way to get into the 1911 platform at a great value.

Quoheleth

 

[powwowell]

Can't go wrong with a Rock Island

I don't post a lot, but I can't let this go by. Besides I've already posted in another forum, so I'm in a posting frame of mind.

For some reason, I got interested in shooting again last November, after an 18 year absence. I purchased a mil spec RIA. It has been ultra reliable. I ran 400 rounds through it in the first few weeks I had it. It fed everything.

The only reason I haven't pumped many more rounds through it is that I've also picked up the 9mm bug. Lately I've spent more time with a P11 and a full size steel Witness.

On my last outing I also carried the RIA. After shooting the nines, I fired two mags of JHPs through the RIA. Not one problem. And I experienced again why the 1911, in .45 ACP is the premiere pistol in the world. In my opinion, RIA is the best value in 1911s.

 

[Loucks]

My RIA is rattle-free (for whatever that's worth), happily feeds hollowpoints, and has been absolutely reliable with proper magazines. It did fail to return to battery three times in the first 200 rounds, but since then the problem has vanished.

As has been posted, Ivan and Advanced Tactical really seem to care about customer satisfaction. RIA customer service is great.

One caveat: the basic RIA sights are tiny. It's trivial and inexpensive to replace them, but the SA Mil-Spec does have much better sights out of the box.

 

[Geister]

The trigger on the 1911 is perhaps the easiest trigger to work on. You can spend about an hour or so working on it and you'll have a trigger about as good as the Kimber, for several hundred dollars less.

Screw the Kimber. You can spend about $200 or so in parts for the RIA and have a Kimber except in frame and slide and you'll still save several hundred.

If you want to spend $800+ on a 1911, go with a Dan Wesson.

 

[twinhairdryers]

Your gun clerk is correct. Why would he settle for a 60.00

markup compared to 170.00+ on all the others? You are also comparing a 380.00 gun NIB to others at least twice that price. The RIA's are quality and I woundn't shy away from them. There will be a few lemons, but so are there with a 1600 Kimber custom, a Springfield, and the occasional worn out Colt. RIA has reasonably good customer service and if there is something wrong with it out of the shoot (pun?) they will make it right. Most who gamble with the low cost you will find end up with a reliable good shooter with no issues, just like every other make and model out there for several X the money.

 

[The_Ferret]

I will also chime in...

As a (former) RIA owner, I can tell you my experiences. My RIA was a PHENOMENAL gun, not just a good one. The only change I made was to add a swelled mainspring housing instead of a flat one. I had the mil-spec model, and it was a shooter. Had zero failures to feed, zero failures to extract, and zero failures to fire. Shot pow'r'ball, Hydrashoks, and MagTech FMJ with no trouble, and was as accurate as I was. The ONLY reason I don't have it is that I traded it back to the shop I purchased it at today to get a very nice used Olympic arms custom 1911 westerner at a large discount, and I didn't have the cash on hand to get it. Hell, I'll probably go back and rebuy the RIA when I get the cash. I was planning on carrying it.

As for springfields, well... A friend of mine got two of the springer mil-specs, a four-inch and a five-inch. and they have both had failures to feed. He has done a polish job on one and says he fixed it, but I never had to polish my RIA. It just ran.

I tell you, you will not find a better deal for what you're describing unless you run across a REALLY cheap used high-end of some sort (Which is what happened to me).

Oh, and as for rattle...I have been told that any reliable 1911 will rattle. Mine did, and like I said... It never sounded like a baby rattle, but if you shook it back and forth without a mag, you could hear the slide going back and forth. My new one sounds the same, or I would not have purchased it.
Funny story someone told me (I don't know if it's true). I heard that the Marine Corps got a shipment of the new Kimbers they were gonna test. They shot them for a bit, then sent them back to Kimber and said "They shoot great, but are too tight." The thing was that Kimber engineers supposedly had a near-aneurism, because they had put extra effort into tightening the gun. As I hear it, the looseness of the 1911 slide (within reason) is part of what allows it to function in bad conditions (Like when fine sand infiltrates the frame rails).

Good luck, and I hope you make the right decision (get the gun).

 

[kingpin008]

I own a Charles Daly, which is a slightly more high-end 1911 than the Rock is. Same company though. Besides normal break-in, I've had no problems whatsoever. I LOVE my CD, and am glad I bought it. I will most definetly agree with the other posters here - the most likely reason your dealer wasn't so hot on Rock Island is because the profit he'll see isn't nearly as high as it would be on some of the other brands he has in stock. That's the beauty of Rock Island and Charles Daly guns. They're much cheaper than even most "basic" models from other companies, they're definetly as good quality-wise, and if you ever need new parts or have a problem with the pistol you can talk to Ivan on the m1911.org forums. He'll fix it good as new, with a smile.

 

[mrcpu]

I have 2 RIA's, one GI, one tactical. Both had some minor feed issues that disappeared once I went to a Wolf 17.5lb spring. I added some pearce grips to the tactical, and it's a nice 45. I need to do some more work with it just getting to be a better shooter with it, but I fully intend it to be a carry piece.

I don't see how you'd go wrong, although in my opinion, I'd get the tactical over the GI for the few bucks more, *unless* you really like tinkering.

I didn't see the markup for the springfield being worth it, and the support from Ivan I don't think can be beat, they bend over backwards to make sure everything works out...

In fact, I'm shopping for a RIA compact and a RIA .38 super as we speak, so I guess I like 'em...

 

[crankshop1000]

I love my Rock GI. I'll be buying a tactical in the future.Don't give it any more thought,just shop the best price and buy one!!!

 

[Whirlwind06]

I have had 2 RIAs (armscor).
The only thing real problem I found was weak springs. And the extractor needed to be adjusted. But for $15 you can get a good set of Wolff springs. And anybody that owns a 1911 needs to know how to adjust a extractor.

 

[1911carrier]

RIA hammer bite

I love my RIA but I noticed after shooting a hundred rounds thru it that I had a red mark, almost a blister, where the grip safety hits between my thumb and index finger. I could not even tell anything while I was shooting it. Do I need a beavertail?

 

[1911carrier]

Whirlwind,
where can you find out how to adjust the extractor?

 

[surjimmy]

From what I have read RIA wouold make you a good gun. Myself I would go with the Springfield, they back their guns up for life and are well made guns.

 

[PotatoJudge]

1911carrier, your gun may just have a poorly fit grip safety that has a sharp edge.

For some extractor tuning:

http://www.sightm1911.com/lib/tech/reliability_secrets.htm

RIA guarantees their guns to run with their 230 FMJ ammo, but you have to pay to send the gun to Nevada if you have any problems.

The Novak mags that they come with aren't the best for reliability either, but that's true of many makers.

 

[sph33r]

I've owned a plain jane RIA 1911 for the past 8 or 9 months. I guess if you shook it like crazy it would rattle a tiny bit but it's a very solid gun. I had some issues at first with FTF but I blame using cheapo mags and the recoil spring for that. Once I bought a few Chip McCormick mags and replaced the recoil spring with a Wolff spring, it hasn't had a hiccup since.

I agree with the other posters.. sounds like he just doesn't want to sell an RIA when he can make more money with a different sale.

 

[soutex50]

Go with the RIA.... I have one in 38 super and its been great so far. Don't know if it means much to you but i got it last year and haven't cleaned it since, going on 500+ rounds, all types, no hiccups.

 

[nelson133]

I have several .45 autos, some of which are high end guns. My RIA military stock gun will feed stuff that nothing else will touch. I couldn't tell you how many rounds it has through it, but I shoot 500 rounds in pistols every week and that always goes with me. Extreme reliability, decent accuracy. cheap price, what more could anyone want. BTW, STI make the Spartan based on the RIA, so it can't be too bad.

 

[kirkcdl]

In the 1911 platform,if you're in mid to top-level competition,making money shooting your 1911,than slide rattle should be a big concern.If not,it's normal,don't sweat it,enjoy the second-best bargain in the pistol world right now.First place,of course,being the steel framed Witness pistols...