rock island .45, any experience good or bad
- Thread starter rob4570
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possum
Member
they are inexpensive 1911's and they are plenty bang for your buck. i have shot a few and was impresed. there are alot of happy owners of the ria 1911's. there are many on the 1911 specific forums that own many.
Yes, by all means get one and join the ranks of thousands of happy RIA owners!!! I highly recommend the Tactical model. There's nothing wrong with the basic GI, but the Tactical has far more features, and is only around $50 more. Just the Novak dovetails in the Tactical slide are worth the extra cost alone. The Tacticals are now available in brushed nickel plating and 2-tone, as well as regular parkerized.
FoMoGo
Member
I have 2 of the RIA/Armscor/High Standard pistols... VERY happy with them.
You could do a LOT worse... and not much better.
Jim
You could do a LOT worse... and not much better.
Jim
Treo
member
I’ve been really happy with my GI model definitely worth the $400.00
machinisttx
Member
I had one and liked it. I sold it to buy a Springfield Micro Compact.
RobZ71LM7
Member
Mine was junk (RI standard 5" purchased a couple years ago for $309 at KY Imports). It shot alright and was mostly reliable, but the hammer pin hole in the frame was not square (it was skewed) to the frame. As a result the hammer did not strike the firing pin at an angle when viewed from top of the slide It was not in line with the slide centerline nor was it perpendicular to the rear of the slide. It was bad enough to be off visually so that should tell you something about QC. I sold it a while back.
FoMoGo
Member
Rob... 1 phone call would have got the gun fixed or replaced. 
Jim
Jim
RobZ71LM7
Member
Fixed or not it says a lot about the quality. I got out of it more than I paid for it at a later date after deciding I didn't want to own anything with these issues. That said I've shot others without any issue, but there is a reason they are so cheap. I like them for range guns, but that's about it. At the time I shot it to reduce wear on my custom carry 1911.
FoMoGo
Member
All manufacturers have lemons, or products with issues.
I have seen more jams from kimbers and colts than any other 1911.
Now... I know that they both can make some SWEET pistols, but in my experience... they are not reliable enough for me to carry.
I have not handled, shot, or been on the range with most... there are thousands of people who love them with a passion and trust their lives to them daily.
The main reason that Rock Island got my business is their customer service.
Any problem with the product, and Advanced Tactical will make it right... immediately.
Luckily, I have not had any issues with mine.
I am trying hard to find ammo that it wont feed.
I cant make it FTE by limpwristing.
I cant make it FTF with empty cases in the mag.
It chews the center out of the target... and is much more accurate than I ever will be.
And, if it ever messes up... the cavalry is a phone call away.
I looked at colt, kimber, SA, STI...
And while those pistols were prettier and better finished, my personal experiences indicated that the budget minded pistols from the Philippines was the choice to me.
Jim
I have seen more jams from kimbers and colts than any other 1911.
Now... I know that they both can make some SWEET pistols, but in my experience... they are not reliable enough for me to carry.
I have not handled, shot, or been on the range with most... there are thousands of people who love them with a passion and trust their lives to them daily.
The main reason that Rock Island got my business is their customer service.
Any problem with the product, and Advanced Tactical will make it right... immediately.
Luckily, I have not had any issues with mine.
I am trying hard to find ammo that it wont feed.
I cant make it FTE by limpwristing.
I cant make it FTF with empty cases in the mag.
It chews the center out of the target... and is much more accurate than I ever will be.
And, if it ever messes up... the cavalry is a phone call away.
I looked at colt, kimber, SA, STI...
And while those pistols were prettier and better finished, my personal experiences indicated that the budget minded pistols from the Philippines was the choice to me.
Jim
As far as Rob's problem with his pistol.....I'd bet it was a small metal shaving in the frame jig at the factory that skewed the frame just a skosh when that hole was drilled. That could happen to ANY gun manufacturer. Yes, it should have been caught by QC, but Advanced Tactical would likely have replaced the whole gun for you.
Treo
member
Sorry can't give that one a bye a compatent machinist always blows out his fixture before loading the next part. That said robs complaint is the first negative thing I've heard about RIA
As a former machinist, I have to agree. But, stuff happens. If a person is in a hurry, a chip can fall into the jig unseen. Quality Control still should have caught it. And I've had no problems with my RIA's, I'd definitely buy another one! But 5 1911's is enough for me.
MP3Mogul
Member
I have had several, and they have all been spot on. Wonderful shooters. The tactical by far, has been the best looker and shooter for me.
B. Adams
Member
I have one that I got a couple months ago when Centerfire had them on sale. I haven't had any problems with it, and it's the most accurate 1911 I've ever shot. That might be a fluke, but that thing shoots great. I don't think I could be happier for the $310 I gave for it.
The only negative thing I notice is that when the safety is on, part of the hole underneath is visible, which could allow debris into the gun. In other words, the safety is a little too small, but that's an easy thing to fix.
The only negative thing I notice is that when the safety is on, part of the hole underneath is visible, which could allow debris into the gun. In other words, the safety is a little too small, but that's an easy thing to fix.
I'm very pleased with my Tactical and am wanting to get a compact model. The accessories on the Tactical are worth the little extra price over the GI to me. The RIA 1911 isn't a $3000 pistol but I feel just as comfortable carrying/using one compared to the 'rattle battle' 1911s I carried in the service.
machinisttx
Member
This man speaks the truth. I've done production machining. Sometimes stuff happens. When you're running 100+ parts a day per machine, and possibly 2-3 machines you don't always catch everything.
highorder
Member
Another machinist here, and I agree. I do my very best to assure no chips get into my setup, but NEVER is a tall order. QC may have caught it if they have 100% inspection, but SPC and other methods do allow for the occasional lemon...
and I love my RIA!
Treo
member
I agree but from the description it had to have been a pretty big chip.
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