Handgun Range Day: Tried an RIA 1911

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Olon

Olon

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Had a nice range day today: 60 degrees and it's going to be low teens tomorrow (of course). Shot my new 638, a Ruger super Blackhawk, my glock 23 and a friend I brought along had his Rock Island Armory 1911. I've been toying with the idea of getting one of these for awhile so I was really excited to shoot it.

With the 230gr. ball ammo he had, it functioned perfectly. The sights were dead on and this is the first 1911 I've ever shot. It was a great experience, and really solidified that gun on my "buy next" list. I loved the ergonomics and the sound it made when I racked the slide. Steel on steel. What a cool sound. Trigger wasn't half bad either.

Today was one of those days when I was just on fire it seemed. Felt like I couldn't hardly miss. Gotta love those days; memories of them get me through the days when I can't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside. ;)
 
Olon said:
Had a nice range day today: 60 degrees and it's going to be low teens tomorrow (of course). Shot my new 638, a Ruger super Blackhawk, my glock 23 and a friend I brought along had his Rock Island Armory 1911. I've been toying with the idea of getting one of these for awhile so I was really excited to shoot it.

With the 230gr. ball ammo he had, it functioned perfectly. The sights were dead on and this is the first 1911 I've ever shot. It was a great experience, and really solidified that gun on my "buy next" list. I loved the ergonomics and the sound it made when I racked the slide. Steel on steel. What a cool sound. Trigger wasn't half bad either.

Today was one of those days when I was just on fire it seemed. Felt like I couldn't hardly miss. Gotta love those days; memories of them get me through the days when I can't hit the broad side of a barn from the inside. ;)
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I do believe that's the first time I've ever read a post that described a 1911 trigger as "wasn't half bad." :rofl:

In all seriousness, though, there's nothing that shoots like a 1911 for me. Not that I've shot a ton of pistols in my life, but there's never been anything that I've enjoyed as much as my 1911. Congratulations and condolences to your wallet on discovering them.
 
Spats McGee said:
I do believe that's the first time I've ever read a post that described a 1911 trigger as "wasn't half bad." :rofl:

In all seriousness, though, there's nothing that shoots like a 1911 for me. Not that I've shot a ton of pistols in my life, but there's never been anything that I've enjoyed as much as my 1911. Congratulations and condolences to your wallet on discovering them.
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Maybe I was being hyper-critical because of all the fanfare given to 1911 triggers here ;)

It really was a sweet shooter. It's my understanding that guns like the RIA are "gateway" 1911s, setting you up for a lifelong addiction to more potent (and costly) examples so yeah I've drank the koolaid now lol
 
I took a friend and his dad to my local gun range about 3 weeks ago. Among the handguns I brought was my RIA 1911 - their near GI base model - that’s in 9mm.

My range buddies brought Glocks & Sigs, but of all of mine they shot (Beretta 92FS, CZ75, Walther P38, FN HP35, etc), they liked that RIA 1911 best. It has the typical 1911 SA trigger, not really light but really crisp. And in 9mm it’s fun (not much felt recoil) and not as expensive as .45avp!

I expect that they’ll be making that purchase within the next year.
 
cc-hangfire said:
I took a friend and his dad to my local gun range about 3 weeks ago. Among the handguns I brought was my RIA 1911 - their near GI base model - that’s in 9mm.

My range buddies brought Glocks & Sigs, but of all of mine they shot (Beretta 92FS, CZ75, Walther P38, FN HP35, etc), they liked that RIA 1911 best. It has the typical 1911 SA trigger, not really light but really crisp. And in 9mm it’s fun (not much felt recoil) and not as expensive as .45avp!

I expect that they’ll be making that purchase within the next year.
Click to expand...

A CZ75 is also on the list but lower down because then that's another cartridge I have to stockpile :(
 
I never cared for 1911s until I shot one with good sights and a good trigger. That is when my whole pistol shooting world was rocked. It only got better with finer 1911s. I still shoot other types, including Tupperware, but nothing puts a smile on my face like a fine 1911.
 
Mine liked 200 HP XTP handloads, but did not like 185 LSWC's. I used the ball ammo seating plug to seat the XTP's, it rounds the tops a little. That might have helped with chambering.
 
I had a commander sized .45acp RIA that liked most anything: ball, HP, LSWC. I did use Wilson mags.
 
That may be the key. With the RIA, I had the Mec-Gar that came with it and 1 7 rd GI mag my boss gave me with the gun when I bought it. I now have a Wilson and several CMC mags for my PT1911..
 
I’m told the 7-round mags are more reliable. Wilson or CMC.

I have found the Wilson ETM 8-rounders to be reliable.
Hope you get it sorted out.
 
RIA puts out a nice 1911. Back when they were first released, a gunsmith friend of mine was using them to built steel plate guns for local competition. I'm pretty sure they were RIA's. I think they were available in .38 super as well. Either that or he was getting the 9mms and putting super barrels in them. He'd buy these "cheap" 1911s, fit them with a cone compensator, drill and tap them for a scope mount and they would just run and run. You could have a go fast gun for under $1K. You'd be hard pressed to build a Glock for the same purpose for less.

I ran across a video on youtube about $500 1911 vs a $1500 1911. Pretty eye opening.

If you have the 1911 bug and the RIA is still going for $500 or less, I'd say go for it. Everyone should have at least one 1911. Love shooting 200 gr. LSWC over 5 or so grains of Accurate No. 2, HP-38 or some similarly fast burning powder. If it won't feed something that you want, first try a different magazine. If it still won't do it, you'd be surprised at what a polish job can do for a 1911.
 
I worked on an RIA 1911 for a friend of mine some years back and I was impressed by the overall fit and finish I found on this particular model. Not top shelf grade but certainly not bargain basement quality either.

The nickel plating was evenly applied with no excessive build-up or thin spots. The parts I was replacing for him (he wanted a beavertail grip safety, a round hammer, and an extended thumb safety and slide release), all were fairly effortless to install with only a minor bit of fitting required. All of the replacement parts were stainless and were highly polished to match the bright nickel finish.

If I was in the market for a decent 1911 for not a lot of money I would definitely give considerable thought to getting an RIA.
 
I'm mostly a revolver guy but got an RIA 1911 GI version when it was on sale. My wife saw me starting to drool and insisted we take advantage of that price. (Yes, she is special.) I've only used 230 grain ammo but it hasn't missed a beat. And the dang thing is more accurate than I can shoot. I'm better with wheel guns but the RIA is a satisfying piece to use.

Jeff
 
I don't really have an RIA so don't feel.qualfied to make any comments when it comes to durability. However I have shot a fair number.

I do have Colts, Kimbers, a Dan Wesson and have owned a Les Baer.

In my opinion everything is just a little more refined on any of them (Even the late S70 Colts) than the RIA. However dollar for dollar the RIA is a lot of pistol. The bones are there. If you pay more it's for better executed details. The ones I've shot, as long as they had a good magazine and nobody had been monkeying with the extractor (everyone thinks they are a 1911 mechanic) gobbled ball like nobodies business. I haven't had the opportunity to shoot much carry ammo in one so can't comment on that.
 
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