If you watch for deals, you can score a "better pistol". In 1917 the local Cabelas has RIA 1911's for $400 and I had a $100 gift card to spend. I got to pick the "best" of three, and managed to select a RIA that was extremely tight in all respects and had a great trigger.
This is it with factory grips.
I prefer cocobolo double diamond:
the pistol had a magazine latching problem and RIA sent me a new magazine release which fixed the problem.
The pistol shot low, the barrel severely leaded with cast bullets, and the slide recoiled hard. I sent it back to the factory complaining about this, and claimed it would not shoot straight. The pistol came back with a replacement barrel (I think) which still lead fouls, but the pistol shoots more or less to point of aim, and the factory target is better than my hold.
I really like my RIA,it does what I want, one issue is that I have given up holstering a M1911 in condition one. I consider it unsafe, with a hammer balancing on a trigger sear, the series 70 pistol does not have a firing pin block, and a hard blows can, and have, sheared the hammer/trigger sear and caused accidental discharges.
However, the original GI configuration was made to be carried hammer down on a round in the chamber, and this RIA does not have the later sights, such as Bomar's, and beavertails which block access to the hammer, making lowering the hammer difficult, and cocking the hammer difficult. This is a 1918 manufactured 1911 and it has wide hammer spurs and a minimum grip safety, to facilitate thumb cocking.
My RIA goes bang and recently I was hitting my 50 yard target, 12 inch in diameter gong, about 50% of the time with irons. I checked the zero with various loads, and at seven yards, it more or less shoots to point of aim:
This is not match accuracy, but it is totally sufficient for any self defense consideration.
However, if you look around, you will find bargins. A local gun store was selling these for $500!
I installed cocobolo double diamond
the Remington is a series 80, and so it has a firing pin block, which should prevent an accidental discharge if a blow shears the sear/hammer. Not that I am going to carry a 1911 cocked and locked. The firing pin block does create its own issues, I have had them drop down and jam the action, but overall it is better from accidental discharge viewpoint.
The Remington also shot low for me, maybe I have a consistent flinch, and I replaced the factory rear sight with a Colt sight I had taken off a Colt Combat Elite in the 1980's.
I was aiming above the X and the pistol shot low with the Remington rear
The Colt rear brought the point of impact with point of aim, more or less, and I am happy with the pistol. I will say the barrel in the 1911 R1 is better than the RIA and so are the sights. I got to pick the best out of three for tightness and trigger pull and my Remington is as tight as my Les Baer wadcutter. The barrel bushing is not as tight in the slide but this pistol is a fantastic deal for $500.
