Rock Island Armory .45 ACP GI version vs. Tactical

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stinger 327

stinger 327

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I have heard alot of positive things about this gun. Are there any negatives on this gun I haven't heard of? The price is right.
The price I can get the .45 GI is $430 and the Tactical model for $499. I am heading more towards the tactical model because the sights are suppose to be a bit better.
Comments?:confused:
 
I've had a RIA GI model for about 5-6 yrs now. Nothing neg to say about it. As accurate as any of my more pricey hand guns. Trigger is nice and it eats anything I put through it.

I reload and have tried a variety of different bullets and loads. I've run some low power lead bullet plinking loads and some moderately warm HP loads, no problems with anything I have tired.

The only thing I would say is that the fit and finish isn't going to be as nice as some of the "name brand" flavors. For the money, I think they are a smokn' deal. Those that have one, love them. Those that are critical of them, don't own one.
 
I have the RIA GI. I have since put approximately 2500 rounds through it. Runs great! I did install new grips and sights. Best value 1911 I can think of
 
Cranky CJ said:
I've had a RIA GI model for about 5-6 yrs now. Nothing neg to say about it. As accurate as any of my more pricey hand guns. Trigger is nice and it eats anything I put through it.

I reload and have tried a variety of different bullets and loads. I've run some low power lead bullet plinking loads and some moderately warm HP loads, no problems with anything I have tired.

The only thing I would say is that the fit and finish isn't going to be as nice as some of the "name brand" flavors. For the money, I think they are a smokn' deal. Those that have one, love them. Those that are critical of them, don't own one.
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Would you depend on this gun for your life if put into a bad situation?
1911 Sig Sauer is of the highest quality but cost is twice maybe three times of the RIA. I would be afraid of getting a scratch or getting a Sig 1911 dirty on the range when shooting that jewel.
 
dagerv said:
I have the RIA GI. I have since put approximately 2500 rounds through it. Runs great! I did install new grips and sights. Best value 1911 I can think of
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I would just get the Tactical model as I am not into modifying much.
 
As someone who has the GI, I will advise you to get the tactical. The GI model requires about $250 worth of upgrades to be truly useable and modern, while the Tac. model is ready to go right out of the box.
 
CmdrSlander said:
As someone who has the GI, I will advise you to get the tactical. The GI model requires about $250 worth of upgrades to be truly useable and modern, while the Tac. model is ready to go right out of the box.
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Unless, of course, modern is not what the shooter wants. The GI model is a great range gun for me without modernizing.
 
"1911 Sig Sauer is of the highest quality but cost is twice maybe three times of the RIA. I would be afraid of getting a scratch or getting a Sig 1911 dirty on the range when shooting that jewel."

Think again. TacPacs are going for $650 or so right now....INSANE bargain on a sig 1911, mine shoots amazingly well. Its not even a question in my mind about spending the extra $150 for the sig over the ria, and I have them both....not even a close comparison
 
I own a Tactical, and it's a fine pistol. The sights are good, and it feeds everything I've loaded it up with without a single problem. The only thing I don't like about it is the ambi thumb safety. It's too large, and too sharp edged. For my money I'd rather it had the smaller single sided safety.
 
Fotno said:
I own a Tactical, and it's a fine pistol. The sights are good, and it feeds everything I've loaded it up with without a single problem. The only thing I don't like about it is the ambi thumb safety. It's too large, and too sharp edged. For my money I'd rather it had the smaller single sided safety.
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Are the sights on the tactical, (dovetail) adjustable? As far as the thumb safety do you even get a choice of a different thumb safety in any of the RIA .45 ACP models?
 
stinger 327 said:
Are the sights on the tactical, (dovetail) adjustable?
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Nope.

stinger 327 said:
As far as the thumb safety do you even get a choice of a different thumb safety in any of the RIA .45 ACP models?
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The GI models have a smaller, smoother, single sided safety. As far as I know, the Tactical comes with the Ambi only. I'm not against the idea of an Ambi safety; but if you ride this one with your thumb after a few rounds it gets pretty tiresome.

The next money I spend on mine, will be to replace the ambi safety.
 
Are the sights on the tactical, (dovetail) adjustable?
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Yep.(windage only)
You'll need a vise, small hammer, and some brass that fits in that Novak cutout.(Oh yea, and an old tee shirt to line the vise jaws)
As far as the thumb safety do you even get a choice of a different thumb safety in any of the RIA .45 ACP models?
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I'm not aware of any such luxury at that price.
And don't discount that fact that any pistol newbies are far more likely to bleed where their thumb meets their palm with the standard "GI" model.
"Tactical" model is well worth the $50-100 for most folks.
 
matrem said:
Yep.(windage only)
You'll need a vise, small hammer, and some brass that fits in that Novak cutout.(Oh yea, and an old tee shirt to line the vise jaws)

I'm not aware of any such luxury at that price.
And don't discount that fact that any pistol newbies are far more likely to bleed where their thumb meets their palm with the standard "GI" model.
"Tactical" model is well worth the $50-100 for most folks.
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Well being here in California I can get the GI model for $425 but the Tactical will cost $499. I will have to see what is up with the safety switch you guys mention if its an issue with me but on the tactical I like the fact that it does have better sights even though it only adjusts one way if it is anything like I have on one of my .22 LR NAA Mini Master(still a useless sight to me)
The GI model doesn't have that same safety switch?
 
Fotno said:
Nope.



The GI models have a smaller, smoother, single sided safety. As far as I know, the Tactical comes with the Ambi only. I'm not against the idea of an Ambi safety; but if you ride this one with your thumb after a few rounds it gets pretty tiresome.

The next money I spend on mine, will be to replace the ambi safety.
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What's an Ambi safety? The Tactical model doesn't have this but the GI model does?:confused:
 
Fotno said:
I own a Tactical, and it's a fine pistol. The sights are good, and it feeds everything I've loaded it up with without a single problem. The only thing I don't like about it is the ambi thumb safety. It's too large, and too sharp edged. For my money I'd rather it had the smaller single sided safety.
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And the GI model has this single sided safety which is preferred over this ambi safety in the Tactical model?
What a toss up GI model has a better safety to manipulate than the tactical, but the tactical has better sights and a few extras like skeleton trigger and spur hammer.
 
I have replaced safeties on 1911's before and it is not all that hard. I would almost bet that a new single sided government model safety from RIA would fit and function in their tactical model without any work. That being said, I haven't tried it with an RIA, so it might require some fitting.

I just bought a RIA government model last month and so far I am very impressed with it. The fit and finish on mine is very good and while it isn't polished as nice as a commercial Colt, It looks as good as any wartime 1911 I have ever owned.

As far as reliability is concerned, I took it out and ran 250 rounds through it a couple of weeks ago and It digested everything I ran through it (HP, two different lead SWC loads and ball ammo) with no problems. Not too bad for a brand new gun with zero rounds through it before I started.

Would I trust my life with it? So far the answer is, yes.
 
I have the tac version and it shoots with kimbers and colts for half of the price. either gun will fit your needs but the tac does have more features.
 
stinger 327 said:
What's an Ambi safety? The Tactical model doesn't have this but the GI model does?:confused:
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Ambidextrous meaning that the Tactical model has a safety lever on both sides of the frame. That's the only feature of the Tactical model I don't like. The GI model has a thumb safety on the left side only, just like the original 'Government Issue' (G.I.) design.
 
I own the GI and it works great. I don't advocate spending the extra money on the tactical model as that puts you very close to being able to buy something in the next class up in price.

I would only buy the RIA if you will be satisfied with how it comes stock. Sinking a ton of money into it to turn it into something it isn't makes little to no sense. Why do that when you could have just spent the money on the right pistol in the first place.

The RIA GI is a perfectly functional, reliable and accurate 1911 and a very good value for the money you spend on it. I picked mine up used for significantly less than $400.

p257666243-4.png
 
HKGuns said:
I own the GI and it works great. I don't advocate spending the extra money on the tactical model as that puts you very close to being able to buy something in the next class up in price.

I would only buy the RIA if you will be satisfied with how it comes stock. Sinking a ton of money into it to turn it into something it isn't makes little to no sense. Why do that when you could have just spent the money on the right pistol in the first place.

The RIA GI is a perfectly functional, reliable and accurate 1911 and a very good value for the money you spend on it. I picked mine up used for significantly less than $400.

View attachment 629660
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I agree with you. I won't be doing any kind of modifications. I just want to get something decent right out of the box.
 
HKGuns said:
I own the GI and it works great. I don't advocate spending the extra money on the tactical model as that puts you very close to being able to buy something in the next class up in price.

I would only buy the RIA if you will be satisfied with how it comes stock. Sinking a ton of money into it to turn it into something it isn't makes little to no sense. Why do that when you could have just spent the money on the right pistol in the first place.

The RIA GI is a perfectly functional, reliable and accurate 1911 and a very good value for the money you spend on it. I picked mine up used for significantly less than $400.

View attachment 629661
Click to expand...
What is the next class up?
 
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