Rock Island M1911-A1 .45 ACP?

Love my Rock! GI sights don’t bother me as it’s pretty much point and shoot with a great barrel/grip angle. It’s a natural feel. Eats everything I feed it. At a self defense distance it’s a sure bet.

Out of the box, the RIA guns are OK for the price. However, if you compare one to a genuine GI .45, there are differences. I used a couple of RIA's in building GI clones, and ended up, basically, using only the frames (and even those weren't 100% correct, since they have beveled magazine wells). The Thompson/Kahr/AutoOrdnance ones are better, for a low-price .45.

To be clear: I was looking primarily for authenticity. Some of the changes RIA has made (such as a beveled ejection port) are probably improvements, from a shooter's point of view.

Indeed they are. As long as you are not looking for a 1911 that stands close inspection to be a GI, the RIAs are good solid guns. I wish my son hadn't traded the one I gave him on another gun, I'd have bought it back.

Major difference in low-price 1911's, between the RIA and the Thompson/Kahr, is that the latter has the Series 80 trigger safety, while the RIA does not.

Personally like the Tisas Turk GI model, but really wanted a B-flat GI model; have better 1911s; a Colt Competition.
The fit and finish are quite good, as is the trigger; it's a Series 70 mechanism. It's only fault is a chance for hammer bite if you choke too high.
Moon

reloaded_in_pa said:

Are they still $399 ? My local store shows them for $499

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You can typically find the base model nowadays from $440 - $499 depending on where you look. Just yesterday I picked up a lightly used one at my LGS for $400, it came with two Wilson Combat mags and a 50 count Winchester White box. The grips looked to have taken some abuse but other than that it's in excellent shape.



I've already removed and sanded the grips and now I'm just waiting for them to dry from the first application of Lin-Speed oil.

I have had a Rock Island government model for about 25 years or more. It's a rattle trap but always goes bang. Pleasant to shoot. For grins picked up their Baby Rock last year. Fun gun as well.

I'd buy a model with better sights, as GI sights are sketchy minimal and upgrading later will not bet cost effective as you'll most likely have to have the slide re-machined.

For mid five hundred bucks, RIA or Taurus PT1911 are about as good as you're going to get. I'd probably get the Taurus myself.

The next step up would probably be a Ruger SR1911 or a SA range officer.

Only thing I don't like is it tends to eject empties forward. At indoor range I have to stand 5 feet from the table if I want to recover my brass

Up North said:

Only thing I don't like is it tends to eject empties forward. At indoor range I have to stand 5 feet from the table if I want to recover my brass

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Then you have a three possible problem areas, ejector issues, too heavy a recoil spring or over powered rounds.

I had two of the RIA GI 1911's. Both ran like tops. I only sold them because my buddies offered me more than I paid.

Buy it!

SSN Vet said:

I'd buy a model with better sights, as GI sights are sketchy minimal

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The low-profile GI sights are a feature, not a bug. GI .45's were meant to be carried a lot more than they were meant to be fired. (In effect, this was a last-ditch weapon.) The low sights fit into the holster better. The whole thing -- gun, holster, web gear -- is a system that is supposed to work together. That's why the sights were not changed from the adoption of the M1911A1 (wider Patridge notch) to the end of issue.

AlexanderA said:

The low-profile GI sights are a feature, not a bug. GI .45's were meant to be carried a lot more than they were meant to be fired. (In effect, this was a last-ditch weapon.) The low sights fit into the holster better. The whole thing -- gun, holster, web gear -- is a system that is supposed to work together. That's why the sights were not changed from the adoption of the M1911A1 (wider Patridge notch) to the end of issue.

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That must be why Wayne Novak and Richard Heinie have had such a hard time making a go of it.

Apparently, some think the system had room for improvement.

Let's face it, the purpose of a side arm in the days of the world wars, was for officers (both commissioned and non-commissioned) to shoot soldiers who disobeyed orders at critical moments (i.e. inciting panic in the troops). It's also why ballistic missile submarines have a second small arms locker just big enough for the NCO in charge of the launch control center to stash his side arm (conscientious objectors will interfere with a missile launch at their own peril). You don't really need sights to accomplish these tasks.

Bought both my Rocks slightly used and not a mark on either. One for $350 and one for $360

Got a 10mm Rock with adjustable sights. Has been perfect.

SSN Vet said:

Let's face it, the purpose of a side arm in the days of the world wars, was for officers (both commissioned and non-commissioned) to shoot soldiers who disobeyed orders at critical moments

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I don't think the U.S. was ever as blatant about this as, say, the Soviets (see Enemy at the Gates). The pistol (including the M1911) started out as a cavalry weapon, with every trooper having one. In WW1, besides officers, it was issued to machine gunners, mortar crews, etc., as a secondary weapon. In WW2, these roles were mostly taken over by Carbines, which also armed rear-area support personnel.

It's also why ballistic missile submarines have a second small arms locker just big enough for the NCO in charge of the launch control center to stash his side arm (conscientious objectors will interfere with a missile launch at their own peril).

I must have been out that day as I have no recollection of that. Never saw a sidearm on patrol.
Mitch

I've never owned one, but my dad bought one about 6 months ago as his first ever 1911. After about 100 rounds total, he upgraded to a Springfield Loaded for his gun and $250...which is what I tried to convince him to buy in the first place.

SSBN617b said:

I must have been out that day as I have no recollection of that. Never saw a sidearm on patrol.
Mitch

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I observed this while standing an under-instruction watch in the MCS while on patrol aboard the Grant. The UI OOD read the wrong script on the 1MC. He announced "man battle stations missile for strategic launch" when he was supposed to announce "man battle stations missile for WSRT".

The MTCS unlocked the locker with a key he wore on a lanyard around his neck (along with the launch control panel keys), donned the .45 and then kicked me and the other UI watch stander out of the MCS.

I don't think it was widely publicized (for understandable reasons). It was a small locker in the MCS, locked with a key, holding one .45. It wasn't on the Ship's Duty Officer's turn over check list to inventory this locker, so I'm guessing they returned that .45 to the main small arms locker when they stood down from the patrol.

Saw it with my own eyes... The MTCS looked like he'd seen a ghost, and I remember thinking "damn, this is serious s#!t.

AlexanderA said:

I don't think the U.S. was ever as blatant about this as,

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Blatant or not, it's very real. They're called orders (not recommendations) for a reason and Os and NCOs new their jobs, and were responsible to enforce their orders.

While not common, 49 US soldiers were sentenced to death for desertion, though only one was put in front of a firing squad. I don't think they did a lot of counting when it came to what went down in the heat of battle.

By way of contrast, the British executed 266 for desertion and the Germans executed over 15,000. The Russians had entire NKVD battalions, who's job was to follow behind the attacking forces and to shoot anyone who turned back.

I stand corrected. Mitch

I resisted buying a bargain basement 1911 my entire working life until a year before I retired., then I pony'd up and bought a SPRINGFIELD LOADED TARGET 1911 in .45 acp. It was worth the wait !!!

People generally seem to like them for what they are. I guess they are a good option esp. if someone just wants the experience of shooting the 1911. Just my opinion, I am a little put off by 1911's made in places like asia or turkey, and I think the wood grips that come with those guns make me feel queasy, but that's just my opinions.

SSN Vet said:

While not common, 49 US soldiers were sentenced to death for desertion, though only one was put in front of a firing squad.

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That was Pvt. Eddie Slovik. He was a known troublemaker, and practically dared the authorities to do their worst. They gave him plenty of off-ramps to avoid his fate. He just didn't believe they would go that far. Anyway, the execution was by firing squad, and took place on Jan. 31, 1945. It wasn't a spur of the moment thing with a .45.

I think that, historically, men shooting their officers ("fragging") has been more common than officers shooting their men. Either case is a serious morale problem, and is a symptom of an army in collapse.

What SSN Vet said has to be true. I did not know about it but for everyone’s safety the space where the incident happened was a secure space , no unauthorized persons could get in.
Learn something everyday.