Ruger SR11, or Rock Island tactical

Love the RIA's Get a 9mm/.22TCM, you'll be a happy camper
Helps if you reload, but at this point, Everyone should be reloading their own!

Have had 3 major issues with Ruger, well documented elsewhere...
in all fairness to Ruger, they recalled two of the three guns due to those issues.
The third I'd like to have shoved up a Ruger rep's...ahem...anyway...
after two trips back to Ruger, it got traded for a Yamaha XS400-Special II

I have come to believe that Ruger makes solid firearms whose main function is
to accept almost any ammo available...basically Milspec in thought & design...
however, as most of us know by now, Milspec is also code for loose tolerances...
which tend to detract from accuracy...and every Ruger I've ever had has been
surpassed in precision by the guns which replaced them...even the cheaper replacements.

There's also folks who would easily swear to the Ruger Gods and never purchase any other brand...
its all in what your personal experiences are


Kimber, anyone??

For the money Rock Island is a solid 1911 and can be had for less money. That said I'd lean towards the Ruger if you don't care to dish out more cash, the nicer finish and better features are worth it.

I have over 20,000 rounds out of my Ruger CMD. All stock parts besides the EGW "raised" mag catch, firing pin stop, barrel bushing/recoil spring plug, main spring housing and sights. No "major" parts have failed, everything that was changed was for personal preference. I put a new recoil spring in once a month and keep it wet, it keeps on running.

Another vote for the Ruger. I have had my eyes on a 5" SR1911 for quite awhile, but @$593 for a Commander I couldn't get my wallet out quick enough. Ruger quality, made in USA, how could you go wrong?

I have a RIA tactical in 10mm and the Ruger 1911 Commander. The Ruger's fit and finish are slightly better than the RIA, but not by terribly much. The RIA has a nicer trigger, about the same weight but with no creep, and my Ruger has just a tiny bit of creep.

Both shoot great, accurate and reliable.

Ruger is in the carry rotation, the RIA is just a range/woods gun.

From earlthegoat2:

~snip~
Small Parts: I have yet to find a sub-$600 1911 that does not need a few of the small parts upgraded. Parts like barrel link ...
~snip~

Click to expand...

Excuse a 1911 newb, but what is involved in replacing a barrel link? Would this be a gunsmith item? In the 1911 I had, the link looked like it was connected in such a way as to prevent its casual removal/replacement.

JTQ said:

The Ruger doesn't have a firing pin safety.

Click to expand...

Right. Ruger's solution to the "drop safety" that the Swartz safety of the "Series 80" is, was to implement a titanium firing pin.

Theoretically, and I'd assume they tested it, the light weight of the firing pin does not allow it enough inertia on a muzzle drop to make it to the primer of a cartridge.

Pretty smart I think. No extra "stuff" like the Swartz safety introduces. I'd like to test that, but like my SR1911 too much to drop it intentionally on the muzzle.

Another clever feature Ruger engineered was to cast the slide release/thumb safety plunger spring tunnel as part of the frame, as opposed to the riveted/bradded on part most 1911s use. It removes the chance of that part ever getting loose.

DT Guy said:

Do you have an empirical basis for this statement, or is it simply an opinion based on country of origin?


Larry

Click to expand...

I have several friends with RIA 1911s and they all jam quite more than a firearm should.

I just bought a Citadel (fancy rock island) 9mm. The slide/frame fit and barrel lock up is tighter than my Ruger. The slide/frame overhang on the back was also finished better than my Ruger. There are some rough edges (cocking serrations and thumb safety). The grip safety needs a little clean up on the bottom, the top was fit very good.
I ran a few hundred rounds out of it this weekend with no problems. Should make a great base project pistol. Also it was under $400 after tax and transfer fees.

Nick when you say project what are you wanting to do with it

Ruger, if there are issues they will make it right down the road. Not sure RI will be around in x years. Also, resale will always be higher on the Ruger.

Ruger has been around a whopping 3 years longer than Armscor. Neither company is exactly brand new, and both have evidenced staying power.

horsemen61 said:

Nick when you say project what are you wanting to do with it

Click to expand...

I will go through it and replace/fit most of the parts. I've come to really like the EGW stuff, it will get a new hammer, sear, disconnector, also hammer strut and main spring cap in titanium. I will have EGW cut a barrel bushing, then flush cut and crown the barrel. I will fit a smith&alexander slim line mag well.
I will also undercut the trigger guard and checker the front strap.

Pretty much just go through it, it will be a range toy. My wife might shoot it at a few steel challenge matches and I will use it to shoot USPSA when I wanna go single stack minor PF.

Go American !

Ohen Cepel said:

Ruger, if there are issues they will make it right down the road. Not sure RI will be around in x years. Also, resale will always be higher on the Ruger.

Click to expand...

Rock Island Armory guns have a lifetime warranty. Ruger guns do not, but they usually take care of them anyway.

Also of note is that Armscor/RIA has earned reputation for great customer service. Add to that the size the company has grown to in the US market, and I have my doubts that the "Not sure RI will be around in x years" is anything but empty, baseless speculation.

Resale will indeed be higher on the Ruger, though.

I like my RIA better than my Ruger

I like my Ruger better than my RIA

I do not have an opinion on the Ruger as I do not own one.

I do own a RIA 1911 Tactical. It has been flawless through many hundreds (maybe a couple of thousand) of rounds. I have never had to call CS.

Ruger.

Consider it this way, a 1911 isn't really anything more than a range toy for most folks. They are too heavy and too low of a capacity for carry, 45acp isn't much of a hunting gun, and a handgun is inferior to long guns for home defense. So your buying a range toy. An extra hundred bucks disappears quickly as round count goes up. After 10,000 rounds that's a penny per shot, and if you already like the grips better then that's money well spent, plus as others already said it's stainless and pretty, it's stainless and in florida, and it's going to hold more value. The ruger is the right choice in all categories.

You know, I think you can make the case that you are choosing between the best available guns at their price points so there really is no bad decision and it comes down to ho much you want to pay.