Is Rock Island/Armscor doing it right?

I'm fairly interested in this topic as well, as I can't decide on whether or not to shell out $400 on a Rock Island 1911 I know I can get $500 for if I sell it to a sucker...

I bought one of their very early GI models about 10 years ago when nearly everyone thought they must be "junk" because of the price, <$300. My eyes were just starting to get wonky with age and I wanted an inexpensive gun to try a red dot optic on (J-Point).

Well over 15000 rounds later its still a favorite and I've upgraded the optic to Burris Fastfire, and finally a Trijicon RMR (water-falling the other optics to different pistols).

Then I got one of their 1911-A2 "widebody" 9mm which again held up very well for well over 10000, rounds through it, but I don't shoot it much since I got my RIA 1911 9mm Tactical, added an RMR and its darn near 10000 rounds already. All told I've four RIA 1911s that combined have over 50000 rounds through them so its not a fluke they hold up well.

I think RIA offers great guns for the price and their customer support has been awesome dealing with a few minor issues because I had such early production guns.

To Buy, or Not to Buy (RIA)? That Is The Question!

Now, if'n I can get The Mrs. to like RIA ?

Very reliable. Very durable. Many thousands of rounds later, it's still knocking down steel.

I want it! I like the Standard GI .45 especially. But, I also like the .45 6", and the .45/.22 Combo, and the.....Oh well, I guess I'll have to buy some of the company stock.

Lookin' Good RIA !

Irrational Relevance

Opps!

Tecently traded my Glock 23 for a Rock Island Armory FS MATCH. I teally like this gun. The only thing I have changed was the rubber grips for a set of Precision carbon fiber slim True Tactical grips. Haven't had any problems whatsoever. I shoot it in USPSA matches. Very accurateand pleasent to shoot.

WestKentucky said:

With all of these products in play, are they setting themselves up to be a major player in the gun industry beyond value based mediocre 1911s?

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I got to shoot several RIA Tacticals fresh out of the box and I was impressed. So impressed I have been recommending them since the range test.

A friend bought one when I bought my railed Sig 1911 XO and even after 7000+ rounds, it kept up with Sig out to 15 yards and got slightly larger groups at 25 yards (1" at 15 yards and 2"+ at 25 yards).

The enlarged tapered chamber allows the RIA Tactical to continue shooting after several hundred rounds of dirty reloads when my Sig slows down and requires cleaning. RIA with longer leade/freebore will feed and chamber sloppy reloads that won't fully chamber in the Sig. Just about the only thing I do not like about RIA is the fat wooden grips but replacement Magpul grips solve that problem for a few dollars - http://www.amazon.com/Magpul-Industries-Government-Magazine-Release/dp/B00GWZ27N0

Now I call RIA the "Glock of 1911s".

When I went to buy a RIA, I found a Citadel that was finished nicer than RIA Tactical with tighter tolerances with smooth slide to frame fit. After it produced smaller shot groups than the Sig 1911 with some of my range tests, a fellow THR member wanted it and we made a trade.

With their good customer service reputation and happy customer reviews, I think Armscor/RIA is doing many things right. I hope they continue and wish other gun manufacturers follow their lead.

THR's sister website "Shooting Reviews" did a write up on RIA here - http://www.shootingreviews.com/rock-island-armory-1911a1/

WardenWolf said:

You know, I actually like the rollmark on mine. It looks classy, and mine was done in silver. They may have changed it now, but I appreciate how it looks.

Armscor / RIA has the best customer service you'll ever get out of a firearms company, too. My first 1911 Tactical had some accuracy issues. The nickel finish was also turning black in some areas, but I figured it just needed a thorough cleaning with something like Flitz. I called them about the accuracy issues, and they told me to just box it back up, and they'd arrange a pickup. The UPS guy showed up at my door and collected the gun.

When they got it back, they took one look at the finish and called me to tell me they were going to give me a brand new gun. Through no fault of their own, my sweat was interacting with the copper base of the finish and causing it to degrade. Not their fault; some peoples' body chemistry just doesn't agree with certain finishes, and I didn't know that beforehand. They let me choose the finish I would get. I chose parkerized. They hand-selected the replacement for me, gave it a basic tuneup, and shipped it out. They paid for shipping both ways. My new pistol is so much nicer than the original, in all respects.

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sounds like a good customer service experience, but a gun should be designed to not degrade when being held in a human hand, which sweats like any other part of the body. the fact their finish was not designed to be held in the human hand is their problem.

I think they are doing it right for the most part, but there are some things I kinda go "hmmm" about.

I should start by saying I have seen but never handled their revolvers, and never seen or handled any of their long guns or double action pistols. I plan to buy a TCM rifle if I ever find one. I have three of their 1911-derived pistols and have gone through over 1000 rounds of TCM.

I really like the TCM, to the point where I carry it regularly. I bought the TCM as a nostalgia piece, a pair to my dad's old .22 jet, but it is a lot of fun and I like that all ammo is defense-usable hollowpoints vs. most cartridges where the over a buck a round going rate for defensive ammo means I barely use enough to ensure reliable function before switching to FMJ.

Example of where they are doing it right: they have started putting accessory rails on their pistols, but they still offer models without the rails for those of us who think a rail on a concealed carry gun is a negative. Also the TCM. And offering 10mm, .40s&w, and so on 1911s & 2011s. Honestly they are one of the few companies that has a catalog of products where I go "I want that, and that, and that...."

Example of "hmmmmm": They are planning to offer a Glock .22 TCM conversion kit. Sweet idea...except they decided they want to fit it to the 9mm glocks which means standard TCM is too long. So now they have TCM 9R, which seats the bullet a hair deeper to match the OAL of 9x19. But standard TCM has ab do yourabout the same OAL as 10mm or .45 ACP. I know there are more 9mm guns to convert, but the ammo thing will he a source of confusion forever. Maybe they should have offered conversions for Glock 20 & 21 first?

Overall they make guns I enjoy owning so yeah they're doing something right.

Lord Teapot said:

sounds like a good customer service experience, but a gun should be designed to not degrade when being held in a human hand, which sweats like any other part of the body. the fact their finish was not designed to be held in the human hand is their problem.

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Well no, not really. It is a standard nickle plating job, the same as colt, S&W, and anyone else would use. Some people just have different skin chemistry. I know someone who can't wear some (very high end) watches because the crown just corrodes away in contact with his skin. I can wear the same watch for 20 years and not have a problem with the crown, but he can't. You can't really blame Rolex for his skin chemistry.

I have a full size 1911 RIA in 38 Super and I absolutely love it. This is my preferred CCW (big, yes, but so am I) because it has absolutely never ever failed to function.
It's quite well fit and quite accurate. GI sights leave a little something to be desired but I'll live with that. I don't even mind the giant logo on the side of it anymore. It always does what it's supposed to so I'm pretty pleased about the $400 I spent on it nib.

I just bought a Citadel CS 3.5". It's not a Rock Island, but I believe it comes from the same factory.

The quality is better than Colts I was seeing in the '80s.

It's going to replace my 2" Smith 36-"no dash" as my EDC.

I still need to get one. But life kicked me to the curb this Spring.

Some folk like my self sweat just does not mix well with things I can't wear watches unless they gave some sort of non metallic backing or my sweat just eats the finish and the steel

I consider the RIA pistols to be the best value in a 1911. Not he best looking but will shoot just as good as my $2000+ customs. That is a sad statement of fact for me.

Time to thin the heard on the upper end.

The only problem I see is that as their popularity increases and they add more and more desirable features, their price is getting into the upscale production price range. And there are some very good 1911s available in that category.

(think SR1911).

The one I owned (five or six years ago) was total crap. I contacted RIA asking about replacement parts (to be purchased at my expense) and was blown off...repeatedly.

I did what I could, and then sold it with full disclosure...at a significant loss.

Not an RIA/Armscor fanboy.

Imagine that.

My only RIA was junk also, constant FTFs, I sent it back to the factory several times. They finally gave up on it and sent me a new one, which I sold. Also, my gunsmith (a good one) tried to put an arched MSH on it and couldn't, he said the specs were slightly off from a normal 1911. As a beater 1911 it was replaced by a $600 used police turn in Colt 80 Series from the supposedly bad 1980s production, it has never missed a beat, and has a forged frame, unlike RIA.

I have the Armscor .22 tcm rifle. I have put a little over 200 rnds thru it so far. The bore was a little rough to begin with. I lapped the barrel with Flitz and it is shooting in to a inch at about 100 yds. Very good rifle and I didn't have to pay a arm and leg for it. The only thing I find trouble with is the scope mounting system. It would be better if they would drill and tap for the scope base

I swapped an Ed Brown MSH on my 5" TCM, and put the RIA plastic MSH on a Springfield G.I.. Both fit fine without any particular work.

My experience with RIA is limited to guns from the last two or three years and has been good so far. Maybe I am lucky, maybe Armscor has improved...I don't know.

Ed Ames said:

I swapped an Ed Brown MSH on my 5" TCM, and put the RIA plastic MSH on a Springfield G.I.. Both fit fine without any particular work.

My experience with RIA is limited to guns from the last two or three years and has been good so far. Maybe I am lucky, maybe Armscor has improved...I don't know.

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Supposedly the earlier ones had the problem I did with out of spec dimensions.

I have one from 1994 with no fitting problems at all.

I currently own 2 ARMSCOR 1911s - 1 RIA and 1 Citadel. Both are excellent firearms with a lot of rounds down the pipe without a problem. I'm also involved in the firearm industry and have received a lot of positive feedback from customers who've bought ARMSCOR brands.

Anyone have one of the Citadel (Armscor) 1911 style .22 LRs? Like this one.

If I'm not mistaken RIA/Armscor are the largest manufacture of 1911s in the world.

I own about 5 or maybe more (RIA, Citadel, Armscor, ATI - I think these are all the same). Some folks will pooh pooh the MIM parts, but I have to say the fit and feel and function of these is quite good for the ~$400 pricetag. And a great platform if you decide to do any upgrades. I quite like value-line guns myself and these are excellent.