9mm Rock Island 1911 or plastic 5"

[wild cat mccane]

For recreational target practice would a 9mm RIA (cheaper) or a 5" plastic variant be more "fun?" I'm thinking G34, P30L, or PPQ 5."

Thoughts? I know responses will be everywhere--I want that.

 

[srtolly]

Personal preference, I'd go with with the RIA because I prefer the 1911 platform and I understand they are decent, my .45 is.

 

[Dnaltrop]

If I were going for a 9mm I'd save just a bit more and get the .22 TCM version of the RIA 1911.

Includes the 9mm Barrel for cheap shooting, and the .22 TCM was a fun round to watch at the range, for far less money than a Five-Seven. Rock Island opened an ammo factory in Montana, and you can send your fired brass back to them for cheap reloads.

Steel guns will almost always beat Poly for me however, I like the weight.

 

[Oro]

My dad had a RIA Tactical .45 and it was a very decent gun; it ran well and lacked a few things of higher dollar guns, but nothing "wrong" with it and that's what most everyone will say. My first personal 1911 was a Norinco 20+ years ago, so a good route to take in my opinion.

I DO like shooting 9mm in the 1911; something I scoffed at until a few years ago until I got a Colt Combat Commander in 9mm. There is no finer/sweeter shooting 9mm than that gun and Colt is foolish to not re-introduce it as soon as they can. 92, Glock, M&P, XD, none of them compare for shooting pleasure in my hand. If I were getting a 9mm 1911, I really do like the commander length as it's slightly handier. But a GM length is not ungainly, of course.

I don't find shooting .22s in 1911 fun for some reason, but that's me.

 

[BSA1]

My answer is a loud and firm YES!

I suffer from a addiction in which the gun I enjoy shooting the most depends on the day of the week, the moon, the sun, the wind, what movie I watched last, what movie I have not watched in a long time....so on and on and on.

Life is to short to get painted into a corner.

 

[Hometeached1]

I own a G***k 19 and 30sf. I also own a .22LR 1911. With that being said I would go with the 1911, but that's just me. Go shoot some if you can and see which you like best. I would SO get a .22TCM barrel as well.

 

[Furncliff]

The heavier 1911-9mm. Go with the full length model. I like my commander length but it's not as accurate as I'd like.


As an aside. I've been breaking in a new RIA for the last six weeks. It's called their combo. 1911 lower with two uppers .... .45acp and .22LR. So far it's been reasonably trouble free and accurate. The change over only takes 15 seconds and it wasn't expensive. I caught a Gun Broker auction and snagged it for $550 shipped. I don't like this particular Park finnish, but handsome is as handsome does, and they work good.

 

[bannockburn]

I would go with the RIA M1911 in 9mm. for a fun/recreational target gun. For less expensive shooting add a .22LR conversion assembly and you'll be set.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

If you're looking for a cheaper gun you could get two Rocks for the price of the P30L!

 

[wild cat mccane]

I personally believe a high end 1911 has a much smaller market than the expensive P30L...so that's why I am considering it.

 

[Hondo 60]

Lets put it this way.
The 1911 has been around for 102 years.
Why? Cuz they just plain work!
Even in today's world.

For me anyway, there's not even a fraction of a second of hesitation.

The 1911 is John Moses Browning's gift to mankind.

 

[wally]

I think you will have a hard time finding a more fun gun for target shooting at the range than the RIA 9mm "Tactical". The 1911 trigger is great and the steel frame really soaks up what little recoil there is in 9mm.

 

[rondog]

The only problem I have with my RIA 9mm Tactical model is getting the last round into the magazine. And it's the magazine's issue, not the gun's! The pistol itself is great, I love it.

 

[wally]

The only problem I have with my RIA 9mm Tactical model is getting the last round into the magazine.

UpLuLa "universial" pistol magazine loader works for me!
About $25 and really does load most every pistol magazine I have, only the .380s and below don't work.

 

[raubvogel]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9182707&postcount=19

 

[rondog]

Thanks Wally! I have one of those and use it religiously! It gives my arthritic thumbs a fighting chance.

 

[hardluk1]

wild cat . If your looking for a play gun buy a M&P 9 pro c.o.r.e. or a 5" and add a apex trigger kit to it. 3lb trigger, accurate and fits more hands better than a glock. Great match pistol. The c.o.r.e. model is set up for a reflex sight to and can co-witness.

Now I like my RIA but if I sell it I will buy another M&P.