Best "Baragin Bin" 1911 .45ACP?

[rdoggsilva]

I have the Taurus, but if bargain bin go with the RIA 1911. Very good no frills 1911.

 

[loop]

Find a Norinco. It has far better metallurgy than the Rock Island (Filipino) or the Springfield (Brazilian).

Plus it is built to exact U.S. specs so all parts that fit a 1911 will fit a Norinco without any custom machining or other oddball snags.

There is one on gunbroker right now that is going for $255.

 

[kentucky_smith]

The RIA's seem to be pretty much in spec as anything. I've never had trouble fitting parts to one. They have a good following (as you can tell from this thread), the Tactical version has better sights, beavertail, etc, and is nearly identical to the STI Spartan (another good value). Customer service is great and I would recommend them well over the T guns.
Both the Customer Service rep and the company president post over on forum.m1911.org

 

[mavracer]

STI spartan.

 

[TAB]

I just bought a almost virgin ( has a 100 rounds thru it, it that) 70 series colt for 400+ DROS and transfer fees.

Now All I have to do is wait 7 more days til I can pick it up.

 

[bluetopper]

No question.........STI Spartan. One pull of the slide and you'll know why.

 

[rellascout]

Norinco for under $400 be patient.

Next is the the RIA

Then STI Spartan better gun than the Taurus IMHO

 

[Metal]

$425

The day I got it..



Had it nearly 2 years unknown shot count. Only problem I have had was a box of out of spec CCI blazer brass....


Good luck....

 

[bfox]

I just bought a almost virgin ( has a 100 rounds thru it, it that) 70 series colt for 400+ DROS and transfer fees.

I Hate You !
Just kidding what a Great find .

On the OP ? I like my Rock Island .
Doesn't seem like you can go wrong with one .

Bill

 

[viking499]

Centerfiresystems.com usually has the Rock Islands in stock

 

[AndyC]

A Rock Island Armory Tactical would be the equivalent to the Taurus PT1911 in terms of extra features - and the parts are standard 1911. The deciding factor in my purchase was the distributor's reputation for outstanding customer-service.

Mine's been flawless so far - even won a man vs. man steel-shoot with it

 

[Ed Wagner]

PT 1911, 5000 rounds thru mine no problems,$530 out the door.

 

[kentucky_smith]

Taurus=Horrible customer service, bad track record. What happened to the Gaucho?


Rock Island=Great track record, STI and pretty much everyone else loves em.

 

[mtngunr]

Only certain Colts used plastic MSH's/triggers....still the finest gun out there, with more forged/machined parts and individual hand-fitting....RIA guns are cast slides/frames/parts, the SA guns have forged/machined slides/frames with cast/MIM small parts, ditto Kimber.....

 

[AndyC]

RIA frame is cast - the slide is machined

 

[mtngunr]

Now, I'd always heard the frames and slides were both castings from Filipino/ARMSCOR/RIA.....if that's incorrect, I thank you for the correction....truthfully, seems like some time ago, I checked the maker's site, and they stated the casting count, but I could be misremembering.....getting older is highly over-rated....now, what were we talking about?

 

[tinroad37e]

Another vote for RIA. The slides use to be cast. I e-mailed Ivan before purchasing mine 6 months ago and he told me they're now machined and not cast.

 

[guntotinguy]

Rock Island...or an XD .45

 

[HM2PAC]

yhtomit asked:

You can't have Springfields in Massachusetts?! Someone got a bit heavy-handed in the irony department, I guess.

Whyso? I thought that the usual reason in MA was mag capacity -- what's the reason?

Taxachusetts also requires a loaded chamber indicator.

By the way I vote for the RIA, mine has been solid enough that it has earned the right to be tarted up with a few mods. Customer service is first rate. Ray, Ivan, and all the folks at Armscor work hard at insuring their customers are kept happy.

My first RIA had some serious problems with failures and the steel had not been heat treated properly. Unknown to me this was a common problem with RIA's in the past, a problem that has since been fixed AFAIK. They simply replaced my weapon and sent me a brand new one with a proper heat treat.