Bought my first 1911

I say first, as if there's going to be a 2nd or 3rd... Probably not, but I am glad to finally have one. It's the RIA "Rock" Series Standard Full Size in .45acp. Went out and shot 25 rounds and was very happy with the feel and my accuracy. Definitely going to need a few more mags, and maybe a bit more ammo! Kinda hard for me to remove the barrel bushing. Working on trying to press the recoil spring plug hard enough. I'll get it. Always enjoy learning about a new platform.

 

It should have come with a tool to assist in removing the bushing. If not there are many aftermarket tools out there.
Having said that, the 1911 was designed to completely field strip using no more tools than the last parts you took off. The trick for the barrel bushing is to use the rounded lip of the magazine to push in the spring plug and turn the bushing.
Make sure the muzzle is pointed at something soft and squishy, like a towel or pillow. One slip and that spring plug and spring will fly out, bounce off three or four walls and the ceiling never to be seen again. Order a spare now. You’ll thank me later. I don’t know anyone who hasn’t done this.
In an emergency the original short guide rod 1911was designed to use a fired casing as a temporary spring plug. That won’t work with full length guide rods that require a hole in the spring plug.

 

Good luck, we all said the same thing. I started with a 45, then a 9mil. Now I've got them in 40S&W, 10mm, 22lr, 38 Super and 380 auto.

 

Nice looking 1911! You can field strip without taking the recoil spring plug out. Pull the slide back so the notch for the slide stop lines up and pull the slide stop out. Be careful the recoil doesn't launch when you do this.

 

Nice choice! I have one very similar and have liked it a lot!

Yeah... I was just going to just buy that first one, too.

Now I have six or so, depending on what counts as a "real" 1911.

 

Congrats on your 1st 1911. I have 8 rocks,2 colt/walthers and a chiappa. They grow so be ready.

 

I haven't launched a recoil spring on my 1911s yet.... but there's always room for a brain fart some day. I have however launched just about every other spring and misc. retaining pins.

 

Nice piece; the stocks on it are pretty,

When shopping for mags, I really try to not get hung up on the 7 versus 8 (I prefer 7 as they seem more reliable). Wilson are generally good, I've Pachmyr, and Colt as well. I even have some RR mags, and generic DoD GI mags. With a quality maker, then, I'll shop by best price. I try to not get hung up on bumper pads, too. They are not a deal breaker, nor a requirement. Thirty-seven years into owning 1911s and I'll still shop for magazines.

On the disassembly, the bushing wrench can be your friend. The Alternate is to lock the slide back, then take your left hand and put your thumb through the trigger guard, and ease the slide to the takedown notch and clamp your hand around--you palm will help grip the slide--make sure you leave the slide stop pin clear. Then, with the right hand reach under and push the slide stop pin out. You may, with enough hand strength and dexterity be able to start the pin with one of your left hand fingers. Either way, once the pi is out, everything will slide off the front in a reasonably controlled manner. With the slight advantage that you are unloading the spring rather than trying to cope with it under resting pressure.

 

This is a good video:

https://www.1911addicts.com/threads/great-detail-stripping-video.24248/

 

Appreciate the encouragement and advice. Yeah, I'll get one of those tools since I didn't get one. I did manage to get it off - just had to press hard enough. But kind of painful. It's true I've been focussed on looking at 8 rd. mags rather than 7. Maybe I'll get a couple of each.

 

Nice pickup for your first 1911!

Metalform mags are good too- they are actually the OEM manufacturer for Colt and Ruger.

 

VERY nice! Yes, they breed. You will end up with another.......& another &.......

 

Oh, and since we all admit to being enablers []

One of the interesting things about the 1911 is that one of the better grip arrangements is grippy for and aft, and with smooth stocks which can be a cool look, too.

So, that invites upgrades to front grip and mainspring housing (flat v. arched is a whole 'nuther can of worms)
SO: https://www.brownells.com/handgun-p...aps/1911-checkered-front-strap-prod16409.aspx

Now, smooth front & back and grippy on the sides also "works"

Those are Hogue wrap-arounds on a Norinco.
YMMV

 

Wow, learn something new every day.

 

Congrats, OP.

I’ve got just one 1911 at the moment. There’s no way I end up with less than about 4 at some point down the line.

They’re cool, and tons of fun

 

I have three now. I got onto 1911's six years ago. I bought my last one a year ago so I have a year reprieve. Maybe.

 

My first was an RIA as well, then a Ruger, then a Colt. Just wait til you put an “idiot mark” on it.

 

I've never, in 40+ years of 1911s, lost control of the recoil spring/plug.

I was assembling an AR15 lower in the garage and had one of the takedown pin detent pins fly across the garage and bounce off my wife's Jeep Liberty, the ceiling, the wall, and then ... silence.

I figured it was a goner; there's all kinds of stuff along the wall on that side of the garage. I walked around behind the jeep and looked a big box of loose stuff, and found it.

 

My new Rock did come with the tool. Look under the foams inserts.

Magazines, get the KimPro or the WC. My Rock likes either about the same. The RIA 1911 is not just a good cheap pistol, it is a good pistol straight up.

The so called "idiot" mark which I did not call it that BTW is completely avoidable. There is not reason to spin the lever down or up. I push it straight out and then straight back in. And I do this on my Kimbers the same way. No trick to it, straight out and then straight in.

Now, that guide rod tube, well, my tool slipped and it shot out hitting me above the eye on my forehead and then bounced off the wall and went into the kitchen garbage can. That is probably completely avoidable also but it does not leave a mark on my gun at least.

3C

 

Very nice 1911, I'm assuming you got a .45 Auto? I recently bought a GI model in .38 Super from RIA, and I'm thrilled with it, a superbly made gun.

If you go to the ARMSCOR (Rock Island Armory) website, and select "parts and accessories", and then "magazines", it redirects you to advanced tactical.com. You've got a nice selection of magazines by several makers, depending on the caliber you have. I felt their prices were reasonable; I ordered a couple of Mec-Gar magazines for my Super, got them in less than two weeks.

 

Welcome to 1911's. They're certainly one of the most versatile guns out there, proven dependability, wide range of calibers, & just plain enjoyable to shoot long range sessions with. I have six 9 round mags for my Springfields from Hooper Gun Works in Washington state. $17 for 9mm's with base pads, $15 for 7 round .45's, free shipping. Work flawlessly with Ball & HP's.

 

Yeah, forgot to say. .45acp

Checked. Not there. Fortunately, it's only $4 from Midway and Larry e-mailed me to say he's a stickler for fast shipping

Fortunately I watched a Hickok video about breaking down a 1911 and he mentioned about that scratch. So, I learned just in the nick of time!

Thanks. Picked one up along with a Wilson Combat and a Met-Gar

 

Nice pistol. I bought one with all the bells n whistles and thought I was all set. But found another one that was way more like all the other guns i own (looks beat to death, but safe/runs right) and couldn’t walk away from it. I love it even more than the first one!

now, I’d really like one in 38 Super. 1911’s are like lay’s potato chips (can’t have just one), except they all have their own character and qualities to them. I love that.

 

Have used Wilson"s mags for 12yrs shooting IPSC---totally reliable.
Have Mec-Gar mags in .45acp and 9mm---totally reliable also.