Several questions... 1. Are these guns basically internally the same just cosmetically different outside?2.How's the quality...components, reliability, accuracy etc.3. Buy or Pass? I am looking for a low cost quality 1911... I know you get what you pay for but, if I need to spend a $1000.00+ bucks to get good components, reliability(most important to me), accuracy (2-3" at 15yds.) then maybe I need to stick with my CZ75BD or S&W .45 Colt MG as I know these qualify for home and CCW. Thanks
Charles Daly/ RIA/Armscor 1911
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denfoote
Member
The RIA is made by Armscor and from what I have read is a pretty good 1911. In fact, I'm thinking hard about getting one myself!! 
PCRCCW
Member
I think they are identical as far as components etc....
They differ from gun to gun and If you find one thats "fit" the way you want/expect it to...then I think they are fine for damn near anything you want it to do.
Shoot well........
They differ from gun to gun and If you find one thats "fit" the way you want/expect it to...then I think they are fine for damn near anything you want it to do.
Shoot well........
MrAcheson
Member
All their parts are made in the phillipines by ARMSCOR, however I believe RIA and CD are assembled in the US.
Preacherman
Member
Something to bear in mind is the intended use of the gun. The Phillipine-made 1911's have a reputation for using softer steel than most US-made guns, which can be problematic if you intend the gun as a base for a custom modification. I was talking to Jim Clark Jr. of Clark Custom Guns a few days ago, and he confirmed that the Daly's and their "clones" are not suitable for the kind of custom work his firm does, due to the softness of the steel.
On the other hand, there are some cheaper 1911's out there (e.g. Norinco, Griffon, etc.) that are made of very good quality steel, and can be used in this way. I've had a Griffon (and will shortly have another) that were "upgraded" with custom parts, and they appear to be very good quality "basic" 1911's for the purpose.
On the other hand, there are some cheaper 1911's out there (e.g. Norinco, Griffon, etc.) that are made of very good quality steel, and can be used in this way. I've had a Griffon (and will shortly have another) that were "upgraded" with custom parts, and they appear to be very good quality "basic" 1911's for the purpose.
denfoote
Member
Firestorm is the successor company to the now defunct Spanish firm Star.
Spain has a good reputation for making good guns!!
Spain has a good reputation for making good guns!!
OEF_VET
Member
I've got a Rock Island 1911, with probably 500 or so rounds through it so far. The only problems I've had with it have been a bad extractor and a real tight firing pin spring. If you change those two parts out, you should be ok. The only other things I may do to mine are to have an extended beavertail and an ambidextrous safety installed. Otherwise, they are great for CCW or for general range shooting. Obviously, though, they aren't designed to compete with $2000 + raceguns in an IPSC match.
Frank
Frank
PCRCCW
Member
Hmmm, Interesting. The 1911 smith who does work for me locally says the CharlesDaly/RIA are harder steel than Colt uses. I wonder if these guys just machine or actually Rockwell test anything.
Anyway.....................
Shoot well................
Anyway.....................
Shoot well................
Hmmm.....
Well, I am a Colt 1911 fan...but I have read alot on the RIA and Charles Daly! They are rough finished and may need some tweaking...but many more expensive 1911's may need tweaking too!
All the threads I have seen written by OWNERS seem to indicate they are fairly good budget 1911's.
Even Patrick Sweeney gave a good write up o the Charles Daly in the Gun Digest Book of the 1911 and he tested some of the ultimate 1911;s in the world! My local 1911 wizard says they are good steel and he makes some pretty fancy stuff! Awards for the NRA annual meetings and such.
I will probably get a RIA Compact one day, just to satisfy my curiosity and to mount the frame on my MechTech CCU after I test the complete unit(thereby freeing up my Officer's model for its primary role as CCW).....the compact because my two primary carry guns are Officer's sized guns.
Guess I'll be able to say for sure then!!
Jercamp45
Well, I am a Colt 1911 fan...but I have read alot on the RIA and Charles Daly! They are rough finished and may need some tweaking...but many more expensive 1911's may need tweaking too!
All the threads I have seen written by OWNERS seem to indicate they are fairly good budget 1911's.
Even Patrick Sweeney gave a good write up o the Charles Daly in the Gun Digest Book of the 1911 and he tested some of the ultimate 1911;s in the world! My local 1911 wizard says they are good steel and he makes some pretty fancy stuff! Awards for the NRA annual meetings and such.
I will probably get a RIA Compact one day, just to satisfy my curiosity and to mount the frame on my MechTech CCU after I test the complete unit(thereby freeing up my Officer's model for its primary role as CCW).....the compact because my two primary carry guns are Officer's sized guns.
Guess I'll be able to say for sure then!!
Jercamp45
I've got almost 700 rounds thru my full sized 1911 CD. A few glitches at the start and when I found the right ammo, no more problems. Nope, I ain't done a Rockwell test on it and I don't plan on running 50,000 rounds thru it. It simply is not as good a fit and finish as a Kimber but, its pretty darn good. I got it to get into the 1911 arena and I'm glad I did.
A friend has the stainless model and it looks and shoots good also.
I would not hesitate to get one IF you are willing to settle for second-best.
Oh yeah, there are some other benefits to the CD....it already has the ambi safety that I must have as a left handed shooter. It would have been another 100 bucks installed on any other 1911. Ambi safety, beaver-tail, decent sights, extended slide release, beveled mag well, lowered ejection port, life-time warranty, good supplied magazines. Find another 1911 that has all of these features and tell me the price. Mine was $430 OTD.
A friend has the stainless model and it looks and shoots good also.
I would not hesitate to get one IF you are willing to settle for second-best.
Oh yeah, there are some other benefits to the CD....it already has the ambi safety that I must have as a left handed shooter. It would have been another 100 bucks installed on any other 1911. Ambi safety, beaver-tail, decent sights, extended slide release, beveled mag well, lowered ejection port, life-time warranty, good supplied magazines. Find another 1911 that has all of these features and tell me the price. Mine was $430 OTD.
WhoKnowsWho
Member
After an intial recoil spring change on my Charles Daly, I've had no problems and it is almost at 1K, soon to be much more thanks to reloading.
It doesn't show the fit and polish of my Para Ord, but for half the price, it is quite a good gun.
For a 1911 with extras (flared, lowered ejection port, beavertail, ambi safeties) and low price, it works. For plain jane, the Springfield new Mil Spec looks pretty good too.
The guy at the shop, when I was looking at a wide body RIA, said their initial shipment had such soft metal in the barrel, it was bending down within a few 100 rounds, but he said the next shipment was fixed after they complained. Soft? Hard? Seems to be okay now.
It doesn't show the fit and polish of my Para Ord, but for half the price, it is quite a good gun.
For a 1911 with extras (flared, lowered ejection port, beavertail, ambi safeties) and low price, it works. For plain jane, the Springfield new Mil Spec looks pretty good too.
The guy at the shop, when I was looking at a wide body RIA, said their initial shipment had such soft metal in the barrel, it was bending down within a few 100 rounds, but he said the next shipment was fixed after they complained. Soft? Hard? Seems to be okay now.
Tomac
Member
Yet another "soft steel" comment. I can't believe how many times I've heard this on other forums (always from someone who doesn't own one) and when I've asked for hard data to back up the "soft steel" comment all I get is silence. From Armscor's own website RIA is ISO 9001 certified and the pistols are mfgd from 4140 ordnance grade steel on CNC equipment. The only real complaint I've heard from a RIA owner was a milspec that had a slightly undersized chamber. I own a RIA milspec .45 (no experience with the others) and to date (500rds) it's been 100%. All I've done is install a Wilson 18 lb recoil spring, Pachmayr grips & Meprolight night sights. My 'smith was very impressed with the quality of the RIA. Looks good, shoots good, reliable, decent trigger right out of the box, bbl hard chromed inside and out, what's not to like for $299?
Tomac
Tomac
W Turner
Member
Another positive note for RIA here.... I bought one in February and have been nothing but pleased with it. Here are the mods that have been done and why:
1- Very slight hammer bob to reduce hammer bite ( I have large hands)
2- swapped safety with a GI colt safety to fix above problem
3- installed a Trijicon front night site and taller colt rear sight $25 total at a gunshow, couldnt pass on a price like that and the standard sights were pitiful
4- trigger job, obvious reasons
5- Cocobolo grips and skateboard tape on front strap becauses the grips were way too smooth and the cocobolo looks great!
I have put about 700 rounds thru mine, mostly in IDPA shoots and haven't had any malfunctions. I plan to have a longer trigger installed and am considering a CMC drop-in rear sight. I also may try my hand at some home refinishing, the parkerizing they use seems a little thin.
Overall I am very pleased with my RIA. Especially for no more than I have in it ($380 purchase price + $25 trigger job + $25 for installation of new sites + $5 for purchase of front sight + $25 for Cocobolo grips and skateboard tape= $460) and it has hung with $700+ guns with no noticeable diffrence.
Mino
1- Very slight hammer bob to reduce hammer bite ( I have large hands)
2- swapped safety with a GI colt safety to fix above problem
3- installed a Trijicon front night site and taller colt rear sight $25 total at a gunshow, couldnt pass on a price like that and the standard sights were pitiful
4- trigger job, obvious reasons
5- Cocobolo grips and skateboard tape on front strap becauses the grips were way too smooth and the cocobolo looks great!
I have put about 700 rounds thru mine, mostly in IDPA shoots and haven't had any malfunctions. I plan to have a longer trigger installed and am considering a CMC drop-in rear sight. I also may try my hand at some home refinishing, the parkerizing they use seems a little thin.
Overall I am very pleased with my RIA. Especially for no more than I have in it ($380 purchase price + $25 trigger job + $25 for installation of new sites + $5 for purchase of front sight + $25 for Cocobolo grips and skateboard tape= $460) and it has hung with $700+ guns with no noticeable diffrence.
Mino
mtnbkr
Member
Neither factoid has anything to do with how soft their steel is. ISO 9001 is a biz practices certification. 4140, like many other steels, can be heat treated to different levels. Simply stating the type of steel they use means nothing without a Rockwell test to back it up. That's the info you need.
Chris
Tomac
Member
Mtnbkr, I mentioned those items to illustrate that Armscor is a modern company using modern materials and technology. I fully agree about the Rockwell test.
Tomac
Tomac
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