Entry level 1911 Which one?

[bigfatdave]

My Armscor guns are good quality and affordable.
A RIA tactical (any size) or one of the Citadel offerings would be a good choice.

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

I've owned three (3) Para's, and I've been cured of the desire to ever have one again.

Once was enough for me.

 

[daybreak]

Roommate has a Remington r1 and its been a jam o matic. My rock island was excellent. I trust ARMSCOR.

 

[daybreak]

Oh ands once someone mentioned ruger, I scored a ruger sr1911 for $699 last week. I also recommend one if u can find one.

 

[History.Doc]

I've seen and shot quite a few RIAs at the range here. They seem fine. I would be nervous about the Para guns because Freedom Group just bought them out.

If what happened to Marlin is any indication, you might want to buy a new one fast, an old one, or wait until they work out the kinks. At any rate if it were my money I'd go with the RIA. Take this internet chatter for what it's worth, of course. I'm just another anonymous guy on an internet forum

 

[HKGuns]

Having seen and handled several of these I would recommend almost anything else as an entry level 1911. Ruger's 1911 is a bargain at $800 msrp.

Glad I wasn't the only one thinking the Remington was a bit pricey for entry level. I don't consider Ruger entry level either though.

But I do, VERY STRONGLY recommend replacing the awful grips.

Yes, absolutely.



Nice choice in grips BTW:

 

[grock5k]

I picked up my Rock Island 1911 Compact for $380. It's great, it shoots anything I put threw it without a complaint and with around 1500 rounds I haven't had a problem yet.

 

[BHP FAN]

Rock Island [on top]

 

[Jed Carter]

I have owned a Para GI Expert, magazines were problem matic, too much paint on the feed ramp and frame/slide rails. New magazines, polished the ramp and rails and it functioned ok but had a horrible trigger, never warmed up to it, traded it on an old Colt series 70. I don't miss it at all. For under $500 Metro Arms/Bersa American Classic is a great shooter, with a good trigger, nice finish. Of your two choices I would not consider the Para, and not expect too much from the RIA. For just over the price of the Rock, Taurus has a forged frame and slide, real Novak sights and a 3# trigger. http://www.taurususa.com/product-details.cfm?id=59&category=Pistol&toggle=&breadcrumbseries=19

 

[highpower]

delete

 

[gb6491]

I own three of what might be considered entry level 1911s (let's say sub $650 guns). I think they all are worth consideration in regards to what the OP is looking for

My least expensive is a 90's Edition Springer (today's Mil-Spec) that I bought used. It's been a good, solid gun. It did not like to feed the top round from eight round magazines (seven rounders worked fine), but a little feed way work fixed that. The front sight came off at some point, but I staked in a new replacement that continues to soldier on.

Next is a RIA Tactical in 9mm. This is also a good, solid gun. It shot a little high for me, but I fixed that myself (I'm sure the RIA folks would have taken care of that; I've dealt with them several times and they are good to go). The ambi thumb safety was a bear to remove so I replaced it with a single side one I had. My biggest complaint with the RIA was that it would sometimes nose dive (actually quite often with 147 gr. bullets). Happily, switching to Metalform 9 MM 9FRS-794 magazines solved this issue. I wholeheartedly recommend this magazine if you get a 9mm 1911.

Last, but not least is a Remington R1S. It's my favorite of the three. It has fed reliably from the get go (I can't remember a single stoppage with it). BTW, accuracy has been good with all three of these guns. The R1S did shoot a little low for me and I read that Remington will send a shorter sight out, but I just filed mine down some and enlarged the front dot while I was at. Now, it's right on. As a member noted previously about the RIA sights having somewhat odd size dovetails, the same applies to the R1S front sight dovetail. I really like this pistol.

Regards,
Greg

 

[daybreak]

Having seen and handled several of these I would recommend almost anything else as an entry level 1911. Ruger's 1911 is a bargain at $800 msrp. STI Spartan is another $800 1911 that works well and is tough enough to survive competitions.



Sent by someone using something.

I agree. Was not impressed by the gun at all. My buddy's was a jam o matic and I am not impressed with the features you get (basically a GI model) for the price.

 

[PabloJ]

There are two I see of interest. One is the Rock Island Armory .45 ACP 1911 Tactical which has dovetail sight, spur hammer and trigger with holes in it for $550

The other is Para-USA 1911 A-1 GI for $599.

Which gun has a better track record for reliability from jamming and better customer service if you need it?

Some weeks back I looked over something promising at LGS. It was arsenal-refinished Sistema 1927 for reasonable sum of $500. I would take that over anything entry level made recently. I did not buy it only because I have no need for second handgun.

 

[Hit_Factor]

I did not buy it only because I have no need for second handgun.

That kind of thinking will get the rest of us in trouble with our wives.


Sent by someone using something.

 

[scythefwd]

Ive got the one linked to in this thread, not the Tactical, but same thing without the rail. I actually like it MORE than my colt 1991a1 I had. Its solid, gets you a lot of nice features, but the sights require a smith to install. THey are novak type cuts.. angle of the dovetail walls is like 5 degrees off from the novak cuts.. and you can modify novak sights to fit. I also believe they may be shallower cuts. I'm not sure if its a 70 series design, or the original 1911 design, but its definitely not a series 80...

 

[powder]

Neither, go with the STI entry from Dawson Precision...

 

[1madss]

I picked up a RIA Tactical a few weeks ago from Bellshire Guns for <450. I believe the have them on GB for right at 450 with free shipping.

I'm only at ~300 rounds so far, but not a single FTF, FTE or otherwise, even with the dreaded ProMag magazine My only complaint would be the sharp edges on the thumb safety.

 

[Zalinth]

I dont know much about handguns, but you might check sti version of a 1911, i think it is called sti spartan. My friend has one and it is very sweet gun. His was 9mm, not sure if they make them in .45 though.

 

[ljnowell]

I have owned a Para GI Expert, magazines were problem matic, too much paint on the feed ramp and frame/slide rails. New magazines, polished the ramp and rails and it functioned ok but had a horrible trigger, never warmed up to it, traded it on an old Colt series 70. I don't miss it at all. For under $500 Metro Arms/Bersa American Classic is a great shooter, with a good trigger, nice finish. Of your two choices I would not consider the Para, and not expect too much from the RIA. For just over the price of the Rock, Taurus has a forged frame and slide, real Novak sights and a 3# trigger. http://www.taurususa.com/product-det...crumbseries=19

No way I would buy a taurus over a RIA. I have owned both and the taurus was junk. Safety fell apart while shooting, grip safety failed, extractor faioled, etc. My uncle bouight one at the same time I did, his experiences were eerily similar. The RIA is much more solid gun.

 

[KTXdm9]

Of your two original choices, I'd go with the Rock. They seem to have consistently good feedback. The Para, not so much.

What is your budget? Are you considering used? I would look at the Spartan, Springfield Range Officer, and the Ruger SR1911 too. I am extremely happy with my Ruger.

 

[gb6491]

I agree. Was not impressed by the gun at all. My buddy's was a jam o matic and I am not impressed with the features you get (basically a GI model) for the price.

We seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum in regards to opinions on the Remington 1911 (mine being my R1S has performed without issue, while your's is that your roommate's R1 was a "been a jam o matic."). That's all good and not without precedent as quality can surely vary between individual pistols. For example, Ruger's SR1911 is generally well thought of, but the first one I bought had a slide that looked like it's top had been machined by a drunk using a draw knife; fortunately, the replacement gun was much better. All said, folks should hear the good and the bad.

Now, you may not be impressed with the features of the R1 (and that's also OK by me), but I think Remington's intention was to give it "GI" look by using vertical slide serrations, a GI thumb safety, GI grip safety, and a long spur hammer. You might even call those features because not everyone wants a 1911 as many come today with swooping grip safeties and extended control levers. Different strokes for different folks.
While I like an adjustable over travel trigger on a target gun, it's not something I necessarily want on a field gun.
The R1 does have a lowered and flared ejection port like many 1911's today, but it could be argued whether that is a necessity or not.
I think the R1's sights, being of the three dot, dovetailed in place variety, are an improvement on the old GI guns. I actually think they are better than those on the aforementioned SR1911 as they could be used to manipulate the slide if the need should arise.

Good shooting to you
Regards,
Greg

 

[Furncliff]

I have two RIA 1911's. The .45 is about 5-6 years old and runs very well, is accurate and feeds all my reloads without complaint. I replaced the slide stop early on. I put a Pachmayer grip on it because I thought the factory grips were too slick.

I got to know the customer service dept. at Armscor when I bought a used 1911-9mm that would not extract. It took two trips but they got it fixed, they paid all the shipping and communication was excellent.
\
They get 4 stars from me.

 

[harmon rabb]

For budget, can't beat RIA. Very good quality control, and great warranty if you do have an issue. I have a RIA tactical of unknown vintage (horse traded for it) that has never malfunctioned, despite my mistreatment of it.

 

[KF5RMX]

As a Para-USA owner, I thought I would chime in.
Mine is a single stack full size .45acp. With ceramic coat, match barrel, skeleton hammer/trigger, ambi safety and full length guide rod made in Pineville, NC.
I've had some problems. Fail to feed since day one.

I called them and explained that it would 3 point jam if I loaded 8 rnd.
Btw nickel mags were sorry inside.
They shipped me two of the black ones. No hassle.
I worked on the wall and follower of the first ones, so I had 4 mags that still jammed often on full mag.

Called again and they sent me a different more traditional extractor no hassle. Now I don't have to drop the mag on a 3pt jam, so it's better but still jams too often. The new extractor doesn't rip a burr in the case lip like the old one.
Now that I'm casting lee TL452-200-SWC that are too short (last round pops up and locks slide open as an empty mag), I am getting better markings on the case on 3pt that show me where on the throat/integral ramp I need to work on.

Last note, the ummm firing pin retainer plate thingy must have been installed with a sledge hammer. To replace the extractor and clean firing pin assy, I gave up. Took my local gun shop 5 minutes of cursing. I ran it over a sharpening stone until I was able to get it close to position without brute force.


Next one will be Colt.

 

[TennJed]

Have you considered the Remington R1? I have one and I would highly recommend it.


Thank you for looking
Scott

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