Glock 40 vs RIA 2011Match 10mm

[Larry Poho]

I have a friend that is looking into the 10mm market. He wants a multi round woods handgun. I told him about the Glock 20. He started research and it went off the rails. Now he is between the RIA and the Glock 40. I felt that he would fair better with the proven Glock 40, and all the support. The RIA double mags are almost proprietary. No market backup and one heavy gun to carry along with a rifle that weighs 8 pounds. The RIA weighs in at 3 pounds and 8 oz loaded. Thats heavy. I have also heard poor reports on the RIA reliability from soft primer hits to FTF, FTE, and the mag falling out of it during firing. I don’t want to bad mouth the RIA, because some guys love them. It would be a good range bomber, but toating it around would be my biggest problem with it anyway. Any comments to help him make up his mind? Please share if you have experience with either handgun.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I have a friend that is looking into the 10mm market. He wants a multi round woods handgun. I told him about the Glock 20. He started research and it went off the rails. Now he is between the RIA and the Glock 40. I felt that he would fair better with the proven Glock 40, and all the support. The RIA double mags are almost proprietary. No market backup and one heavy gun to carry along with a rifle that weighs 8 pounds. The RIA weighs in at 3 pounds and 8 oz loaded. Thats heavy. I have also heard poor reports on the RIA reliability from soft primer hits to FTF, FTE, and the mag falling out of it during firing. I don’t want to bad mouth the RIA, because some guys love them. It would be a good range bomber, but toating it around would be my biggest problem with it anyway. Any comments to help him make up his mind? Please share if you have experience with either handgun.

Of those two (and I hate to say it) I'd get the Glock.

There are 10mm 1911's that are sweet. And other platforms, too.

But when I start hearing "proprietary"...

 

[12Bravo20]

From the little research I did (quick google search), the Rock Island 1911A2 double stack pistols use Para Ordinance magazines.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

XDM. Or EAA Witness.

Maybe then a 1911 but obviously they can be more finicky depending on brand (RIA are decent but I did have a lemon)

Glocks don't fit me and in a woods gun, you need it to shoot instinctually.

So unless he loves Glocks, I'd look elsewhere

 

[JeeperCreeper]

From the little research I did (quick google search), the Rock Island 1911A2 double stack pistols use Para Ordinance magazines.

In .45, but I wasn't aware of a Para in 10mm.

But since Para is Remington now, does Rem make a double stack 10mm?

 

[SharpDog]

EAA Witness Elite 10 mm, 15 rds, no waiting:

 

[sparkyv]

Me too.

Of those two (and I hate to say it) I'd get the Glock.

I have the SR1911-10, but I'm starting to buy in to the "the 1911 can't handle the 10mm power" POV. The M610 is awesome, but if I were getting another 10mm, I'd get this:

XDM

 

[Ed Ames]

The RIA mags are Mecgar and fairly standard. Used by several manufacturers.

I have owned a 10mm 1911 but it wasn’t RIA. I have owned a several RIA double and single stack 1911s but none were 10mm. That model is actually on my wish list. I have also owned a Glock 20. I have not owned a 40.

Personally, for me the utility is basically identical. The weight difference doesn’t really matter to me with a decent belt and OWB holster. Either is going to be reliable when treated right. It really boils down to one thing that is kinda hard to articulate, but I’ll try.

The Glock is like a bic lighter. It does what it is supposed to do and does the job without any fuss, but it’s always a bic.

The 1911 is like a Zippo lighter. It’s just as utilitarian but not quite as effortlessly so. You can’t ignore it for weeks and expect it to instantly work.

Some people just want fire, as quickly and easily as possible. Some people want fire but also like the heft, history, and ritual. The difference comes down more to innate personality than anything else. If you are on one side of that spectrum, and your friend is on the other, you’ll probably never agree about the best choice. That doesn’t make either of you wrong.

 

[MrShooter]

Maybe he should check into a Springfield XDM 10. The 5.25 comes with a target rear sight and 3, 15 round magazines. They did a tough test firing 10,000 rounds in 2 days without one single failure of any kind. Mine feels great in my big hands too.

 

[Howland937]

That's the toughest question I've seen in a while. I despise the thought of 1911s in metric offerings, but I'm also not a fan of Glock. I'd probably lean toward the 1911 platform because it seems like the weight could be an advantage if he decides to shoot actual 10mm velocities.

 

[LiveLife]

Some people just want fire, as quickly and easily as possible.

Isn't that the primary objective of "woods gun"? Along with something light that works quickly when you need it to work, without fail.

I have a friend ... He wants a multi round woods handgun.

 

[LoonWulf]

I've got an older RIA UltraMatch 6"
I've handled but not shot the g40.

Similarities.
Barrel length
Capacity
Grip size
The RIA single stacks are also available in 10mm, but I don't like the thinner standard 1911 grip, so prefer the 2011/1911a2, even tho I'm limited to 10rnds.

off hand I'd say the advantages of the RIA...
Trigger
Sights
The heft should make it easier to shoot.

Downsides
Weight
More complicated design
Recoil guide like to come unscrewed while shooting.

I can't really say anything comparative about accuracy as I've not shot a g40, but from a rest popping Clay's, cans, and 4" gongs at 100 isn't hard with the UM.

My UM has been 100% with every ammo I've run thru it, from S&B (gun really likes the 180s at 1150), and ppu, to more expensive stuff.

We're it MY choice (you already know what I picked actually, but I disliked the feel not the features of the g40), I'd have to decide if it was mostly packed or a shooter.

The g40 would be much more comfortable to carry, the UM will probably be easier to shoot (ignoring mechanical accuracy).
My UM is mostly a fun gun, and hd weapon. I do carry it from time to time in a paddle holster and never had an issue. It's big and heavy tho and you KNOW it's there.

I had a xd45 i ran hot, and honestly I'm not sure I want to shoot a gun that light with full power 10mm ammo all the time.

 

[Ed Ames]

Isn't that the primary objective of "woods gun"?

Yep. But that’s the thing about bic vs zippo: both do the job with equal reliability. Same with G40 vs UM. The results are indistinguishable. Same effect, same reliability in providing that effect. It’s only when you get into secondary qualities that they are different.

The analogy isn’t perfect. You don’t need to throw the Glock away when it stops working. But it’s a pretty good analogy.

Along with something light that works quickly when you need it to work, without fail.

Well, light is subjective so I suppose both give that too. The Glock is lighter. Speed and weight are related so the steel framed UM is going to have more of both. Either gun will fail eventually but should last at least one lifetime.

This isn’t really a case where one is objectively a good choice and the other objectively a bad choice. They are very close to identical in function and utility, with some secondary differences that will make one appeal to some people, and the other appeal to other people.

But, as I said, I don’t have either specific models we’re talking about. Based on my experience with the G20 I can see no reason why I’d ever own a G40. Based on my experience with a long slide 1911 in 10mm, and RIA 1911s, I would like the UM.

 

[CDW4ME]

I've got 10mm 1911's and a Glock 20SF - the Glock has less perceived recoil.
No experience with the Glock 40 - I conceal carry a Glock 35/41 and don't think I could tolerate any longer slide IWB.
The Glock 20SF is not difficult for me to carry concealed.

 

[Obturation]

If he wants a simple reliable tool, glock of course.
If he wants to polish it with a diaper and tinker with it, show all his buddies and search for proprietary possibly rare parts, the 1911 of course.

IMO glock dominates this category , nothing else is even close. Ugly , blocky and lego-like it works like it should, for decades or longer.

 

[FFGColorado]

I have a friend that is looking into the 10mm market. He wants a multi round woods handgun. I told him about the Glock 20. He started research and it went off the rails. Now he is between the RIA and the Glock 40. I felt that he would fair better with the proven Glock 40, and all the support. The RIA double mags are almost proprietary. No market backup and one heavy gun to carry along with a rifle that weighs 8 pounds.Thats heaThe RIA weighs in at 3 pounds and 8 oz loaded. That's heavy. I have also heard poor reports on the RIA reliability from soft primer hits to FTF, FTE, and the mag falling out of it during firing. I don’t want to bad mouth the RIA, because some guys love them. It would be a good range bomber, but toating it around would be my biggest problem with it anyway. Any comments to help him make up his mind? Please share if you have experience with either handgun.

I think you covered the RIA well..and ya kinda did 'bad mouth' it..
Glock....

 

[Lennyjoe]

I had an RI 10MM and traded it away. Accuracy wasn’t very good, heavy weight and not many rounds. Went to a Springfield XDM 10MM after and finally went back to the G20. Should of stayed with the G20 all along. More accurate, 15 rounds and manageable weight on the hip while walking through woods and up/down hills.

 

[12Bravo20]

I have absolutely no experience with any double stack 1911 or with the Rock Island 10mm. I do have several Rock Island 1911's and have no problem concealing or carrying them all day long even as skinny as I am. They have all been reliable for me straight out of the box.

With any pistol you carry, a good holster AND a good belt makes a big difference on how comfortable they are to carry all day.

I like my 1911 pistols and my 1911ish like single action autos such as my Star pistols and my Sig P938. That is what I grew up with and also carried in the Army. I was never a fan of Glocks due mostly to how they fit my small hands, but the Glock G44 22LR sure has grown on me to the point I am actually considering a centerfire Glock. I'll still keep my single actions though.

 

[MikeInOr]

Two completely different beasts.

Hands down, Glock for the woods!

Hands down, 2011 for a range gun!


Personally I prefer the Springfield X guns to Glocks but that is more of what fits the shooter best.