how are Rock Island 1911s?

[migkillertwo]

How are they as far as handguns go?

 

[jr_roosa]

Entry level 1911. Good customer service, entry-level quality of fit and finish.

The 1911 market is extremely stratified and you pretty much get what you pay for. At the entry level price point you get a rough-looking gun that might take some tweaking and extensive break in to become reliable, or it might be reliable out of the box. As you go up in price you get more gadgets, better fit and finish (crisper trigger, better accuracy, better finish, maybe better reliability), and also the more recognized name on the slide.

Rock Islands are great for a first 1911 that you're just going to play around with and maybe customize a little. They also make good beater guns: if it gets a little scratch or a spot of rust it won't break your heart. They basically fill the niche of the surplus 1911s that have become collector's items instead of the entry level bargain gun that they were 30 years ago.

-J

 

[surjimmy]

I have had all sorts and brands of 1911's, I now 2 Les Baer's and one custom Delta Elite.(am not name dropping just a little on background) I bought a Rock Island to take to the woods so I wouldn't bugger up my LB. After I changed out the factory mag it was flawless and very accurate. The factory mag jammed before I shot 8 rounds through it. With my Wilson mag it feeds everything I put in it. Note: I bought the Tactical and can only vouch for it.

 

[SaxonPig]

This made my list of 100 FAQs.

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Rock Island Armory 1911?

70. These are made in the Philippines and the base model approximates a military finish 1911 circa World War II. Most owners feel the guns are acceptable in quality and offer good value for the money. Maybe one owner in ten complains that he is unhappy with his gun. For the low cost of this gun it seems worth the risk to take a chance on one if you want a basic 1911 pistol.

 

[FLAvalanche]

Entry level 1911. Good customer service, entry-level quality of fit and finish.

The 1911 market is extremely stratified and you pretty much get what you pay for. At the entry level price point you get a rough-looking gun that might take some tweaking and extensive break in to become reliable, or it might be reliable out of the box. As you go up in price you get more gadgets, better fit and finish (crisper trigger, better accuracy, better finish, maybe better reliability), and also the more recognized name on the slide.

Rock Islands are great for a first 1911 that you're just going to play around with and maybe customize a little. They also make good beater guns: if it gets a little scratch or a spot of rust it won't break your heart. They basically fill the niche of the surplus 1911s that have become collector's items instead of the entry level bargain gun that they were 30 years ago.

-J

Wow....

My RRA Tactical has a great fit and even better finish. It has run flawless for thousands of rounds and continiously outperforms high dollar 1911s.

Hows this 50 round group for entry level:

 

[Cocked & Locked]

I never really think of guns being "entry level." Some just cost more than others. Of course I prefer 1911's without all those custom doo-dads folks like to add on.

My "Baby Starter Model Entry Level" RIA No ambi safety, beaver tail, etc., etc.

 

[highorder]

I like mine. I swapped a few parts, and did some hand fitting.

 

[Snowdog]

I love mine and feel it's worth every bit (and more) of the $289 I paid for it.

the only customizing I've done was to replace the horrible smooth grips (IMHO of course) with double diamond walnut grips that cost me a whopping $14.

Mine feeds various SWCs a bit better than my Kimber and is almost as accurate. Fit might not be as nice and finish is certainly not as nice (the Kimber has an electroless nickel finish), but it was easily one of my better firearm purchases.
Lately I've been shooting this pistol far more than anything else and of the 3000 or so rounds it's seen so far, it has yet to have a failure or malfunction. With over half of the ammunition being SWCs, the reliability of this 1911 is absolutely impressive.

 

[jr_roosa]

Hows this 50 round group for entry level:

Well, yeah, even entry level 1911s are plenty accurate. Even the worst ones have great ergonomics and even a gritty single action trigger is easier to shoot accurately than most out-of-the box striker fired or DAO triggers.

Give it to a one of the top Camp Perry bullseye shooters and move the target out to 50 yards and you'll see a big difference between it and a top-of-the-line wadcutter gun. For that level of performance, you have to pay several times what a new RIA 1911 costs. That doesn't make the RIA a bad pistol, but it certainly is in a different class. On the other hand, for about $1000-$1500 you could have somebody tune up a Rock Island to compete with the best bullseye guns out there.

I didn't mean to say that the RIAs are bad guns, they're just not the same class as some of the big dollar purpose-made 1911s.

Both of the guns pictured above have been upgraded a little with new grips and some "hand fitting" and they look pretty nice.

Of course I prefer 1911's without all those custom doo-dads folks like to add on

Me too. I was very close to getting a RIA GI model for my last 1911 purchase. For $100 more I got a SA Mil Spec (I'd say another entry level 1911) and I'm very happy with it. It also has a pretty rough fit and finish compared to a Colt or a big name custom gun, but it fits my price point and has a couple of features I like slightly better than the Rock Island (lowered ejection port, stainless barrel, different sights). Still I put in a new trigger, new mags, a new MSH, new grips, and I'll probably put new sights and a drop-in sear/hammer/disconnector to get it the way I want it. It needed about 500 rounds to get it to feed right too.

-J.

 

[possum]

they are entry level, but there are alot of happy happy RIA owners out there. I have shot three varients of the RIA and they have all been reliable with lead rn lead reloads, and fmj as well. i personally like the tactical model alot.

 

[BlayGlock]

Ive had two in the past before I became a 1911 snob and went to the semi-custom market. They are great guns for the proce and the customer service is good. They are inexpensive, but not "cheap." My two had excellent triggers, were reliable, and grouped well. Not a bad deal.

Get the tactical version, it will have better sights that can be replaced easier fi you desire.

 

[scrod008]

I have a RIA Compact model that is now over 1k rounds without a single hiccup. It shoots just as good and has a better trigger out of the box than my Springer had out of the box and it cost 3x as much before the trigger job.:banghead: For the money you can't beat a Rock and their customer service is second to none, Arnel is awesome in their gunsmith shop!

 

[FLAvalanche]

Yep, if you're going to go the RIA route then go with the tactical model. It has all the things you're going to put onto a GI model to make it better anyways. It has the beavertail safety, it has the ambi safety (which I don't like), it's cut for heine sights if you want to upgrade the sights, the ejection port is flared (can't remember if it's enlarged or not), skeleton hammer and trigger.

All for about $500.

Now figure out what a base GI model is going to cost and add all that stuff in. You can't beat it.

 

[BHP FAN]

I LOVE my RIA G.I.! You can spend a whole lot more money,without getting a better gun.

 

[skoro]

I've owned a RIA compact for a year now. A very nice basic 1911 at an attractive price.

 

[CZ223]

It all depends on what your "needs" are

If what you are looking for is a good solid self defense gun then by all accounts, the RIA gun is a great deal. It is not a "bullseye" gun. They are plenty accurate for self defense,IDPA etc. The one I have shot was surprisingly accurate and this seems to be the norm, not the exception. I hope to be buying a compact tactical in the near future, as soon as money allows. Reliability is what counts when it comes to 1911's or handguns in general.

 

[kopcicle]

dono , never slept with one ...

~kop

 

[MachIVshooter]

Good guns, good value. If I were after a WWII 1911A1 repro, it'd be the RIA.

 

[frankiestoys]

They are great 1911's for the money this one cost me $401 otd its been 100% reliable and more accurate then i expected i would recomend one to anyone looking for an inexpensive 1911



10yrds

 

[SpookyPistolero]

Why do you guys hate my wallet? I had actually talked myself out of getting a cheap one I saw at Buds. "I don't need another .45...."

 

[w_houle]

Can someone give a definition of "Entry level"?

... and a pic, because who doesn't love pics?

 

[Red Cent]

Besides RI, STI and Tanfloglio use their parts and frames.