My First Rock!!!

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bigmike45

bigmike45

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I am and have been a 1911 guy for over 30 years, but I haven't had a 5" for quite some time. I was in a gunstore that I usually don't buy from, due to price and lack of selection, looking for a new carrying case for my two AR15's, and as I passed the guncase I saw something interesting....an RIA Tactical. I have never even given RIA the time of day until I saw this gun, I picked it up and asked the clerk if I could inspect it. He said yes and I field stripped it and was impressed with fit and finish. He handed me a dummy round to try the trigger and again I was impressed, not the best trigger pull, but surely not the worst I had ever felt. I asked if he had a pull gage and I tested it.....4lbs and just a little creep!!! Just where I wanted it.

I asked him how much he could come off the retail of $510.00 and I laid $450.00 cash in front of him and he took it without even blinking. That is the least I have ever spent on a new 1911, that I have bought for myself. I am looking forward to getting it cleaned up and to the range this weekend.

RIATACR.gif
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I put Pachmayr grips on mine and it became the handgun I'm most accurate with. I spent a good bit of time shooting it off a rest and I'm impressed with the accuracy, (using WWB). Mine likes the Chip McCormick magazines.

I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Tom
 
BigMike, welcome to the world of Rock Islands. They are great guns - especially when you consider what you get for the price. Are they Les Baer? Nope. But they'll shoot, and depending on who's holding the LB, you just might outshoot 'em.

Clean that Marfak Multi-Purpose axle grease out of the slide, lube it with a nice light oil (CLP), grab a couple boxes of ammo and get to it.

Oh...unless you take the firing pin out, you will have micro-geisers of oil coming out of there for quite a while. It doesn't hurt...unless you have a nice, light-colored dress shirt on :rolleyes:

I bought the RI Compact and am enjoying it quite a bit. Congrats. Shoot safe.

Q
 
Congrats! I have three Rocks, you're gonna love it! I don't have a Tactical though, but I did take one of my GI's and converted it into a Tactical clone (except for the ambi-safety). Then I had it hot-blued and oooo-boy, she's purty!
 
Oh...unless you take the firing pin out, you will have micro-geisers of oil coming out of there for quite a while. It doesn't hurt...unless you have a nice, light-colored dress shirt on
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My three nice light-colored dress shirts full of little black specks confirm this hypothesis.
 
Every handgun I have bought over the last 30 years has always had a complete detail strip, cleaning, inspection and lubrication. That included my Wilson Combat 1911's, which is not recommended by Wilson. They want you to shoot several hundred rounds before the first cleaning to break in the gun.
 
For the OP if you like the trigger on the Tactical try the Longslide. My friends just stop and look in amazement after shooting it. They can't believe it what is considered a bottom end gun.
 
Well, as I always do with a new gun, I detail stripped the RIA Tac, cleaned and relubed every part. Everything was good and tight, the way it should be. Took it to the range and fired 50 rounds to test the reliability...perfect. Sent the empty brass in a nice pile just over my right shoulder and never missed a beat. I use the factory mag and two of my Wilson 47D's. All three locked back the slide on empty. All three mags dropped freely when empty. Slide locked into battery fully after each round.

Accuracy and point of impact seems to follow what I have read here and elsewhere. 1"-2" low and 1"-2" left of point of aim. Grouping was fair but not anything to rave about. I shot 8 rounds from the factory mag at 15yards and 25 yards. The ammo was Remington 230gr. FMJ. No wind blowing at all.

15 yard target
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25 yard target
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Took it to the range and fired 50 rounds to test the reliability...perfect. Sent the empty brass in a nice pile just over my right shoulder and never missed a beat. I use the factory mag and two of my Wilson 47D's. All three locked back the slide on empty. All three mags dropped freely when empty. Slide locked into battery fully after each round.
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I am a little miffed. I paid twice as much for another brand of 1911 that malfunctioned on the second shot I ever fired through it. :rolleyes: After that experience you will not find me "dissing" inexpensive guns.

Does yours have a full length guide rod, or original style? Some Tacticals apparently have it, some not.
 
It's just not right I have a Les Baer, now I'm not going to say that My Rock Island will do everything it will but dang. Very nice shooting weapon.
 
Yes, mine does have the FLGR.

Thank you for the comment on how well it shoots, but I am a little disapointed. One of my two sons has a Taurus PT-1911 and the other has the new PARA USA GI Expert and both shoot to point of aim, right out of the box, with the same ammo I was using today. I am going to send another few hundred rounds down range to see if it just needs to be broken in better. I'll decide what to do after that.

bigmike45
 
My Tactical shoots point of aim with my reloads. I use a 185 grain bullet. Using factory 230 grainers, it shot a little low.
 
Well I finally got back to the range yesterday after having the front sight pushed 1/16" to the left to get the grouping to at least hit center of point of aim. It is still hitting about 1"-1.5" low at 15 & 25yards. The next trip to the range I will take my file with me and hopefully get the point of impact and point of aim to be the same, or I might look for a replacement sight slightly shorter that either has a tritium insert in it or go the fiber optic route. I might even order a front sight from TruGlo that is the combination of both. I have the TFO's on my XD45 and they are the most amaxing sights I have ever had on a gun.
I also put another 150 rounds through the gun. That makes a total of 250 rounds of 230gr. through it without any malfunctions whatsoever. I am growing more and more fond of and confident in this guns function and dependability.
I will keep you apprised of the progress with this, what looks to be an unsung hero!!!

bigmike45
 
I found my Rock at a gunshow 410.00$ and it came with 3 magazines. I read one review where the guy said it was poorly machined and everything else was rave reviews.
 
BigMike, My recommendation is to bench rest shoot it before you file your sight. You may find out it's not the pistol, it's your anticipation. (pushing trigger and being right handed). also i've found out 1/16 to the left on the rear sight is within a normal move for a right hander. I'm left handed and had to move mine 1/16 to the right. My 2 friends (right handed) also had to move 1/16 to the left with their tacticals. Have fun.:D
 
Did you say you were using "point of aim" sight picture or "6 o'clock"?
 
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