rozziboy18
Member
hey guys, i just bought a 3.5'' ria 1911 for daily carry. have you guys had any trouble in reliablity/durablity and if so what are the problem areas? so far it runs like a top with no jams so far but time tells all.
opinions on RIA 1911's
- Thread starter rozziboy18
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I have the RIA CS Officers 3.5" also and it was flawless the first 150 rounds and the next 100 i had a 3-4 stovepipe ejection issues. I went to a 24lb recoil spring and its been trouble free again another 400 rounds.
From most of the reviews online the CS is one of the very few guns known to be reliable compact 1911's under $1k
One thing i didn't like was all the trigger parts were parkerized, Even on the mating surfaces of the sear and hammer. So after a new trigger to adjust pre travel and over travel and fluffing and buffing the other action parts i now have a trigger fit for a king.
Mine is my IWB ccw.
From most of the reviews online the CS is one of the very few guns known to be reliable compact 1911's under $1k
One thing i didn't like was all the trigger parts were parkerized, Even on the mating surfaces of the sear and hammer. So after a new trigger to adjust pre travel and over travel and fluffing and buffing the other action parts i now have a trigger fit for a king.
Mine is my IWB ccw.
orionengnr
Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2005
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- 5,716
I had one (3.5 inch), bought used, that would fail to feed every other round. After many different types of ammo, several different mags, and (most importantly, several tweaks to the extractor) I got it to work about 95%.
Not nearly good enough, but good enough to sell with full disclosure, and losing some money...like too many others.
But I sure as Hell won't buy another. Or recommend it to anyone else.
Hey, you asked...
Not nearly good enough, but good enough to sell with full disclosure, and losing some money...like too many others.
But I sure as Hell won't buy another. Or recommend it to anyone else.
Hey, you asked...
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HM2PAC
Member
My 1st RIA was an FTE/FTF machine. Just about everything that an autolaoder could do wrong, mine did.
I called the folks at ARMSCOR/RIA and they had me send it to them. A week or 2 later, they sent me a brand new pistol. That one has never hiccuped in the last 4 years.
After a few years, I felt like spending a bit of money on it and replaced a bunch of the smaller components as a project. Learned a lot about how the 1911 actually works. I had my GS do the trigger mechanism work and the new sights. Now it is incredibly accurate, gets carried often, and is my own test subject for any reloading I do.
ARMSCOR/RIA customer service is top notch. Sometimes people get a lemon, as I did initially, but they always take care to make sure their customers are happy.
I called the folks at ARMSCOR/RIA and they had me send it to them. A week or 2 later, they sent me a brand new pistol. That one has never hiccuped in the last 4 years.
After a few years, I felt like spending a bit of money on it and replaced a bunch of the smaller components as a project. Learned a lot about how the 1911 actually works. I had my GS do the trigger mechanism work and the new sights. Now it is incredibly accurate, gets carried often, and is my own test subject for any reloading I do.
ARMSCOR/RIA customer service is top notch. Sometimes people get a lemon, as I did initially, but they always take care to make sure their customers are happy.
earlthegoat2
Member
The very few rounds I have put through my RIA GI model have been flawless but that does not say much since there were so few. Im only going to be running FMJs in this and it is not going to be carried. Probably more of a house gun if that is the right term.
I am not impressed with the manual safety as it seems to allow for way to much movement in the sear with it in the on position. I dont know if all of them are like this but it is kind of concerning. The safety still works but there seems to be a lot of slop.
It will probably also turn into a project gun.
I am not impressed with the manual safety as it seems to allow for way to much movement in the sear with it in the on position. I dont know if all of them are like this but it is kind of concerning. The safety still works but there seems to be a lot of slop.
It will probably also turn into a project gun.
HM2PAC
Member
FWIW,
My RIA eats any and all HP's that I load. It's a veritable garbage can of a chamber that allows pretty much anything to seat properly.
My RIA eats any and all HP's that I load. It's a veritable garbage can of a chamber that allows pretty much anything to seat properly.
I buy as many different ammo's as possible also as i like to try new loads, Thats for FMJ and hollow point also. Mine dont care, It eats anything and for a compact i find that a feat.
Im sure some lemons have gotten out, But RIA's customer service is so good i would have kept on them until the gun worked right or they gave me one that did.
I went hog wild with my 5" 1911 of another brand rebuilding it with high end parts. The RIA seen its one and only high end part which was a new trigger which it needed imo.
Reason is i don't dare mess with a 100% reliable gun which is the hardest size to get right.
Im sure some lemons have gotten out, But RIA's customer service is so good i would have kept on them until the gun worked right or they gave me one that did.
I went hog wild with my 5" 1911 of another brand rebuilding it with high end parts. The RIA seen its one and only high end part which was a new trigger which it needed imo.
Reason is i don't dare mess with a 100% reliable gun which is the hardest size to get right.
HM2PAC
Member
^^^
Good point. Some of us just don't know when to not mess with the toaster though.
Good point. Some of us just don't know when to not mess with the toaster though.
I'd be especially interested in hearing from those of you shooting the shorter barreled (<4.25") models when your round count gets up near 10k...later this year
I've heard a lot of good things about the RIA...very much like when Springfield Armory 1911s were first introduced
I've heard a lot of good things about the RIA...very much like when Springfield Armory 1911s were first introduced
OP
OP
rozziboy18
Member
thanks for the good and bad guys! i tested some hollow points today and had some ftf. imc, the lip of the hornady xtp's catching on the barrels feed ramp, not the frame. a hour or to with some round files on the frame to decrease the angle of the feed ramp and deburring the barrel ramp and she eats anything now! i did the old ''slowly let the slide down trick and it passed!
i never thought i would like a off shore 1911 so much!
i never thought i would like a off shore 1911 so much!
How can you say that, all my favorite 1911s are imported...from Brazil (OK I'm stretching it...that was true until I discovered Dan Wesson 1911s)
harmon rabb
Member
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- Mar 14, 2009
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- 2,699
RIAs? Only problem is that they come with ugly ass grips. Other than that, good guns. Quality 1911's for cheap. RIA makes Colt during their bad era look pathetic.
HM2PAC
Member
Yeah, the original grips have to be swapped out.
Ugly, and thick, and smooth. Very odd feeling in the hand.
Ugly, and thick, and smooth. Very odd feeling in the hand.
I have a nickel .38 Super, (stop, seriously!) and whenever I'd seat a loaded mag it would pop the top round in the magazine out the ejection port and chamber the second one. After a little bit of beating it flat with a five pound sledge and replacement with a Wilson magazine, it runs great. I've got kind of a lot of 1911's, and I appreciate the RIA for what it is for the money.
Yep, I have three RIA's, including the CS Compact model, which is my every day carry. The more you shoot 'em, the better they'll run, they need a little breaking in. And mine are all ammo pigs too that'll eat anything.
And it's JMHO, but I think they put cheap grips on them because most 1911 owners change the grips anyway. Fancier grips would only increase the cost to us.
And it's JMHO, but I think they put cheap grips on them because most 1911 owners change the grips anyway. Fancier grips would only increase the cost to us.
Flash!
Member
I bought the RIA CS Compact Tactical today with the proceeds of some other guns I sold this past week...... its off to the range tomorrow.... right now I only know it feels really good in my hand..... 
HM2PAC
Member
Flash!,
If you could give a range report later today that would be awesome.
If you could give a range report later today that would be awesome.
WardenWolf
member
I got an RIA 1911 Tactical recently. I'm in the process of accurizing and customizing it. It shot to the left quite a bit when I first got it, but this seems to have been mostly due to its flat mainspring housing allowing the gun to twist in the hand when recoiling. I replaced it with a Wilson Combat V-Grip housing, and that fixed it (as well as eliminating the only plastic part in the entire gun). I'm planning to have a Wilson match-grade bushing installed on it, as well. The gun is very well-made with great tolerances on the slide and frame, and a good finish. All in all a very nice gun.
Upsides: quality construction, accurate, well-finished, built to true 1911 specs. A bargain for what you pay.
Downsides: plastic 1911A1 mainspring housing (very easily replaced), overly large Rock Island Armory logo on the slide. Overuse of black parts on the Tactical models with silver and black parts (it's a little TOO black for an ideal mixture). Possible downside: very tightly installed barrel link pin. Not a big deal for most people, but if you do need to get it out, be prepared to hammer at it with a punch.
Upsides: quality construction, accurate, well-finished, built to true 1911 specs. A bargain for what you pay.
Downsides: plastic 1911A1 mainspring housing (very easily replaced), overly large Rock Island Armory logo on the slide. Overuse of black parts on the Tactical models with silver and black parts (it's a little TOO black for an ideal mixture). Possible downside: very tightly installed barrel link pin. Not a big deal for most people, but if you do need to get it out, be prepared to hammer at it with a punch.
HM2PAC
Member
Plastic mainspring housing?
Anyone know when RIA started doing that? Mine is steel.
Anyone know when RIA started doing that? Mine is steel.
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