NorthBorder
Member
I'd been stricken with the 10mm bug as of late. I was torn between a 1911 or the new XDM. My LGS had the RIA 1911A1 FS-TAC II on the shelf for $650. I thought I could do better in price and then came Black Friday and a 10% discount. So after asking permission from my better half (on the phone- it always seems to have the best results) I walked out of the store with this:
$585 OTD. It worked for me. I'll admit that in buying a new gun price was an important factor. I couldn't find a XDM in 10MM anywhere to compare to, and the new Ruger 1911 was out of immediate reach. But I don't think I settled. I got what I paid for and more, I believe, and I am happy.
I took it home and opened the box. The gun is all steel and heavy. There are 2 magazines, one stainless and one black steel.
The stainless mag is marked 10MM, the black mag has no markings on it. The black mag is about worthless but more on that later. Both have bumper pads and slide in and eject with ease. The beveled mag well really makes loading without watching what I am doing a breeze.
When inserted and the slide locked back I noticed that it is really difficult to release the slide, I mean 2 thumbs on the slide release. Or, alternatively, pulling the slide back and listening for and feeling for an audible click then releasing the slide release to get the slide to travel forward. The slide release edges are sharp so at the end of the day the thumbs were feeling a bit raw. I had some fear that this was going to be a problem on the range but as it turned out, no problem at all. Same with the ambidextrous safety. It is large and the edges are sharp. But easily manipulated with my thumb and has a very positive and audible click.
The sights are rear white dot and front fiber optic sights. The rear sight is a Novak style adjustable for lateral and elevation. They are easily acquired even with my tired eyes and glasses.
Finally, the gun has a parkerized finish, not really attractive but very utilitarian. Just from the brief time I have owned and fired it (and being a display model) the finish does show abrasions from handling. I'll learn to live with that. Fitment seems to be really nice. No wiggle when the gun is shook. Between the grips which I believe are micarta and the serrations on the front and rear of the grip frame my grip is very positive.
Finally, the gun has a bull barrel in lieu of a barrel bushing, and a one piece steel guide rod. RIA also says it has a fully supported barrel chamber. The main spring feels a lot stronger than a 20 lb. spring which I believe is what it is.
Finally range day arrived. I took along a box of Armscor 180 gr. plated bullets. The gun ran flawlessly other than the black magazine which would not stay seated. It would drop about 1/2 inch after a round was fired, thus the next round would not load. No problem with the stainless magazine. It functioned perfectly. Also, putting the slide into battery with a loaded magazine worked as it should.
Ejected brass was about 10 feet over my right shoulder in an array about 5 feet in diameter. No FTF not related to the magazine and no FTE. At 7 yds my first shot was a bullseye and the next shot touching. The pattern spread out a bit but I could go back into the bull fairly often. I am not the best pistol shooter and I am learning to shoot with prescription glasses. Learning how high to raise my head over the sights and where to look through my bifocal glasses to find the crispest sight picture, which there seems to be none. Anyhow that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
And as a bonus I just happen to have a DeSantis hip holster which I have no real idea where I got it. But it fits perfectly.
I got this gun to carry as a hiking companion in place of my Redhawk .45. Hand-in-hand it does feel considerably lighter. I reload and will be researching stouter loads than standard 10MM commercial ammo available.
Finally, I contacted RIA customer service about the black magazine and got a reply back that said they will see what they can do. I am hoping for they will send me a stainless magazine. Just have to wait and see. If not, I guess I will be looking for a Wilson Combat mag or possibly a Kimber. If anyone has any experience using alternative magazines (and if you have a RIA 10mm all the better) please give your advice or experiences.
No, I don't think I settled. I believe I got one heckofa nice gun
$585 OTD. It worked for me. I'll admit that in buying a new gun price was an important factor. I couldn't find a XDM in 10MM anywhere to compare to, and the new Ruger 1911 was out of immediate reach. But I don't think I settled. I got what I paid for and more, I believe, and I am happy.
I took it home and opened the box. The gun is all steel and heavy. There are 2 magazines, one stainless and one black steel.
The stainless mag is marked 10MM, the black mag has no markings on it. The black mag is about worthless but more on that later. Both have bumper pads and slide in and eject with ease. The beveled mag well really makes loading without watching what I am doing a breeze.
When inserted and the slide locked back I noticed that it is really difficult to release the slide, I mean 2 thumbs on the slide release. Or, alternatively, pulling the slide back and listening for and feeling for an audible click then releasing the slide release to get the slide to travel forward. The slide release edges are sharp so at the end of the day the thumbs were feeling a bit raw. I had some fear that this was going to be a problem on the range but as it turned out, no problem at all. Same with the ambidextrous safety. It is large and the edges are sharp. But easily manipulated with my thumb and has a very positive and audible click.
The sights are rear white dot and front fiber optic sights. The rear sight is a Novak style adjustable for lateral and elevation. They are easily acquired even with my tired eyes and glasses.
Finally, the gun has a parkerized finish, not really attractive but very utilitarian. Just from the brief time I have owned and fired it (and being a display model) the finish does show abrasions from handling. I'll learn to live with that. Fitment seems to be really nice. No wiggle when the gun is shook. Between the grips which I believe are micarta and the serrations on the front and rear of the grip frame my grip is very positive.
Finally, the gun has a bull barrel in lieu of a barrel bushing, and a one piece steel guide rod. RIA also says it has a fully supported barrel chamber. The main spring feels a lot stronger than a 20 lb. spring which I believe is what it is.
Finally range day arrived. I took along a box of Armscor 180 gr. plated bullets. The gun ran flawlessly other than the black magazine which would not stay seated. It would drop about 1/2 inch after a round was fired, thus the next round would not load. No problem with the stainless magazine. It functioned perfectly. Also, putting the slide into battery with a loaded magazine worked as it should.
Ejected brass was about 10 feet over my right shoulder in an array about 5 feet in diameter. No FTF not related to the magazine and no FTE. At 7 yds my first shot was a bullseye and the next shot touching. The pattern spread out a bit but I could go back into the bull fairly often. I am not the best pistol shooter and I am learning to shoot with prescription glasses. Learning how high to raise my head over the sights and where to look through my bifocal glasses to find the crispest sight picture, which there seems to be none. Anyhow that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.
And as a bonus I just happen to have a DeSantis hip holster which I have no real idea where I got it. But it fits perfectly.
I got this gun to carry as a hiking companion in place of my Redhawk .45. Hand-in-hand it does feel considerably lighter. I reload and will be researching stouter loads than standard 10MM commercial ammo available.
Finally, I contacted RIA customer service about the black magazine and got a reply back that said they will see what they can do. I am hoping for they will send me a stainless magazine. Just have to wait and see. If not, I guess I will be looking for a Wilson Combat mag or possibly a Kimber. If anyone has any experience using alternative magazines (and if you have a RIA 10mm all the better) please give your advice or experiences.
No, I don't think I settled. I believe I got one heckofa nice gun
)
