Rock Island 1911 - a good choice?

[SimplyChad]

I love mine. CS model IIRC Eats anything, accurate, and my most used CC.

 

[rondog]

This one customized nicely for me. This wasn't a Tactical model, this started out as a basic GI model.



And this one readily accepted a bunch of WWII Colt parts, with just a little minor fitting of the hammer and thumb safety. Also started out as a GI model, I just made it a little MORE GI looking!



Both are great shooters.

 

[non2os13]

Wow that looks good blued.

Sent from my H866C using Tapatalk 2

 

[CPLofMARINES]

Nice to hear, especially about the customer service (if needed)
I wish they made a nickel or stainless in a commander.
Something I'd like to own, but don't want to spend a lot
Of money on one.

 

[g_one]

Although mine isn't technically a Rock Island, it's a Citadel - which is made by Armscor (the same company that manufactures Rock Island). I couldn't be happier with it. Excellent slide-to-frame fit, not one FTF, my only complaint is that they didn't give me another one to match it when I bought it.

I got it hard chromed and had a few parts swapped out, but not because there was anything wrong with the factory configuration - I'm just a little picky, and I knew I was going to be keeping it for a very long time.

Factory:

Now:

 

[KTXdm9]

I've heard many good things. I say go for it.

 

[smalls]

I've shot a couple, and I was fairly impressed for what you pay. It's no Baer or Brown, but it's also not a $2500 piece.

You have to first understand that to get them at that price point a few corners were cut, though. If I put 50,000 rounds a year through my guns I wouldn't buy one. They just won't last that long, by the time you're done replacing broken parts you could have gotten something nicer. But for most shooters, they're perfectly fine guns, and they run good. I hear their CS is pretty damn good, too.

 

[lhartman89]

I really liked my RIA 1911. It was fairly accurate and I didn't have any problems with it.

 

[Furncliff]

OP, install a "better " barrel if you like. I don't think it's necessary unless you are a real ace. The targets bellow are marked, top one is Win White Box, the second are handloads using semi wad cutter lead bullets and Bullseye powder. All shot from a rest at 10yds. Top one shot when I first got the gun in 2008 the second shot in 2012. All with factory sights.






I liked this pistol enough to buy another, a used 1911-9mm in commander length. I got to know about RIA CS because the gun came to me with problems Armscor/RIA stand by their products I am completely satisfied by the way they treated me. This one does not seem to be as accurate as the .45 but I haven't finished testing loads.

 

[hacksaw]

My RIA tactical has about 2000 rounds through it, more or less. NEVER had so much as a hiccup. Eats hollow points like a fat kid eats cake.

 

[Fiv3r]

I've been really pleased with the accuracy out of my little CS. It's got the most rudimentary of GI sights, but it'll point shoot just about wherever you want the bullet to go.

Plain ol' cheap hardball will blow out the red at 7 to 10 yards without must effort. Even with the 3"ish barrel.

 

[CZguy]

I paid 410.00$ for mine 3 or 4 years ago. RIA customer service is top notch and the only issue I have is that the parkerized finsh is somewhat prone to rust

Just a thought, but Parkerizing doesn't prevent rust, it's porous surface allows it to hold oil, which is what prevents rust.

Just wipe it down with an oily rag from time to time.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Thanks for the tip.

 

[skoro]

I got the compact model several years ago and the only thing I changed was the grips. Accurate, cycles reliably, I think it's a good piece for a low price.

 

[CZguy]

Accurate, cycles reliably, I think it's a good piece for a low price.

I agree. I don't own one but I've shot a couple, and am impressed.

 

[highpower]

I think that most of the complaints that you hear about the Rock Islands are from those who had really early production models. Those made in the last 3 years or so seem to be pretty trouble free.

I bought a GI model and after shooting it, I went and bought a CS model too. I don't keep a count of how many rounds I shoot through my guns, but both have been shot a lot. Triggers on both of them are as good as the trigger on my Colt 1991 Government model, and I feel they are a tremendous value for the price.

 

[Olympus]

The current production models are also seeing a lot more problems. There are many that believe that RIA is going through growing pains right now and that they are trying to introduce too many new models, new calibers, and an increase in their commercial ammo production and their quality control is starting to slip. I've seen it in the last 4 guns I've bought from them in the last couple months. 3 of the 4 had to be sent back for warranty work.

Here is a photo of the last RIA that I got in a few weeks ago. Several others on forums have also reported seeing this on new production. Don't know if they're trying to cut corners to increase production or if this just for missed in quality control. These heavy chatter marks are deep enough to catch your fingernail on. When the disconnector slides across these chatter marks, it makes the gun sound like a small zipper when you rack the slide and gives a bumpy feel that can be felt through the trigger.

 

[Creature]

As a dealer, I'm seeing RIA's quality start to slip noticeably lately. Out of the last 5 that I've recently bought, 4 had to go back for warranty work.

Thanks for the heads up, Olympus. And that photo is very telling. I will think twice about a RIA and look elsewhere for now.

 

[Olympus]

They still make a good gun, if you get a good one. I had a 2011 VZ Tactical a few weeks ago and it was nicely fit and finished. Just be sure to look the new RIA guns over carefully. And their customer service has always been great, so even if you end up having to send the gun back for warranty work, they usually take care of the issues for you without question. Just don't have high expectations right out of the box.

 

[socalbeachbum]

I guess I would look one over pretty carefully before choosing it. Most of the dealers in my area that carry these seem to have 3 or 4 of the same model to select from.

 

[Paul7]

I had one a few years ago that never did run right, even after going back to the factory twice. They gave up on it and sent me a new one, which I sold. The parts didn't seem compatible with normal 1911 stuff, my gunsmith (a good one) tried to install an arched MSH but he couldn't make it fit.

 

[rondog]

my gunsmith (a good one) tried to install an arched MSH but he couldn't make it fit.

Wow, a shadetree hack like me can customize TWO of them, one with WWII Colt parts, but a "good gunsmith" couldn't even install an arched MSH in one? Something's wrong with this picture.

 

[Beach Nut]

I bought me a slightly used Rock Island GI model last year and I have been very
pleased with it. There may be better looking and more accurate 1911s out there
but my Rock Island digests everything I feed it and the accuracy is acceptable.
(especially considering the sights which are the thing I like the least about this
gun) I paid under $ 350.00 for this gun and that leaves me more money to buy
.45 ACP.

 

[gym]

Not for 550.00 which is what my LGS had them for today, "For the officers, or compact model", for 400.00 they are a good value. Then you can put a couple hundred into it and have a nice gun. I would just but a R1 for &650.00, $700.00 for stainless todays price in my town. Those shoot well with just a mag change. Once you cross the $600.oo line you may as well go for a better gun. Off topic that 239 that sig makes was calling my name all the way home. You should be able to pick up a Colt for $850 used.

 

[silicosys4]

Not for 550.00 which is what my LGS had them for today, "For the officers, or compact model", for 400.00 they are a good value. Then you can put a couple hundred into it and have a nice gun. I would just but a R1 for &650.00, $700.00 for stainless todays price in my town. Those shoot well with just a mag change. Once you cross the $600.oo line you may as well go for a better gun. Off topic that 239 that sig makes was calling my name all the way home. You should be able to pick up a Colt for $850 used.

My thoughts exactly. My RIA GI was $300 out the door and it was a GREAT value at that price.
But I picked up a nice used Colt 1991A1 recently for $600, and paid $650 for a brand new Sig nitron railed tacpac here not too long ago. The RIA can't compete at $550, IMO, and at that price I personally would recommend people find a used, higher quality gun or spend a little more to buy something nicer than the RIA for that kind of coin.