Rock Island 1911 vs. Taurus pt1911

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Nobody is recommending $1000 1911 pistols. Just trying to show that one of the models has more features that you would find on a higher priced 1911. They're both good guns and you'll be happy with either I would say. But if you're not concerned with many features then no biggie.

If you're leaning toward the satin nickel, you should really check out the stainless Taurus then to get a good comparison. For me, I'd rather have a stainless than a nickel. I've had nickel pistols before. If they're something that you plan on getting a lot of use out of, you have to be careful with the nickel finish. It will eventually flake given enough wear and tear. You won't have that problem with stainless. There are a lot of people who think nickel is a higher maintenance finish than regular bluing.
 
Densecity, The two (RIA's), i only shown 1 in a post prior. Both were $465.00. I've got 2 of them, one for me and one for my wife. Both has over 3,000 rounds through. I've noticed no "flaking" on the Satin Nickel finishes. But, maybe original versions may have had a problem. The original "Tacticals" with the full lengh GR. Don't know. But the newer "Tacticals" (how you can tell- 2 peice GR's and Novac Sights, Polished feed ramps). Their fantastic "starter" .45's. I'm in no way discounting anybody's opinion in your thread. It's going to be your first .45. Is there any range nearby that you can rent? It's your "money" and your decision. All i can say this is a good thread you created. Good luck in your decision, and Happy Shooting!
 
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what makes the satin nickle finish on an RIA less durable then other guns with the same finish
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Two issues; it seems to thin mo' quickly than did the nickel finish on my CZ75Bs, and it chips off with heavy use in the high-wear areas inside of the frame. I much prefer the blued finish for its durability and the fact that it can be touched up.

I have been told that upgrade parts are harder to fit to the Taurus. The RIA being GI spec will take aftermarket parts more readily.
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Actually, my experience has been the exact opposite. The Taurus holds tolerances on the dimensions to spec much better than does the RIA. The only area where the Taurus clearly deviates from spec is in the inclusion of the safety lock in the hammer, and that's easily fixed by swapping out the offending parts.
 
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I have both a Taurus PT1911 and a RIA Tactical. I have had the RIA for a little over a year and had zero problems out of it i am probably around the 700 round mark with it.

I have had the Taurus for about a month and shot about 100 rounds through it with no problems. I bought it used so I don't know the actual round count for that gun.

I am completely happy with both guns but probably wouldn't have the Taurus if the gun store would have had another Tactical when I bought the Taurus.
 
Actually, my experience has been the exact opposite. The Taurus holds tolerances on the dimensions to spec much better than does the RIA. The only area where the Taurus clearly deviates from spec is in the inclusion of the safety lock in the hammer, and that's easily fixed by swapping out the offending parts.
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thank you for clearing that up!!!! I am so tired of hearing people say this about the PT1911.. it is seriously grasping at something to complain about...

SWING AND A MISS!!!!
 
I bought a RIA Tactical from Centerfire last year, & I really like it. No problems so far. The Novack mag & my Colt mags run fine in it. In fact-- other than the looks of the sweet bluing on my Colt 70 repro, I actually kinda prefer the RIA (at least shooting it, 'cause the beavertail fits my hand better). I know-- blasphemy! I'd probably prefer shooting the Colt if I tricked it out with a beavertail, but the RIA came with it for $400 + transfer.

All I've replaced on it are the grips (put on VZ Aliens), so I can't really speak to replacement parts fitting it well or not.

My brother-in-law has the Taurus (I've never shot it), & he loves it. I seem to remember that he did have some small problem with it at first (can't remember what though), but he fixed it quickly & swears by it now.

I personally prefer the looks of the RIA's, simply because I don't like the looks of the front slide serrations & the Taurus logo, but whatever, that's just preference on looks.

They seem to be about the 2 best 1911 deals for their price range these days, so you probably can't go wrong with either. Pick the one with the features ya like most, & you'll enjoy.
 
So if I'm following along correctly, it sounds like the STI is a "high-end" pistol with a cast frame. Is that right?
 
Another RIA vote here.

As to the cast -vs- forged frame issue, didn't FN/Browning Hi Powers go from a forged frame to cast one so that they'd hold up better for the .40 S&W chambering?...


nero
 
Have had my RIA for about 5 years now. It's my main pistol I shoot at local matches. Zero problems with the Pistol. Just recently picked up the Taurus PT1911. Like it as well. Have not shot it as much, but I like all the extra "bells and whistles" that it comes standard with. I had to put a couple hundred dollars into my RIA to get it to the same status the Taurus came standard with. Over all, I now love them both. I guess I'm not much help!

I know one thing, my buddies both had tricked out Springfields (probably at least $700 worth each) and their 1911's did not shoot any better or function any better than my $350 RIA!
 
it sounds like the STI is a "high-end" pistol with a cast frame. Is that right?
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Not really. The STIs made on the cast frame are their 'bargain' line. Their high-end line (on which they gained their reputation) does not use the cast frame.

As to the cast -vs- forged frame issue, didn't FN/Browning Hi Powers go from a forged frame to cast one so that they'd hold up better for the .40 S&W chambering?...
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Absolutely, but not because casting gave them better fatigue resistance but because they increased specific frame dimensions. Since they had to make new tooling anyway, they went to casting because they could make them via casting mo' cheaply than forging it.

There is nothing WRONG with cast metal, if done well. It's just that the design needs to account for the method of construction, to ensure that there are no thin areas where the less-dense structure of cast might pose issues.
 
Forgot something-What about a Kimber?

Hi there,

I posted earlier on the Rock and that still holds true, but if I had the choice between a Taurus and Kimber I would go for the Kimber. The Custom II (at least in my area) is very close in price to the Taurus. I paid $750 for my Kimber last November. The price for the Taurus is around $660 in this area. I did decide to buy the Kimber because I liked the Rock so much (I know, it is odd, but I had an evil black rifle that destroyed brass and traded it in on the Kimber. And can you really have too many 1911s?). My Kimber is as reliable as the Rock BUT it is much more accurate. For the price, it had better be. Some of the high end features I like are-

Forged Frame and slide
Smooth frame to slide fit
Great trigger
Extended beaver tail safety
One piece match grade barrel

All three pistols have the EVIL MIM parts. Some people make a big deal out of that. The Kimber was the only one out of the three that was tested and later adopted by SWAT. It does have a Swartz safety but I don't mind. It gives me a little more piece of mind.

I know that the post was specifically about the Taurus and the Rock, but don't disprove some of the other manufacturers. When I looked at the Kimber, you could get a mil spec Springer for $500, or in stainless for $550.

If you are concerned about the cast frame as comparied to the forged, keep in mind that Caspian frames (highly regarded) are cast and used in many high end builds. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I THINK the original 1911s were cast. I do remember what my mother taught me about the word assume, so please set me right if I am wrong.
 
That price on the Taurus you gave is a little inflated. At least around my area. You can pick up the stainless model for about $620. The blued ones are well below $600. I picked my blued up for $450 when they first came out. It was NIB, but bought from another person though so I doubt it was that cheap in the store.
 
I looked around last night at the store, Taurus's are all over $600.00 now in my area. I even seen a RIA GI for $509.00. Crazy!
 
"That price on the Taurus you gave is a little inflated. At least around my area. You can pick up the stainless model for about $620. The blued ones are well below $600. I picked my blued up for $450 when they first came out. It was NIB, but bought from another person though so I doubt it was that cheap in the store."
Olympus,
Great price on your Taurus. I was quoting a price I saw at a local dealer on sale for $660. It seemed high to me too. I have noticed prices have been increasing on 1911s. I too have seen a Rock Island (used) with a $500 price tag. Some of the election paranoia I think is causing the rise in prices. I haven't seen the recent pricing on the Kimber Custom II. It may have increased dramatically too.
 
The Taurus is $579 at a local sporting goods store here in the Houston area. I haven't seen any RIAs except occasionally at a gun show. The shooting range I go to has a Citadel for just under $600. It looks pretty good, but I wouldn't trade my PT1911 for it. I haven't seen any other 1911 pistols for anywhere near this price.
 
Citadel == the new name for RIA. Locally, they are $550 guns and the Taurus is about fifty more.

Ol' Scatch - the 1911 spec was always for a forged frame, never cast.
 
Citadel == the new name for RIA. Locally, they are $550 guns and the Taurus is about fifty more.

Ol' Scratch - the 1911 spec was always for a forged frame, never cast.
 
I bought my PT1911 Blued locally from an individual for $425 FTF. I thought I did pretty well considering the ones locally hear new are close to $600.
 
Original 1911 cast

Ol' Scatch - the 1911 spec was always for a forged frame, never cast.


Thanks Rbernie. I wasn't sure if I was correct or not. Ignorance is curable. Stupidity is permanent and typically follows a reluctance to learn.
 
Did they even have the means for casting good-quality steel in those days, though? And granted, while it may have been designed around the method of forging the frame, that doesn't necessarily mean that a cast part is not a perfectly good substitute.
 
Sez who? Never heard of Armscor producing anything named Citadel. Is this new?
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The imported Armscor 1911 is now going to be sold under the Citadel name and not the RIA name. They both are in the pipeline right now as old inventory is sold off and new inventory slowly hits. Come six months from now, you'll not see RIAs in the pipeline any more.
 
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