Rock Island 1911 vs Taurus PT1911

[sarduy]

if you're willing to pay $20.00 over your $800.00 limit this may be a great option
http://www.aimsurplus.com/acatalog/Kimber_Stainless_II_.45acp_Pistol.html

but if you want to keep it under $800.00 get a RIA Tactical

 

[loop]

I recently went shopping for a Taurus. I wanted a low-end 1911 for a beater. I gave up on the idea. After checking out more than a dozen Tauruses I just could not find one that had decent slide to frame fit, barrel to bushing fit, bushing to slide fit.

None of them could pass two tests.

RI was a bit better, but not by much. Neither one came close to passing a two out of three simple tests.

Yes, there are people on forums who will swear by them. But, there are people on forums who never owned a gun in their lives and have a lot to say about particular makes and models.

The bottom line is sloppy guns that are poorly made with QC issues. How else would you know anything about customer service?

For a little bit more you can buy an American-made Colt.

Ask yourself - would I rather have a Filipino or Brazilian imitation or a Colt?

If you just want a gun buy a Ruger. It will go bang most of the time and you might actually hit the paper more than half the time.

If you want a good 1911 spend another $100 and buy quality.

I'd suggest you buy a reloading press before you buy a gun. The pistol is worthless without ammo and the only way to understand ammo is to build it.

 

[RobMoore]

The bottom line is sloppy guns that are poorly made with QC issues. How else would you know anything about customer service?

because all mechanical devices break down.

Those companies who treat you right AFTER your purchase get the reputation for doing so (RI, S&W), not because every gun they make needs service afterward, but because if it does, you know it will be hassle free.

Companies who treat you like the plague, and don't want anything to do with you unless you have a .gov on your email also get a reputation (H&K, Colt).

 

[shooter1]

I've owned a Taurus for 4-5yrs. I have had no malfunctions of any kind. I can also say the same for a Charles Daly compact 1911 I bought a couple years before the Taurus. So there you have it, the ownership of a Brazilian and Philippine pistol with good results.
I just spent a couple weeks working on and shooting a RIA Tactical. It would almost never chamber the first round from the magazine. The owner brought me a dozen or so Golden Sabers and Gold Dot rounds that he had attempted to chamber. The bullets were set back in the case .020-.030 from hitting the feed ramp on chambering. It was also shooting quite high at 10 yds. In order to make it function properly, I had to polish the breechface, tune the extractor, and refit the barrel after installing a shorter link. The breechface and the lug area were the roughest I have ever seen on any pistol. The metal was also the softest. 300 grit cleaned it up in no time. I also observed that the firing pin had to be indexed a certain way (due to being out of round), to make the firing pin move in the channel without binding.
A complete tear down of the Taurus when I first got it home, was quite the opposite. Very few tool marks internally, and the internals were well fitted. Some of the small parts on the Taurus are MIM, but are easily replaced at little cost if that bothers you. I have observed a couple of broken safeties that appeared to be due to faulty MIM processing.
I am told Taurus customer service really blows. No personal experience with that. Aftermarket parts are plentiful and inexpensive, and most should be capable of replacing any failed parts without the need to send the gun in for repairs. The frame and slide of the Taurus are good quality forgings and should last a couple of lifetimes.

For my money, I'd buy the Taurus.

str1

 

[acmax95]

I have an RIA Tactical and a Taurus 1911. The RIA Tactical was my first 1911 and has been flawless since I bought it, new, two years ago. I bought the Taurus used early this spring and it has also been flawless. Both shoot well and seem to be good guns, but I am by no means an expert.

I had a rail put on the RIA and sits in my nightstand with a Hellfighter light/laser combo along with my LED upgraded mini mag. The Taurus is my carry gun and goes with me about everywhere I can take it, and stays in the truck when I can't take it with me.

I got both for about $400 each, the Taurus a little more and the RIA a little less but I am very pleased with both guns.

 

[bigmike45]

Youngest son has a Taurus PT-1911. Great trigger, accurate, no function problems in 1300 rounds and loaded to the hilt with goodies, but had to change out those plastic grips. Not so great finish.

Oldest son has the Para Ordnance GI Expert. Great trigger, pretty much a plain jane working mans gun. Accurate and no function problems in 800 rounds, but had to change out the plastic grips. Nice finish.

I recently bought the RIA Tactical for a truck gun. Loaded to the hilt, with a little front sight adjustment is now very accurate. No function problems in 375rounds, good trigger and good parkerized finish. Changed out the smooth wood grips to nice checkered grips.

Any one of the three would serve you well.

 

[LancerMW]

+1 on the Spartan, the gun is just amazing, effortlessly groups, and backed by STI's top notch costomer service, but honestly you probably dont need it.

 

[george29]

Get a Ed Brown

A precedes a Consonant, AN precedes a Vowel, consequently, it would be correct to write, Get an Ed Brown.
Of course, he asked about two specific weapons of which Ed Brown wasn't one of them.
Yes, today I am Hermann Goering the spelling Nazi.

 

[verdun59]

Holy moly george29,

If you are going to correct grammar and spelling on this site, I'm afraid you will have to quit your day job and enlist some help at night.

 

[Schofield3]

Yes, today I am Hermann Goering the spelling Nazi.

Hahaha,

and just where has anyone found an Ed Brown for under $800!

 

[putteral]

Not on this Planet!

 

[jcwit]

Yes, today I am Hermann Goering the spelling Nazi.

Whoop te doo

 

[Mags]

For 800 dollars you could get a nice used Kimber or Springfield but of course they're not on your list.

 

[S&WMP45]

i just bought a springfield champion operator for $725 (used never fired!)

i've only put 50 rounds through it, pmc hard ball, today. one of the most accurate guns i've fired.

they go for $850 to $950 new, be a great choice

 

[1858rem]

i got the RIA GI model i think, 1911A1 and was very surprised at the accuracy, held 5 shots into about an inch and a half after realizing i was jerking the trigger was why i hit low the first three. very good fit and finish and easy field strip once you do it once or twice. 350-400 bucks new

 

[george29]

Holy moly george29,

If you are going to correct grammar and spelling on this site, I'm afraid you will have to quit your day job and enlist some help at night.

It was a passing thing.

 

[rugerman07]

In my search for a moderate priced 1911 I've found there are several good choices other than just the RIA or Taurus. I've found Springfield Armory, Para Ordenence, STI Spartan, and Norinco 1911's for well under $600.00. I'm still in the shopping stage before I buy.

 

[doc2rn]

You might be able to trade into an XD 45

 

[The Lone Haranguer]

If you want a good 1911 spend another $100 and buy quality.

I agree on the general principle, but I've paid $200-$400 more and still got bad quality.

 

[NoneMoreBlack]

Not to fan the flames or anything, but the reason you're getting conflicting advice OP is probably because you set your budget at around double the price of both the brands you're shopping. RIA and Taurus are usually considered good deals for under $500, not under $800, so you should reconsider what you're actually looking to spend before proceeding.

 

[SaxonPig]

Aren't the RIAs, Tauruses (Taurii?) and the Dalys all made in the same factory in the Philippines?

I have an RIA Super that seems fine. They have a military finish and are not deluxe but 95% of owners like them. These often retail for $500 or less.





The Chinese Norincos were copies of a military 1911 and had a good reputation. Banned from import by Daddy Bush they turn up in the $500 range.





For $800 you can get a genuine Colt. This is a Series '70 I bought new in 1973 and added the sights in 1975. I have fired somewhere around 5,000-6,000 rounds through this gun and it has never failed to feed, fire or eject. Not once.

 

[rugerman07]

Aren't the RIAs, Tauruses (Taurii?) and the Dalys all made in the same factory in the Philippines?

I have an RIA Super that seems fine. They have a military finish and are not deluxe but 95% of owners like them. These often retail for $500 or less.
/QUOTE] A friend of mine has a RIA 1911, I've shot it and like it. I've never shot a Norinco but I've been hearing good things about them.

 

[chrissmallwood]

I have a RIA GI and its been a great gun. If you ever have a problem with a Rock Island and have to send it back they will completly go through and smooth out and tune up your pistol no matter what the problem was just to make sure your a happy customer.

 

[shooter1]

The RIAs and Dalys are made in the Philippines. The Taurus is made in Brazil.
str1

 

[essayons21]

My carry is a Springfield Champion, but I just picked up a used Rock Island Tactical as a project gun and I'm very pleased with it.

The Springfield is noticeably better, and is much more gun for the money, but the RIA surprised me with the quality and extras for such a low priced gun.

I don't have any experience with Taurus 1911s, but my experiences with other models made by Taurus has made me avoid their products.