Rock Island 1911A1...OK Gun?

[TooTaxed]

I see these selling in the $300-$320 range brand new. How are they? Are the parts interchangable with the original 1911A1? How do they function with a variety of bullet types and weights...any problems with some loads? What quality is the steel? Fit of the parts? What accuracy have you experienced? If you have chosen to modify one with aftermarket parts, what was necessary?

 

[joshlm]

I have had one for a couple of years. The gun seems to be pretty well made and functions as it should. After about the first thousand rounds it would occasionaly not go all the way into battery and the slide would have to be pulled back and another round chambered. I replaced the recoil spring with a wilson and it has ran flawlesly since. I filed down the sharp edges on the grip safety and rounded off the back of the hammer just a little and that got rid of the hammer bite for me. It shoots great groups with 200grain H&G lead SWC and has no trouble feeding them. I also replaced the grips with some checkered walnut. Over all I have found it to be a good value and would not hesitate to buy another one. I have found it to be plenty reliable for carry also. If you take a walm over to the 1911 board and look in the other 1911 section you will find tons of information on this weapon. Overall the reviews tend to be very good their to. Hope this helps a little.

 

[Longbow]

Ask actual owners here www.1911forum.com

 

[TooTaxed]

Thanks, Longbow! That's a new site for me.

 

[Shorts]

I too have looked at the RIAs and they seem like a solid gun. I've got as friend who was crazy over them, and he is harcore marine, so if it got his approval, then it had to be worth some beans.

I'm considering one, but the 4" barrel. In fact, I'm just sorta looking SA Champ or Compact or a RI 4".

 

[Rockstar]

Just be sure you're not confusing RIA with RRA. You won't likely get a RRA for $300 or so.

 

[mauser98]

I bought an RIA 1911A1 in Feb of this year. Nice pistol. Please see my web log of my experience with this RIA.
My RIA Web Log Page

 

[boofus]

Me and a friend both got RIAs from Southern Ohio Gun when they had them on sale for $285 shipped. His worked right out of the box. Mine would fail to go into battery on the first and last rounds of every mag.

I tried replacing the recoil spring with a Wolff 18.5lb and it didn't help. Then I bought a Wilson Combat 47D magazine, still had problems. Then I ordered a Wilson Combat Bullet Proof extractor and the thing didn't fit in the slide. I got sick of trying to fix the thing and sold it.

I have very bad luck with every 1911 manufacturer however. The Colt I bought after that had problems too.

 

[White Horseradish]

I just got mine Thursday. It fed FMJ I bought at the range just fine, but had 2 misfeeds with WWB JHP. Seems to be put together quite well and is quite accurate.

 

[Dionysusigma]

Anybody have any experience with the double-stack version? Also, does it take Para-Ord mags?

 

[PReacher]

I see these selling in the $300-$320 range brand new. How are they? Are the parts interchangable with the original 1911A1? How do they function with a variety of bullet types and weights...any problems with some loads? What quality is the steel? Fit of the parts? What accuracy have you experienced?

I have an RIA Commander with the bull barrel and I have not had a single issue with it. I have fired hand-loads, Fiocchi, Wolf, Federal, Corbons etc etc and it takes them all with no issues.

The fixed sights that come on it are adequate and the accuracy was surprisingly good.

 

[Longbow]

Anybody have any experience with the double-stack version? Also, does it take Para-Ord mags?

' haven't fired one, but yes it will take Para-ord mags.
BTW, they have .40 cal and 9mm double stack guns available now too!