Rock Island Armory 38 special

[starnbar]

was at the range today and I guy I have seen at the range a few times had a snubby at first glance it looked like a chiefs special after closer inspection it was a Rock Island he offered a chance to shoot it and for what he paid for it and the way it shot it is not a bad little revolver.

 

[UncleEd]

Was it six shot? Could it have been closer to the
D frame Colt Detective Special and now the newly
produced Cobra? Slightly bigger than a J, smaller
than a K.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

They aren't bad compared to other $250 revolvers like a Charter Arms or Windicator. I might even take one over a newer Taurus.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I have one with the longer barrel. It shoots pretty darn good. But putting next to my Taurus tracker and GP 100. Quality in workmanship. 1st is the Ruger 2nd the Taurus then the RIA. I did loose the detent screw and spring in the RIA. They send me new ones on their dime. RIA CS is good.

 

[Hugger-4641]

I suspect you probably saw this one, RIA 206, 38sp, 6 shot.
It shoots very well, but the matt finish will rust easily on the barrel if you don't keep it wiped down. To be expected with a $250 revolver.

 

[Riomouse911]

I suspect you probably saw this one, RIA 206, 38sp, 6 shot.
It shoots very well, but the matt finish will rust easily on the barrel if you don't keep it wiped down. To be expected with a $250 revolver.
View attachment 1145516

Is that a baked on, paint type finish or a parkerizing type finish? I can’t really tell.

Stay safe.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Is that a baked on, paint type finish or a parkerizing type finish? I can’t really tell.

Stay safe.

I think it is some kind of Parkerized finish judging from the rust that formed on the barrel. It doesn't show up well in the pic and it was only on the barrel. My wife carried it in a belly holster while she mowed for a couple hrs and I didn't notice the rust until a few days later.

 

[12Bravo20]

They aren't bad compared to other $250 revolvers like a Charter Arms or Windicator. I might even take one over a newer Taurus.

I compared all of the RIA 206 revolvers to all of the Taurus 856 revolvers that my local FFL had which was 4 or 5 of each. There was a night and day difference between the RIA 206 and the Taurus 856. All of the 856's were better finished and had smoother actions compared to all of the 206's. Granted that was in January 2022 so things could have changed since then. I would still take the RIA 206 over a Charter Arms revolver though.

I guess I am just use to S&W revolvers and clones and prefer the cylinder latch on them. The RIA 206 is just like the old Colt Detectives in that the cylinder latch has to be pulled to the rear. I will say that I did like how the RIA 206 wood grips fit my hands though. I don't care for the rubber grips on either the 206 or 856.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Was it six shot? Could it have been closer to the
D frame Colt Detective Special and now the newly
produced Cobra? Slightly bigger than a J, smaller
than a K.

They're basically a Colt D Frame (Colt Police Positive, etc.) clone. Colt holster, and, I'm told and have read, Colt Holsters, grips, and the HKS speedloaders will fit. (I haven't tried it.) The main difference appears to be that all of the screws are metric threads.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

...Quality in workmanship. 1st is the Ruger 2nd the Taurus then the RIA.

Taurus isn't even in the same league with Ruger. That's like comparing a super bowl NFL team to that of your local community college. (An RIA is your local high school JV team.)

I did loose the detent screw and spring in the RIA. They send me new ones on their dime. RIA CS is good.

Apparently, they do have a well-earned reputation for great customer service.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I would still take the RIA 206 over a Charter Arms revolver though.

Really!? I'm surprised to hear that. Are you referring to the old, old CA guns or the modern ones?

 

[12Bravo20]

Really!? I'm surprised to hear that. Are you referring to the old, old CA guns or the modern ones?

New CA revolvers made since the beginning of the plandemic, especially the Undercover and Undercoverette models in 38 Spec or 327. Do a search here on the forum along with searching other forums and you will find all kids of threads about people having issues. I also checked out some Charter Arms revolvers when I looked at the RIA and Taurus revolvers. The CA revolvers felt like cheap Saturday Night Specials from the 70's compared to the RIA and Taurus revolvers.

 

[Hugger-4641]

There was a night and day difference between the RIA 206 and the Taurus 856. All of the 856's were better finished and had smoother actions compared to all of the 206's.

I'll second this assessment.
I own a few RIA and Taurus, auto's and revolvers. The finish on Taurus is definitely better.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Mines the 200. I think i paid 150 OTD back before the plandemic.
M200 38Spl 6rd (armscor.com)

 

[Tallball]

My friend was shopping for revolvers and we felt a used RIA that looked and felt pretty good. He bought an SP101, but the RIA seemed okay.

They're kind of crude looking and the finish isn't impressive, but I wouldn't reject a smooth one that went bang.

 

[someguy2800]

Taurus isn't even in the same league with Ruger.

Yeah that’s right, I recently got my first Taurus and unlike my two ruger revolvers, the Taurus actually worked!

 

[Lyle Wyatt]

I have one of the 200s 4" barrel. It was $208 out the door, fit and finish are horrible, but goes bang when you pull the trigger, hits where you are aiming and at 500 rounds the timing is still perfect. I figure it was $208 well spent.

 

[Old Dog]

I have compared some of the RIA revolvers to the Charter Arms. My nearby Bi-Mart has had a selection of both brands. The RIA appears (to me) to have the edge as far as fit and finish as well as lock-up.

Taurus not in the same league as Ruger? I dunno, I've seen some pretty decent looking Taurus revolvers lately (the "Executive Grade" I examined closely was really, really well-executed) and I'm just not at all impressed with several of the latest Ruger products. Not to mention that Ruger revolver prices are just getting stupid crazy.

My local Bi-Mart had a pretty nice-looking RIA revolver I would have picked up at the price point, but I was buying a new SIG M-18 already, being p***ed off at my state for its recently passed, and pending, new gun control legislation.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Not to mention that Ruger revolver prices are just getting stupid crazy.

They're not getting stupid crazy; they've been stupid crazy-for a long time.

 

[wesmonster]

I bought an Armscor/RIA 206 4" revolver years ago, under $250 new.
Trigger was gritty but smoothed out with use.
I initially just bought it cause it was a Colt Detective clone but over the years it's held up fine and shoots well.
Yea, my S&W and Ruger revolvers are finished better but they're much more expensive.
I've had good luck with RIA 1911s as well, like the 206 it's a basic parkerized finish which means keep it oiled and you'll be fine.

 

[dekibg]

I suspect you probably saw this one, RIA 206, 38sp, 6 shot.
It shoots very well, but the matt finish will rust easily on the barrel if you don't keep it wiped down. To be expected with a $250 revolver.
View attachment 1145516

Thought that finish is supposed to be crude , but good protection against humidity in Philippines?

 

[JERRY]

To be fair charter arms has some of the best customer service in the industry, and that's good because you're gonna need it.

 

[12Bravo20]

To be fair charter arms has some of the best customer service in the industry, and that's good because you're gonna need it.

This is true with recent production models from Charter Arms.

 

[Hugger-4641]

Thought that finish is supposed to be crude , but good protection against humidity in Philippines?

IDK, could be I just got a bad one, but it definitely rusted on the barrel. I caught it soon enough that a wipe down with CLP cleaned up.

 

[wesmonster]

That parkerized finish is really just designed to hold oil, don't wipe it down and it'll probably rust. But I've also seen a new stainless steel Kimber 1911 used as a primary carry rust on one side from perspiration.
I usually use a 'dry lube' like RemOil or Hornady One Shot for wipedowns but for anything parkerized I keep an old piece of a black cotton t shirt coated in CLP in a zip loc bag. Not dripping but enough for a wipedown. Also works well for ARs and AKs.