Rock Island Armory M1911 - Any Good?

[Dorrin79]

saw in shotgun news that Rock Island Armory M1911's are about $350.

I've wanted a 1911 forever, but could never justify paying the exorbitant prices for a Colt, a Kimber, or one of the custom shop guns.

How is the quality/durability, etc. on the RIA guns? I'm very tempted at that price....

 

[cslinger]

FWIW, I haven't shot one, but....

I have handled two or three and they seem to be put together well. Actually they seem a bit tight if anything. These were the ones I handled anyway.

I have heard they are decent guns but not necessarilly rely on saving your bacon guns. I have heard the magazines suck but there is always somebody who complains about 1911 magazines no matter the brand.

I know a couple people who have them and us the Wilson magazines and like them a lot. They do still have an occasional failure though.

I would really look at the Springfield Mil-Spec on Gunbroker. These can be had for not much more $$ and really have a good reputation. I have seen them in the middle $400s.

Sorry for the extremely little help but it's a start.

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=7211228

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=7159182

http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=7189653

 

[SIC TRANSIT GLORIA MUNDI]

I have one and it is an excellent value for the money (I paid $349). Good fit and nice park finish. Trigger is decent. Shoots well -I've shot several hundred rounds with no jams. I haven't had any problems with the factory mags but I did buy 4 Wilson Combats to augment my collection. You get the same function as a gun that costs several hundred more, but then I've never understood why someone would want one of those high-priced "art-objects".

 

[New_comer]

Parts come from Armscor of the Philippines, the makers of Charles Daly 1911's and Armscor Medallion series pistols. Assembled by TwinPines I believe, and comes only in milspec variety, parkerized finish.

Never owned one, as I don't really fancy milspec type 1911's, neither do my friends. Thus, I can't say that the RIA's have a healthy following. My guess is it'd perform as well as the standard CD, which by reputation is a hit or miss thing.

You can read more about that make at www.1911forum.com.

 

[Wildalaska]

OK so $350 in Shotgun news. Add $20 for shipping. Add another $25 for a Dealer Transfer..you are at $400...

You can buy a new Colt for about $100 more out of any dealer.

WildyagetwhatyoupayferAlaska

 

[10-Ring]

Try lay-a-way $350 this month, $350 next and you can get something you really want & not have to settle on a "maybe"

 

[PCRCCW]

The RIA 5" single stack is a Mil Spec sorta thing, the Wide Body and the two smaller sizes have low mount sights, extended controls and commander hammers....look pretty decent...
But for around 550$ you can get a SA Loaded with night, bells and more whistles..It just depends on what you want in the gun.
If you want the "bells" eventually, its cheaper to get then with a new gun...I see used Kimbers in the 500$ all of the time...
One of these days....hmmmmmmm
shoot well

 

[Dorrin79]

I guess I'm just a sucker for inexpensive guns.

So, to change topics, what is the best value in a 1911?

 

[Kahr carrier]

Springfield Mil -spec or Springfield Loaded 1911.

 

[DAL]

I have an RIA 1911 and it's a pretty decent gun. I wanted to see what all of the 1911 hoopla was about and I didn't want to drop a lot of money to do so. The RIA 1911, so far, has been a good shooter, especially with my reloads. I had the sights replaced because the mil-spec ones were too tiny.

After having fired several hundred rounds through the thing, I can say it's a fun range gun, but if I were going to use a 1911 for self-defense, I'd probably go with something a step or two up. No particular reason, that's just me.

The magazine that came with the gun is garbage. I bought a Kimber and another after-market brand and they've worked well.

BTW, I bought mine when they were offered for the introductory price of $285. After shipping and dealer fee, it came to around $349.

One thing I can say for the 1911: The ergonomics are second to none. It even fits my smallish hands well. Few other factory guns do that with me.
DAL

 

[Sven]

...best value in a 1911?

Valtro, but that is if you are looking to pay $1300 for a $2000 gun, not $400 for a $1000 gun.

In other words, depends on what the word "value" means to you.


Gun Tests Review
Official Valtro Website
Sven's Valtro Images

 

[Jaeger]

I made the mistake of buying a Rock Island last year. It was the Commander style with all the bells and whistles. Fit and finish were adaquate. There were a lot of tool and file marks left on the pistol.

The barrel was horrendous! It looked like they made 1 pass with a dull rifling button and chromed over it. When I bought the pistol I thought the roughness was just acumulated dirt and would clean right up. Instead, there were huge burrs in the rifling.

I took it back to my dealer. He had them send another barrel. (that was not an easy task! customer service is not their strong suit) The replacement was just as bad as the original. Unbelieveable!

I dumped it and bought a Springfield Armory. I have been very with it.

If you decide to get a Phillipine 45 go for the Charles Daily. They at least seem to have decent customer support. A friend of mine had one for a while and it was a pretty decent shooter.

Stay far away from Rock Island!

 

[Min]

I almost bought a RIA .45 1911, too. Until I found out about the Springfield Armory Mil-spec. I have never regretted getting the Mil-spec. Worth the extra fifty or so bucks.

 

[Wildalaska]

what is the best value in a 1911?

Easy...Colt...and made in the USA to boot...unlike all the others (well Kimber, other than the cheap Israeli? internals)

And when the rest have been making them for 80 years, they can join the race..

WilddancinghorseAlaska

 

[Nightcrawler]

You can buy a new Colt for about $100 more out of any dealer.

But for around 550$ you can get a SA Loaded with night, bells and more whistles..It just depends on what you want in the gun.

HA! HAHAHAH! HAHAHAH! (In case you can't tell that's BITTER IRONIC laughter.)

You folks don't know how good you've got it. Springfield Mil-Spec (not really mil-spec) runs $515 and up here. New Colts are a little more. Saw a Springfield Loaded in Gander Mountain for like $700, but their prices tend to be a bit high ($429 for a KP89 is ridiculous).

I wish the prices in my area were like that. Yeah, I know about gunbroker and such, but I don't like the idea of buying without inspecting. If my dealer orders a gun, and I find it unacceptable, he can send it back and I get charged a small restocking fee, or I can buy something else. (It's a cool little shop, and they know me by my first name.)