Rock Island / Armscor really let me down...bad.

[KarateHottie93]

I know what you're probably thinking. "It's RIA...what do you expect?".

I expected a revolver that was better off than when I sent it in. I loved my M206. It had a smoother double action trigger pull than my S&W PC. It had a crisper single action than my new model Colt Cobra. Timing was perfect...as good as I've ever seen on any Colt style action. There was ONE flaw. It came with an obviously sprung crane. You could see a good bit of gap between it and the frame when the gun was tilted to the left even the least bit.

It wasn't an issue in most cases. I shoot double action almost exclusively though...even on my DA/SA pistols. It would snag occasionally and hang up. You'd have to pull really hard and it would completely throw the shot off. It was due to the gap between the crane and the frame. If it wasn't perfectly straight, it would hang open the slightest bit and mess with the cylinder stop locking up. It appeared to be an obvious fix. Just straighten the crane. I even clamped it shut once and I couldn't get it to hang up no matter how hard I tried. They said they could fix it and I sent it off.

I got it back today after exactly 7 weeks. What I got back is the piece of garbage everyone talks about when sharing their experiences with this firearm.

The double action is heavy and not smooth at all. The single action is mushy. I have no idea what they did to my gun. I can live with that stuff and be happy though.

The big issue is they completely destroyed the timing. Two of the chambers no longer lock up when you slow cock it. I had this issue with my Cobra once but it was the hand in that case. This is just the star. One of the chambers at least finishes locking fully into place when the trigger is all the way back. The other one doesn't even do it then. If you want it to lock up, you either have to manually turn it or cock it fast.

I get it's a Rock Island but I don't get how any manufacturer can have something for two months and send it back in way worse condition than it arrived in. It doesn't even lock up all the way in double action!

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I have a RIA 38 too. Only issue i had with it. The crane detent disapeard. 2 days after i called a new one and the screw and spring was delivered. There CS has been great for when i needed them for my 1911's. Call them back. They will make it right.

 

[KarateHottie93]

I have a RIA 38 too. Only issue i had with it. The crane detent disapeard. 2 days after i called a new one and the screw and spring was delivered. There CS has been great for when i needed them for my 1911's. Call them back. They will make it right.

I emailed them. I'm just disappointed by the whole situation. At this point I'm considering just selling it for parts. I don't get how someone can let an RMA leave the factory in this condition.

 

[LiveLife]

I emailed them. I'm just disappointed by the whole situation.

Email them again and this time, attach link to this thread.

THR and other forum members have reported good to very good RIA/Armscor customer service. And let us know what their response is.

Keep us posted.

 

[12Bravo20]

I had a 9mm 1911 that kept messing up and the hammer would follow the slide forward. The pistol got sent back to Rock Island 3 times and on the third time they replaced it with a brand new 9mm 1911.

And to add, this has been the only time that I have ever had to send any RIA guns back for warranty work. I haven't had any issues with all of the other RIA pistols I own.

 

[KarateHottie93]

Email them again and this time, attach link to this thread.

THR and other forum members have reported good to very good RIA/Armscor customer service. And let us know what their response is.

Keep us posted.

I called them and talked to someone. He was like "yeah I see your emails here". Then I was like "yeah...sorry, I was kinda pissed".

We had a good laugh but he was understanding of why I was upset at least. He said he'd have the new RMA paperwork emailed to me by the end of the night and he'd expedite the whole process. I got called into work so I've been sitting here checking it periodically. Nothing yet. Hopefully everything works out, it gets fixed, and doesn't take two months again.

I'm sorry keep repeating myself but the fact that this came back from an RMA in this condition just blows my mine. I honestly don't even think I could pawn it in this shape. It's so bad that you don't even have to be checking the timing to tell that the two chambers don't lock up. It's super obvious. If you slow fire it in double action, you can manually turn the cylinder into place after the hammer has already dropped.

 

[LiveLife]

He said he'd have the new RMA paperwork emailed to me by the end of the night and he'd expedite the whole process.

Next time, link the THR thread in the email.

Doing this allows the customer service the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do. Based on many THR member experiences with customer service, they have been mostly positive.

 

[KarateHottie93]

Next time, link the THR thread in the email.

Doing this allows the customer service the opportunity to demonstrate what they can do. Based on many THR member experiences with customer service, they have been mostly positive.

I'll email them back with it. Customer service has been great. I understand they can't help what happens with quality control.

 

[Tinker-S]

In my experience: When I discover that I purchased a lemon, I either sell it or trade it. For some reason, when items are returned for warranty work, it just turns out a bad experience. The only time I sent a rifle back for warranty work was because a broken extractor on a bolt action rifle. I still have it, and no issues. Other firearms with issues, I got rid of them. I lost money, but better some than nothing at all.

 

[Jim Watson]

A poster on PF is right happy with his.

In my experience: When I discover that I purchased a lemon, I either sell it or trade it. For some reason, when items are returned for warranty work, it just turns out a bad experience. The only time I sent a rifle back for warranty work was because a broken extractor on a bolt action rifle. I still have it, and no issues. Other firearms with issues, I got rid of them. I lost money, but better some than nothing at all.

A post on the 1911 board once said, in all seriousness, that a gun ought to be shooting well after only two trips back to the maker.

There are no Alfa-Armscor-RIA gunsmiths that I have ever heard of. You could push a Pacific Rim auto through shops familiar with the parent gun, but the revolvers are sui generis.

 

[LiveLife]

In my experience: When I discover that I purchased a lemon, I either sell it or trade it. For some reason, when items are returned for warranty work, it just turns out a bad experience.

The only time I sent a rifle back for warranty work was because a broken extractor on a bolt action rifle. I still have it, and no issues.

Do you have personal experience with RIA/Armscor products?

You mentioned returning a firearm one time. Was it a RIA/Armscor product?

If no, your experience will likely be not relevant to OP.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I needed a slide stop for my 45. I called and asked if they could send me new one. I explained how i knew it was a slide stop issue. Because when i swapped the slide stop from my other 45. It worked. The gun was not locking open after last round. Anyways they had me send it in. I thought that was over kill. They said about fitting it. 2 weeks round trip. They replaced it and tuned up my gun while they had it there. New springs installed too. Can't beat that for CS.

 

[Tinker-S]

Do you have personal experience with RIA/Armscor products?

You mentioned returning a firearm one time. Was it a RIA/Armscor product?

If no, your experience will likely be not relevant to OP.

I apologize, and dully ask for forgiveness for my comment. Please, accept my apologies if my post triggered anger or any other feeling. I hope the OP does not react like you.
To address your question: no.

 

[Japle]

Several years ago, I bought a S&W 686SSR just before Christmas. The cylinder had 6 chambers and 7 flutes. That meant that one of the chambers was right under a flute and was supported by only 0.1" of steel.
I tried to contact S&W, but they were closed for the holidays, so I took pictures and posted them on a bunch of gun forums.
That got action!
Long story, but now I have what might be the only 686SSR with an unfluted cylinder.

 

[Jim Watson]

I recall the case but did not know how it worked out. I assumed they would simply put in a proper cylinder. But no, "We're going to show him."

My M640 flutes are uneven, not exactly between chambers. Pity I did not notice it until I got it back from the engraver.

 

[doubleh]

My only experience with RIA customer service was that it didn't exist. After 4 weeks of trying to contact someone at RIA both by email and phone with no luck I gave up, bought the parts needed, and fixed the gun myself. It was a 1911 that didn't work right out of the box.

 

[mjsdwash]

I have told my RIA story here a few times, its long and whiney, but the story ends with the following advice:
If you get a Lemon, RIA will tell you to "go F--- yourself."

Sorry you got cheated on that one. Send it in again, but if Arnell is still their "gunsmith", it probably won't get fixed. Send it enough times they may send you a working one.

Back then, they wouldn't pay shipping though, do they now?

 

[LiveLife]

My only experience with RIA customer service was that it didn't exist. After 4 weeks of trying to contact someone at RIA both by email and phone with no luck I gave up, bought the parts needed, and fixed the gun myself. It was a 1911 that didn't work right out of the box.

I have told my RIA story here a few times, its long and whiney, but the story ends with the following advice:
If you get a Lemon, RIA will tell you to "go F--- yourself."

How long ago was that?

What matters to OP and other THR members is how RIA/Armscor responds to customer service requests now.

If current customer service is like what you posted, then so be it. If things have changed for the better, then things have changed.

 

[doubleh]

How long ago was that?

Long enough ago that apparently someone now staffs customer service. Considering the service provided to the OP I am glad I couldn't contact anyone.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Recently bought a GP100 in .38 Special. Turns out it was bored to .357! Sent it in to Ruger who answered the phone within 10 seconds and sent a 2-day express pre-paid label. Got the gun back in about a week. Chambered correctly, the replaced the cylinder, pawl, and trigger. Perfect working order.

Shot it a few times and the fixed sights (this is a unique model discontinued model made in 2011 btw) were about 6” low and 3” left at 15 yards with a couple different bullet weights.

Called Ruger again and went through the same easy process. Gun came back in about another week with a freshly cut target crown, re-torqued barrel, and a new front sight. Also two large printed pictures of groups fired off the bench at 15 yards with all shots in the bullseye. Fired a couple days ago at the range to confirm and the gun shoots deadly accurate and to perfect point of aim out to 25 yards.

Ruger backs their customer 100% and the people fixing their revolvers KNOW WHAT THE HELL THEY ARE DOING back there and aren’t just monkeys with hammers and a bin full of parts.

I dealt with RIA customer service about 4 years ago with their Tactical model. Some guy answered the phone and sounded drunk. It also took me about 2 months to get the gun back, with the same exact failure to feed issues as before.

Sell that piece of junk M206 and get you a used Ruger SP101 or Ruger GP100 with 3” barrel.

 

[buck460XVR]

How long ago was that?

What matters to OP and other THR members is how RIA/Armscor responds to customer service requests now.

If current customer service is like what you posted, then so be it. If things have changed for the better, then things have changed.

Long enough ago that apparently someone now staffs customer service. Considering the service provided to the OP I am glad I couldn't contact anyone.

Iffin' the request for service was made during the beginning of the pandemic, it is reasonable to understand why there was no one there to answer the phone/emails. I don't own anything RIA/Armscor, so I have no dog in this fight, but I have to agree with "Livelife", that what matters is how things are handled now. Have heard horror stories of gun returned from repair from S&W, Ruger and other more expensive brands too, especially when it comes to tool marks that were not there when the gun was sent in. Have found them myself when picking up a gun from a trusted local gunsmith. I'm not saying it is always acceptable, just that stuff happens. Have also been on the receiving end of a returned gun that did not have the original problem fixed. Generally it was a communication error somewhere along the way. A second prepaid label and the gun returned the second time fixed, was enough for me. Has happened with my Car/Truck at the dealer/mechanic and the local HVAC dealer. Sometimes getting the product to duplicate the issue is more difficult than we realize. If a problem is easy enough that I can get the part myself and do the repair myself, that is always the preferred method for me. I can snibble that there was an issue in the first place, but that does little but make noise.

 

[Jim Watson]

Called Ruger again and went through the same easy process.

Seen on another board
“Any gun should be shooting well after only two trips back to the factory.”

A guy here had familiar complaints with Pacific Rim 1911s. Local knowledge and generic parts got him going without having to deal with warranty clerks.

 

[JCooperfan1911]

Seen on another board
“Any gun should be shooting well after only two trips back to the factory.”

A guy here had familiar complaints with Pacific Rim 1911s. Local knowledge and generic parts got him going without having to deal with warranty clerks.

What I’m saying is Ruger is actually capable of skillfully fixing the issues and fixing them timely.

Some others? Maybe one or the other, but sadly often not both.

 

[doubleh]

Iffin' the request for service was made during the beginning of the pandemic, i

It was shortly before anyone ever heard of covid and was simply a case of no one was answering the phone, voice mail was full, and inbox was full and it stayed that way for a month. That is when I gave up and fixed both issues with the gun myself. I'm sorry I even mentioned my experience since it wasn't just yesterday that it happened. It was simply to point out that RIA doesn't seem to have good customer support even today. It's funny that Taurus constantly gets hammered and people take up for RIA.

 

[jag1954]

Guess I'm one of the fortunate people. There was a stress fracture that I noticed on my RIA MAPP MS frame as I field stripped it when the piece literally fell off and hit the floor (as seen in the photos that I sent to Armscor). This occurred after some range time at the local gun club. They sent me the FedEx label, I sent it off and approx. 5 weeks later I received a new MAPP, FFL from them included and all.