Stock vs souped up 1911

[Axis II]

I decided to take an hour ride to tractor supply and found the only Dunhams in my area still open right next door. I had to go in and look. In the case was a RI Ultra so i had to take a look. I was quite shocked how tight the slide was and fit seemed very well for its price point. The sights were huge in my opinion. My buddy owns several 1911 and does a lot of custom work to them and keeps trying to push me into buying a standard or GI standard and add a different hammer, allow him to work on the trigger, change springs, sights, etc. into what i want or in his words, better than factory offerings. I figured just go buy a nice Springfield with a nice set of sights but, again, he says Springfield is a price tag for a name and buy a RI standard and put better parts in it.

I liked the ultra but the sights seemed huge and almost like they would cover a target. The mags also seemed like cheap pot metal.

 

[Larry in wyoming]

Back in the 90s it was a "thing" to buy Norinco 1911s and turn them into race guns. The theory was you were just going to trash everything except the frame so why spend money on it? Meh!
Do the math on a Springfield with some bells and whistles vs a "basic" tisas or rock island and then start adding parts. Where do you hit the break point?
That's your answer.

 

[Larry in wyoming]

I went to rock islands website and looked at the ultra. Good looking pistol. With my eyesight, I'd just be replacing the rear sight with a dot anyway so that wouldn't deter me. If the sights are truly that large, maybe adopt the "sixoclock" hold?
Just some thoughts as I was running the snow blower

 

[Spats McGee]

I’m not even close to being a 1911 expert, but I have a couple. I have also never owned or fired a RI. With all of that said, I absolutely have a RI 1911 on The Want List. I suspect they make a very good, basic 1911. I also suspect the be would make a good base for a 1911 build.

 

[MikeInOr]

The Rock Island GI has a staked front sight. The Rock Island Ultra has a dovetailed front sight. I recommend starting with a dovetailed front sight.

I don't like the tiny GI sights. I have old eyes now but even when I was a young kid I preferred good visible sights on my 1911's. Most military sights on pistols REALLY suck!


That is a worked over Norinco 1911 (my first 1911 in the late 80's) with good after market sights. The other pistols are all original military (I.e. REALLY crappy sights!).

 

[jmorris]

I've dumped a lot of money into guns. If you want it to be yours, it doesn't matter much. If you want it to be valuable when you are done, put the money towards a good one from the start.

 

[sgt127]

Back when I first started carrying a 1911 (1983). You didn’t buy a 1911 to carry or compete with. You bought a kit. In a Colt box.

Then took it to a trusted local gunsmith or, sent it out.

At minimum you would get:
A beavertail
Short trigger
Flat mainspring housing
A fitted bushing
Lower the ejection port.
Throat the barrel
An extended thumb safety and,
Real sights. Fixed. Bomar or even S&W adjustable sights.

Now. You can buy a gun that has 90% of the work already done.

In 1989, I bought a brand new Colt series 70 and, without even firing it, sent it to Wilson’s for master Grade 130 package.

All the above but add:
Hand Checker front strap 30 lpi.
Match barrel and bushing
Tighten slide to frame fit.
Hard chrome the frame.
And a few other niceties.

That was $350 for the gun. $800 for the work.

Now, factory guns are fitted up almost as well. CNC machines spit out a gun with almost all those features. No more paying a guy with files, stones and Dremel tools.

And, honestly, when you get to the top tier manufacturers. Who start with an almost perfect 1911 and parts and THEN do some hand fitting. It’s as close to perfect as you will get.

The current crop of top tier factory guns are probably about the equal of the big custom manufactures of the late 70’s, early 80’s.

My humble, though long winded, opinion.

 

[giblett]

I'M kindain the same boat. I have a kimber long slide 10mm but i am wanting a better accuracy and trigger. Find some to upgrade it or buy a nighthawk custom. Even looking at the dan wesson kodiak as nighthawk is a 5 grand gun. Even thought about getting my rock island tac ultra 10 milled for a red dot and customized as its one of my favorites.

 

[Riomouse911]

Some of the Rock Island line seem pretty darn nice as is, same for other lower-to-mid price point Turkish guns. Other than maybe action smoothing, spring work and possibly adding more agreeable sights, I doubt adding more to the agenda would really help out the majority of shooters.

If the gun has what you want/like, it would probably be most cost effective to buy it and swap the sights to ones you prefer.

If you buy it, let us know how it shoots for you when you get a chance.

Stay safe.

 

[W.E.G.]

I bought several of the Tisas and Rock Island 1911's recently.

Incredible value for the money.

I'm a mediocre pistol shooter at best. I just want the gun to work as designed when I go to the range. I have no delusions of being a match winner. If I can stand around long enough that my back doesn't go out while standing around waiting for my turn at a pistol match, I might enter the match and try not to get disqualified. It really doesn't matter if the gun is "perfect" by that standard.

I'm 100% satisfied with the five (or six??... losing count) that I bought when they started showing up for $300 - $400.

I "modified" one of the TISAS to put some big Kensight adjustable sights on it.
Sometimes I get revved-up and actually sort of accomplish something in the wide world of WECSOG.
Came from the TISAS factory with low, smooth sights.
My messing around with it cured "the gun's problem" that the groups were low left.
Sorry for the magazine-foul. Goes against my religion to photograph magazine-fed guns with the magazine missing.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I decided to take an hour ride to tractor supply and found the only Dunhams in my area still open right next door. I had to go in and look. In the case was a RI Ultra so i had to take a look. I was quite shocked how tight the slide was and fit seemed very well for its price point. The sights were huge in my opinion. My buddy owns several 1911 and does a lot of custom work to them and keeps trying to push me into buying a standard or GI standard and add a different hammer, allow him to work on the trigger, change springs, sights, etc. into what i want or in his words, better than factory offerings. I figured just go buy a nice Springfield with a nice set of sights but, again, he says Springfield is a price tag for a name and buy a RI standard and put better parts in it.

I liked the ultra but the sights seemed huge and almost like they would cover a target. The mags also seemed like cheap pot metal.

Can't go wrong with a Rock Island, they're based in Pahrump, NV and are actually built there.
I have 5 Rock Island Ultra 1911's in 4 calibers
Nothing wrong with them as they come.
I don't replace anything on mine until they need it.
Have a High Capacity Tac Ultra that I love shooting.

 

[JoeHenry]

If you buy a Rock Island or a Tisas and put a lot of expensive brand name parts in it, it’s still a Rock Island if you want to sell it.
you would be better off with a quality pistol to begin with.

 

[CraigC]

My Rock Island has impressed me with its quality for what I paid for it. It also came with a beavertail, extended slide relase, ambi extendo safety and night sights. Basically everything but a magwell. These days it's way too easy to buy one configured however you want it.

 

[W.E.G.]

I'm never sure "how I actually want it."

If I was, I'd have quit buying guns long ago.

I am still a big sucker for guns jump out at me for whatever reason. I'm trying to curb that these days. Without much success I might add.
Current 1911 prices have exaggerated the affliction.

 

[Boom Vang]

Modifying factory guns is a labor of love. You will never recover financially what you have all into it, whether you did the work yourself, or a "buddy", or a big-name gunsmith.

You also killed the factory warranty.

If you are making a considered purchase with hard-earned money, I would go with a factory 1911 in the configuration you want in the end. There are so many choices on the market.

If you have money to blow and want to tinker, have at it.

 

[BLACKHAWKNJ]

45 years ago I was in a small IPSC group, I fired an AMT Hardballer (yes!), added a white outline rear sight, Pachmayr grips, that was it, regularly placed in the top 3, won several matches against people with heavily modified guns by Austin Behlert who was in the area. Had MMC sights put on my Satin Finish Colt Combat Commander, most of the time couldn't see the factory sights. Heavily modified guns, like tailored clothing, if it makes you feel better, but if you can't really shoot, makes little difference.

 

[12Bravo20]

I bought a RIA full size Tactical model years ago. At the time it was only $50 more than the GI model.I could not have bought the upgraded parts nor had the slide milled for a front dovetail for $50.

Look at all of the parts and work done on the upgraded models and see if you could add all that yourself after buying a GI model for the same price or not.

PS: Don't worry about a loose fitting slide on a 1911 as long as the barrel to slide fit is good. I have shot enough 1911s that had a loose slide to frame fit with a good barrel to slide fit that were accurate and reliable.

 

[Rexster]

The word “buddy,” in the original post, raises my eyebrows. I had a local ‘smith work on my new, just-acquired Stainless Colt Commander, in 1990. He had worked on 1911 pistols belonging to SWAT officers, who worked for a local big-city PD. (I worked patrol, for that same PD.) He had worked on local IPSC/USPSA shooter’s 1911 pistols. He was what we would now call “hot,” I reckon. Well, after the work was done, I got hammer-follow, every few shots. (The hammer would follow the slide, rather than remain cocked.) I had a trusted friend look at the gun, a friend who knew how to diagnose 1911 problems, but, did not pretend to be a gunsmith. The details now elude my 63-year-old brain, but, I remember tossing-out the sear and the combination spring, returning the weapon to what was essentially near-stock condition, with a new stock-configuration sear and stock combination spring.

It is true that the old-school, staked-in front sights will tend to loosen.

Just my quick $0.02.

 

[1911 guy]

I like Rock Island for what they are. They are reliable, decently accurate, available with lots of options, at a reasonable price point. I own a few.
But they lack a bit of fit and finish when compared with Springfield, Colt, or another higher end pistol.
Ignore slide to frame tightness. It really doesn't matter. Check the barrel. While in battery, check for excess movement when pressing down on the barrel hood and any movement of the muzzle inside the bushing.
If you might ever sell it, buy something with more clout in the resale market. If you plan to keep it for a very long time, Rock Island and Tisas are good values right now.
My brand of choice is Springfield, but won't knock RIA at all.

 

[LV Gun]

My first choice always in 1911’s is Springfield but I do have a RIA GI model in 38 super that is 23 years old it is very accurate and reliable. It came from the factory with a Wilson/Nowlin ramped style barrel , the only issue I had was the staked sights the front one fell off the second time I shot it never did find it , to solve that problem I put a Bomar Sight rail on it after they removed the rear sight and the only other thing I did was put a Swenson stainless steel full length guide rod in it. I am currently looking at the RIA Pro Ultra Match Long Slide in 45 auto and a RIA FS Ultra in 40 S&W, they are the worlds largest manufacturer of 1911’s I have no issues with them but I would buy a RIA over a Tisa JMHO.

 

[Axis II]

The Rock Island GI has a staked front sight. The Rock Island Ultra has a dovetailed front sight. I recommend starting with a dovetailed front sight.

I don't like the tiny GI sights. I have old eyes now but even when I was a young kid I preferred good visible sights on my 1911's. Most military sights on pistols REALLY suck!

View attachment 1245850
That is a worked over Norinco 1911 (my first 1911 in the late 80's) with good after market sights. The other pistols are all original military (I.e. REALLY crappy sights!).

Thanks for reminding me. I forgot GI models have that staked, rounded front site. I hate those.

 

[Axis II]

If I can hit plates with it during a plate shoot I would be happy. I may also like a red dot added on so maybe upping my price point is the key. I keep seeing these RI on grab a gun and buds for super cheap during sales so that's what leaned me towards them.

 

[sgt127]

I keep seeing these RI on grab a gun and buds for super cheap during sales so that's what leaned me towards them.

If you need another nudge, the owner is a staunch conservative. Came here from the Philippines, set up shop. Had a big Republican rally at their shop. Free BBQ..drinks. A couple years ago. A genuinely good bunch of folks.

 

[kidneyboy]

I decided to take an hour ride to tractor supply and found the only Dunhams in my area still open right next door. I had to go in and look. In the case was a RI Ultra so i had to take a look. I was quite shocked how tight the slide was and fit seemed very well for its price point. The sights were huge in my opinion. My buddy owns several 1911 and does a lot of custom work to them and keeps trying to push me into buying a standard or GI standard and add a different hammer, allow him to work on the trigger, change springs, sights, etc. into what i want or in his words, better than factory offerings. I figured just go buy a nice Springfield with a nice set of sights but, again, he says Springfield is a price tag for a name and buy a RI standard and put better parts in it.

I liked the ultra but the sights seemed huge and almost like they would cover a target. The mags also seemed like cheap pot metal.

Looks like your buddy wants you to spend your money and make your buying decisions to fuel his hobby. Nothing wrong with that if it works for you.

 

[tarosean]

Can't go wrong with a Rock Island, they're based in Pahrump, NV and are actually built there.

Not sure where your getting your information. Here is the latest Firearms Manufacturing Report stating a whopping 12 pistols.
Their Pistols are imported.




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