[allmightyoz]

Put a brand new RIA GI 1911 up to a range test today. 18 Degrees with 1 - 5 mph winds.

Let me start off saying that the 1911 is a great platform. The Rock Island GI does its job very well. At first look, the gun looks decent with the parkarized finish. Adding multiple coats of rem oil to the gun helped bring out the finish and make it look much better. There was 1 round bubble imperfection in the finish of my particular gun, but very small and hard to notice unless looking very carefully for it. Everything about this gun is tight, but not too tight, and in a good way. The slide to frame fit is very good, everything worked perfectly out of the box, and the slide slams HARD forward going into battery. One bad thing about the initial finish of the gun is the stock grips. They left much to be desired in terms of finish. The cutouts on the grips were very rough. A little 400 grit sandpaper to the back of the grips and along the edges took care of this problem.

I have medium sized hands. I had two problems with this gun, hammer bite and the length of the slide stop. After 75~ rounds the hammer really started to take a toll on my hands. Beavertail grip safety would be a good addition to this gun. The second problem was the length of the slide release. I had to release my grip with my strong hand to bring my thumb around to release the slide, or use my weak hand to release the slide. They do make extended slide releases, and I recommend one if your have average - short thumbs!

The first 100 rounds fired were 230 grain Remington UMC brass. The next 100 rounds were Winchester white box Wal-Mart specials. The remaining sixty rounds were federal 230 grain HydraShock jacketed hollow points.

The gun calls for an initial 100 rounds break in period. The first 200 rounds of ball ammo fired almost flawlessly. There was 1 failure to eject on the first 16 rounds with the Remington UMC ball ammo. The JHP ammo had 5 failures to feed in 60 rounds. Maybe a longer break in time, or a nice feed ramp polish and barrel throating.

The gun shot dead nuts accurate at 10 feet and 25 yards. 2 inch groups from a rest at 25 yards in less than desirable conditions.

I would rate this gun as follows:

Fit and finish - 9 / 10
Reliability - 8.75 / 10
Conceal-ability - 6 / 10

 

[kylerimb]

That's good to hear as I intend to pick one of these up in a few days.

 

[Catchabullet]

as for the finish, beaver tail and grips, IMHO...what do you expect for a 500 dollar 1911???

PS. hammer bite occurs when your grip is too high or not under the tail....fix your grip, otherwise, you will always get dug into by the tail with a GI tail...

 

[lowercase]

I have the same GI model RIA.

Mine started off fairly reliable (99 out of 100 first box of ammo), then became less so. The big problem with mine has been rounds hanging up on the feed ramp, especially the first round from a magazine. I switched to a Wilson 47D mag, and it still does it.

I took it to the gun smith to get it tuned up, and it still hangs up on chambering the first round. This is with ball ammo, too. :xeye:

I have friends with the same gun, and theirs have run great right out of the box, even to the point of reliably shooting JHP ammo without tuning. Guess I got a bad one.

 

[Uncle Bob]

I have the same GI model RIA.

Mine started off fairly reliable (99 out of 100 first box of ammo), then became less so. The big problem with mine has been rounds hanging up on the feed ramp, especially the first round from a magazine. I switched to a Wilson 47D mag, and it still does it.

I took it to the gun smith to get it tuned up, and it still hangs up on chambering the first round. This is with ball ammo, too. :xeye:

I have friends with the same gun, and theirs have run great right out of the box, even to the point of reliably shooting JHP ammo without tuning. Guess I got a bad one.

Replace the barrel with a Wilson or equal and replace the recoil spring.

 

[Hungry]

Good Review

I've got a Springer Mil Spec.

I had a similar issue with the grip safety digging into the web of my hand (not Hammer Bite).

I'm stubborn and not changing my grip, it's my grip and it's worked well for me for the last 20 years. :

What I did was lightly file away any sharp edges and let my hand heal up for a week. Then go out shoot a couple hundred more rounds. My hand developed a sort of callous, no more bloody web hand.

I can usually get the slide to go forward with a good slam to the base plate of the magazine when inserting it into the well. If it doesn't go forward, which it hasn't with my new Wilson Combat magazines (they're new) it is an easy transition for my weak hand thumb to hit the slide release while acquiring my grip.

Good Luck

 

[ksblazer]

Nice review. I'm a big fan of RIA 1911's for the price they are tough to beat.

I've only fired a little over a 100rds throgh my GI and it functioned perfectly. 100rds of WWB and a mag of 200gr jhp/xtp.

Like yours mine was very accurate as yours was. First shot hit the bulls eye ate 8yds. Kinda suprised since I've never fired a pistol with that small of sights.

Never had any hammer bite issues. But I've read reviews where that was an issue for some people.

Since this is their GI style. They weren't intended to shoot hp's. I've heard some do and others have to have the feed ramp polished.

Rock on:thumb:

 

[*Paladin*]

Many folks have problems with hammer-bite. Fortunately, I'm not one of them. Hammer bite is an easy fix, though. Bob the hammer a bit or put in a Commander-style hammer. It's going to be easier than cutting the frame and fitting a beavertail grip safety. JMHO... :thumb:

 

[AK_guy]

Bob the hammer, buy a drop in beavertail if you want, and I recommend an extended thumb safety.

I'm planning on buying a Rock Island 1911 in 9mm as soon as I can afford it. Haven't decided if I want the GI or the Tactical.

 

[Pangea]

I had to tune the extractor on mine but other than that it's a shooter.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Reading this it has made me realize I have a couple 1911s that need proven/broke in. I would hate to have a problem gun and not know about it.

 

[Jungle Work]

I've been buying Rock Island/Twin Pines guns since they were MSRP $250.00..
I find them to be reliable and accurate. The Government guns ill eat up the web of your shooting hand, just like any other 1911 or most Browning High Powers.

I spent money on Wilson Hammers and Drop in Beavertail Grip Safeties for the first few I bought. I now only buy the Tactical Models and I don't have to spend money to keep the guns from eating up the web of my hand.

I really like the Rock Isands and I think those folks are making money hand over fist.

Jungle Work

 

[mk262]

making philippine pesos, NOT American dollars. cast frame, marginal qc.

pretty crappy 1911. You could'nt give me one.

but Im very opinionated about 1911's.(and other stuff)
---mk262 sends

 

[AK_guy]

making philippine pesos, NOT American dollars. cast frame, marginal qc.

pretty crappy 1911. You could'nt give me one.

but Im very opinionated about 1911's.(and other stuff)
---mk262 sends

Have you ever handled a Rock Island 1911? Not trying to be a jerk, just asking.

 

[allmightyoz]

making philippine pesos, NOT American dollars. cast frame, marginal qc.

pretty crappy 1911. You could'nt give me one.

but Im very opinionated about 1911's.(and other stuff)
---mk262 sends

My RIA is more accurate, better fit, and more reliable in the break in period than my buddy's Springfield 1911 which is 500 or more rounds over the break in period.

What's wrong with a cast frame? Less room for error on a casting than a milled gun. Also realize that a cast or forged frame STILL has to be milled to perfection. It doesn't just drop out a finished product, but the casting gets it closer thus saving a ton of time in milling which equals money saved for the buyer. Note, however, that the slide is milled from an extrusion.

"Pretty crappy 1911" - I assume this is based on nothing, just a preconceived notion that your 1,500 Springfield is better.

Note also that the Springfield has some parts / frames that are made in Brazil, and that all of their steel comes from Brazil. Wilson combat makes cast parts...

If you don't have any information or rationale besides your opinion which you based on nothing, please don't try to derail the thread.

 

[mk262]

I dont own a Springfield armory, either. My 1911s are made in the USA from forgings.

I believe in buying from American Manufacturers, even if it cost more.

supporting a third world countrys firearms industry is NOT on my agenda.

Having a substandard firearm is not either.

educate yourself about the difference between casting and forging.

---mk262 sends

 

[allmightyoz]

except in the "daily carry" thread, you say you carry a glock? So much for supporting the U.S. and keeping your money here :thumb: Is Austria more deserving of your money that the Philippines?

I am a CNC machinist. I know the difference between cast and forged metals. I also know that, for what it is, it doesn't matter if the frame on my 1911 is cast or forged. I am not going to throw my 1911 off of a 5 story building against your forged frame to find out if it is better or worse, (and I know you wouldn't either). Casting lets more impurities reside in the metal than forging, and casting is not quite as strong as a forging. Does this make a difference in the frame of a gun? No. Would it make a difference in the barrel of a gun? certainly. How are most of Ruger's guns made? Investment casting.

 

[*Paladin*]

except in the "daily carry" thread, you say you carry a glock? So much for supporting the U.S. and keeping your money here :thumb: Is Austria more deserving of your money that the Philippines?

I am a CNC machinist. I know the difference between cast and forged metals. I also know that, for what it is, it doesn't matter if the frame on my 1911 is cast or forged. I am not going to throw my 1911 off of a 5 story building against your forged frame to find out if it is better or worse, (and I know you wouldn't either). Casting lets more impurities reside in the metal than forging, and casting is not quite as strong as a forging. Does this make a difference in the frame of a gun? No. Would it make a difference in the barrel of a gun? certainly. How are most of Ruger's guns made? Investment casting.

I'll bet the employees at the North American Glock Headquarters/factory in Smyrna, Georgia think so. :thumb:

 

[mk262]

except in the "daily carry" thread, you say you carry a glock? So much for supporting the U.S. and keeping your money here :thumb: Is Austria more deserving of your money that the Philippines?

I am a CNC machinist. I know the difference between cast and forged metals. I also know that, for what it is, it doesn't matter if the frame on my 1911 is cast or forged. I am not going to throw my 1911 off of a 5 story building against your forged frame to find out if it is better or worse, (and I know you wouldn't either). Casting lets more impurities reside in the metal than forging, and casting is not quite as strong as a forging. Does this make a difference in the frame of a gun? No. Would it make a difference in the barrel of a gun? certainly. How are most of Ruger's guns made? Investment casting.

talk to me in 10,000 rounds about your cast frame.

see post above.---mk262 sends

 

[allmightyoz]

Glocks are made in Austria, some assembled in the U.S. The U.S. assembled models are shipped overseas to countries that can't sell guns made in Austria. U.S. made Glocks are for export only. It doesn't make sense, but that's how it is.