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[Review] Rock Island 1911: GI Midsize

RIA 1911's are solid handguns.

They won't win any beauty contests against the "pretty" 1911s but, IMO, they run, have pretty good trigger pulls out of the box, and are accurate.

And as the article says they're the “best-bang-for-the-buck”.

The only problem I have with the article's author is that he said he wanted "a plain Jane GI (government issue) that faithfully reproduces what was issued as the WWII sidearm", then complains about the USGI-type sights and says he can change them out.
 
Talyn said:
RIA 1911's are solid handguns.

They won't win any beauty contests against the "pretty" 1911s but, IMO, they run, have pretty good trigger pulls out of the box, and are accurate.

And as the article says they're the “best-bang-for-the-buck”.

The only problem I have with the article's author is that he said he wanted "a plain Jane GI (government issue) that faithfully reproduces what was issued as the WWII sidearm", then complains about the USGI-type sights and says he can change them out.
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Concur entirely with Tal’s post above. And I own a couple Rocks. Solid performance all around with very acceptable accuracy for out-of-the box.
Will just add a couple things -
Great entry level 1911.
Excellent for ‘truck gun’, which leads to:
Reliability probably exceeds more expensive, tighter fitted 1911s that are made with range competition in mind (even if those makers aren’t themselves aware that that’s their goal…).
If I gotta go to the woods and don’t know when I’ll be able to clean/pull maintenance - I’d grab my RIA.

PS- I’ve always felt, somehow, that their lower end models were better than their attempts at higher-end.
 
Thanks for posting Anni,
Author gave their view. Sight compensation didn't seem to be one of them though? Was ok for a quickie point and shoot review.

But on given views? So did commenters there, from one extreme to another. Expect no less? :) From one person who used typical 1911 in military, loved the RIA and they'd buy again. Another opinion, RIA not worth using as bookends.

Leads me to believe maybe quality control and user error/expectations are mixed in there someplace? End result? What is a person looking for that works for them in a HG? Look around before leaping at purchase, what's the aim, intention and purpose?

Personally and locally heard from others at LGS RIA's are fine for what they are. Simple, good quality HG's at a fair price. There's plenty of room and purpose for high and low end HG's. Good lower end quality doesn't always need to be high end pricing to be good for purpose.
 
I’ve owned several RIA 1911’s, have two right now…a widebody .22TCM/9mm combo, and a GI “Officer’s” .45

They’re solid pistols for the money; about the only competitor they had was when SA’s “Defender” series was priced sub-$500…now though, you can still get the baseline (GI) models for under $400 ($389) if you look hard enough, but the SA’s are up around $600.

Also, RIA’s “GI” Government models are as close as you can get to a TRUE M1911A1 right now…most others are upgraded in one way or another. Just need to replace the smooth grips with checkered, and you’re good to go.

And, a word about reliability and “tight” pistols…

I’m my experience, a well-built 1911 with tight tolerances will actually stand up to grit & dirt a lot better than one with loose tolerance, for one simple reason—tight tolerances don’t allow the large dirt particles that can bind up a pistol in.

Just my experience from running my Baer in classes next to some low-mid range 1911’s (Colts, Kimbers, Springfields) in a class held in a gravel pit on a windy day that was kicking up a lot of dirt & grit.
 
HansGruber said:
I’ve owned several RIA 1911’s, have two right now…a widebody .22TCM/9mm combo, and a GI “Officer’s” .45

They’re solid pistols for the money; about the only competitor they had was when SA’s “Defender” series was priced sub-$500…now though, you can still get the baseline (GI) models for under $400 ($389) if you look hard enough, but the SA’s are up around $600.

Also, RIA’s “GI” Government models are as close as you can get to a TRUE M1911A1 right now…most others are upgraded in one way or another. Just need to replace the smooth grips with checkered, and you’re good to go.

And, a word about reliability and “tight” pistols…

I’m my experience, a well-built 1911 with tight tolerances will actually stand up to grit & dirt a lot better than one with loose tolerance, for one simple reason—tight tolerances don’t allow the large dirt particles that can bind up a pistol in.

Just my experience from running my Baer in classes next to some low-mid range 1911’s (Colts, Kimbers, Springfields) in a class held in a gravel pit on a windy day that was kicking up a lot of dirt & grit.
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Hans, very good info…
Regarding your point about the tight tolerances keeping junk out, I had sorta wondered about that too, but hadn’t thought it through enough to articulate it…
I think what nudged me to the RIA over a hi-end tight model for a ‘lost in the woods’ scenario or as a truck gun was the age old comparison of AK vs M16, if that makes more sense. It’s often pointed out the M16 won’t take the sloppier maint that an AK can stand (irregular lubing, carbon/fouling buildup, etc etc)… would that apply to 1911s also (realizing of course that all 1911s are the same design whereas M16 and AK platforms are widely different) ?
 
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