Detachment Charlie
31st August 2007, 23:22
Took delivery yesterday through my local FFL on a new .45 ACP Rock Island Tactical.
The seller (Red Dog Armory, Covington, WA) threw in another mag. All, plus two fired cases were in the RIA plastic clam-shell, egg-crate foam-lined case. It was in the usual plastic bag, a little furface and manufacturing grease cleaned off easily with some brake cleaner and CLP. A few dabs of FP-10 on the slide rails and it was ready to go to work.
The machining was better than every original WWII i have used or owned. A few very minor, cosmetic tool marks on the interior were easily dismissed once the smooth color-consistent parkerized finish was examined. The parts fit was great. Tight, but no binding. The trigger had an acceptable amount of take-up but virtually no creep. Just take up the slack, feel the contact, press a tad more and CRACK. The hammer fell true, never touched the slide. Trigger pull was ~4 lbs. and suprisinglly crisp.
At the range, on the 12-yd. line (long story about why the defensive pistol range is at 12 yds -- it involves an attorney. Big Surprise) the flat black sights lines-up quickly and sharply. I just put 5 rounds down range to get the feel of the piece and get comfortable with it. Using Blaser 230 gr. FMJ brass and aluminum cases, the first 100 rounds were flawless. No bobbles. No FtE. No FTF (surprising for a brand new auto pistol).
Next came some 230 gr. Federal JHP ammo. One bag, then a FTF. Cleared. Again, one bang and a FTF. The hollow points were hanging on the feed lip.
OK, I can live with this on a pistol designed for Ball ammo and only having 100 rounds down the pipe. Back to the Blaser for another 50 rounds. Again no function problems.
I'm a happy shooter. EXCEPT --
all of the shots were group about 4" low and about 1-1/2" right of the point of aim. That's 4" low at only 12 yds. (I can't remember right now the formula for figuring the site height I need to correct this something about 12 x 36" = 430" then, I think divide that into the sight radius (5") -- I think -- means I need to reduce the front sight height by ~0.012"). Hmmm???
Think I gotta go talk with my gunsmith. This RIA is a keeper, just needs a little tuning -- maybe a sexy red fiber-optic front sight and one of those Champion rear adjustables.
Waddaya think?
The seller (Red Dog Armory, Covington, WA) threw in another mag. All, plus two fired cases were in the RIA plastic clam-shell, egg-crate foam-lined case. It was in the usual plastic bag, a little furface and manufacturing grease cleaned off easily with some brake cleaner and CLP. A few dabs of FP-10 on the slide rails and it was ready to go to work.
The machining was better than every original WWII i have used or owned. A few very minor, cosmetic tool marks on the interior were easily dismissed once the smooth color-consistent parkerized finish was examined. The parts fit was great. Tight, but no binding. The trigger had an acceptable amount of take-up but virtually no creep. Just take up the slack, feel the contact, press a tad more and CRACK. The hammer fell true, never touched the slide. Trigger pull was ~4 lbs. and suprisinglly crisp.
At the range, on the 12-yd. line (long story about why the defensive pistol range is at 12 yds -- it involves an attorney. Big Surprise) the flat black sights lines-up quickly and sharply. I just put 5 rounds down range to get the feel of the piece and get comfortable with it. Using Blaser 230 gr. FMJ brass and aluminum cases, the first 100 rounds were flawless. No bobbles. No FtE. No FTF (surprising for a brand new auto pistol).
Next came some 230 gr. Federal JHP ammo. One bag, then a FTF. Cleared. Again, one bang and a FTF. The hollow points were hanging on the feed lip.
OK, I can live with this on a pistol designed for Ball ammo and only having 100 rounds down the pipe. Back to the Blaser for another 50 rounds. Again no function problems.
I'm a happy shooter. EXCEPT --
all of the shots were group about 4" low and about 1-1/2" right of the point of aim. That's 4" low at only 12 yds. (I can't remember right now the formula for figuring the site height I need to correct this something about 12 x 36" = 430" then, I think divide that into the sight radius (5") -- I think -- means I need to reduce the front sight height by ~0.012"). Hmmm???
Think I gotta go talk with my gunsmith. This RIA is a keeper, just needs a little tuning -- maybe a sexy red fiber-optic front sight and one of those Champion rear adjustables.
Waddaya think?