New RIA Owner

[Pete and Repete]

Hi All,

New to the 1911 forum! First forum I've ever signed on with (big news huh? :))

Long story short - introduced to the 1911 in the US Army in '83. At the time handguns weren't my thing; rifles were. Shot the M16 expert but the 1911 was a different story - never could figure that out. Army marksmanship experts took those of us having a difficult time aside and taught us well. Now I can shoot pretty straight w/most handguns. I really learned to like the 1911. Left the reserves in '94 before the M9s were issued to my unit(a sorry day in military procurement). Picked up a Colt 1911 and visited a local shooting club's Survival Shoots each month. My Colt was the joke of the club! Friends called it the Jam-o-matic. Wilson mags, Wolf springs, full length guide rod and polished feed ramp - nothing could make that clunker work it seemed to jam almost every 4th or 5th round. I finally gave in, got rid of the Colt and got a Glock 23. It was the most common firearm at the survival shoots and as dependable as a pnuematic staple gun. It is my carry gun for woodland sojourns. I like it cause it's light weight and dependable. Don't care for the grip angle, recoil is a bit sharp and, lets face it compared to 1911s - its got no character, no soul.

Having been bitten by the 1911 bug, well you never get over it, so this past 6 months I've been shopping around. Springfields, Para's, Smiths then I reviewed the budget and noticed that I was shopping a bit over my head. I really fell for the Smith 1911 - felt just right in hand. However, buy one of those and I'd be blowing my handgun budget and my ammo budget for months! I admit, I harbored some trepidation about buying foreign made handguns.

By coincidence I stopped by my local gunshop (and friend) who happened to have a RIA 1911. He had sold it to it's original owner, but the fella he sold it to had intended to use it as a family target and fun gun but after 1/2 a box of ammo, found out that his daughter couldn't handle a firearm of that size. So he returned it. Now my gun dealer buddy's got a used RIA 1911 on his hands when I stopped by. I like the quality of it, put $20 down to hold it and started perusing forums like this to get a feel for how people liked the RIA. I didn't expect to hear such accolades about foreign made handgun. You guys convinced me I was making a good buy so I bought it. I've only fired 20 round through it and not so much as a hiccup! In my book it's already got the Colt beat by a factor of 4. Internal machine work is better than my old colt and...it functions properly. I'm quiet impressed! Once I run another 100 - 200 rnds through it to assure myself of it's functionality I'll start souping it up - one thing about 1911 owners...we are tinkerers.

I want to thank you all for helping me choosing the RIA as my new 1911 pistol. As I move forward with this I'll hit you up now and then for some tips and suggestions. Hey, you haven't steered me wrong yet!!

Thanks,

Pete

[jellfire]

Hi Pete,

Congratulations on your new procurement, hope you'll enjoy it. How much did you pay for it? I'm also planning to buy an RIA midsize .45, probably 3 months from now. Please send some pics for your range report and tell us how you enjoy your RIA.

[Zip06]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the RIA.

I also have the full sized RIA Government Model and have put 2 cases of 230grain FMJ through it with no malfunctions. These pistols are a bargain.

[mauser98]

Congrats and welcome Pete!! I too enjoy mt RIA 1911A1. Very reliable and well made. Like you I got bit by the 1911 GI Joe bug, mainly due to history and tradition, but also this pistol I can use for informal bullseye shooting. About 500 rounds through it to date, not a single hickup yet.

I have a link here to a web log page regarding my pistol.
RIA 1911A1 Web Log (http://www.netwurx.net/~roxxi/ria.htm)

[Pete and Repete]

Thanks for the warm welcome guys!

Hey Mauser98, that blog is a great idea. You're decked out for some serious testing there with reloads and all! Although I live in the sticks and my neighbors are tolerant of my occasional test fires, I really need to join one of the local clubs so I can do some extensive practice shooting.

So what other .45 handguns did you look at? Indeed the RIA is without a doubt one of the best values out there for budget minded purchasers. I can't tell you how close I came to dropping $730 on a S&W. (The Smith felt real good in hand...is that because of the high grip permitted by the grip safety? ) In the end I couldn't justify that kind of expenditure with all my other more pressing obligations. The RIA, in both fit and finish reminded me so much of my Army issue .45's that I felt sure that the manufacturer took pains to produce a handgun comperable in reliabilty to the army issue .45s. At $360 it seemed like a great deal...now I see that most of you even found better deals!!

By comparison many of the gunshops who didn't carry RIA's were quick to demonstrat how"tight" all the other brands are. Yes, the workmanship and precision impressed me. I have to admit I was also inclined to buy American as well. In the end I figure this RIA will shoot as well as I'm able and I'm already looking at various improvements to make it shoot better for me - starting with better sights!

The gun dealer I dealt with said that he's easily sold over a dozen RIAs since he stared carrying them and only one was returned for repair and that was due to the owner dropping it on it's sights.

Did any of you have reservations about RIA's cast frame and slide? Other manufactures seem to put alot of emphasis on Forged and barstock parts over cast parts although I know Ruger has demonstrated considerable success using investment casting! But it is machineable steel none the less, right? ...not cast iron.

I've also read that RIA's have one problem...they made the recoil spring plug too thin and occasionally the plug will come apart. Anyone else heard of this? It's an easy fix and looking at the one I have I don't see the problem.

I've gone on long enough here...I's like hear your expereince.

[jellfire]

Here in the philippines where those RIA/armscor come from have a unique passion and romance with 1911. The reason that it was developed was the necessity to knock the charged of the Moros in the southern philippines during the american period. Over the years that same knocking power is the reason why policemen, military, civilians and hitmen chose the 1911 .45 over other handgun calibers. In fact many poleicemen here buy 1911 as their primary carry over their 9mm beretta. Thats probably why gunsmiths here presently are critical in the production of these revered guns....its too familiar here some 6 years old can tell the callber of the gun by its sound...miles away.

[Pete and Repete]

Gee Jellfire, I'd not considered any nation outside of the US to have a "passion" for any firearm. If the object of your nations shooting passion is the 1911 - it's a good choice. I thought the US was about the last place in the world that still repected their citizen's right to bear arms. I'm glad to hear it's different than I imagined.

With the marginal performance being reported by returning US soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq, we may yet see a return to .45 cal handguns. Reading the shooting magazines, I almost expect to hear any day now of a new caliber being adopted to replace the 5.56!!

To stay on subject - I contacted the armscorp rep in the US and their sending out my replacement owners manual for my RIA today! Good customer service like that will keep them tops in my book!!

[mauser98]

Hello Pete, and thanks for the complement! Other brands that offered GI Mil Spec 45s were Colt and Springfield, for example. I did look into Chinese Norincos as well. My choice of a 45 auto was based upon wanting a basic mil spec 45. No more or less. I have a keen interest in early 1900s era mil guns, and have long wanted a 1911. The many other brands of 45s available that have some features, such as comps, skel triggers, and the like options found on race guns does not appeal to me. And cost was a very real consideration. IMO, Colts, the ORIGINAL 1911, and most coveted by me, are very costly, out of my limited budget.

Mindful that my budget is what it is, I choose the RIA 1911A1 due to feedback that was mostly from online forums. Most local gunshops wanted to sell me a Springfield, Colt and the like. And I am sure the same 45s are fine and durable. So far this pistol has been a flawless performer. And I do evaluate the workmanship as very good.

BTW, I am of an engineering background. Mechanical mostly. I do take note to varied discussions regarding forged -vs- cast firearm components. All should be mindful that a forging is just a susceptible to defects as a cast part. Having said that, forged components have their virtues, as well as cast components. IMO, a properly cast gun component is fine for its intended application. An aside, just wait 'till folks begin recognizing the value of powder metal technology and firearms manufacture. Who knows, may already be here???

Enjoy your RIA Pete!

Pat