Has anyone here bought their RIA from Sarco?

[ShortyBP]

I'm looking into purchasing my first 1911 and am leaning towards RIA.

No one locally carries it, and from browsing Shotgun News, I see that Sarco Inc is selling the RIA 1911 for what seems to be a good price. I've checked with one of the local FFL holders and they already have their license on file with Sarco... so transfer should be fairly easy I think.

Just wondering if anyone has dealt with them, and if so, if you wouldn't mind sharing your experience with them.

If anyone else has purchased an RIA online from another source, I'm interested in your experiences as well.

Much Thanks,
Brian

[bchboy1206]

I just picked up my RIA 1911 yesterday and I am more than happy with it. I was going to get mine from SARCO as well because they have the best prices I could find anywhere, but a local dealer here had one in stock. I paid a little more but I was able to look at it first. My total was $346.00 and I am more than happy with it so far.

I put 100 rds of Winchester White box thru it and had 3 Fail-To-Feed issues but I am going to shoot another 100 today and see if I can figure out the problem. Trigger pull is heavy but not unbearable.

I don't think you can really go wrong with it.

Good luck in your decision.

Jim

[hideout45]

Hi,Im new to the forum but not to dealing with SARCO.Purchased a RIA compact from them two months ago,Whoops,take that back.Purchased it 4 months ago,received 2 months later.Get the picture?Paid extra for RUSH handling and then was told their retail licence had expired and they could not ship anything until they received the new one.Great pistol though.If you have the patience order from them and save a good chunk of change.

[ShortyBP]

Thanks for the answers bchboy and hideout!

Follow up question though... since I'm not a dealer, I'm guessing I shouldn't expect to get the "Dealer Price" listed in the paper and on their website?
http://www.sarcoinc.com/rockislands.html

Did you get the Compact for the Dealer Price? Or a higher retail rate? As inexpensive as they are, I still find myself needing to figure out how many pennies to scrape up, as the wife keeps handing me new bills that are apparently "higher priority" than an M1911. :(

[bchboy1206]

It is always funny how our priorities differ from our signifigant others. I guess they will never understand.

I am not 100% sure on that dealer price but I think so. I would give them a ring or e-mail them, it cant hurt. If not you can find them on gunsamerica.com for around $319.00.

Jim

[hideout45]

I paid the price as advertised in shotgun news.I downloaded and printed out the order form from their website and put my name with " in care of " my FFL dealer and his address, listed the gun I wanted,price and shipping, enclosed a signed in ink copy of my FFL dealers' license and a money order and mailed it off.Shipping was $42 because I paid $10 extra for RUSH processing,THAT WAS A WASTE and $32 for overnight delivery,Which I did get when they FINALLY shipped it.Normal shipping on a hand gun is $20 via land service.Total I gave for mine,including my dealers transfer fee,was $361

[ShortyBP]

Thanks again guys. I found 23 more cents on the floor of my car this morning... that much closer to getting the RIA! :)

I'll take your advice hideout and just pay for the standard shipping. Debating whether or not to purchase additional 8-rd magazines with it (which they say will be 8.99ea with the gun purchase) or to hold out and get magazines of a different make. Although, each scenario would require saving yet more pennies.

Hope to join your ranks soon.

[Hawkmoon]

Thanks for the answers bchboy and hideout!

Follow up question though... since I'm not a dealer, I'm guessing I shouldn't expect to get the "Dealer Price" listed in the paper and on their website?
http://www.sarcoinc.com/rockislands.html

Did you get the Compact for the Dealer Price? Or a higher retail rate? As inexpensive as they are, I still find myself needing to figure out how many pennies to scrape up, as the wife keeps handing me new bills that are apparently "higher priority" than an M1911. :(
I don't know if you have a relationship with the FFL who will handle the transfer. I do have a relationship with mine. In a case like that, I get the stock number, the phone number and all the information, give it to him, and he calls in the order. That way there is no question that he gets the dealer price.

[Jeffrey]

Thanks again guys. I found 23 more cents on the floor of my car this morning... that much closer to getting the RIA!

Why does that sound so familiar? :D

[hideout45]

If my FFL had ordered the gun in his name he would have had to charge me sales tax, since he operates a business. As for the magazines,they didn't have any for my compact so I called Ivan at armscor and ordered some.Top quality mags and good price for compact mags. But if your going to get the gov model thats a good price for factory mags

[ShortyBP]

This would actually be my first firearm purchase altogether, so I don't have any experience with FFL transfer nor do I have any kind of relationship established as of yet. Currently, the only firearm I own is a family heirloom Beretta 950 my grandfather picked up in 1952 while working in Rome. As stated, every time I do manage to gather up enough money for any kind of purchase, something comes up to make that money disappear. Even before I got married (which only made it more difficult). The target firearm I've been saving up for has changed throughout the years, but the situation always remains the same.

I'm hoping to deal with a local transfer agent that appears to be highly recommended by users of various other forums. He's already told me over email his FFL is already on file with Sarco, and it seems he has done fairly regular business with them in the past. I'll print out the order form, send funds and hope for the dealer price.
Based on this transfer, we'll see how any future Sarco (or any) purchases pan out. I'm hoping that once I scrape up the nickels and dimes for this gun, and the ammunition for it... I can then start collecting pocket change for another purchase. The wish list is as long as my arm... the funding is equal to the thickness of my fingernail. You know how it goes. ;)

[bchboy1206]

Good luck to you. I know how it goes. I am a divorced college student that can only work around my class schedule. I had to do the same thing, I wanted a SW1911 Target with all the bells and whistles but I couldn't afford it so I settled for the RIA ;)
I am so glad I did. It is really a great gun and with the money I saved I bought a AR-M4 kit. I am now saving for the receiver so I can put it together.
About the FFL transfer, its a piece of cake, they will send him the pistol and when you go to pick it up he will do the background check, charge you for the fee and complete the transaction. Your in like Flynn.
Don't forget whenever you make a new purchase you must include a Range Report...

Jim

[ShortyBP]

Ahhh yes... range report. I'm almost afraid to give a range report, as I'll already assume that my first time at the range I'll be happy with hitting the target paper, let alone get a good grouping! :o

But yes, I will be sure to add a report once it all happens. Closest range happens to be the basement range at NRAHQ... so I'm looking forward to it. Will be sure to sneak a visit to the National Firearms Museum while I'm there.

AR was actually what I was hoping to purchase prior to shifting gears towards the RIA. It's now a "one day" gun. "One day" I'll own one. I was hoping prices on a used one would drop when sunset came into play, and everyone dropped their post-ban for a no-ban.... never happened. Oh well!

[Zip06]

I purchased my RIA Government Model (Full Size) from Sarco for the princely sum of $273.50. I live on the West Coast and the RIA arrived a week after my dealer ordered it. I have heard horror stories about Sarco but I had a great experience.

[tuck]

I have bought 2 guns from sarco, 1 RIA full size and a mas36 bolt action rifle(7.5 x 54mm), both were good experiences, ria $276, mas 36, $42 ( yes $42.00 )
my RIA had a couple of ftf right at firstbut after a good cleaning and lube it has been great, I am around 1000 rnds. fired, go for the sarco, the sent 1 mec-gar mag and 1 novak