Just picked up my Compact!

[Nakanokalronin]

Man I can't wait to get this thing to the range! Just got it home today and took it completely down to clean out all of the packing oil they seemed to dip the whole gun in. After inspecting it there seems to be something RIA does to the internals I've not yet seen on other 1911s. The sear and hammer have slight notches in them that the safety goes into to keep everything from moving. Not normal on a standard 1911 sear,hammer and thumb safety but a good measure none the less. My FFL told me that he tried working on one for a customer but was unable to install new internals as the RIA is set-up different. I don't think he understood my explanation when I told him if all internals and thumb safety were changed to a different brand that they indeed should work.

In any case I am keeping the gun stock except for the rubber Kimber grips I put on and a trigger I had in my parts box. I put the trigger on since I like the longer trigger and it dropped right in with zero modifications. The stock mag that comes with the pistol is an Act mag. I usually have no problems with these except this one has a follower that seems to be catching up on the inside. Took it apart and polished a little on the follower and it seems ok and just needs a tad break-in time. I have 2 KimPro Tac mags I had for my UCII that I will use in the RIA as well along with several full size mags.

The slide to frame fit is very tight but not to much were it seems to bind. I don't mind this and with some range time should be just right. The overall feel of the gun is superb to say the least feeling just as good as my Kimber Ultra Carry II I owned yet sold not to long ago. The feed ramp is polished and the ejector inside is of the extended type, a longer ejector than even on my full size 1911s so I'm curious where the shells will fall.

So far so good and I am VERY pleased with my purchase! Range report will follow as soon as I can get there. Only thing is the big "TM" after the name on the slide. Don't mind the bold letters but the trademark initials I could do without.

http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/134/l_b5ebafac265545b59c1b8cab2a1f90ed.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/140/l_72eeedf366d94c47ad3e97f5900720fa.jpg
http://c1.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/146/l_cf3a964d3e104b4e9fab2239b705a714.jpg

[Rich-D]

Enjoy your new Compact.

Best of Luck!
Rich

[asmurff]

You're gonna like it.

[nightal]

Amen on the Trade mark on the slide.

[Tench_Coxe]

Nakanokalronin,

I just purchased the same gun about 3 wks ago. Have put around 500 rnds through it and it runs beautifully. A few hundred self-defense rnds and she'll be ready for carry.

I can tell you exactly where the brass will fall, about 15 ft to the right and 3-4 ft forward. Unfortunately for me this means losing brass that would like to keep. About 90% of my brass ends up in the "no go" zone of the indoor range that I use.

[Auto Mag]

Very nice Compact!!! :)

The "TM" on the slide was added at the request of their lawyers!!!

[timf]

nice compact!! i ussuly dont care for rubber grips but those kimbers strike my fancy!! congratz!

[LDJ]

Good looking Rock! I like those grips! Shoot a couple hundred rounds of hardball to break it in then it should feed pretty much anything. I am glad my Rocks don't have that TM. After a range visit I doubt it will matter tho. Enjoy!

[Nakanokalronin]

Thanks everyone. I liked the Kimber grips so much on my UCII I defiantly had to get these. The stock grips are not bad but being smooth I had to change them out. I have to tell you, if this Compact shoots as good as it looks and feels a Tactical model won't be to far behind for my next purchase! ;)

[LDJ]

I sense another addict! You just wait you will be buying a bigger safe soon!

[Nakanokalronin]

Thought I'd post some more pictures.... :D

Never mind the fuzzies

http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/67/l_20b4c3fd795e433f98a97eb6c7d35a2b.jpg
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/74/l_80b51f25228a4cf0b87411cdc816553b.jpg
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/77/l_f057202b96114ed7a2db083ab15b9bea.jpg
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/76/l_7ee7c27f8c8f4a34b7400fea6cfe2d6f.jpg
http://c2.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/137/l_ce9e034e20c74712923c005d04cda60d.jpg

[Arkie Lefty]

Pretty much decided I want one of these. Couple questions, is there a "memory button" on the grip safety? Can't really tell from your pictures. Also are the sights as itsy-bitsy as they appear?

Bob

[Rock_Islander]

Nakanokalronin,

I just purchased the same gun about 3 wks ago. Have put around 500 rnds through it and it runs beautifully. A few hundred self-defense rnds and she'll be ready for carry.

I can tell you exactly where the brass will fall, about 15 ft to the right and 3-4 ft forward. Unfortunately for me this means losing brass that would like to keep. About 90% of my brass ends up in the "no go" zone of the indoor range that I use.

I ALWAYS grab that brass in the no-go zone. I just grab a range broom, bend down a little bit, reach forward and sweep it all back to where I'm at.

I came away with hundreds maybe close to a thousand brass casings today from my indoor range.

Don't mean to hijack the thread, just wanted to suggest.

[Tench_Coxe]

I just grab a range broom, bend down a little bit, reach forward and sweep it all back to where I'm at.

That would be a solution, except that the barrier goes all the way to the floor.

I just need to accept that I will lose some brass, at this range, when shooting this particular firearm.

[bagman]

Best of luck with your new compact. I like the look of those grips and will have to get a set for my CS. Thanks for the pics!

[johnmichael]

Love that gun...I've actually just picked up its Big Brother last month from Sarco for $420/shipped. I think their Compact was going for $365, I would love to pick up the matching sibling also. ;)

Mine actually looks alot like yours with the rubber grips added...

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/johnrend/guns/RIA1911.jpg

[Nakanokalronin]

Thanks again everyone! I was not able to get to the range this weekend so hopefully by Wed I'll goto the range and post a report on Thursday in a new thread! I'm actually surprised everyone seems to like the grips. They are standard Kimber rubber grips but I like the way they feel on the smaller 1911s like I did with my UCII.

[Rock_Islander]

Sorry...

BY THE WAY, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

Great lookin' compact you've got there. Love the long triggers. Solid long triggers and triple hole long triggers are the best (in my opinion).

Double diamond grips look the best ALSO in my opinion.

I've got both, a long trigger and black rubber double diamonds on my full size.

Let us know how she shoots.

[kommienzuspadt]

I would prematurely say goodbye to the 400 something dollars that your soon to be brand new RIA tac will run you. i am struggling to think of a possible future where you will not buy one but sad to say i am having little luck.

the good news is that for some reason the 400 dollars or so spent on that new RIA tac will only feel painful until they put the pistol in your hands, at which point you'll wonder what took you so long.

[Nakanokalronin]

$400 or so won't seem painful at all when buying the RAI Tac. The $700 or so for my Kimber UCII was kinda but really liked it in the long run. I'm honestly thinking if all the RIA 1911s are as well put together as this one it more than likely will be brand of choice from now on. :)

[kommienzuspadt]

for what it's worth I was offered a straight trade on a kimber TLE II for my RIA tac and declined.

[Rock_Islander]

Wow really???

The Kimber TLE's a fine weapon. I think I would've traded if my Tactical was a bone stock Parkerized Tactical, for a TLE.

But now that I've got some things done to my Tactical and I just look at it as a thing of beauty every time I see it, I don't think I'd trade it for a Kimber TLE anymore.

TLE's are great guns, they are the primary issue pistols for the Los Angeles Police Dept. SWAT Team. They have Picatinny rails, firing pin stops, and beautiful Black Oxide finishes on them. I believe they also come standard with a match grade barrel and match bushing. What a gun if you ask me.

That said, Tactical RIAs are not far off from any Kimber as far as performance if you ask me (just MY opinion).