Well, after some confusion with postal system, ect, I finally got my RIA Mil-Spec .45 today! Man, I already am in love with this gun, even before shooting it. It fits my hands quite nicely. Fit and function seem good. It is pretty tight, doesn't rattle at all. The parkerized finish on the barrel hood looks to be wearing after some rackings of the slide. Is that normal with these? Recoil spring seems heavier than the one on my Kimber (16 lbs), but that perception may be due to not having a FLGR? Haven't shot it yet, but just dry firing it, it seems to actually have a crisper trigger than my Kimber. I did not expect that. The grips feel good in my hands, due to the width of the wood. I do wish they were checkered, but plan to shoot it before looking into replacements. What is the recommended break-in on these? It took about 600 rounds to work the kinks out of my Kimber. I am hoping this one will be more reliable more quickly. All in all, it seems like a very good pistol for it's type. If it shoots as well as it looks and feels, it is definately a keeper. Sorry, I don't have a digital camera to take a picture with right now. Wish I did, because I am proud of this gun!!

Take some normal pictures and have them scanned at the place that process your films, they'll give them to you on a CD.

Congrats on the new pistol.

__________________
John Caradimas SV1CEC
The M1911 Pistols Organization
http://www.m1911.org

I feel the same way about my new Rock Mil-spec. I'm impressed with how well made this inexpensive pistol is.
No range report yet, due to weather and schedule issues, but soon to follow.

I love the grips on my rock, but I prefer the texture of checkered grips.

Greetings, Rockheads!
The slide-to-frame fit on my Rock is better than that of a couple new Colts I saw at a show this weekend. I was kinda shocked, even though I know the piece is meant to run dirty (and gritty, and muddy, and frozen, and too dry....)

__________________
"Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid."- Ronald Wilson Reagan

"Mmmmm.....tasty burglar......"- Tonka the Large Dog

John must be gettin soft...

You're bound to really enjoy a great gun there. I have four Rock Island Armory .45s with a 5th (Match) on its way to me. They all shoot great and their accuracy is right on. My experience with them is very positive. Most weeks I'm on the ranges of my gun club three days (yes, retired) and I've been working them out along with many other guns I have. I believe it's the best dollar value out there for a 1911 .45. You've made a great selection.
FEN

Thanks for the congrats, guys. I am taking my Rock to the range for the first time tomorrow. Plan to put about 150 rounds through it. I got it all cleaned up and oiled up, so it is ready to go. I did a little extractor test (put a round under the extractor in the slide and then shook it a bit) and I think it might be just a little too tensioned, but I will see how it shoots before attempting to adjust it. I will post a range report after I get home tomorrow. I am just very excited to shoot it. It seems to sit better (maybe deeper?) in my hand than my Kimber Stainless II. I am not sure if this is due to the difference in the grip safety or the difference in the width of the grips. Anyway, watch for my range report. If it shoots as good as it feels, it is fixing to become my favorite .45!!