RIA project, expected trouble.

[Bushranger]

A question comes to mind. I had no idea when I ordered the M1911 A1 in .38 Super that it had a ramped barrel. Given that, does the RIA M1911 A1 in .45 ACP also have a ramped barrel?

I did some searching on RIA 1911s and it seems only the .38 Super and 9mm have ramped barrels.

[Gunslngr56]

I have owned several RIA 1911 pistols and have not experienced any major issues with any of them, 9MM, 22TCM (poor mans 5.7) and 45. I've shot some pretty high end 45 pistols, Gold Cup's, Wilson Combat, Cabot, Republic Forge, Ed Brown, STI etc....These all belonged to customer's when I worked at a Gun shop part time after retiring. A well tuned RIA 1911 will not be far behind these pistols that cost thousands of dollars. The 1911 I was most impressed with was made by Guncrafter. At 10 feet I was able to shoot a chalk stick 3 times, Of course that pistol cost 3K, I could buy 4 Rock Islands for that, Notice I used the word Tuned earlier. The 1911 is a tinkerer's firearm. I have completely stripped down to the frame every 1911 I have ever owned and polished the internals, tweaked my magazines and have found that they will run well, be reliable and accurate. I've had a few Colts but Mostly I am a Para and Rock Island guy. I think Para makes a great 1911, especially the Canadian made models. I do love those double stacks! RIA makes a double stack also as well as a double stack 9MM which can also shoot the 22TCM with a barrel and spring swap. My main reason for being on these forums is to soak up more knowledge. Don't discount RIA they made be made in the Philippines but they are of good quality.

[Bushranger]

Fired another 50 rounds through the RIA M1911 A1 .38 Super today.
I used my standard function test load of Starline Super Comp brass, Winchester primer, 4.7 of TiteGoup and a cast RCBS 125 grain, powder coated, gas checked bullet. Note: That load has not been developed for accuracy... that will come later.
The rounds functioned perfectly, all ejected to my 3:00.
RIALeft.jpg

[Bushranger]

I noticed on an old thread: "The Rock Island is not a duplicate of the M1911 I understand. What are the differences?"
One thing I noticed is the width of the slots on the grip screws. As I understand it, John Browning designed the width of the grip screws to be such that they could be removed with the base plate of the G.I. magazines (tool-less take down). However the width of the slots on my RIA M1911 A1 are way too narrow to use a G.I. mag to remove them...actually they (the RIA) are quite narrow.

[Jim Watson]

Well, it is the wrong caliber for one thing, but Internet English does not appear to make a distinction between a military 1911 or 1911A1 and a Government Model and a Super .38.

The ramped barrel is not found on any Colt using the 1909 patent.
The low, square, beveled ejection port.
The trigger is neither 1911 long or 1911A1 short.
Frame contours are subtly different, the A1 scallops are undersize, the trigger guard looks thick, I can't tell if the grips are narrow or the frame flats wide. If the latter, it would probably include a large radius front strap.

There is a gunsmith in Canada who has done some very sincere "clones" by completely remodeling Armscors to look just like Colts... or Singers. I assume he leaves the serial number alone; if he applied a serial number from a real USGI number range it would be illegal in the US and fraudulent anywhere.

[Gunslngr56]

If your talking a standard single stack 45 ACP from Rock Island all of their pistols are 70 series so standard 1911 internals should work. Double stacks are a different story, most components internally are the same but you got to be careful if your going to replace the trigger, all double stack trigger bows are not quite the same and probably not going to be a drop in. When in doubt refer to their website. They carry a lot of parts. So many vendors making 1911's now in different sizes and calibers. I stick to the 45, yeah it costs more for the ammo but it's cheaper than 10MM or 38 Super. The 45 ACP she's short and fat but she sure can dance! As far as the screw width on your pistol a dremel can fix that or there are a multitude of different screws out there to replace them with.

[Bushranger]

I stick to the 45, yeah it costs more for the ammo but it's cheaper than 10MM or 38 Super.

Only for those who do not handload. I cast all my handgun bullets... I use RCBS 125 grain gas checked bullets for my .38 Supers. Uses less lead, powder, etc. Cheaper than .45 ACP by far.

[Bushranger]

As far as the screw width on your pistol a dremel can fix that or there are a multitude of different screws out there to replace them with.

I would have to see someone enlarge the screw slots using a dremel... It strikes me as making as much sense as it would for me to try to remove someone's appendix with a box cutter. If the slot size were of concern, I would buy different screws.

[Gunslngr56]

Lol, I said could use a dremel, to me the screw slots make no difference, there only there to hold the grips on. I do prefer the allen key type myself. You would be amazed at what can be done with a dremel! If you work on your own guns a dremel is a must. From polishing, to fitting the dremel makes it a lot easier. I was going to tell you a story about me doing an emergency appendectomy with a box cutter but I digress. You are correct, handloading is the way to go, I just have to many other hobbies. Nothing wrong with a 1911 in 38 super, they were used a lot for competition. I say whatever makes you happy is what you should do and the heck with the purists. For self defense it's all about shot placement not caliber.

[Bushranger]

100 total rounds down the barrel of my RIA at this point. Zero issues or problems including stoppages.

it is likely that the worst feature of an RIA and the thing that keeps their price so low and viewed by so many as inferior to Colt and others is that there is no Colt emblem on them anywhere. Addendum: Those who cast aspersions upon the quality of the foreign manufactured cheaper guns hardly ever list specific faults of foreign guns compared to Colts. They seem to just attack the modern processes such as investment casting and MIM... processes that are now used in the most critical applications such as jet engines.