First 1911

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Good Ol' Boy

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This won't be an immediate purchase so I've got some time to think and take in responses.

I'm really liking the TCM22 from RIA for the round itself and the fact that it comes with an interchangeable 9mm barrel.

But I'm definitely open to suggestions as to reliability, customer service and other common nit picks with that or other brands.

Money wise, the TCM is on the high end of the budget so keep that in mind.

What it will be used for? Mainly a range toy but if I like it and it's reliable it may very well be an occasional carry piece. Something else to keep in mind.


So, what are your thoughts?
 
I've heard the Remington R1 and Ruger SR1911 are some of the best you can get for under $700.
 
As usual, I am going to throw a vote in for the Ruger SR1911. My Commander-length is my favorite handgun; flawless, accurate, balanced.
 
Everybody is going to name their favorites so I'll just say this: any 1911 can be a fun range toy. If the .22TCM does it for you, why not? However, carrying the 1911 is a whole different ballgame and you may find that what you want in a range toy 1911 is not at all what you want in a carry 1911.
 
I own many 1911 handguns. I am currently using a Colt SS 1911 Govt. using the .38 Super Comp round. The RI 1911 .22 TCM is a dandy round. It is a very flat shooting round. Sighted in 1/4 inch high at 25 yards it is 1/4 inch low at 100 yds. The .22 TCM will shoot through a 1/8" mild steel plate. It is very economical to shoot. A box of 50 rds. sells here for $20.00 dollars. The bullets and brass are a bargain when supplied by Rock Island.

http://www.ammosupplywarehouse.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&category=TCM0
 
Rock Island 1911s are excellent for the money, I'll just say that. The TCM/9mm is a great choice for the 9mm option, I'm not sure how often I would use the .22 TCM though.
 
A friend has the .22 TCM/9mm 1911 and loves it. His only regret is the local indoor range won't allow him to shoot it there.
 
A buddy brought a 22TCM out to shoot not too long ago.
It was something to see. Belching fire, loud report, but no discernable recoil.
Shooting very quickly, the frame seemed stationary while the slide was moving. Looked like bad special effects, like the action and muzzle flash had been photoshoped in.
It was very cool.
 
Good 'Ol Boy

RIA has a pretty decent 1911 for the money. Have no experience with the .22TCM but it sounds like a fun round to play with at the range. Being able to convert it to 9mm. is a big plus too. As far as manufacturers go most of the mainstream 1911 producers (Colt, Ruger, S&W, SIG, Remington, Springfield Armory, Dan Wesson, and Kimber to name a few), make a quality gun that should give you many years of reliable service.
 
My sole criterion for modern 1911 guns is how close they come to the classic WW2 icon. By that standard, the Kahr / Thompson is the closest out of the box (except for the firing pin block). Some of the RIA / Armscor offerings also come close. All of them need substitution of GI parts.
 
I've got a Citadel 3.5 CS 3 1/2" M1911.

They're made by the same company as Rock Island, but the build quality is noticeably higher, for a modest increase in price.

I'd definitely consider one of the Philippine M1911s. They're one of the best price versus quality deals on the handgun market.
 
First 1911
This won't be an immediate purchase so I've got some time to think and take in responses.

I'm really liking the TCM22 from RIA for the round itself and the fact that it comes with an interchangeable 9mm barrel.

But I'm definitely open to suggestions as to reliability, customer service and other common nit picks with that or other brands.

Money wise, the TCM is on the high end of the budget so keep that in mind.

What it will be used for? Mainly a range toy but if I like it and it's reliable it may very well be an occasional carry piece. Something else to keep in mind.


So, what are your thoughts?

Rock Island GI, full size, .45 ACP.
 
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I know a number of people who have Rock Island Armory model 1911s and have had very good luck with them. I have shot the TCM22 model twice.

The TCM22 is a novel cartridge to shoot. Lots of noise and flash, but hardly any recoil, which makes it easy to shoot accurately. I'm not sure how viable the cartridge is for self-defense. It has lots of velocity but does not come close to 3000fps that makes the 5.56 x 45 mm rifle round effective, and it is a pretty small and light projectile. I also would not want to shoot it much in low light conditions or confined spaces. The ammunition is much less widely available and costs nearly twice what you can get 9mm Luger for.

But having the option to shoot 9mm Luger would certainly make the gun a viable self-defense weapon. For myself, I suspect the novelty of the 22TCM would wear off after a few range sessions. It might be valuable for teaching newbies to shoot as a result of its very light recoil. But it is so much more expensive than 22LR for that purpose.
 
I think that a Rock Island/Armscor would be a very good starter gun. I have watched them improve over the years, and some of the new guns are genuinely excellent. Especially for the price. The finish is and always will be ugly, but the triggers and fit seem to be ever improving, albeit not consistent across individual pistols.

Since you have time, I recommend you read as much as you can about 1911s, how they work, and what an ideally fit piece looks like. Then go around to gun shops and handle what you can. Have any friends with guns you can shoot?

Maybe Novak style sights work for you, or maybe you'd prefer something else like the original GI style. Perhaps a curved mainspring housing is the best for you, or maybe you'd prefer a flat one and a safety with a memory bump. There are so many models with so many features. Lots of preference in this category, and everyone has an opinion and a favorite. The hardest part is finding out exactly what you want.
 
1KPerDay wrote,
First 1911? Colt Government Model. Budget option? RIA GI for about $400 or less.
I agree.

When you get a first 1911, something you're not familiar with, getting a standard set up, which in a 1911 means 5" gun, single column magazine, and .45 ACP.

The advantage of this is two fold...

1) When you run into something you don't understand, you'll go on line to look for information, the vast majority of information will be in regards to a 5" 1911, with a single column mag, and in .45 ACP.

2) When you are looking for parts/accessories, accessories for a 5" 1911, with a single column mag, in .45 ACP will be the most readily available and easiest to come by.

While a 9mm 1911 is becoming less of an oddity, a 22TCM still is a pretty rare bird.
 
I just picked up an almost nib Chiappa 1911-45 from someone online locally for $340. It will go to the range Friday with a few others to see what it can do. This is my first 45 in my 29 years of shooting. I also recently bought a Springfield Range Officer in 9mm nib for $700 and a Springfield Range Officer 5" 9mm for $750 cash. The RO's are simply amazing and deadly accurate, with light recoil.

I was originally looking for a Rock Island Tactical 9mm but my preferred shop couldn't get one in and the other liked theirs too much. Lots of choices out there, look around online locally too if possible and it just might pay off.
 
My stepbrother loves his RIA 1911 45acp. My RIA 1911 was a lemon (an oddball double-stack 40 caliber), but RIA finally fixed it properly on their third try. My Turkish Tisas 1911 45acp has been flawless. The entry level RIA and Tisas can be had for around $400.

But my FiL's Metro Arms is the nicest of the lot. It has better sights, better trigger, and better-looking grips. He haunted Gunbroker forever and finally won it for a fluke $360 bid, but I think they can be normally had for around $450-ish. IIRC it is also from the Philippines, but from a different company than RIA.

It's a small sample size, but I personally don't believe that you have to pay a lot of money to get a functional 1911.
 
For me, if you ask for your 1st 1911, it's gota be in .45acp and in a 4 or 5 inch barrel.

The TCM22 looks like a GREAT guy, but as a 2nd 1911 :D

Oh, btw, I love 1911s, and they tend to multiply after a few years.
 
Springfield Range Officer tends to be one of, if not the most-accurate-for-the-money models on the market.

I have multiple 1911's, and have had many others. If they don't say caspian or sti on the side, then it's Wilson, Kimber, Springfield, or SigSauer. Buying factory today, only these would get my money.
 
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