RIA 1911 for $279 is a heck of a bargain!
- Thread starter Snowdog
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weisse52
Member
Any of you guys still around from the 2005 posts?
Do you still own them? How are they functioning today?
This is enough time for a "long term" test, so lets hear what you have to say.
Thinking about buying one in 38 Super to convert to 9mm.
Do you still own them? How are they functioning today?
This is enough time for a "long term" test, so lets hear what you have to say.
Thinking about buying one in 38 Super to convert to 9mm.
JeepGeeek
member
Killen- got mine off gunbroker.com
I don't suppose you'd be happy if I told you I paid $450 for my last (lightly used) AR15, wouldja?
I don't suppose you'd be happy if I told you I paid $450 for my last (lightly used) AR15, wouldja?
weisse52
Member
BUMP!
OK, so am to take the lack of response to mean that in the long run the RIA's did not hold up?
OK, so am to take the lack of response to mean that in the long run the RIA's did not hold up?
Usually you only hear about the one that worked, in a gunfight. At the range, I don't see the value of shooting a 2 thousand dollar handgun, unless you shoot competition. God forbid it gets taken away from you by an over eager leo, who sees that flashy piece, and decides to ruin your day.
psychophipps
Member
I'm pretty sure that most, if not all, of the RIAs mentioned before are working just fine, weisse52. They might not have the same owners but I have seen quite a few posts with 5,000-10,000+ round counts with RIAs that are running just dandy w/o anything swapped but some springs.
You basically have two options in a NIB 1911. You can buy yourself a gucci go-faster semi-custom/custom gun for $1000+ (and the vast majority are $1500+) or you can spend $500 on a RIA Tactical and get maybe a 1% difference in performance for your average shooter.
You want a super-bling Ferarri gun or the old skool VW bug gun to take to the grocery store?
You basically have two options in a NIB 1911. You can buy yourself a gucci go-faster semi-custom/custom gun for $1000+ (and the vast majority are $1500+) or you can spend $500 on a RIA Tactical and get maybe a 1% difference in performance for your average shooter.
You want a super-bling Ferarri gun or the old skool VW bug gun to take to the grocery store?
QwikKotaTx
Member
I paid $300 for my Kimber as well. I waited until the absolute latest possible moment to buy it from my friend who was moving to China. All he needs over there is a plastic butter knife and I, being the kind soul that I am, offered to take it off his hands. He said he'd rather throw it in the trash than sell it to me that cheap but took my check nonetheless. I love her and will be using it to pass my CHL course in August. RIA looks very nice for the price, would love to check one out in person.
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i13/qwikkota/Kimber.jpg
I waited until the absolute latest possible moment to buy it from my friend who was moving to China. All he needs over there is a plastic butter knife and I, being the kind soul that I am, offered to take it off his hands. He said he'd rather throw it in the trash than sell it to me that cheap but took my check nonetheless. I love her and will be using it to pass my CHL course in August. RIA looks very nice for the price, would love to check one out in person.http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i13/qwikkota/Kimber.jpg
I have a Rock Island 1911A1 .45 and love it. I don't like tennis shoes with plastic, I like my leather with out a bunch of pretty tooling, I like my coffee black, and I drive a Saturn for it's well engineered reliability. I may digress, but all I am saying that I like things simple, trust worthy, and maybe even a little plain. Aside from my gun shooting exceptionally well and opperating flawlessly, it is not all frilly with lots of unnessicary modifications to make it more hip. My gun is a man's gun and is not to be confused with anything made of plastic or sportinized. WHen I am ready to pay out the nose for something pretty I will look towards other brands. But till then I will be burning ammo through my RIA 45 with a special spot in my heart for those who shoot less accurate with thier more expensive pieces.
Mine had some teething troubles in the first 400 rounds or so, but adjusting the spring tensions very slightly took care of that. Since then it's been 100% reliable. I've probably got 1500 rounds through mine.
The sights are terrible, so factor a set of replacements into your cost calculations. High-visibility sights run $70-$80 installed from King's Gun Works.
The sights are terrible, so factor a set of replacements into your cost calculations. High-visibility sights run $70-$80 installed from King's Gun Works.
I was down at the range recently. A shooter was practicing double taps with his Beretta M9 equivalent. Then he pulled out his Kimber. He indicated it was rather rare, that they had only made 1000 of that model, which I didn't catch which model.
So I asked him, what is the difference between my $300 Rock Island and his $1300 Kimber.
Without a pause, he replied "Bragging rights." I was afraid of that. The RIA has gone off every time the trigger was pulled and launched the bullet in the general direction of the target (I am not a competitor.) I am extremely happy with it and don't plan to upgrade until I figure out what the heck I would get out of the extra money. (I am not a connoisseur, either. I just like to shoot.)
I suspect the naysayers have never shot one or are put off by the parentage. Their loss is gain for the rest of us.
So I asked him, what is the difference between my $300 Rock Island and his $1300 Kimber.
Without a pause, he replied "Bragging rights." I was afraid of that. The RIA has gone off every time the trigger was pulled and launched the bullet in the general direction of the target (I am not a competitor.) I am extremely happy with it and don't plan to upgrade until I figure out what the heck I would get out of the extra money. (I am not a connoisseur, either. I just like to shoot.)
I suspect the naysayers have never shot one or are put off by the parentage. Their loss is gain for the rest of us.
JeepGeeek
member
don't know why they'd be put off by the parentage. The Phillipines had a little something to do with the birth of the weapon, after all.
I am a fan of RIA. Also Tanfoglio's Witness series, and the 24/7 and MilPro series from Taurus. Let's not forget the Keltec P11/P40s.
all are underdogs, and talked down to by gun snobs.
Yet every-damn-one of them goes Bang when I expect it, and click when I expect that. I also can put lead/copper on target out to at least 25 yards with all of them (the P11/40 on very good days, mind).
Put another way: for the $1300 of that one Kimber, I can have my 1911s, one each, in GI, tactical, and Commander flavor. And a little change to put on that Taurus PT92 I've been trying to talk myself out of, or another rifle. Or a lot of reloading components. Or let my friends come along and use them as I introduce new shooters to the sport.
Anyone who wants to talk crap about the weapons had better be willing to put his arse where his mouth is- downrange. (No, I'd certainly never shoot at them, nor would I violate a "cold" range- but I'm betting they would get the idea real quick that I'm not after bragging rights)..
I am a fan of RIA. Also Tanfoglio's Witness series, and the 24/7 and MilPro series from Taurus. Let's not forget the Keltec P11/P40s.
all are underdogs, and talked down to by gun snobs.
Yet every-damn-one of them goes Bang when I expect it, and click when I expect that. I also can put lead/copper on target out to at least 25 yards with all of them (the P11/40 on very good days, mind).
Put another way: for the $1300 of that one Kimber, I can have my 1911s, one each, in GI, tactical, and Commander flavor. And a little change to put on that Taurus PT92 I've been trying to talk myself out of, or another rifle. Or a lot of reloading components. Or let my friends come along and use them as I introduce new shooters to the sport.
Anyone who wants to talk crap about the weapons had better be willing to put his arse where his mouth is- downrange. (No, I'd certainly never shoot at them, nor would I violate a "cold" range- but I'm betting they would get the idea real quick that I'm not after bragging rights)..
rdoggsilva
Member
Man I am shocked, I thought only us Taurus pt1911 guys got attacked by gun snobs.
powwowell
Member
No problems. The RIA is worth the money.
I've had a RIA for less than two years. I haven't shot thousands of rounds through it, but I have shot it enough that I have 100% faith in it. Hollow points are no problem.
One day I'll get around to doing "a poor man's trigger job" on it. The stiff trigger, for a .45, is my only objection. I may even pick up a RIA tactical.
I've had a RIA for less than two years. I haven't shot thousands of rounds through it, but I have shot it enough that I have 100% faith in it. Hollow points are no problem.
One day I'll get around to doing "a poor man's trigger job" on it. The stiff trigger, for a .45, is my only objection. I may even pick up a RIA tactical.
I am opening my 5th 1k pack of ammo now. But I reload a bunch inbetween cases too. I would estimate 6k to 7k in the past 2 years or less. My officers has seen about 2k no problems from either. Ok well I did not clean my tactical for 3k once and the extractor started failing due to dirt build up....but thats my fault!
1911manforever
Member
I just recently bought a RIA full size .45 1911 and couldn't be happier, though i havent shot many rounds through it i have not had one malfunction. I'm glad to hear that other owners have nothin but good things to say about them. I even took the pistol for my CCDW class and even the instructor liked it and wanted to shoot it. The gunsmith i bought the pistol from told me that the instructor, which is a friend of his, came in his shop talkin about it. Anyway I paid around $450 for the pistol, a 50 pack of shells, an extra clip, and a nylon holster which i think is a pretty good deal. I'm seriously considering buying the other 1911 that he had for sale.
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Snowdog
Member
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Weisse52, since starting this thread back in '05, I've put a few thousand loads (all handloads, perhaps 40% 200gr SWC, 40% 230gr RNFP and 20% 230gr FMJ). The reliability of the RIA is outstanding!
The only item not stock are the walnut grips and I believe it will stay that way.
I believe my 1st series Kimber has an edge in overall accuracy as it's had gobs of custom work done and possesses a slightly better trigger. However, the difference is ever so slight and the RIA will reliably feed SWCs, something the Kimber choke on now and then.
Below are the two 1911s.
The only item not stock are the walnut grips and I believe it will stay that way.
I believe my 1st series Kimber has an edge in overall accuracy as it's had gobs of custom work done and possesses a slightly better trigger. However, the difference is ever so slight and the RIA will reliably feed SWCs, something the Kimber choke on now and then.
Below are the two 1911s.
floydster
Member
I wanted to get a 1911, but now I am so confused I think I will just give up shooting, period.
It seems there is NO truth in anything anymore.
Goodbye.
It seems there is NO truth in anything anymore.
Goodbye.
JeepGeeek
member
drama much?
weisse52
Member
Snowdog
THANKS! That is what I was wanting to hear!
THANKS! That is what I was wanting to hear!
RIA
I picked up an RIA officer tactical, paid $499 for it and been very well pleased, right outta the box, cleaned up, oiled and 100 rds, no failures! Shoots to POA better than i am, took off the wood grips and put on some two piece rubber with finger groves and handles great! Wish i had a camera as the black rubber grips on the black gun looks very business like. Really glad now that i never got the $90.00 for 475 rds of 230 gr 45 i had offered awhile back! LOL
I picked up an RIA officer tactical, paid $499 for it and been very well pleased, right outta the box, cleaned up, oiled and 100 rds, no failures! Shoots to POA better than i am, took off the wood grips and put on some two piece rubber with finger groves and handles great! Wish i had a camera as the black rubber grips on the black gun looks very business like. Really glad now that i never got the $90.00 for 475 rds of 230 gr 45 i had offered awhile back! LOL
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