Rock Island Armory 1911 Torture Test

[banjoboyjohn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FshMCKkfsW4&feature=channel_video_title

A quick video demonstrating the reliability of a RIA 1911 when filthy with filthy with dirt and debris. With ~1,700 rounds down this gun, and a recoil spring halfway on it's way to being replaced, this gun functions flawlessly with 230gr FMJ. I have not done a lot of testing with hollow points in this gun... yet.

Fair word of warning: There are a couple profanities in the video.

 

[Magnumite]

Doing a torture test with possible gun blowups and magazine blowouts and no grips on the pistol. More nads than I. The dirty water test wasn't that severe, water took away most of the debris.

But the gun did run. I would liked to see the results of sand and thick mud tests, I hear those will quickly sort out what works and what doesn't.

A nationally known expert 1911 builder and career spec ops guy did torture tests beyond what the You Tube guy did used three guns: a "semi" custom 1911, a Glock and another brand, I don't recall right now. He used sand, real mud and other medium to test the guns. The 1911 came out as the most likely to function.

 

[jackpot]

muddy water? weak. Im not doubting the guns function or build quality but I am doubting the intensity of your "torture" test. As stated above try sand and thick mud, ive used potting soil thats been turned to mud before and its a good tell tale. Also try shooting the gun till it jams; I hardly find less than 50 rounds to be a torture test.

Other than that, thanks for posting the video. Ive often thought about picking a RIA 1911 up but I have had my doubts. Run it in mud!

 

[Remllez]

Great job Banjo,

There's no disputing the results of your test! That gun ran wet or dry and you have a large set of ah well you know for doing that to your gun. I can't see anyone dunking their $2000.00 pistol to prove what you did! Kudos to you for "proving" that ROCK!!

 

[colt1911fan]

$2000 :banghead: where are they selling RIAs for that Id sell mine for $1500 a piece killer deal

 

[918v]

The mud was not thick enough. Whip up some real mud and do over.

 

[surjimmy]

There's no disputing the results of your test! That gun ran wet or dry and you have a large set of ah well you know for doing that to your gun. I can't see anyone dunking their $2000.00 pistol to prove what you did! Kudos to you for "proving" that ROCK!!...............Colt, you really didn't read the post did ya.

 

[huduguru]

weak...

 

[Magno]

Why don't you guys commenting "weak" make a follow up video dunking your pistols in stuff?

Thanks for the cool video Banjo. I've been debating a RIA 1911 for a long time...now thanks to you I am starting to lean towards buying one.

 

[banjoboyjohn]

there was mud in the bottom of the bucket and the gun was filthy. i was digging leaves and debris out of the gun and mags for an hour not to mention rust. you can see at the end of the video how dirty it was by how slow the slide went into battery when i dropped it from mag release so saying it's "weak" is not quite accurate. if you want to blow 200 rounds on a youtube, vid, be my guest, i have 1,700 rounds down the gun so far with no issues. i believe i can say its reliable. i would bet my life to it.

 

[towboat_er]

Good video!!

 

[Hacker15E]

I'd like to see a RIA go through the torture 1911Tuner put a Springfield GI through here a few years ago (which he documented on this site...).

 

[BushyGuy]

cool video1 wish my rock was that reliable, i still get jams every now and then

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I find it far from "weak". I was impressed with the gun. Like posted before, I doubt if we see many guys dipping their $2000 guns in a bucket of dirty water to test 'em out.

 

[mbopp]

Do you want reliable, or do you want accurate? GI-spec guns have such loose fitting parts that they'll tolerate gunk between the pieces. That was JMB's intent when he designed it.
On your $2000 gun that has a hand-lapped slide and super-tight bushing, you'll be able to put 5 shots in one hole at 50 yards. But - don't expect it to function dirty. Heck, with a super tight bushing you can get function failures when the barrel heats up, expands, and locks on the bushing.

I's like saying a Porsche 911 makes a poor off-road vehicle and a Jeep can't run a road course. You're comparing apples to oranges.

 

[Browns Fan]

That is pretty impressive! I was thinking of getting one in 9mm.

 

[doc.lonestar]

Hey OP - You did what many would not do and you stand behind your results - good enough for me. Anyone not liking it should really do the test with their 1911 and post the results. Not sure how many testers we are going to get…. 1911 or other firearm.

Glad the Rock has been good to you. If she has been good to you and has been reliable that is all that matters. Not sure why 1911’s from the Philippines get such sporadic love on some of these boards. So far the firearms put out by Rock Island and Metro Arms have a great following and have been getting great reviews for a while now.

Be safe and make sure you clean her up real nice and lube before heading back out there buddy.

 

[tinygnat219]

I'm not sure if I ever see the point of these "torture" tests. My handguns will run because I clean them after each range trip and since I'm not slogging through mud as a TSA agent looking for 89 year old Grandma's possible bombs, nor will I ever step through a desert hiding in sand looking to catch evil terrorists, my handguns will work simply because I take care of them.

 

[huduguru]

"Why don't you guys commenting "weak" make a follow up video dunking your pistols in stuff?"

Well, first of all, he is rehashing what every 1911 owner knows already. The
same tests were done 100 years ago to determine the 1911's suitability
for military service. I don't need to take my expensive weapons and abuse them
needlessly to prove what was known a century ago, but if someone wants
to in order to garner attention, it is their pistol....

 

[Magnumite]

Some don't care for critiques. A couple of us mearly stated sand and thick mud would been a more severe test. I don't need to do this to my guns because others have, will and some have more stringent testing of a proven design.

 

[Magnumite]

"But - don't expect it to function dirty. Heck, with a super tight bushing you can get function failures when the barrel heats up, expands, and locks on the bushing."

This obviously comes from a lack of experince with those $2k guns or from those which are improperly fitted. A tight gun can be utterly reliable because the tight fitting does not allow the parts to move away out of proper relationship.

And they will run dirty and reliable, even with hundreds and well over 1000 rounds between cleanings - and with lead bullet ammo.

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

Reading is Fundamental. So is comprehension.

His point is it doesn't have to be $1500-$2000 1911, to be reliable.



Not that he is selling or buying RIAs for that kind of money.
Not to prove the 1911 is better.
Not prove his mud is more reliable.
Or any of the other,distracted,sidelined, besides the point tangents, that some have come up with.

If you have paid $2000, for a 1911, for Petes sake don't tell anyone, it makes anything else you say sound Silly.

I think if I get another it will be a RIA.

 

[MCMXI]

I'm of the opinion that a test should simulate (or exceed) the intended use, which means testing it in the same environment, with the same ammunition and with the same magazines and accessories. I test my pistols and rifles by using them in high stress matches and classes where shooting rapidly, fast magazine changes, shooting out of position with a less than ideal grip, and moving and shooting are the norm. You'd be surprised by how many firearms that "have never had a problem" at the range suddenly develop all kinds of problems in a match. A wet/mud test is of no use to me but an oil/dust test would be useful. Another test applicable to my use would be a drop test from 4 feet onto concrete or hard ground to see if an extended magwell could deform thereby preventing the removal/insertion of a magazine. I've done some testing with one of my USPSA pistols to test the function of the pistol and Wilson Combat magazines. I intentionally left the pistol dirty from 300+ reloads shot in a weekend match and then shot another 139 rounds in less than 10 minutes with more than 50 rounds with the pistol rotated 90º, 180º and 270º from horizontal. Shooting around barriers often means that the pistol is rotated out of position so I wanted to test the magazines more than anything. I also wanted to test "limp wristing" with the pistol rotated 180º.

 

[NMGonzo]

In this expensive=better world we live in, it is refreshing to see the Rock rocking!!!

I sold mine because i wanted a stainless pimp 1911; nothing else.

 

[MCMXI]

Reading is Fundamental. So is comprehension.

His point is it doesn't have to be $1500-$2000 1911, to be reliable.

How does this test prove real world reliability? How can anyone extrapolate the results from this test to say anything meaningful about RIA products or 1911s in general? The OP can make one intelligent statement about his RIA 1911 ... that it functioned reliably after this specific test, with the specific ammunition and magazines used, for the specified number of rounds shot ... that's it!!