Paul Harrell On The Rock Island Armory 1911
BY Herschel Smith
4 years ago
He seems to think it’s okay, whereas for me, being unable to shoot anything I want to put in it is a deal-breaker for me.
He also seems to like Colt, whereas I prefer my Dan Wesson and Smith & Wesson 1911s. I’ve never had a single malfunction with either of them, and neither has had a hiccup of any sort regardless of what ammunition I feed it (including and up to 450 SMC).
I don’t do FTF/FTE drills with my 1911s because I’ve never had a failure in many thousands of rounds. But as always, I learn something from Paul (watch his demonstration of the safety feature on the Colt that isn’t there with the RIA, another deal-breaker for me).
On April 4, 2020 at 9:49 am, ambiguousfrog said:
Interesting about the inertia. I appreciate others that are doing this sort of thing, otherwise I would’ve been clueless comparing 1911’s. I don’t have one yet, but on my wishlist. And there are many.
On April 4, 2020 at 10:23 am, Thomas Madere said:
I have a Colt Government MK II series 70 made in 1979. I am the original owner. It doesn’t have the firing pin safety more commonly known as a drop safety because if the pistol is dropped and lands muzzle first on a hard surface there is the possibility of it firing. Perhaps if it has a very light trigger there is a chance when dropping the slide it could fire. Mine has a 3.5# trigger and it has never happened.
Colt sell pistols in both the earlier style without the drop safety and with the drop safety. In all they make 67 different models of the 1911.
The only negative to Colt pistols is the price.
I did carry a compact Colt Defender at one time but now carry a Glock 19. I could easily go back to carrying a 1911 but I prefer the high capacity and lack of a thumb safety of the Glock.
On April 4, 2020 at 11:39 am, MTHead said:
Rock Islands are great guns for the price. We sold dozens at the shop. Very few problems.
On April 4, 2020 at 12:50 pm, Tim said:
I purchased a new RIA TAC series 1911 9mm last April. My first handgun. I wasn’t planning on buying any specific gun at that point but shopping for info and noticed a 1911 in the 9mm rack at Sportsmans Warehouse. The rest is history and I became a “1911 guy” by the time I was done putting it on layaway. Having read much on new gun break-in periods, I wasn’t expecting much on my first range visit. Setting up a dual pistol/carbine range we paced off 33 yards and set up an 8″ steel hanging plate. From round one I was consistently hitting 6 out of 10 rounds with the first mag till we ran out of ammo, which makes the misses most likely operator error. The only feeding issue was trying out hollow points once the gun got really dirty and I ended up with quite a few projectiles pushed back into the case. That was my only issue and since I doubt I am going to run into a self-defense situation while target practicing I don’t think that that is an actual issue-just something to be aware not to do and to thoroughly clean gun before putting it back into self-defense role. After three sessions shooting some 150 rounds per, I believe the gun to be broken in. I love the gun and intend as soon as reasonably possible to buy a RIA 1911 in either .40 or .45. I don’t know if .45 is considered “not cool” anymore by modern shooters, but I’ve noticed that during current ammo shortages, while everything else in common defense calibers is gone there is always at least a few boxes of .45 on the shelf. Keep up good work Mr. Harrell.
On April 4, 2020 at 2:34 pm, BCE56 said:
There are few secrets in a reliable 1911 these days, and with modern materials and methods quality pistols can be produced at reasonable prices. The 1911 is a solid platform available in countless variations. Comparing features and price/value can provide endless discussion.
My favorite is my Kimber Stainless Compact, mildly customized to suit me.
My last-production Para Elite Commander was a bargain. It is equipped with a decent set of semi-custom features and has performed flawlessly.
On April 5, 2020 at 11:28 am, Ned said:
BCE56 – I recommend replacing plastic mainspring housings on all Kimbers. I’ve seen a plastic one fail on the first mag out of the box.
YMMV
On April 5, 2020 at 5:05 pm, BCE56 said:
Thanks, Ned. At about 500 rds I replaced it w/ a checkered stainless MS hsg, now beveled the bottom flush to the grip frame. While I was at it, I installed Wolff springs, a Commander hammer, and shortened and re-radiused the beavertail.
The Para still has the factory FCG, hammer and plastic MS hsg, also beveled. Broke the edges on the grip safety to about .015″.
Both pistols wear King’s thumb safeties and Wilson checkered frontstrap inserts which I prefer to skateboard tape.
On April 5, 2020 at 7:18 pm, Ned said:
I’ve got King’s ambi safeties on two of my 1911s too. Great design. Too bad they’re gone. I’ve got an old Para that’s good for the house – with 15 rounds and all. Never has skipped a beat.
I’ve got a Sig 938 – even it has a plastic mainspring housing. I’ve go an aluminum one to put on – I’m just waiting to get a trigger and do it all at the same time.
On April 10, 2020 at 9:45 pm, Sanders said:
I rebuilt my year 2000 vintage Springfield Loaded 1911A1 last weekend. Seems the hammer pin decided it wanted to come out the right side of the frame. It’s not supposed to do that.
So, I put a new Ed Brown pin kit into it and a Wilson Combat spring kit with a 18-1/2 lb. spring and reduced weight trigger spring.
Then had to go break in again, because everything was so stiff. It only took a box of ammo for that, instead of a couple to three hundred rounds. Just had to settle the new springs in, and the new plungers.
That said, I’ve never heard anything but good things about the RIA (Armscorp) 1911’s. Got some family members who own them and a few buddies who also have them.