Has anyone shot the Rock Island Armory .45? I am thinking about getting one to keep in the truck and would like some feedback.
Thanks,
Doug

I have owned mine for about a year now. I have owned a Pile of Springfields, and a Para in 1911. So far This is about my second favorite one. It is one of the more accurate 45's Ive owned. Unlike a pair of the Springfields, they don't loose accuracy after the first 1,000 rounds.

I personally like the stock Novak mags better than all but McCormicks, but apparently they are hit or miss.
In any case my Rock rides around in my pickup, I'm in the desert corner of Wa, and Very rarely clean it. So far it isn't picky as to the type of ammo it eats. I think they are a real deal in the 1911 world. In my neck of the woods I got mine new for $320. Which was an absolute STEAL!!

well the navy and marine corps still use the 1911 as a match pistol and guess who made them. Rock Island Armory. If I carried a 45 it would be a kimber or a rock island.

C 243,
You're thinking of the ROCK RIVER's..... different animal. I've got three of those P.I. made .45's and I just love 'em. I've also got 6 other .45's ranging in price from $400 to $2,500. The $2,500 is more accurate, but less reliable than my $350 RIA made by Armscor.
Dan

Thanks for all the input. I will be picking mine up this week. Cant wait to shoot it!!
Doug

well the navy and marine corps still use the 1911 as a match pistol and guess who made them. Rock Island Armory. . .
When did this come about? Since the military procures using taxpayer funds, I would expect them to be buying high-end pistols for match purposes. But then, one never knows . . . :confused:

Great pistol! just got one a month ago and shot 400 rounds through it. i wanted to see what ammo it likes so I went through 100 rounds each of remington UMC, Magtech, Blazer brass, and winchester in 230 gr. All were bought at walmart with the exception of the magtech. Not even a burb!! the 1911's are the easiest to clean. Didn't even need the instructions (although I checked them later to make sure I did it right).
I must of read over 200 posts about the rock island 1911 .45 and less then 10 were negative. My advice is to get the tactical version so you wouldn't get "hammer bite" Great guns!! buy it and you wouldn't regret it.

"Since the military procures using taxpayer funds, I would expect them to be buying high-end pistols for match purposes."
I wonder if buying "high end" would make any difference to the AMU. I'm pretty sure that their armorers take any gun that they use and accurize it in any case. As long as they have a stable frame and slide, they make what they need.
Pete

Great pistol! just got one a month ago and shot 400 rounds through it. i wanted to see what ammo it likes so I went through 100 rounds each of remington UMC, Magtech, Blazer brass, and winchester in 230 gr. All were bought at walmart with the exception of the magtech. Not even a burb!! the 1911's are the easiest to clean. Didn't even need the instructions (although I checked them later to make sure I did it right).
I must of read over 200 posts about the rock island 1911 .45 and less then 10 were negative. My advice is to get the tactical version so you wouldn't get "hammer bite" Great guns!! buy it and you wouldn't regret it.

Yea, I've heard alot about hammer bite on the base model RIA's. I wouldnt mind buying an RIA, never heard many bad things about them. Good luck!

If I carried a 45 it would be a kimber or a rock island.
It's interesting how much money a person can get tied up into a .45, and it may not even be a great handgun.

Case in point, I was at the range yesterday and the guy next to me had a pretty nice .45 - might have been a Kimber, might have been something else, but it had white dot combat sights, really nice checkered Cocobolo grips, ambidextrous safety, the whole nine yards. I typically shoot at at least 25 feet, but since I was shooting with my daughter I was shooting a bit closer than that, and he was shooting at about that same distance.

I'm not sure what his goal was, but he was shooting fairly fast, and he was hitting all over the place. I was shooting with my .45 - a Franken-45 my Dad put together from parts, but it's on a Colt frame from 1941 (according to the serial number) with what I'm guessing is a Wilson slide because it's sporting Wilson combat sights. Now my .45 doesn't look that grand - it's old, worn, doesn't even have the skeletonized hammer or beaver tail backstrap, but I was putting everything into one raggedy hole.

IMO the best .45 is the one that functions well and puts the rounds where you want them to go. If it's a Rock Island, so be it. I'll stick with my "Colt".

I just got a Rock Island 45. I love it. works fine and very accurate for a 1911 clone. The only problem Ive had and some of you might have the same one is that occasionally the slide fails to lock back after the last round. My friend has the same problem on his and another 1911 clone. And some times it doesnt want to release the magazine smoothly..

Just got my RIA out to the range yesterday. I am very pleased with it. I did notice that the slide did not lock back after the last round was fired. No big deal...It shoots when I pull the trigger and the rounds really hit the mark. Im very pleased with the pistol. Thanks for all the feed back!!
Doug

I plan on getting a RIA Compact 1911 here soon. The major issue is reliability for me when carrying a pistol. Its goin for around $390. I won't be scared to pump Wolf ammo through it like I am with my Kimber ;)

Woodman, I had a colt 1991A1 that did the same thing with the factory mag. Springfield mags locked the slide back as did metalform. Try changing the spring and follower or just toss the mag. I just used mine for range time because it feed fine.

Slide not locking back is a magazne problem.

One of my Berettas does that when I use aftermarket mags.

Just use a different mag and it should correct itself.

It's interesting how much money a person can get tied up into a .45, and it may not even be a great handgun.

Case in point, I was at the range yesterday and the guy next to me had a pretty nice .45 - might have been a Kimber, might have been something else, but it had white dot combat sights, really nice checkered Cocobolo grips, ambidextrous safety, the whole nine yards. I typically shoot at at least 25 feet, but since I was shooting with my daughter I was shooting a bit closer than that, and he was shooting at about that same distance.

I'm not sure what his goal was, but he was shooting fairly fast, and he was hitting all over the place. I was shooting with my .45 - a Franken-45 my Dad put together from parts, but it's on a Colt frame from 1941 (according to the serial number) with what I'm guessing is a Wilson slide because it's sporting Wilson combat sights. Now my .45 doesn't look that grand - it's old, worn, doesn't even have the skeletonized hammer or beaver tail backstrap, but I was putting everything into one raggedy hole.

IMO the best .45 is the one that functions well and puts the rounds where you want them to go. If it's a Rock Island, so be it. I'll stick with my "Colt".

An old saying comes to mind "I would rather have a $300 gun and a $1000 shot than a $1000 gun and a $300 shot."

Of course if you have a $1000 shot and a $1000 gun then you are one lucky *** :cool:

Thanks for the reviews. I would probably buy one then. They are sold on Centerfiresystems.com/org but they have about 80-90% satisfaction reviews, so I would probably get it at a gun show in person.

I bought one a few years ago and it has been ok. I still cant get it to be totally reliable. I have also put about every part under the sun on it, to "pimp" it out. After all that, I wish I would have bought a springfield, it wouldn't have been any more expensive. Im not knocking RIA at all, i like mine and have heard very little bad, mine just hasnt been as reliable as i would like.

They have a good reputation!

Vanguard.45