Need help buying a 1911

lawrnk · Post by **lawrnk** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:11 pm

I am looking at getting a RIA 1911. I have read really good reviews on it, and it is priced very well.

I found 3 very similar versions. A standard one, with a 6" barrel. A Govt model. A 5" model, and a tactical model. I simply want one that is fun to shoot and home defense. Does anyone have a suggestion?

NcongruNt · Post by **NcongruNt** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:56 pm

This is also on my prospective list. I would say the tactical model, personally - the better trigger, novak sights, and a commander hammer are why I prefer it.

mdek · Post by **mdek** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:59 pm

You may want to consider buying from this seller on gunbroker: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/SellerAuct ... User=49763

He offers the best prices I've seen from a dealer, and you should be ahead even with ffl fees.

KinnyLee · Post by **KinnyLee** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:24 pm

You can't go wrong with any of them, but if you can spring the extra dinero then go with the Tactical. The web of your hand will thank you for it.

Dougmyers5 · Post by **Dougmyers5** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:39 pm

OK I am going to show my secret place to order the RIA 1911 of your choice with the best prices I have seen! But dont tell anyone I dont want this to get out of hand all of the guns get bought up and gone!

http://www.sarcoinc.com/rockislands-new.html

Just our little secret!

biblefreak · Post by **biblefreak** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 8:08 pm

Let me throw out an alternative for the budget minded 1911 shopper- STI Spartan. It will cost a little more but has been getting great reviews. I have read really good things about the RIA line as well, but I have alot of love for STI; it is a Texas based company, they stand behind their product, and they produce a great pistol.

Justin

lawrnk · Post by **lawrnk** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:28 pm

mdek wrote:You may want to consider buying from this seller on gunbroker: http://gunbroker.com/Auction/SellerAuct ... User=49763

He offers the best prices I've seen from a dealer, and you should be ahead even with ffl fees.

Thanks! He is gonna save me about 40 bucks!

lawrnk · Post by **lawrnk** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:30 pm

Dougmyers5 wrote:OK I am going to show my secret place to order the RIA 1911 of your choice with the best prices I have seen! But dont tell anyone I dont want this to get out of hand all of the guns get bought up and gone!

http://www.sarcoinc.com/rockislands-new.html

Just our little secret!

Wow, now I notice it says dealer price. Are you a dealer?

G.A. Heath · Post by **G.A. Heath** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:35 pm

biblefreak wrote:Let me throw out an alternative for the budget minded 1911 shopper- STI Spartan. It will cost a little more but has been getting great reviews. I have read really good things about the RIA line as well, but I have alot of love for STI; it is a Texas based company, they stand behind their product, and they produce a great pistol.

Justin

At one point recently, and it may still be the case, the STI guns were being manufactured by the folks over at Armscor (same people that make the RIAs) and were being finished here in the states by the folks over at STI.

lawrnk · Post by **lawrnk** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:36 pm

biblefreak wrote:Let me throw out an alternative for the budget minded 1911 shopper- STI Spartan. It will cost a little more but has been getting great reviews. I have read really good things about the RIA line as well, but I have alot of love for STI; it is a Texas based company, they stand behind their product, and they produce a great pistol.

Justin

Thanks Justin, I am going to look into those.

Reysc · Post by **Reysc** » Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:58 pm

I am a big RIA fan too. I have the GI model, Tactical and the STI-Spartan. I would recommend the Tactical for reasons already stated in previous post. Now the STI-Spartan has been made in the Philippines using Armscor frame, slide and barrels. I most internals are STI ( Tx based). I love the match barrel and subsequent accuracy of trouble free performance of the STI-Spartan but honestly IMHO the Tactical is just as good.If you are just thinking of getting one gun and you can find out.. I would recommend the STI- Spartan.
Good Luck!

fenster · Post by **fenster** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 10:40 am

just got a RIA tactical 3 wks ago. after about 500 rds, it seems about settled in :

all clusters are 8-rds. the 4 corners and one of the center clusters are 7 yds. the larger, slightly lower center cluster is 15 yds. the shot spread in upper left and lower right are all shooter error.

200 rds shot on that outing. no problems. so I guess you can say I'm a fan now.

2 minor gripes on mine:
-sights are aligned low. was planning to swap them out for adjustables anyway.
-finish not so durable. already showing bare metal on frame where slide lock travels, and where thumb safety travels. my XDs after numerous carry hrs still look new.

these gripes are minor in my overall, very high opinion of the RIA.

FYI, I bought mine here:
http://rivercityarmory.com/index.htm
it's somewhat local to Austin. for me, it was worth the extra cost to inspect the piece in-person prior to buying.

lawrnk · Post by **lawrnk** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 1:50 pm

fenster wrote:just got a RIA tactical 3 wks ago. after about 500 rds, it seems about settled in :

all clusters are 8-rds. the 4 corners and one of the center clusters are 7 yds. the larger, slightly lower center cluster is 15 yds. the shot spread in upper left and lower right are all shooter error.

200 rds shot on that outing. no problems. so I guess you can say I'm a fan now.

2 minor gripes on mine:
-sights are aligned low. was planning to swap them out for adjustables anyway.
-finish not so durable. already showing bare metal on frame where slide lock travels, and where thumb safety travels. my XDs after numerous carry hrs still look new.

these gripes are minor in my overall, very high opinion of the RIA.

FYI, I bought mine here:
http://rivercityarmory.com/index.htm
it's somewhat local to Austin. for me, it was worth the extra cost to inspect the piece in-person prior to buying.

Thanks for that info and the target photo. I think I've decided to go for the RIA tacticaql with the 5" barrel. Thanks for all the help guys.

killerfly128 · Post by **killerfly128** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 9:01 pm

KinnyLee wrote:You can't go wrong with any of them, but if you can spring the extra dinero then go with the Tactical. The web of your hand will thank you for it.

+100000