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I had a chance to meet up with Rey at Targetmasters on Saturday. He was breaking in his new STI .45, and he brought his Rock Island Armory Tactical along.

While Rey was blasting away at his target, I had a chance to meet Dave01, who was breaking in his new SA Micro .45
Amazing what can happen by just asking "Hey, what are you shooting?" Heheh.

Anyway, I wander over to Rey's stuff, and drag out his RIA.
Rey sees this, gets all excited (not because I was IN his stuff, but because I was finally getting to hold his RIA) and tell me to go shoot it.

Oh.
My.

I have had the pleasure of shooting several different .45 pistols, in different platforms. But never this good a grouping with the first mag. Ever.

I interrupt Dave01 while he is reloading, and present him the RIA.
"I've never heard of Rock Island Armory" was the first statement.
"Wow, that is one smoooooth action" was the second statement.
"That is a super accurate pistol!" was the statement following his shooting a mag thru the RIA...

I admit, I thought *maybe* Rey was a *little* bias towards his Rock Island, but after handling it, and both Dave & I shooting quarter-sized groups on the first go-round...... Hey I want one!

Lets Review.
* Tight fit of parts, no rattles
* Tight grouping of shots
* Tight-budget minded, sub $450 cost.

~Bill

Did you happen to notice the serial number on his RIA???

Did you happen to notice the serial number on his RIA???



Its the stuff legends are made of...

I started buying Rock Islands when they were $275.00 a pop.
I have several and I have given my son and son in laws a couple as gifts.
Their function and reliability is outstanding and I've used Wilso drop in Beavertail Grip Safties and Skeletonized hammer on them. Great guns for little money compared to the $1200.00 guns.
I lots of 1911s, Colt, Kimber, Wilson, CZ/Charles Daily and the Rock Islands. I like them all.
To each his own.

Jungle Work

stevie_d_64 wrote:Did you happen to notice the serial number on his RIA???



Its the stuff legends are made of...

If the serial number is what I think you are alluding to it being, then that is very uncanny because he has a black rifle with a similar number as I recall.

This man speaks the truth!

Yeah, I was seriously impressed with the RIA. I doubt I've ever shot a grouping as tight as I did with that pistol. The action was, dare I say "silky" smooth, and had very little recoil. It really was just a pleasure to shoot.

In my limited experience with it, the RIA seemed every bit as accurate as a Kimber Gold Match II owned by a friend (admittedly I only fired a few mag's through each though) at ~1/3 the price.

Now for the bad part....I can't seem to find one for sale anywhere

Dave

Dave01 wrote:This man speaks the truth!

Yeah, I was seriously impressed with the RIA. I doubt I've ever shot a grouping as tight as I did with that pistol. The action was, dare I say "silky" smooth, and had very little recoil. It really was just a pleasure to shoot.

In my limited experience with it, the RIA seemed every bit as accurate as a Kimber Gold Match II owned by a friend (admittedly I only fired a few mag's through each though) at ~1/3 the price.

Now for the bad part....I can't seem to find one for sale anywhere

Dave

http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=84040364
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=84040624
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=83980087
http://gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=83981706

...etc, etc.
A smart search for the terms "Rock" "Island" and "1911" under modern firearms returns about 50 guns up for auction.

Dave01 wrote: Now for the bad part....I can't seem to find one for sale anywhere

I have seen them at all the DFW area gun shows.

Thanks for the links. I should have been more specific however. I can't find one at the local gun stores as of yet (although I haven't done an exhaustive search...it's only been 4 days). I won't purchase any firearm unless I can put my hands on it first. Consider it the equvalent to "kicking the tires".

As far as the gun shows, there may be some there. I didn't even know they existed at the most recent Big town show, so I wasn't looking for one. I'll have to check out the next show.

Dave

That is exactly why when I bought my first RIA (A base GI model) I decided my next 1911 would be a compact tactical of theirs. I bought it and it became my primary carry gun rather quickly. This payday or next I will order a wide body 1911 manufactured by RIA. After that I will purchase a single action .22 revolver and my gun buying will stop for a little while, Unless something else I want becomes available, or until the next payday.

Dave01 wrote:This man speaks the truth!

Yeah, I was seriously impressed with the RIA. I doubt I've ever shot a grouping as tight as I did with that pistol. The action was, dare I say "silky" smooth, and had very little recoil. It really was just a pleasure to shoot.

In my limited experience with it, the RIA seemed every bit as accurate as a Kimber Gold Match II owned by a friend (admittedly I only fired a few mag's through each though) at ~1/3 the price.

Now for the bad part....I can't seem to find one for sale anywhere

Dave

Sure was nice to meet you DAVE! Well, I am glad The Marshall like the RIA TACTICAL. I think Southwest Ammo in Mesquite ( don't know the # but I am sure ya'll find it) has two of the TACTICALS in stock. Also Becky at Sporting Arms.com can get them quick and she is in Lewisville.

Here's a pic of the Ria Tactical that Dave and The Marshall test "drove" last Saturday..

AndyC wrote:Changed the trigger, looks like?

I'm stuck trying to choose between an SA Loaded and an RIA Tactical myself, although I just hate the looks of the RIA's trigger).

Yup, it's an Ed Brown trigger..

You don't like the TACTICAL's trigger ?? Well, you've got two got choices there..Here's a pic of the Tactical in it's original version and the RIA GI in hardchrome..

AndyC wrote:Oh, nice! I normally don't like chromed handguns, but I may have to revise my opinion now

Did you add Novak's to the blued RIA, or are those stock?

Andy,
The Tactical comes w/ novak style sights. Novak Night sights has been added to mine ( the one w/ ivory grips)..