RIA Compact in .45ACP questions

16731 Views 44 Replies 28 Participants Last post by broadus123, 4 d ago

Tercel89

Discussion Starter · Mar 29, 2015 (Edited)

I have a full size Rock and a Full size Springfield. love them . I have always heard to try not to deviate from the original caliber and the original size for fear that things may get unreliable. I have heard my share or horror stories of 1911 Compacts and all. But I have recently been reading better reports of ROck Island Compacts/Officer sized models in the .45ACP .
Can any of you guys help me out and give me some reports of any of your recent Rocks Island compacts/officer sized 1911's in .45acp ?
Any help and information is appreciated .
I forgot to add that the model I am lookin at is the 51429 .

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actionexpress

· #2 · Mar 30, 2015 (Edited)

I usually search Buds' reviews on guns that I'm considering buying..

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/411550000/Rock+Island+Armory+51429+TAC+1911+Compact+7%2B1+45ACP+3.5%22

I'll have to add that the more basic G.I. configuation compact .45 has glowing reviews from buyers on this site, typically I shy away from 3" 1911s but the RIA would probably be my choice.

bamashooter

· #3 · Mar 30, 2015

I have an older basic Rock compact and it's fine. My only issue with them is their proprietary sized msh and mainspring. Not that big a deal though. Good reliable firearm. Not aware of many complaints. It's a 3 1/2" barrel.

Patchntx

· #4 · Mar 30, 2015

RIA Compact .45

I love my RIA. I have the 1911 Tac Ultra (Model #51470) with full rail and adjustable rear sight and Fiber Optic frontsight. I love it. It is really tight and comfortable in my hands. My wife loves shooting it too although she doesn't care for the aggressive VZ grips. I have about 1000 rounds through it with no problems.

She recently rented the 1911 Rock standard CS in 9mm (Model #51643) at the range and loves it. She wants that for her CCW. She can make 2" groups with it at 10 yards and she has only been shooting a month.

Reactions: 2

Tercel89

Discussion Starter · #5 · Mar 30, 2015

Patchntx said:
I love my RIA. I have the 1911 Tac Ultra (Model #51470) with full rail and adjustable rear sight and Fiber Optic frontsight. I love it. It is really tight and comfortable in my hands. My wife loves shooting it too although she doesn't care for the aggressive VZ grips. I have about 1000 rounds through it with no problems.

She recently rented the 1911 Rock standard CS in 9mm (Model #51643) at the range and loves it. She wants that for her CCW. She can make 2" groups with it at 10 yards and she has only been shooting a month.

Awesome to hear these good experiences !

Nork1911A1

· #6 · Mar 30, 2015

Bought my Rock compact GI two years ago.
It's got well over 1000 rounds thru it. Functions great with 230gr ball & my choice of HP (currently 230gr Golden Saber or Hydra Shok).
Groups are around 2" @ 25' but are about 2" below POA.

Overall I'm really satisfied with the pistol.

You can't go wrong with a new Rock.

JaysGone

· #7 · Mar 30, 2015

Keep in mind the RIA compact is a 3.5 inch. Not a 3 inch gun. Big difference in reliability.
Both my Compacts a 9mm and a 45acp have had no failures to fire.
They both haven't been in love with XTP bullets regardless of loading however.
My twins

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Tercel89

Discussion Starter · #8 · Mar 30, 2015

JaysGone said:
Keep in mind the RIA compact is a 3.5 inch. Not a 3 inch gun. Big difference in reliability.
Both my Compacts a 9mm and a 45acp have had no failures to fire.
They both haven't been in love with XTP bullets regardless of loading however.
My twins

Your two compacts look awesome. I don't mean to get off my own subject , but what brand are both those grips ? And are they two seperate peices like the front part a different piece than the side panels ?

5wire

· #9 · Mar 31, 2015

I recently acquired a Rock Island Armory 51416 1911 Compact GI 7+1 45 ACP 3.5. Still getting to know it, closing in on 150 rounds of the 500 "recommended" for break-in. Well made little pistol. No failures of any kind. I like it.

MZ5

· #10 · Mar 31, 2015

Nice-looking pistols, JaysGone!

Thanks for posting the thread, Tercel89. I'm glad for this feedback & info, too. I've been looking pretty closely at a Colt Defender, and these pistols might be a good option for me to consider as well.

Tercel89

Discussion Starter · #11 · Mar 31, 2015

MZ5 said:
Nice-looking pistols, JaysGone!

Thanks for posting the thread, Tercel89. I'm glad for this feedback & info, too. I've been looking pretty closely at a Colt Defender, and these pistols might be a good option for me to consider as well.

If you are looking at Colt and these , let me tell you that these Rock Island's are 70 series which is another reason I bought my full size Rock Island 1911.
Colt's are 80 series with the additional safety parts inside the gun which is a negative in my opinion. I like fewer parts and less crap in my guns.
I have Springfield Armory and Rock Island and both are 70 series.

Azle64

· #12 · Apr 7, 2015

Tercel I believe they are pearce grip inserts, used with whatever grips you choose. I'm looking at them also, if you search you can find them from 9-13 dollars.
Azle

Tercel89

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 7, 2015

Azle64 said:
Tercel I believe they are pearce grip inserts, used with whatever grips you choose. I'm looking at them also, if you search you can find them from 9-13 dollars.
Azle

Thanks Azle

Tercel89

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 7, 2015

I decided to get one but now I have one more decision

So it seems like I will get a RIA compact . But now I have to decide what to sell to get one. I have 2 Glock 21's . One is a Generation 2 made in 1991 and the other is a Generation 3 made in 2008.
I like them both but can't decide which to sacrifice for the RIA Compact

When you are married and have kids you have to sell one gun to get another gun :bawling:

wolfhowle

· #15 · Apr 7, 2015

Tercel89 said:
So it seems like I will get a RIA compact . But now I have to decide what to sell to get one. I have 2 Glock 21's . One is a Generation 2 made in 1991 and the other is a Generation 3 made in 2008.
I like them both but can't decide which to sacrifice for the RIA Compact
When you are married and have kids you have to sell one gun to get another gun :bawling:

under stand the situation.....but one thing to consider is------LAYAWAY.
the wifey usually says nothing if its divided up over a couple months of
payments instead of all at ONCE !!!!!!
budsgunshop.com and grabagun.com has LAYAWAY
EVEN CABELAS AND GANDERMOUNTAIN DOES

KnotRight

· #16 · Apr 7, 2015

I have the Citadel Officer model (same company) and never had an issue with the gun feeding any type of ammo. I carry it all the time.

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bamashooter

· #17 · Apr 7, 2015

Good decision. Keep the gen 2.

justinbowser

· #18 · Apr 7, 2015

My Citadel .45 Compact will eat anything I feed it - even the old Speer "flying ashtray" hollow-points! I've had two failure to feeds (first 50 rounds) and both were with ball, go figure! I have never had a FTF or any other malfunction with any of the HP varieties I put through it. The only issue I had was it shot about 6" low at 15 yards so I put on an adjustable rear sight.

coyotemoon

· #19 · Apr 9, 2015

Tercel89 said:
I have a full size Rock and a Full size Springfield. love them . I have always heard to try not to deviate from the original caliber and the original size for fear that things may get unreliable. I have heard my share or horror stories of 1911 Compacts and all. But I have recently been reading better reports of ROck Island Compacts/Officer sized models in the .45ACP .
Can any of you guys help me out and give me some reports of any of your recent Rocks Island compacts/officer sized 1911's in .45acp ?
Any help and information is appreciated .
I forgot to add that the model I am lookin at is the 51429 .

My CS Rock is a fine pistol, never had any problems with .Shoot good with anything I feed it. Target on the right is 25 yds 45ACP left one is 9mm

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Oppybrit

· #20 · Apr 10, 2015

I purchased my second .45 cal RIA pistol this week. A CS model. Shot 50 rounds through it tonight. I had some FF issues when I tried to use my full size Citadel Mags . But only on the first time through. Reloaded the mags and tried again and it worked great. I didn't clean the gun before I tried shooting it. Gave it a good cleaning and will have some more fun with it this weekend.

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