I took my new RIA Tactical 9mm to the range this morning and thought I'd post a quick report for anyone interested.
I bought my first 1911 when I got my CCW in 1989 and since then have owned (in some cases still own) 1911's made by Wilson, Colt, Springfield Armory, Kimber, Auto Ordinance, Charles Daly, STI, Dan Wesson and RIA as well as several "Frankenguns" and a couple 1911ish guns; the Star pd and a LLama. I'm not a professional shooter or gunsmith but I'm in no way new to the platform. Recently I've been suffering from the onset of arthritis as well as tendinitis in both elbows and it's sometime painful for me to shoot more than 100 or so rounds through my 1911's in .45 (not to mention the cost). When I recently saw the RIA tactical in 9mm at my favorite gun store I thought the mild shooting 9mm might be just what I need for more trigger time. I can already hear the cries of 1911 purists "9mm is for wimps" and "1911 = .45" but I figure 250 rounds of fun shooting beats 100 rounds of pain any day.
While being far from my first 1911 pattern pistol it is the first one I've ever owned in 9mm. The fit and finish are very good considering this is a sub $500 gun. The parkerizing looks fairly thick and there were no obvious machine marks. I was very impressed with the frame to slide fit and the fitment of the bushing. There is NO slop in this gun...not a rattle. The bushing is tight but can be turned without a wrench. The barrel has a fairy deep crown and should protect the muzzle nicely. I don't care for ambi safeties on my 1911's but the on one this gun was not any more annoying to me than any other and was comfortable to shoot from my normal high thumbed grip, the grip safety was well regulated and with the speed bump that I've come to prefer. The sights are Novak copies with no dots. The trigger seems to be medium in length and is serreted. I can not state strongly enough how much I hate the grips on this gun. They have an odd shape, are ugly and slippery to the touch. The included checkmate magazine was of nice quality. After a quick field strip and wipe down I was off to the range.
Range conditions:
Weather: 50 Degrees and Raining
Distance: 15 yards outdoor range
Targets 5.5" Orange Peel
I brought 250 rounds to the range with me and left with none. The digested 100 rounds of S & B, 124 gr FMJ, 50 rounds of Dymit Nobel 124 Grain FMJ, 50 rounds Brown Bear 115gr FMJ amd 50 rounds of Winchester Ranger +p+ 115 gr hollow points.
I experienced no malfunctions whatsoever. The recoil was very mild, making fast, accurate double taps very easy. My 12 year old daughter even fired the pistol with no difficulties whatsoever. I fired most of the rounds from a standing position at 15 yards. Firing as fast as I could reacquire the front sight I had no problem keeping all 9 shots in groups I could cover with the palm of my hand. This gun makes me look like a better shooter than I am. The trigger crisp and just a bit heavy...I would say about 5 lbs using my graduated finger. As I was loading the final magazine of the day I decided to sit down at the bench and see what the gun could do from a stable rest. I left the target stand at 15 yards because I am lazy and the 25 yard line resembled a cattle pond. Resting my elbows on the bench; 7 of the list 9 shots went into one ragged hole with my final shot being about 1/2 ling below the main group.. This gun is a definite keeper. No it doesn't look as nice as a Wilson or even a Kimber but it shoots like a gun that costs a lot more than the $447 dollars I paid for it. I'll change out the grips and probably fit 10-8 sight to it and call it good (a 1911 isn't yours until you mess with it a little.)
Likes - Decent finish and great fit. Totally reliable. Great value for the money.
Dislikes - cheap grips, serrated trigger, only one mag included with the gun.
Sorry for the cellphone pictures...all I had handy was my cell phone.
Here is the RIA with the best group of the day.
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Here is a close up showing frame to slide fit.
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I bought my first 1911 when I got my CCW in 1989 and since then have owned (in some cases still own) 1911's made by Wilson, Colt, Springfield Armory, Kimber, Auto Ordinance, Charles Daly, STI, Dan Wesson and RIA as well as several "Frankenguns" and a couple 1911ish guns; the Star pd and a LLama. I'm not a professional shooter or gunsmith but I'm in no way new to the platform. Recently I've been suffering from the onset of arthritis as well as tendinitis in both elbows and it's sometime painful for me to shoot more than 100 or so rounds through my 1911's in .45 (not to mention the cost). When I recently saw the RIA tactical in 9mm at my favorite gun store I thought the mild shooting 9mm might be just what I need for more trigger time. I can already hear the cries of 1911 purists "9mm is for wimps" and "1911 = .45" but I figure 250 rounds of fun shooting beats 100 rounds of pain any day.
While being far from my first 1911 pattern pistol it is the first one I've ever owned in 9mm. The fit and finish are very good considering this is a sub $500 gun. The parkerizing looks fairly thick and there were no obvious machine marks. I was very impressed with the frame to slide fit and the fitment of the bushing. There is NO slop in this gun...not a rattle. The bushing is tight but can be turned without a wrench. The barrel has a fairy deep crown and should protect the muzzle nicely. I don't care for ambi safeties on my 1911's but the on one this gun was not any more annoying to me than any other and was comfortable to shoot from my normal high thumbed grip, the grip safety was well regulated and with the speed bump that I've come to prefer. The sights are Novak copies with no dots. The trigger seems to be medium in length and is serreted. I can not state strongly enough how much I hate the grips on this gun. They have an odd shape, are ugly and slippery to the touch. The included checkmate magazine was of nice quality. After a quick field strip and wipe down I was off to the range.
Range conditions:
Weather: 50 Degrees and Raining
Distance: 15 yards outdoor range
Targets 5.5" Orange Peel
I brought 250 rounds to the range with me and left with none. The digested 100 rounds of S & B, 124 gr FMJ, 50 rounds of Dymit Nobel 124 Grain FMJ, 50 rounds Brown Bear 115gr FMJ amd 50 rounds of Winchester Ranger +p+ 115 gr hollow points.
I experienced no malfunctions whatsoever. The recoil was very mild, making fast, accurate double taps very easy. My 12 year old daughter even fired the pistol with no difficulties whatsoever. I fired most of the rounds from a standing position at 15 yards. Firing as fast as I could reacquire the front sight I had no problem keeping all 9 shots in groups I could cover with the palm of my hand. This gun makes me look like a better shooter than I am. The trigger crisp and just a bit heavy...I would say about 5 lbs using my graduated finger. As I was loading the final magazine of the day I decided to sit down at the bench and see what the gun could do from a stable rest. I left the target stand at 15 yards because I am lazy and the 25 yard line resembled a cattle pond. Resting my elbows on the bench; 7 of the list 9 shots went into one ragged hole with my final shot being about 1/2 ling below the main group.. This gun is a definite keeper. No it doesn't look as nice as a Wilson or even a Kimber but it shoots like a gun that costs a lot more than the $447 dollars I paid for it. I'll change out the grips and probably fit 10-8 sight to it and call it good (a 1911 isn't yours until you mess with it a little.)
Likes - Decent finish and great fit. Totally reliable. Great value for the money.
Dislikes - cheap grips, serrated trigger, only one mag included with the gun.
Sorry for the cellphone pictures...all I had handy was my cell phone.
Here is the RIA with the best group of the day.
Here is a close up showing frame to slide fit.
