Tempted to pick up a RIA

3049 Views 31 Replies 25 Participants Last post by Chipss, 4 mo ago

JGKC9AYC

Discussion Starter · 5 mo ago

Found a Rock Island Ultra (MS) BNIB for $485.
Anyone have one of these?
Thoughts?

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RoverGuy

· #2 · 5 mo ago

I have three RIA 1911s - An older 1911A1 GI (FS) with the billboard slide (51421), a standard FS (51431) and an Ultra MS (51487). Love them all, the MS and standard FS functioned flawlessly out of the box. The GI FS had to have it extractor tuned, but it runs great now. I paid about a hundred more for my MS than you did in 2018. I think they are great guns for the price. You can use them as a base for custom work or leave as is for a shooter.

Air gun Trigger Gun barrel Gun accessory Metal

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JGKC9AYC

Discussion Starter · #3 · 5 mo ago

I know very little about 1911’s being a Sig guy, but I figure I need one just to have one.
I’m a hammer guy and I carry heavy guns on my belt. If J.B. Is going to make us have magazine restrictions then I’m going to make the most of it.
I’m hoping for a good one out of the box and not one that needs tuned and aftermarket parts.

Reactions: 1

gnappi

· #4 · 5 mo ago

It's hard to go wrong with a RIA. I have a number of commander length pistols, and my few EDC's include a RIA TAC II in .40 S&W. The steel frame is not unwieldy, and is 100% reliable and not one part needed to be changed.

Grab it while you can, they are not very common.

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Seabiscut88

· #5 · 5 mo ago

Palmetto has the GI model for under $400 shipped at the moment. Hard to not pass up

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Paulskj

· #6 · 5 mo ago

I would be willing to take a gamble. RIA has reputation for good customer service and spare factory parts are available. This two factors are just as important if not more so then the product itself.

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maxwayne

· #7 · 5 mo ago

I have been very pleased with my Full Sized 9mm!!!!!

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japsco113

· #8 · 5 mo ago

JGKC9AYC said:
Found a Rock Island Ultra (MS) BNIB for $485.
Anyone have one of these?
Thoughts?

That’s a good price. It’s hard to beat a Rock.

Reactions: 2

Dino11

· #9 · 5 mo ago

Thats a pretty good price... I would buy it now. I have two RIA and they both run flawless. One of them is the 3.10 BBR, and the other is the Ultra FSHC in 10mm. My son just bought me a Tisas 1911A1 Yesterday which is pretty much the same gun, I think he paid like $340 for it BNIB. Have not had the chance to shoot it yet. I love me some 1911 action I now have 5 of them,

Reactions: 1

keith44spl

· #10 · 5 mo ago

I like my RIA 1911

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Reactions: 1

gkainz

· #11 · 5 mo ago

Yeah, I think they’re ok … but I only have 5 of them, so what do I know?

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JGKC9AYC

Discussion Starter · #12 · 5 mo ago

Dino11 said:
My son just bought me a Tisas 1911A1 Yesterday which is pretty much the same gun, I think he paid like $340 for it BNIB. Have not had the chance to shoot it yet.

I saw a BUNCH of the Tisas and the SDS on Gunbroker, but I know nothing about those either.

ratwhacker

· #13 · 5 mo ago

I have two RIAs and they are nice pistols, very serviceable, the 10mm has an excellent trigger, the .45 is pretty good. They shoot well. I also have a Tisas, and it's very serviceable, as well, and carries very well indeed. I also have Colts, Rugers, and Springfields, and frankly, those "budget" guns are every bit the guns the others are. None of them are "fancy" "custom" or anything else, but they all work, and shoot pretty well.

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StuartV

· #14 · 5 mo ago

I just got a RIA Tac Ultra FS HC 9mm. Only 200 rounds through it so far, but zero issues and it shoots very well. Sights are spot on out of the box. The only things I want to change are grippier grips and lighten up the trigger (for competition use).

I also got 2 x Tisas Bantam 1911s (bobtail Commanders) recently. One in 45 and one in 9mm. I've put between 100 and 200 rounds through each of those. They are both mostly good, except for these issues:

recoil springs are overly stiff in both. I'll be changing those.
both of them shoot high (about 3 - 4" at 10 yards) and have non-adjustable sights.
the supplied 9mm mags work fine, but my Wilson 9mm mags will only insert if I depress the mag release button a little. I'll be doing some file work to rectify that.
the triggers are good, but at about 5# in each, a little heavier than I'd like. I think I'll be swapping some springs to lighten those up.

I paid $599 each for the Bantams, so I'm not complaining. But, my RIA was $789 and I feel like that was a bargain for what it is.

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ches41mag

· #15 · 5 mo ago

My government model RIA 45 acp had every kind of jamming you could think of. Sent it back and it seems fine now. I will break it in further to check reliability. I like it!

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91B

· #16 · 5 mo ago

JGKC9AYC said:
Found a Rock Island Ultra (MS) BNIB for $485.
Anyone have one of these?
Thoughts?

I just bought the CS version of the TAC II. Very well built, already fired bout 300 rounds throught it, only 2 failure to battery, which I think is my fault for messing with the magazine. Sighted in quite well for 7 yards, I will be tweaking them for me as I am a Southpaw.. Got it at Grab A Gun for $577.00 all in.

Reactions: 1

JGKC9AYC

Discussion Starter · #17 · 5 mo ago

Would a pre-owned SA for $100 more be a better option?

StuartV

· #18 · 5 mo ago

JGKC9AYC said:
Would a pre-owned SA for $100 more be a better option?

Impossible to say without knowing all the details and, probably, inspecting the used gun, as well.

I've owned at least two (that I can remember) Springfield 1911s. I wouldn't pay any more for the Springfield name versus the RIA name. Between the two, it would just come down to the details of the guns - and the fact (usually) that you don't really know whether the previous owner dicked with the used pistol. You never know if the reason it's for sale is because it is/was a problem child that the PO could never make work right. Unlikely, but do you have a way to be sure, or can you return it if it doesn't function correctly?

Reactions: 1

Paulskj

· #19 · 5 mo ago

My thought is I would look at Girsan and Tisas offerings before making final selection.

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JGKC9AYC

Discussion Starter · #20 · 5 mo ago

Paulskj said:
My thought is I would look at Girsan and Tisas offerings before making final selection.

Customer service is important as I know nothing about 1911's and don't want to pay a gunsmith for issues that might happen within a week or two of purchase.

Reactions: 1

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