Author Topic: ROCK ISLAND .45 (Read 3262 times)

markp · « **on:** March 13, 2009, 06:13:35 PM »

Just wondering if anyone has any experiance with the rock island .45
Good or bad ? They are still at a price that isnt sky high but I wonder what the quality is ?
Do they come with one or two mags ? Are the triggers bearable ?

Czech_too · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2009, 11:42:48 PM »

I picked up a govt model off a neighbor last year and put a few hundred rounds thru it since then. The only change I'm gonna make is some different sights for these old eyes. I don't have a problem with the trigger pull and it came with only one magazine, Novak.

Brian, in Ohio

Savage · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2009, 01:50:32 AM »

Gotta be at least a dozen recent threads on the RIA 1911. A quick search should net you all the information you can digest. Most seem to like them. Of course a $400 gun that works is easy to like!
Savage

torpedoman · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2009, 05:01:21 PM »

mine is grat feeds anything you can get in the mag reliabily. very good trigger old eyes made larger sight a nessity .nice, accurate, gun .You can spend a lot more and get less gun

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #4 on:** March 16, 2009, 01:56:41 PM »

Mine matches pretty much any other mil spec .45 I've ever handled.

stolivar · « **Reply #5 on:** March 16, 2009, 04:59:57 PM »

which one of mine do you like. Both shoot great and well feed anything I throw at them.

steve

markp · « **Reply #6 on:** March 16, 2009, 07:46:32 PM »

I like im both steve. My birthday is comming up steve. LOL

I bought two colt 1992's I think is the model. When they went for around $400.00 Trouble is I sold one and now wish I had one for a back up. One 1911 pattern .45 is never enough for even a poor mans collection.

Based on the responses it appears the rock island 45 is generally pretty good.
I like that in a gun.

teddy12b · « **Reply #7 on:** March 17, 2009, 02:38:50 AM »

Quote from: stolivar on March 16, 2009, 04:59:57 PM

which one of mine do you like. Both shoot great and well feed anything I throw at them.

steve

I like the second one best. I've had one of those on my wishlist for a while.

stolivar · « **Reply #8 on:** March 17, 2009, 02:59:16 PM »

Well if I was nice I would give them to you for your bd. But alas I am not.

Their mine I tell ya, mine, all mine.

steve

poncaguy · « **Reply #9 on:** March 28, 2009, 11:09:29 AM »

I have an R!A 38 Super that I like very well, having better sights put on it for my 67 year old eyes though............

FourBee · « **Reply #10 on:** March 28, 2009, 04:46:50 PM »

Quote from: markp on March 13, 2009, 06:13:35 PM

Just wondering if anyone has any experiance with the rock island .45Good or bad ? They are still at a price that isnt sky high but I wonder what the quality is ?
Do they come with one or two mags ? Are the triggers bearable ?

My experience with a new govt. model Rock Island Arms .45ACP has been very good. The quality is equal to that of a much more expensive piece. Yes; just one mag in the box. No problem with the trigger at all.

uncledub · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2009, 10:42:48 AM »

I have the full size tactical model. It shoots better than I can. Feeds anything I put through it and has never jammed or misfed. The Tac had the additional features that I would have added to a GI. It works as well as my Colt 1991. The quality is very good for the price and from I read on other forums, the factory (distributor) support is excellent. I am considering buying another in a different size. Can't decide if I want a Compact Tac or a mid size. Good guns.

teddy12b · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2009, 11:04:19 AM »

The "tactical" model is very tempting to me because of the wider grip safety, sights, & guide rod. I'm the fence about one.

cjclemens · « **Reply #13 on:** April 05, 2009, 04:29:55 AM »

Well, I hate to say it seeing how much everyone here likes the 1911's. I went ahead and bought myself the FNP 45 the other day. im looking forward to seeing how it handles, too. Anyway, this gives me a chance to put a little work into my old Auto Ordnance 1911 that's long overdue. I'm still thinking about getting another 1911, but now that I have the FN, i might go with a target model in .38 super. We'll just have to wait and see.

Savage · « **Reply #14 on:** April 05, 2009, 06:28:26 AM »

cj,
It's your money, you gotta buy what you like! No experience with the FN, but it looks enough like the CZ to be interesting!
Savage

Bigeasy · « **Reply #15 on:** May 17, 2009, 06:33:17 AM »

I picked up one of the 1911 a1's at a good price. My only complaint is the sights need improving. They are to small and narrow. Otherwise, the gun shoots great. About 350 rounds of hard ball and 200grn semi wadcutter reloads with no jams. Sights are well regulated, trigger is good, as is accuracy. Shown in the picture with my Kimber Target. Not quite as nice over all, but about 1/3 the price.... I am toying with the idea of mounting a Burris FastFire compact holographic sight on the gun. We'll see...

Larry

Savage · « **Reply #16 on:** May 17, 2009, 07:05:08 AM »

Just got thru working on a RIA Tactical with feeding problems for a friend. I do notice while polishing the breech face that the metal was pretty soft. It also had a lot of wear on the lugs and barrel hood from an improperly fitted barrel and link. The "Tactical" model has passable sights, and a decent beavertail and hammer. The majority of these guns I've seen seem to be decent shooters, only time will tell how durable they are. I would suggest anyone in the market for an entry level 1911 style pistol, take a close look at the Springfield A1 (I think that's the one with the decent sights), Or, the Taurus PT1911. It comes with everything most shooters eventually put on a pistol at a price much cheaper than a comparable Springer or Kimber.
Savage

Joshua M. Smith · « **Reply #17 on:** June 24, 2009, 08:55:06 PM »

This is the same slide and frame used to manufacture the STI Spartan.

It may even use the same barrel; I do no remember for sure on that one.

Josh <><

omcforever · « **Reply #18 on:** July 19, 2009, 10:45:00 PM »

I have a commander style and goverment style. Love em both,,,PERIOD!

Redtail1949 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 24, 2009, 03:15:32 PM »

I purchased two of them both 1911A1 GI after a slight delay from the CBI. After that was straightend out went got them and have been shooting them for two weeks about every other day.

First they are well made and showed good fitting, ramps looked polished out of the box. The trigger pull was very good and has definately gotten smoother after about 300 rounds or so in both pistols.

I have fired about 1000 rounds combined through both pistols. I have had not one failure to feed fire or eject with 230 Grain FMJ as one would expect from this pistol. I didd have problems with my first loads of 200 Grain SWC FMJ Target rounds most all failed to feed. After messing around with bullet seating depth not one single failure to feed fire or eject has occurred with either pistol.

Now I am going to work on loads for accuracy and I do not expect to get target grade accuracy from thes weapons however I do want to wring out the best I can. Speaking of that, all rounds were fired with out a rest, at the NRA Whittington Center Range, and I was able to keep all shots about 3 inches at 25 yards.

That is all I need for a defensive weapon for home and trail.

My personal opinion is that you can not find a weapon for that price made as waell as these are. You could get the tacticle and have some improvements i am sure. I do not believe the plain jane Colt would out shoot it and if it did it would not be by much.

I own a Series 70 Colt that has all the bells and whistles and is a super beauty and super accurate as well as reliable I trust it with my life. It will be put aside and either one of these weapons will be my carry and the other my on the trail weapons. I will have complete confidence that they will perorm if need be and will be glad to have them.

To say that I am pleased is an understatement. You can not ask anything more of a combat weapon.

Redtail1949

Blackhawker · « **Reply #20 on:** October 16, 2009, 08:24:15 AM »

Quote from: Bigeasy on May 17, 2009, 06:33:17 AM

I picked up one of the 1911 a1's at a good price. My only complaint is the sights need improving. They are to small and narrow. Otherwise, the gun shoots great. About 350 rounds of hard ball and 200grn semi wadcutter reloads with no jams. Sights are well regulated, trigger is good, as is accuracy. Shown in the picture with my Kimber Target. Not quite as nice over all, but about 1/3 the price.... I am toying with the idea of mounting a Burris FastFire compact holographic sight on the gun. We'll see...

Larry

Larry,
What brand are those stag grips? They look nice on the blue finish. What did they cost?

Thanks!

Bigeasy · « **Reply #21 on:** October 16, 2009, 07:44:32 PM »

Use the link below. I buy the raw scales, then finish them myuself. Not hard to do. Time spent polishing makes them look good.

http://www.elenhunting.com/

Larry

Blackhawker · « **Reply #22 on:** October 18, 2009, 10:15:03 PM »

Quote from: Bigeasy on October 16, 2009, 07:44:32 PM

Use the link below. I buy the raw scales, then finish them myuself. Not hard to do. Time spent polishing makes them look good.

http://www.elenhunting.com/

Larry

They look great! Nice work!
I looked at the link and I didn't realize that they have to be cut to shape as well. I've never worked with something like this before. Does one need special tools to cut the blanks with? How do you get the curvature on each surface evenly cut? Do you have a machine to do this? Lastly, which antler did you use for these? There are a lot of them to choose from on the site.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #23 on:** October 18, 2009, 10:40:57 PM »

Antler is a lot harder then wood. Look on the site for scales that are properly sized to use as grips. A band saw, drill press, fine files, and a belt sander/polisher makes it a lot easier, but hand tools will work, just a lot more labor intensive. Minimize your surface sanding/polishing if you like a lot of bark, instead taking material from the "gun side" to reach proper thickness. Sanding the outside surface can remove a lot of bark, giving the grips an ivory like look. Really, its mostly by feel. Get a block of cheap soft wood, and make a set...That will give you an idea where you are going with the stag material.

Larry

Squib · « **Reply #24 on:** November 21, 2009, 06:53:04 PM »

I got a gi and it's been really good, all parts lock up really tight, almost TOO tight