So, I bring this up because I was having a discussion with a friend about my first pistol, a claptrap Rock Island 1911 Tactical. Yes, it was a foolish first handgun to purchase, but I have moved on to better guns and never would have made enough money in selling it to make it worthwhile. It was a fine introduction to the platform and that was all I wanted out of it anyway.
Here in CT as some of you may know, we are now limited to 10 rounds in our carry weapons. Fortunately, summer is around the corner, and I already own a Glock 26 and a J frame that will be seeing a good amount of use. additionally, odds are quite high that I will be leaving CT for greener pastures fairly soon, and within the next 12 months almost certainly.
However, that has not stopped me from looking over at my RIA and wondering if this is a reasonable ban-compliant firearm for carry. Keep in mind, this post is basically purely hypothetical as I am really quite satisfied with my G26 and do not plan to carry my 1911 under current circumstances. If I decided I was serious about wanting to carry a .45 in post-ban CT, I would probably first consider buying something that doesn’t say Rock Island on the slide…
I am however curious. When does a crappy 1911 like the RIA pass muster for carry? Does it ever? Mine currently has just over 1,000 rounds of .45 through it of all type with only magazine related malfunctions, and even then only a couple. I have been reasonably impressed that a low end 1911 would make it that far to begin with. Now, this pistol is not and never will be a 25,000 round per year gun. but does it have to be possessed of that kind of durability to be a viable carry pistol? Even so, how do you decide whether or not a firearm is capable of that kind of use?
Bottom line - when evaluating a 1911 of sketchy pedigree and ignoring all prejudice against the brand, when and how do you decide if it is of suitable reliability for carry?
Speaking for myself, it’s after 500 rds of ball ammo and least 100 rds of what your going to carry. There are little details that some guys want on a 1911 for carry that others don’t, so that leaves it up to the end user to decide.
I prefer a steel frame, 30 LPI front strap checkering, single sided thumb safety, single recoil spring, GI guide rod, 25 LPI Checkered MSH, and night sights. Also no shorter than 4" for me (I really like a Commander size for carry)
Only you can really answer this question, but if you’ve got a decent round count on it, and have come to trust the gun, there are plenty of folks out there armed with worse.
If you own a Rock Island Arsenal 1911 that has been reliable, then I would consider carrying it. I coached a student who purchased a new high end 1911 built by a reputable custom shop and the extractor broke after less than 10 rounds. It’s a mechanical device and they break.
Nothing is perfect. That’s why you carry a backup gun.
I know several people who carry them daily and shoot them regularly with no issues. The key to remember is that low end pistols can work just fine and be reliable, however you run a higher risk of getting a lemon than a higher quality brand.
If you ever decide to look at another platform give the M&P45 Mid Size a close look. Its sized right, has 10rd Mag standard and is awesome when outfitted with a APEX FSS trigger which is very close in feel to a 1911.
If someone were to hand you a World War II US GI M1911A1 pistol, would you trust it?
M1911A1s cost the United States Government an average of 15 bucks each in 1940s dollars and were produced by “Low-bid” contractors (Union Switch and Signal, Remington-Rand typewriter manufacturing, Singer sewing machines, Ithaca, Savage and Remington rifles, etc.). Although fine manufacturers, before the war many had never made firearms – but had extensive experience making machines.
The difference was GI acceptance inspectors and recognized contract standards. Even then, many of the pistols were built at wartime speed and some had minimal steel tempering and treatment.
Interesting… good point. I have been very surprised by the accuracy and reliability of my RIA up to this point - for a cheap 1911, it has exhibited fewer failures than my 9mm glock pistols. My magazines are, however, not very good and also worn out to boot.
I would envision carrying this pistol in the fall - my pistol is too big and heavy to fit on my frame AIWB when it gets to t-shirt weather out here, but I may yet reconsider if I am still in CT in the fall. It would be a sight better than a Glock 26 as I get into the months where the weather gets colder. However I would probably only carry the 1911 as a stop-gap method of having more gun until I either leave CT or make the plunge on another .45 pistol (probably the M&P45 or 45c as suggested above, though the Glock 36 might be in the running as well).
The first thing to do would be get new magazines for this RIA of mine. I have heard good things about Checkmate and Wilson 47Ds. I would need those and a few boxes of JHPs for testing and carry and a holster and mag pouch to top it off. That would be an investment, but still cheaper than a new pistol that I would only carry so long as I am in CT (which would not be for very long at all even in the most dire of circumstances)
Many times I would fall in on whatever the Embassy Regional Security Officer had to issue.
My issue weapon was an M1911A1, M9, or M11. I may have been handed a Browning Highpower; SIG 226; Ruger Security Six; Smith & Wesson M&P 10 (the four inch .38); or Glock 17.
If it works, rock it.
Good call on quality leather, ammo, and magazines. They are all components of the whole.
I purchased a new SA GI back in 2010. It was to build a WWII clone and be a range toy. I check and adjusted extractor tension, checked firing pin stop for fit. Replaced the firing pin with a steel replacement. Fitted a NOS WWII nub thumb safety. Replaced the trigger, MSH and grips with some nice WWII stuff. Replaced all the factory springs. This pistol has run perfect. I have shot nothing but factory 230’s and have exceeded a 1000 rounds. I know these pistols are full of MIM but with the low round cound and high reliability of this pistol, I would carry it. I do have better options tho.
Here it is with some of its brethern of more exclusive pedigree.
My RIA compact has been running great going on three years now. I am not a round counter, I reload and have a 65yd range out back behind my house. I have six 1911’s, most are expensive and my little Rock…not so expensive. I use it as my truck gun and I never feel like I am relying on a inferior weapon. I shoot a few mags of reloads a week and two or three JHP’s.
It has it’s place in my pistol rotation.
If the gun runs, the gun runs. If it chokes more than twice in 1k rounds I’d start to question. I’ve got a Kimber Custom II with external extractor that most people wouldn’t take on a bet. The gun went over 8k rounds at one point without a single failure of any kind. I carried that gun for years.
Absolutely. Most of the stories about the 1911A1 being junk stem from the 1970s, when some people were using parts from one worn out 1911 to fix another worn 1911. Junk + junk equals junk.
Yet most of the same 1911-related problems vanished when people began rebuilding the same with new parts. I knew a woman back in 1988 whom bought a used 1911 at an army P at her discharge. She got a rebuild kit and the same 1911 was 100% reliable. I’m not surprised, properly maintained machinery will last almost indefinitely.
Because the finish is very thin, the trigger is mushy, the parts are not very well fitted, the machine work is rough… I could go on. However, it has never broken on me.
I thought about a new Remington, but got a used Colt in great condition with a fair amount carry wear for the same price. After a while they would both look the same. No brainer for me.
