Actually, they were cast prior to about 2006 or 2007. They continued with the “old roll mark” until 2012, when the new rollmark came out.
To be fair, both Armscor and Imbel were making 1911-pattern pistols for a long time before they began to be imported to the US market as Rock Island and Springfield.
I agree their current product offerings in the US have been improving over that time.
Amrscor was generally viewed as mediocre in the US prior to the introduction of the Twin Pines/RIA line a decade ago because the previous Armscor imports (Charles Daly in the 80s and 90s) had a ton of quality control problems.
Who knows what changed at the factory when Twin Pines started ordering up the RIAs and importing them to the US (early ‘00s’), but the products were noticeably better.
I judge a 1911 based on my prior experience with the Colt Government Model. I’ve owned five variations of Colt’s since the early 1970’s.
I have a RIA Tactical CS in .45 ACP. My observations:
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The Parkerized finish is thin and wears rather quick.
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Slide to frame fit is tight and very smooth.
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The bull-barrel is nicely fitted.
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MIM parts are used but they are serviceable.
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The “Novack-style” sights and cuts require a trip to the 'smith if you want to change them out.
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Feed ramp and throat are polished and smooth. Done up well.
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Trigger is crisp and clean breaking around 4.5 pounds with very little creep and almost no over travel.
Mine has the forged slide and cast frame with the older-style roll marks. I bought it in the Summer of 2012. So far after putting 650 or so rounds through it, I’ve had only two (2) FTRTB’s. Both happened on the first magazine I fired and required only a nudge to the thumb to seat the slide.
It feeds and digests anything I put into it - various makes of 230 grain FMJ, 200 grain SWC, Remington Golden Sabers and a few different brands of 230 and 185 grain JHP. Various reloads aren’t a problem either.
Mine even feeds empty cases whether they be hand-cycled or stacked into a magazine with live ammunition during drills. Make that repeatedly feeds empty cases.
Accuracy is on par with my Government Model. No complaints from me about RIA.
Lifetime service on the pistol, not the original owner. RIA’s customer service is knowledgeable, friendly and courteous. Not that I had a problem with mine but, based on two phone calls asking about changing sights and ordering spare parts.
MY RIA and Colt as they are now:
…and the very first time on the range with it. Drawing from concealed-carry, controlled pairs:
The RIA is my warm-weather carry handgun. What’s not to like?
I own an older RIA Tac with the matte nickel finish. I concur with most of the above. The finish is kind of poor and thin, but functionally speaking I have been very pleased. In fact, I only recently had my first 2 malfunctions with it (after approx ~1200 rounds) and they were almost certainly due to my very worn out CMC shooting star magazines.
It’s kind of a claptrap gun and not my first choice in the slightest for carry, but hey. It runs. I can’t really complain much about that. Definitely was a good first (And inexpensive!) exposure to the 1911 platform. I determined 1911s aren’t really for me, but would one day like to own a couple nice ones when I have grown more as a shooter and have the spare funds.
The most important thing that gets left out of discussions like this is that the RIA, above all, is still a “budget” 1911. The pistol is, without a doubt, a great value for what it costs. Unfortunately, that fact gets lost in a lot of this internet forum hyperbole, and suddenly some people read into the discussion that the RIA has the same quality as top-line pistols at less than half the price.
So, if the original poster wants to know how the RIA compares to top-dollar 1911s…well, no, it’s not “that” good (although it depends on your definition of ‘good’, as the 1911 world has every bit of the brand/quality snobbery that the AR world does).
But, how does the RIA compare to similar entry-level/budget 1911s? Very, very well. Extremely well.
You get a lot for what you pay. But you still get an entry-level 1911.
It’s an excellent budget pistol, but have appropriate expectations.
I haven’t shot many others, so I can’t compare. I will say this. I have an older cast frame .45 gi that I got from the pawn shop for $300 out the door. It was a bit ratty looking as it had been kept in some guys tool box in his truck. I cleaned it up got rid of the surface corrosion and put some new $11 hogue grips, a new recoil and pin spring and have fed hundreds of rounds through it now without a single hiccup. It is accurate (yes the gi sights suck) and I have no reason to not trust it.
I liked it so much I bought a 9mm with the new roll marks so I guess frame is forged. It also has fed and fired every ammo I have thrown at it without any complaint. It is a tactical so it has better sights and it groups very nicely. (stay away from wilson combat mags in 9mm)
I haven’t had to use it, but RIA customer support is reputed to be excellent.
So…inexpensive, accurate, reliable for me so far and backed by excellent customer support. What more could you ask for?
Later this year I’ll pick up one of the “new” production 9mm ones and see how it is.
i heard thier finish comes off easily, esp if you carry one and sweat on it. anyone have this experience with one?
It’s a pretty standard parked finish. Corrosion resistance depends a lot on what oil you put on it, and how nasty your particular sweat is. I know a guy who corrodes the backs out of stainless watches in a matter of months.
For a little more dough…you can get a much better 1911.
Like a lightly used M1991A1 Colt.
I see lightly used M199A1s in the 550-600 range.
A little more dough gets a MUCH better pistol than the MIM-filled, roughly finished Philippine guns.
-brickboy240
Current RIAs are terrific 1911s at their price point and compare favorably with 1911s costing a few hundred more.
According to the RIA website, the frames are 4140 cast, and slides 4140 forged, fyi:
I have had zero issues with mine and find it is a good pistol for the money.
I have three of them. A G.I. Model, and two Tactical’s. I use Wilson 47D’s exclusively in my 1911’s. Zero malfunctions after a short break in period(200 rds or so). Between the three I have shot probably 4 or 5000 rds and they have held up well. Once it was broken in I bought Walt Kuleck’s 1911 book and changed out the fire control parts to a C&S Tactical II trigger set. Also changed out the firing pin and stop + the slide stop. Once you’re done you’ll know how your 1911 works and how to fix most common problems. Accuracy? My Wilson CQB will shoot 2" groups at 25 yards(my ability not te guns), My two Kimber’s will shoot about 2 1/2", the RIA’s a steady 3" all day long. The Tactical is my daily carry gun and has been for five years. For 1" difference in group size the RIA is deal of the day, IMHO(not knocking Wilson or Kimber, they make great guns). You can spend a lot of cash to buy an accurate and reliable 1911, but you don’t have to. There, my 2 cents worth.
Ive actually had good luck with the two RIA specimens I owned. Even the officer model functions 100% with ball ammo and Wilson, Nighthawk, Powermags. It was my woods gun so I never tried any hollowpoint in it.
I have a High Standard Crusader Compact, which is also Armscor, and it has been great.
Two things I would love to see from Armscor:
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Virgin Slide. No rollmarks. Not even a new, tasteful one.
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The “RIA Mid Size” added to their “Tactical” line with dovetailed slide.
Or a 4" version of this:
Or a single stack version of this:
I have a Citadel Compact (made by Armscor who makes RIA). My buddy has a RIA Compact Tactical. They are basically the same gun. They are each excellent shooters and appear to be very well made. Also, they are backed with a lifetime warranty out of RIA in Nevada. They also have excellent customer service. Gonna go chrono a few rounds with mine in a little while.
Four friends with them. Couple of basic models, one commander, one their “tactical” model. All work 100%. With all ammo. No complaints. Not Wilson Combats. But a lot of gun for the money.
Except that Colts are MIM filled and roughly finished…
Honestly, I think in terms of build quality compared to comparable products on the market the standard Colt is really only worth maybe $500ish. Anything else you pay for it is just to have the Pony…
Wow! First time I’ve heard they’re forged frames now. If I couldn’t afford Colts it would be RIA for me.
I wonder why people pay the prices they do for a plastic pistol . What is in a Glock that makes them worth the price they charge for them?