Rock Island Armory 1911s: Are they cheap, but still good?ย This review will cover fit, feel accuracy and reliability.
Quick!ย Rock Island Armory…what comes to mind first?
It was cheap 1911s for me.
It’sย TRULY.
The best way possible.
Follow me as I put the sub-$500ย Midsize 1911ย to the test.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Affordable for under $500
- Reliable after break-in period
- Decent Parkering finish
You can also find out more about Cons
- There is more recoil with a 1911 full-size gun
- If you buy the GI model, you will get GI sights.
- Remove guide rods in a more annoying way
Bottom Line
This is a great first 1911 for those who want to get a reliable and fully-functional pistol under $500.ย Keep in mind that there are some drawbacks, and you will need to break it in.
Specifications
- Action Typeย Single Action
- Barrel Length:ย 4.25”
- Capacity:ย 8+1-Round
- Cartridge :ย 45 Auto
- Finish:ย Parked
- Front Sightย Fixed
- Length:ย 8”
- Weight:ย 2,38 lbs
The box looks pretty basic…and I may have received an extra magazine for testing.
Background
Rock Island Armory manufactures their 1911s in Philippines and we pass on the savings. When I ask people about RIA…words like “affordable” and “best-bang-for-the-buck” always come up. My local gun shops have them.ย My first time shooting them was during SHOT Show 2017. It was a lot of fun, especially with the 6″ 1911 competition.ย They had one of nicest crews. Since I live in California, my options were limited when it came to choosing a gun for testing.ย I chose something different… a plain Jane GI, a government-issued sidearm that faithfully replicates the WWII issue. The midsize is the only option I selected. It swaps the 5” barrel of the full-size for a 4’25”.
Who is it for?
Rock Island is a great choice if you want a faithful replica of the 1911 first generation.ย The midsize was the original “commander size”.
Fit & feel
You’ll have to make some cuts when you consider that most 1911s cost more (see ourย Best 11sย articles).
The black coating (parkerizing) was perfect. I could not find anything too thick or thin.
You can still see some machining marks, like the curve at the top of the slide.
It doesn’t come with a bushing that would contain the barrel, recoil rod and other parts. Instead they use a thicker barrel which requires a paperclip in order to remove.ย There are a lot of YouTube videos about it…
Since it’s a GI-model, they have GI sights.ย Low profile, easy to draw…but not great.ย There are still many options for changing them afterwards.
What about the trigger?
This RIA was amazing.ย The average weight was 4 lb. 11 oz. and the glass rod had a clean break.ย The other RIAs that I have tried in gun shops were not as good.
It could have been luck.
How Does It Shoot Work?
The.45 ACP cartridge has a lot of kick (ย Best Ammo.45 for Self Defense and Plinking).ย You’ll feel it even more if you have a handgun with a shorter barrel.
So I was expecting it.
The experience was not fun, but it was also not excessive.ย I doubt I could have shot more than 100 rounds at a range session.
Accuracy
How about accuracy?ย I fired some American Eagle and Armscor.45 ACP at 10 yards from a benchrest.
The results of Armscor are shown below. I estimate that the accuracy is 3 MOA.
The American Eagle has roughly the same result of 3 MOA.
Recoil/Shootability
I would estimate that the recoil is 30-40% higher than a full-size 1911 firing the same rounds.ย You will feel it.
We both (hi Ryan )…) experienced a bit of “biting” due to our high grips.ย This is just the result of the design.
Afterward… I realized that the hammer had indeed hit the top of beavertail.ย It left a nice dent on the metal.
After a break-in of 50 rounds, reliability was excellent.
Double-feeds were a problem with the first few magazines.ย The second range trip went flawlessly after I had loaded the magazines (a mix of factory and Mec Gar 8, 10 and 12 rounders) and left them overnight.
What makes it different?
The price is something we’ve discussed a lot.ย You can’t find a 1911 in its entirety for less than $500, from a company with a good reputation that will stand behind the product.
The Numbers
Reliability: 4.5/5
There were some reliability issues at first, but they improved after 50 rounds.
Accuracy: 3/5
The standard GI sights are what you need, not the barrel of the gun or the handgun.
Ergonomics: 4/5
This is a great representation of the 1911 feel.ย It is easier to maneuver between targets with the shorter barrel.ย The hammer bit is a little annoying.
Looks: 4/5
You have to be very careful to notice the machining marks.ย Remember…it is a reliable 1911 for under $500!
Customization: 5/5
There are no limits to what you can do with a 1911.ย For more ideas, check out ourย Section on Gunsmithing.
Bang For The Buck: 5/5
It’s still a good 1911 at under $500.
Overall Score: 4/5
Upgrades
There’s not much you can change about the GI version.ย It’s still a pistol and you can upgrade it if you have another model.
You can still add some gizmos to a 1911 standard GI. Check out our guideย on how to add lights and lasers to your unrailed 1911.
Verdict
The Rock Island 1911 is a good starter 1911 for around $500. It has a standard GI look with a decent parkerizing, and a surprisingly good trigger.ย Beware of initial break-in and hammer biting.
So…am i buying theย RIA Midsize 1911 GIย or not?ย No…but I would totally buy one of the full-size Tactical 1911s.
You can get better sights (fiber-optic) and a stronger beavertail for about $100.
I’m now convinced of RIA’s quality and reliability.ย I also learned that the midsize was not for me.
