Rock Island 1911

Uncle Fester

I want a metal framed pistol.  Is the Rock Island 1911 worth buying?

Zee

I’ve heard good things. I don’t own one. The sharp edges have been the prevention. 

Though their long slide has been tempting. 

Bigslug

Yeah.  They're pretty decent 1911s.  Finish a bit lackluster; tolerances more GI than match; price reasonable; guts 100% pure GI interchangeable.  All in all, probably closer to what Browning had in mind than the majority of what's out there.

gunner81

I bought a new one about a month ago and when I took it to the range it wouldn't even fire 1 round after fixing the brand new rusted mag I took it to the range again and it fell apart after several calls and e mails they called me filthy names and said this wasn't their problem that basically there is no warranty from them with new guns and this is my problem they don't answer phone calls and it takes weeks for them to respond to an e mail so anyone who wants to buy one of their products its buyer beware because they don't stand behind their products and they call you filthy names and liars to make sure you know that their non existent customer support is equal to their non existent quality control

GunNut

gunner81 said:

I bought a new one about a month ago and when I took it to the range it wouldn't even fire 1 round after fixing the brand new rusted mag I took it to the range again and it fell apart after several calls and e mails they called me filthy names and said this wasn't their problem that basically there is no warranty from them with new guns and this is my problem they don't answer phone calls and it takes weeks for them to respond to an e mail so anyone who wants to buy one of their products its buyer beware because they don't stand behind their products and they call you filthy names and liars to make sure you know that their non existent customer support is equal to their non existent quality control

Damn!!!!!  This is the first time I’ve heard anything like this.  But I don’t know anyone else that has had issues that needed interaction with the manufacturer.  So sorry you’re going through this with a brand new gun.

Jayhawker

I have several...I carry one of their Officers Models daily...The only modifications I have made to it was changing out the grip panels to something more grippy and aesthetically pleasing....No problems as far as function and reliability go...

Jayhawker

gunner81 said:

I bought a new one about a month ago and when I took it to the range it wouldn't even fire 1 round after fixing the brand new rusted mag I took it to the range again and it fell apart after several calls and e mails they called me filthy names and said this wasn't their problem that basically there is no warranty from them with new guns and this is my problem they don't answer phone calls and it takes weeks for them to respond to an e mail so anyone who wants to buy one of their products its buyer beware because they don't stand behind their products and they call you filthy names and liars to make sure you know that their non existent customer support is equal to their non existent quality control

I, for one, would have liked to have heard both sides of this conversation....

gunner81

I don't know how much there is to hear I bought a new gun that didn't work Rock Island basically told me to go [email protected]#k myself end of story and I still have a 760.00 paperweight

PFD

gunner81 said:

I took it to the range again and it fell apart

  That sucks that you had that kind of an experience when you're just trying to do honest business with what sounded like a reputable firm.

I'd really like to hear the details of how it fell apart at the range and why it's a paper weight now. 

Not repairable by replacing parts?  (obviously you shouldn't have to.)

N454casull

knitepoet said:

I have this one in 10mm
https://www.armscor.com/firearms/ria/rock-series/rock-ultra-fs-10mm/

Didn't like the grips (too rough/sharp) so replaced them with Hogues (My preferred 1911 grips). Prefer the A1 arched MSH, so swapped it and I went with a heavier recoil spring. 18# is too light for a 10mm IMO

Pretty much  all those changes were personal preference, I have no real complaint with the gun itself (Other than a too long ejector {Again personal preference} throws empties into yesterday, even after I took a bunch off of it.) KansasHunter's wife got cut on the nose while he was shooting it, and she was a good ways back, at one of the SE shoots a few years back.

I had one of the original Delta Elite 10mms back in the '90s, and if it is a 10/10, I'd put the RIA at 8.5/10

I have the same one. And agree with everything Knite said. The only thing I might differ on is I’d probably give it a 9.5 or maybe even a 10/10 given the price paid for the gun. I thought/think the value is quite good. 

wddodge

Comparing my RI 9mm to my Springfield Loaded .45, the only thing the RI gives up is eye appeal, I've shot 3-4,000 rounds thru it in PPC matches and not one malfunction. The only change I made is putting some grippy panels on it.

Denny

gunner81

I have an older cheap one that I would not be afraid to put it up against anything shooting wise that is exactly why I bought this one but I forgot that they were taken over by Remington and it shows this is by far the worst gun I've ever bought and their customer support is 10 times worse

PFD

And to say (I'm not doubting) that you took a brand new RIA 1911 to the range and it fell apart really begs for details.

If it's a paperweight and can't be easily fixed means something is fundamentally wrong with the frame slide or both???

Jayhawker

Yep...going to need the detail of how this pistol "fell apart" if you would be so kind...I've had some big problems with 1911s but all were easily repairable...except for my friends race gun that was completely destroyed by being fired with an obstructed barrel...

bullsi1911

I was given a box of .38Super ammo a few months ago, on accident.

It’s soon as they get back in stock I’ll be picking up an RIA in .38Super to shoot that ammo.

Gene L

I've had two, one "loaded" with all the bells and whistles, the other a GI version my buddy whom I got it from put a lot of extras on it.  It's fine, both were fine.  I had an occasion to call RIA on a maintenance matter, can't remember what or who for I called, but they sent out another pistol the next day.  No questions.  The base model comes with plain wood grips that are smooth and will benefit from a new set of grips.  I put military plastic ones on mine.

I think the US headquarters is in AZ.

gunner81

After repairing the mag and cleaning out the gunk/rust I went to the range and tried to see if it would run  cycle rounds sometimes it would cycle a couple sometimes not and every type of ammo I tried all worked in my 6 other 10mm guns 2 of them 1911s when picking up my brass I found the thumb safety laying on the ground and Remington bought out Rock Island a few years ago

bullsi1911

Remington bought Para Ordinance.  You sure thats not what we are talking about?

Jayhawker

gunner81 said:

After repairing the mag and cleaning out the gunk/rust I went to the range and tried to see if it would run  cycle rounds sometimes it would cycle a couple sometimes not and every type of ammo I tried all worked in my 6 other 10mm guns 2 of them 1911s when picking up my brass I found the thumb safety laying on the ground and Remington bought out Rock Island a few years ago

That would be Para Ordnance...

Were those problems with the magazine that came with the pistol or did you try other mags?

I agree that the thumb safety simply falling out is an issue...

PFD

Jayhawker said:

gunner81 said:

After repairing the mag and cleaning out the gunk/rust I went to the range and tried to see if it would run  cycle rounds sometimes it would cycle a couple sometimes not and every type of ammo I tried all worked in my 6 other 10mm guns 2 of them 1911s when picking up my brass I found the thumb safety laying on the ground and Remington bought out Rock Island a few years ago

I agree that the thumb safety simply falling out is an issue...

👍

gunner81

OK when I bought my Para it had Armscor mags so maybe I twisted that around and thought Para and RI were the same either way a baand new gun wouldn't fire from the mag 

earlyagain

Well that partialy clears that up.

gunner81

first off I'm not bashing RI because of a Para my Para has never given me a problem its the Rock Island that I bought that wouldn't fire a round

Zee

I’d have a problem with that as well. 

gunner81

The new gun is a 10mm double stack mag and I only got 1 with the gun and I don't want to buy another mag for a gun that should be able to fire and every type of ammo I'm using runs and cycles in all my other 10mm guns

gunner81

knitepoet said:

okay, my apologies, I misunderstood

gunner81 said:

OK when I bought my Para it had Armscor mags so maybe I twisted that around and thought Para and RI were the same either way a baand new gun wouldn't fire from the mag 

to mean it was a para that gave you trouble

knitepoet said:

okay, my apologies, I misunderstood

gunner81 said:

OK when I bought my Para it had Armscor mags so maybe I twisted that around and thought Para and RI were the same either way a baand new gun wouldn't fire from the mag 

to mean it was a para that gave you trouble

No problem it might have been my rant every time that I think of a company stealing my money like RI did I blow up and get really really mad

bellcat

I have a 9mm GI from RIA that has been flawless for me. New sights, grips and barrel bushing made it better.

BamaakII

gunner81 said:

I bought a new one about a month ago and when I took it to the range it wouldn't even fire 1 round after fixing the brand new rusted mag I took it to the range again and it fell apart after several calls and e mails they called me filthy names and said this wasn't their problem that basically there is no warranty from them with new guns and this is my problem they don't answer phone calls and it takes weeks for them to respond to an e mail so anyone who wants to buy one of their products its buyer beware because they don't stand behind their products and they call you filthy names and liars to make sure you know that their non existent customer support is equal to their non existent quality control

This is contrary to every story I have read about their warranty/customer service.  I have a 9 and 10mm, both excellent guns

gunner81

Well I'm living it I didn't think any company operated this way but lucky me I found the only company in this world that the customer is always wrong

Diver43

gunner81 said:

Well I'm living it I didn't think any company operated this way but lucky me I found the only company in this world that the customer is always wrong

I would think you already did, but did you speak with a supervisor?  Your experience seems to be the opposite of what others have experienced of the past few years.

I would try again and speak with someone in a position of leadership.  Good Luck

GunNut

When something like that happens to me I go dig up the name of the President of the Company and the address to Corp HQ and write an actual letter, sometimes including pictures of the issue and naming the individuals who screwed me up. 

This has NEVER failed to give me a massively positive response.  Good companies deserve you letting the tip management know there are some bad apples costing them business and the guilty need the spanking and lesson on CS.