buying - Rock Island budget vs their custom pistols ?

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georgiacatweazle

New member
So I have a source that has a GI model RIA for $375. I visited a local gun store today which had ATI and RIA with the custom extra's (skel hammer+trigger+beavertail+novaks etc) for $700. build quality looked awesome. having not seen a budget GI model except for semi-grainy pics, is the build quality of the GI's as good as the $700+ models ?

The model for $375 had the big RIA display ad all the way along, so its not the latest and greatest.

i was assuming i'd be swaping out safety and hammer etc anyway.

thanks for any advise
 
I do not own an RIA pistol, but I have handled the basic models a few times. I've got to say that I was impressed with the fit and function, tight, smooth, crisp, just not so much with the finish.
 
"You can put lipstick on a pig, but at the end of a day it's still a pig."

My vote is to save up for a better 1911. The Springfield TRP is more expensive, but is the finest 1911 being made for under $1500.
 
"You can put lipstick on a pig, but at the end of a day it's still a pig.
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RIA ain't pretty but they run just as good as the big boys and better than some high dollar guns.

not sure if it was a tactical, no rail.
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If it has a skeleton trigger and a beaver tail it's a tactical. The newest ones just have a small logo at the rear of the slide.
 
I have the tactical models in compact and full size. I bought them online and I am very satisfied and would buy them again. I think they are good guns for the price.
 
The sights are the biggest improvement when you move from their GI base gun to a upgraded gun. If you want to change the sights on a GI gun down the road it will cost you more than the price of the upgrade from the factory. The tactical is a sub $500 and it will have improved sights beavertail etc....

I would not call them custom. They are low end production 1911s. RIA does a good job producing budget guns that run.

Most people do not realize but RIA does make a "Match Grade" gun which sells for about $700. It is similar to the STI Spartan. If I were going to spend $700 on an RIA I would get the Spartan instead.

ACRI1911MATCH5_D2.jpg


ACRI1911MATCH5D.jpg
 
georgiacatweazle said:
think some of the local stores sell at max MSRP. not sure if it was a tactical, no rail.
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I'm pretty certain Armscor/Rock Island doesn't publish MSRPs. They sell for whatever they sell for, and leave it up to each dealer to decide how much he wants to mark it up.
 
Have you looked at the Ruger 1911's? When I eventually make my way back into the 1911 world, I plan on starting with their CMD model which I believe can be had for a bit under $700.
 
yep GI is probably the price range. wondering what the main difference is between the budget and custom / higher end. is there a noticible quality difference or accurancy difference ?
 
With the RIA the quality difference will not be different between their GI and their tactical. The match gun will have better components but most likely will not have much higher quality.

The biggest difference is going to be the features.

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The GI has a solid trigger, no beavertail, small sights, standard thumb safety & basic grips etc....

IMG_1207.jpg


Tactical has better Novak "style" sights, skeleton trigger, beavertail, extended thumb safety & same basic grips.

The rest of the guts of the gun will be identical.
 
Thank WVsig. i'll shop around buds and see what the lowest cost would be with a few of the features. i know i can find most of the upgrade parts (minus sights) for less than $70. those i can add on over time.
 
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