Messing with my Rock island 1911 again.

[A pause for the COZ]

One of the things I like the best about my rock island 1911 is they are good shooting and soo darn inexpensive that you dont need to be afraid to tinker with them.

Mine has started life a a standard Government model 1911. It is a great shooting and very reliable fire arm. Tons of fun in a 5inch package. Could have just left well enough alone.

hehehehehe Nah...

Here she is as born.

What really instigated my play with this gun. My Son really loves shooting this gun. He has put a few thousand 45's through it at least. One problem... Since his surgery on his wrist. He had ripped apart a tendon inside his wrist the one that works the up and down motion if you hold your wrist like your holding a gun and wiggle it up and down. He cant completely lock his wrist so hard recoiling always flicks up higher. The ones he shoots the best are guns that have a steep grip angle. But he still likes shooting the 1911. But the web between his thumb and index finger gets just absolutely chewed to bits.

So what I have done is: For me I added a set of recover grips. This allows me to add a laser and a light to make the gun more useful for home defense. For my Son I added a Wilson Combat extended Beaver tail and a commander style hammer.
I think it came out pretty good. Still shoots just as accurately and reliably as before.
My Son has given it a go with nary a pinch.

Playing with my Son's GoPro again.
Here is a test fire of the Rock Island. Getting a little better with the recording part.
I still have no clue how to edit the dang things to get rid of the stupid parts.
But oh well here it is.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBx_xmO62IQ

 

[P71pilot]

I have heard the newer rock islands are great guns for the money. If I was low on money and had to have a 1911 I would buy one in a heartbeat. There are some absolutely insane torture tests of a RIA 1911 on YouTube, and it does so well you wouldn't believe it. My buddy had an older RIA GI type 1911 that had been through who knows how many hands. And it never malfunctioned, but the rear sight fell out (easy fix), he sold it before letting me fix the sight.

Personally the 1911 is my favorite pistol, of any. I myself have a Springfield loaded model 1911 in .45. For $850 total it came with extended beavertail, tritium 3 dot night sights, front slide serrations, aluminum long style trigger, ambi safety, and some other odds and ends. I have replaced the trigger with a short black trigger (Harrison designs extreme service trigger). Bought a set of magpul moe grips but I think I shoot better with the stock wood ones so I put them back on. I bought a backup Ed brown extractor in case mine ever breaks, and I plan on switching the ambi safety for a traditional right hand only lower profile safety.

My springer is my pride and joy, and gave me zero malfunctions until about 1400rds when shooting gunshow reloaded ammo; I was using my factory Springfield 7rd GI type mags (extremely dirty) and experienced 2 failure to feeds with the one magazine. These are the only malfunctions ever and I blame them on a dirty magazine or crappy ammo (even though it was 230gr ball).

I trust this pistol with my life and shoot it very well. I would conceal carry it but it's just so heavy!