Para USA vs Rock Island Armory 1911. Please help me decide

Which would you choose?

  • Para USA Expert Commander

    Votes: 9 23.1%

  • Rock Island Armory 1911 Tactical

    Votes: 30 76.9%
  • Total voters
    39
  • Poll closed .
J

jacoby75

Inactive
Hey guys,

I am considering my first 1911 purchase on a budget. At the moment, I am going between a Para Expert Commander (4.5” barrel) and a Rock Island Armory tactical 1911 5” that is duo-tone. They would be more or less the same price, give or take $10. I have read positive and negative reviews on both. I have read several reviews of the Rock Island stuff where they have failure to feed issues, which is obviously a concern if I’m going to carry it. But I like the look and it has an ambidextrous safety, which would be great for me as a lefty. At this point, if anything, I’m leaning more towards the Para because of the fiber optic sight, and the shorter barrel, as I would probably carry it at some point. The aluminum frame would also help with carrying. There’s really not much difference that I can tell between the two other than that.

Any guidance you can offer would be much appreciated.

Thanks.
 
If I'm not mistaken, Para's are all series 80 1911's which means they have an internal plunger and firing pin block. Extra steps when disassembling and not as crisp of a trigger as the series 70 1911s. Also, some of the models use a "power extractor" which I found unreliable and easily gunked up. Basically a 2-piece extractor with an internal spring.

I owned a Para Carry 9 and It had all kinds of FTF and FTE's. It was extremely accurate and had great features but just wasn't reliable.

RIA are all series 70 but the trigger's pull weight range in the 4.5-6lbs which isn't bad. I've had better luck with my dbl stack 2011 than the para. RIA also has great CS with a lifetime warranty.

Series 70 frames have had issues with accidental discharge from falling muzzle first but I install titanium firing pins and overpowered FP springs in all of mine.
 
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I have two RIA 1911's , A 9mm & a 45, both are the tactical models. Both flawless in every way. Great 1911's , probably the best value out there.
 
I had a Para LTC, beautiful pistol but it had FTF's, sent it back to Para. It still had the FTF's when returned, called Para and was informed that if I sent it back again and they didn't find a problem they would bill me for shipping and bench time. Get a Springfield and be done.
 
I had a Para LTC, beautiful pistol but it had FTF's, sent it back to Para. It still had the FTF's when returned, called Para and was informed that if I sent it back again and they didn't find a problem they would bill me for shipping and bench time. Get a Springfield and be done.
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Sounds like they don't know why it FTF's or they don't want to fix it so they threaten you with costs if you send it back again.
With their attitude I would not even consider buying anything from them.
 
It's enough for me. I decided to give the RIA a try. I like the ambi safety, and the duo-tone is a killer look. We'll see how it goes. Thanks for the feedback, guys!
 
Correctamundo REBS, but get this, about 4 years ago a guy I know wanted a 1911 and traded a new, unfired AR straight across for my Para. So, of course the question will be asked, 'What brand AR?'. It is a DPMS Oracle which has been accurate and totally reliable in addition to my wife liking it very well. I compared it to similar AR's, S&W, Bushmaster, Stag and even Colt using a very critical and objective eye and can say in all honesty that my DPMS was superior in fit, finish and function with the exception of trigger pull against the S&W. I scored!

1st Marine division, 3rd Marines
 
I love my Para Ordnance Canadian. But I used to live in Canada so I might be a bit biased towards their original firearms. Really both are very good firearms. Para was kind of the Kimber of Canadian pistols so they will probably cost you a tad more. I've known people that owned the Rock Island and had nothing but good things to say about it.
 
Para no longer exists as it was purchased by Freedom Group (generally referred to as Remington, however, it is an umbrella corp. made up of many gun companies). They have, or are in the process of, liquidating their entire line. Remington has said they will retain some of their products under the Remington banner but this has not happened yet and there's no guarantee that they will. I have owned their Expert in the past and it was okay. I hear RIA is great but I try to stick with American manufacturers of 1911s. If a warranty is a consideration, then I would probably avoid Para as you will likely be stuck if it needs servicing. If you are acclimated to working on 1911s then it won't matter what you purchase since you can service it yourself.

Edit : autocorrect fails
 
I have both of the guns you mentioned, both have run flawlessly for me. I have had the commander longer and am at around 4000 rnds through and the only problem I have had is the ejector recently needed replaced. My RIA only has about 500 rnds through it but I can tell you the fit and finish are nowhere near close to the para. Also My ria is much more prone to FTE with bulk ammo. Keep in mind the para will be obnoxiously hard to find parts for it you get to the point of replacing worn out parts because para seems to think thy need to make everything just a little different. I also think that RIA quality has imporved since I got mine so I wouldnt be afraid to buy another one. Really it comes down to if you want the 4.5" barrel or the 5" barrel. They both have lifetime warranties available from the manufacturer but I havnt had to work with either.
 
I have a Para CCO/LDA .45 made in Canada, been great it's nolonger in production. Don't think i would buy from them now as the company 's under a new ownership and new policies.
Have heard good things about RIA but thats all, my choice today is a Colt.
 
My experience with Par a few years back. Well give me one and I will trade it for a Hi Point . They at least work. Mine went back 2 times for work and still didn't.
 
Series 70 frames have had issues with accidental discharge from falling muzzle first but I install titanium firing pins and overpowered FP springs in all of mine.
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As I remember, but could be wrong, the tests of the the original 1911's/1911A1's, concluded that the gun would have to fall a minimum of 10 feet onto a hard surface, muzzle first to get it to fire which begs the question: Under what conditions would that be a real-life hazzard, even on horse-back? And even if it did fire from a 10 foot drop on the muzzle, what realistic hazard would that be considering the muzzle is pointed down (at the ground).
 
I've owned or worked on better than a dozen Rock Islands. They have fewer of the 'budget 1911' quirks than most entry level guns. That said, I am a sucker for a lightweight commander and the Para has all the qualities I like in one.

But I expect any of them may need a little tinkering. I can handle that myself so I don't worry about it.
 
Series 70 frames have had issues with accidental discharge from falling muzzle first but I install titanium firing pins and overpowered FP springs in all of mine.
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A number of 1911 manufacturers, including Armscor, makes models that are certified for sale in California. That includes a number of "Series 70" 1911s.

That process involves a drop test from a meter high in six different orientations with the mechanical safety off. Even if you don't like the idea of a government certification program, it is good information to know. You can check the list at http://certguns.doj.ca.gov/.

Some manufacturers do not try to certify guns that would certify if tested because of the cost involved.
 
dahermit said:
As I remember, but could be wrong, the tests of the the original 1911's/1911A1's, concluded that the gun would have to fall a minimum of 10 feet onto a hard surface, muzzle first to get it to fire which begs the question: Under what conditions would that be a real-life hazzard, even on horse-back? And even if it did fire from a 10 foot drop on the muzzle, what realistic hazard would that be considering the muzzle is pointed down (at the ground).
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That used to be the prevailing theory. No more.

A well-respected firearms author named Walt Kuleck and a gunsmith friend of his named Drake Oldham conducted a series of drop tests with a complete 1911 pistol (not just a slide and barrel) and they found that they could get drop fires from heights as low as three feet. The results of their tests were enough to convince a number of 1911 people (myself included) to shift to using only Series 80 pistols for carry.

Walt wrote up his tests on the M1911.org forum a couple or three years ago. The testing was extensive and conclusive.
 
Remington has stated they will honor the para lifetime warranty. I think they are both good entry level pistols, para is probably a bit more polished. Both have had their share of problems but in general are good pistols IMO. I'd say it's a pick em. Partial to para myself (have 4 all dale stack w no issues), much fewer issues with their single columns vs dble stack.
 
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