Rock Island 1911 Compact

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Just ordered a Rock Island 1911 Compact .45. Anyone have one and how do you like it? I looked at several ATI, Auto Ordinance, Tarus, etc. The lifetime warranty and price finally sold me. I already have a couple of .45s but always wanted a 1911 style.
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I say you made a fine choice, if I hadn't found a good deal on my Colt the RIA is most likely what I would have gone with.
 
I do enjoy a 1911 but sold my stainless compact Springfield a while back due to it weighing more then my Kimber alu frame Pro Carry II (commander size). I hope it works for you, be sure to tell us about your first range trip with it.
 
I have no experience with your new handgun. I do think RIA makes a good product,and is a value.

The shortys do deviate from John Moses's plan,and there are some things to understand and consider.

The Wilson Combat folks know it way better than I do.I'll link you to an article.
Within the article are more links to specifics.

What I am NOT suggesting is that you start changing things!! Don't fix what is not broke!! And I'm not implying anything is wrong.

Mr Bill Wilson just explains the effects of a lighter slide,and what makes it all work better. With his knowledge,likely you can find the better path.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2014/02/robert-farago/bill-wilson-compact-1911s-can-reliable/
 
I have the full size 9mm. The only issue I have had with it was a bad magazine. I would avise you to buy two good magazines to go with the gun. Avoid Pro Mag or Mec Gar. Both are dicey on your chances of them working well.

If you run into double feeding problems replace the magazine.
 
Yep, I have one that I purchased about 6 years ago. The only modifications that I've done to it were to replace the stock trigger with a shorter one(only did this to match the trigger that I have on my 5" 1911), and added CT laser grips.

Over the years, it's been flawless in functioning with ball ammo, various jacketed HP's and 200gr. LSWC reloads. Must have about 1200rounds thru it by now, so it's soon time to replace the stock recoil spring. I found it to be quite accurate and easy to shoot, even with full-power loads. My best defensive load ended up being a 200gr. XTP chrono'd from this 3.5" barrel at 830fps.

I carried it for awhile IWB but, being all steel, it is a bit heavy (for me). It's still my go-to nightstand gun. IMHO, well worth the price and I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
 
Lots of positive feedback. Sounds like I will be happy with this gun. I am really looking forward to putting some rounds downrange. Thanks all.
 
RIA Version of a Commander

My first 1911 was a Springfield GI. It shot great and functioned flawlessly. A set of Hogue grips, $15 made it a completely different weapon! Loved it till I bought a RIA Commander version. First thing I did from experience was Hogues! After 650 rounds I wanted to customize. I replaced the sight, hammer,trigger and extended slide release.i polished the action and sear engagement.My personal mag preference is Kimber but have 14 mil. issue From a gun show. It doesn't matter what you run through this weapon,it is accurate and will alwaysROCK AND ROLL!!!! I trust me and my families life with it on a daily basis! Even without the mods. You can't go wrong!!!!!
 
My wife has a thing for "barbecue guns" & I've thought about buying a pair the 9mm Compacts to have engraved & nickeled for a his & hers matched set.
 
That gun should work fine for you...there are plenty of them around that have pretty much been flawless. Every time someone mentions a compact 1911, the same old fur ball is hacked up about them having all sorts of issue...but, they most certainly don't...never had a single issue with any of mine and we shoot our guns a lot. I think that over the past couple of decades, most of the folks making the short guns have come to an understanding of how to make them work.

Enjoy it.
 
I have one in 45 ACP that I have owned now for 5-6 years. Put about 500-600 rounds thru it a year. Haven't had any problems at all with it. Being a compact, I find that the recoil has more bite to it compared to a full size 1911, so it's not a gun I shoot alot when at the range. 50 or so rounds is about all I care to run thru it.
 
Recoil is not much of an issue with me. I am a big guy with big hands. I also do a lot of .44 magnum revolver shooting. I have two other .45 autos also. heavier guns, no doubt. Need to drag out all my reloading equipment and get to reloading again. Have about 500 .45 hardcast semi-wadcutters in a box some where.
 
Got my RI .45 compact home today. It was late and I only had time to run one magazine through it. That was OK. I love it. 7 rounds no issues. It feels good, shoots good and looks good. Going to take it out tomorrow and get serious.
 
Rock Island 1911 Compact .45. Anyone have one and how do you like it?
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I don't have the compact. I do have a Rock Island full size GI, which I like a lot.

I'd be interested to hear about reliability on the compact. "Word on the Intenet" is that the shorter 1911s are prone to misfeeds and such-like failures.
 
I don't have an RIA compact but I do have a Springfield Armory Ultra Compact that looks similar. It has been very reliable. My son has a 5" RIA Tactical which has also been reliable. I would certainly give the RIA a try if I didn't already have my SA.
 
lee n. field said:
I'd be interested to hear about reliability on the compact. "Word on the Intenet" is that the shorter 1911s are prone to misfeeds and such-like failures.
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Short 1911s can be more sensitive to timing issues, but they've been around for decades and the manufacturers have long since figured out what works. Complaints about reliability usually arise when people try to "improve" their pistols without understanding the timing issues.
 
Fired about 150 rounds through the RIA compact today. No failures to fire or feed. It threw a couple of shells straight back over my head. Most of them to the right and rear. The only hiccup I had was a failure to stay open on the last round two times. That happened with the included magazine. I tried my friends standard 1911 magazine in it also. It worked just fine. Accuracy was good. I didn't have any paper targets but I hit my metal 3"x3" swinging target almost every shot at 20 yards. Also killed several spray paint and WD40 cans. The slide is the smoothest feeling of any semi-auto that I own. It's smooth as butter with no play or rattles at all. You can shake it as hard as you want-NO rattles.Trigger was crisp and felt like about 4-41/2 lbs. I am really pleased with this gun. It is sho-nuff a keeper. Just a very well made gun.
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