Rock Island .45 ????

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PeacefulWarrior

New member
I recently saw a .45 1911 advertised in Shotgun News for $285. The pistol was made by Rock Island armory and is an exact copy of the 1911 (interchangeable parts) I've been looking for a "bargain basement" 1911 that I can build on and customize. Does anyone have any experience with this gun. My main concern is reliability. Finish is not too important since I plan to have whatever gun I get done in Armor-T. Any help with this would be appreciated.
 
A friend of mine has one on order through a local gun store. I'll post a report as soon as I get to shoot it some.
 
I have never seen one of Rock Island Armory's 1911s but I do have a early preban Rock Island Armory XM-15 and it is a very high quality weapon.

7th
 
PeacefulWarrior,

I too have been looking into these low cost 1911's.

I have learned a lot of information over at 1911forum.com, you should go there and dig through the search feature.

These pistols are made in the Phillipines, and from what I have read are decent quality, Not great, but decent at best. Supposedly the metals are soft, and the internals are at best rough.

If your plan is to comletely rebuild the gun later on, I say get it and check it out, at most you'll waste $285, that's a lot better than $600 or more.

It seems everyone wants to keep these things stock, but I want to hear of someone customizing one.
 
Thanks for all the help guys. I plan to just make the following mods on any 1911 I wind up getting (if needed)

Commander hamer
Beavertail grip safety
Ashley express sights
Ambi-safety
A good throat and polish job
Maybe Armor-Tuff finish down the road

I plan to use the pistol for IDPA in the Custom gun division. I am not too concerned with having it accurized etc. since I feel that my shooting isn't that fantastic to take adantage of a "target gun"

I carry a Glock 21 so this was just a side project because I like the 1911 style pistol.
The Rock Island Armory seemed like a good "basic" 1911 that I could but the mods I want on ,not what someone else choose at the factory.
 
Like I said read up on them on 1911 forum . Some have said the Rock Island frame would be good for use on a competition gun, at least for a starters.

I would be in a toss up over the Rock Island Armory gun and a Charles Daly. In all honesty for a few more dollars you can get a Charles Daly already close to your desired set up.

Or better yet get yourself a Colt sistema and be ready to rock. CDNN had them for $299 a few weeks ago. If I could get one easily here in Cali I would go that route myself. I don't have a C&R license though, and since I am military I would rather not go that route.

Whatever you decide to do, research the heck out of it before making your purchase.

I have been researching a 1911 purchase for over 2 months, and am still undecided on the route to take. I love the internet and it's research capabilities. Before I had the internet I made many bad gun purchases based on what the gun magazines recommended, what a joke the gun rags are today.

Best of luck to you!
 
Glockster35,

Just curious. Why not get a C&R because of military background? I just sent my C&R forms out today (haven't been in the military). Specifically so I could get a Sistema.
 
Hoppy,

I am still in the military and plan to leave here relatively soon. I am under the impression that the C&R license is only good for where you currently reside, and since I am currently in PRK, I won't give them the satisfaction of turning me down. I would rather wait until I leave here to go through the process and spend my $30 elsewhere for now.

I just don't want the hastle right now. And with my luck I wouldn't get it approved until I got orders in hand to leave this ugly, nasty, stinky, overcrowded POS state!:p

To those of you who love this state, I am not sorry if I offended you:eek: :D
 
Glockster35
I plan on cheking out the 1911forum. My friend just bought a Charles Daly and he loves it. The only problem he see with it is the finish. He travels a lot and teaches all over the country in all sorts of weather. Not that the finish is bad on the gun but he puts his gear thru some hard use.
Correct me if I am wrong but I thought the Sestima .45 were slightly different from the Colt design 1911 and they may not take 1911 parts. I saw them advertised and had consiered it. I have not had the oppurtunity to handle one yet. Thanks
 
Sistema's are 100% Colt parts interchangable. You are probably thinking of the Ballister Molina, a 1911 derivitive. I have a Sistema and love it. It was made on Colt machinery by Colt factory trained workers. Pre-war Colt quality. It is a hell of a good deal.
 
Saw one the other day in the shop. Nicely finished and seemed well made of at least decent materials. I have no shooting impressions but, I have been burned by the old "it's so cheap I can't go wrong" theory and won't even tread in those waters anymore :p
 
Peaceful Warrior,

After writing the above post I went to the Charles Daly page and saw their newest offerings.

To say the least I am pleased by the looks of their Stainless 1911's. I hadn't seen them yet.

I think I found my next purchase. Now I need to decide on the 4 or 5 inch version...choices...choices, I make decisions everyday at work, but when it comes to buying myself guns, it takes me forever. It's a wonder I even own any!
 
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