Springfield loaded vs rock island armory tactical

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Brando1992

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I went to my LGS and got looking into 1911's as well as CZ's I go back and forth daily on which i will get first but thats a different discussion.

I whittled it down to two 1911s I loved. The springfield loaded this one. And the Rock Island tactical this one.

I liked them both pretty much equally. Talking function not aesthetics or add ons(like difference in grips, sights, etc...) is there really a $200 difference between these two guns? Especially for a glock guy trying to get into a hammer fired gun would I even notice a difference between them other than the looks? both had a tight lockup, no wiggle at the barrel bushing and very little play one the slide to frame fitment. Both triggers felt incredible, very slight take up and crisp consistent trigger pull. I honestly couldn't tell a difference in trigger pull or tolerances between the two guns.

Also can anyone attest to the rock island tactical series not having the issues their base model GI guns have had? A buddy of mine had his GI compact for 2 range trips and then sold it, it jammed at least once often twice every magazine he put through it including mecgar mags.

So is the springfield really worth the $200 extra, and is the Rock Island as reliable as the springfield?
 
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The Rocks get stellar reviews. Keep in mind the Springfields are partially made in Brazil. The Filipinos know how to make some good 1911s.

Get a Rock, and use the extra $200 for mags and ammo. You'll need them for the coming shortage.
 
Brando1992 said:
Also can anyone attest to the rock island tactical series not having the issues their base model GI guns have had?
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What "issues" have Rock Island base model GI guns had?

Rock Island is one of the most popular, best selling brands of 1911 pistols on the market. The reason is that they are affordable, and they work. Like any other manufacturer, once in awhile a product may have a problem. In the unlikely event that a Rock Island pistol has a problem, their warranty service is about the best in the industry.

It's unfortunate that your friend had a problem, but he's one guy with one pistol. Remember, "The plural of anecdote is not data." Apparently your friend didn't give Rock Island an opportunity to fix the gun. His loss.

Is a Springfield Loaded worth $200 more than a Rock Island tactical? That depends on how much of a premium you are willing to spend for "the oldest name in American firearms" (which, of course, is only the name, since the current Springfield Armory company has no relation whatsoever to the original, government Springfield Armory).

Your links don't work, so I can't see the prices. Let's say the Rock is around $600 and the Springfield is around $800. In that range, the $200 difference amounts to paying a 33 percent premium for a name. They both fire the same .45 caliber bullets. They both work exactly the same and they both accept standard 1911 parts. I would pay a premium for a Colt over a Rock Island, but not for a Springfield Loaded.
 
I have had two Rock Islands, one of which is a GI model. I have never had a problem with either of them and I shoot mostly reloads through mine. I gave the GI model to my son for his birthday a few years ago and he shoots the snot out of it.

RI has gotten stellar reviews for their customer service, as has Springfield, so if something were to go wrong with either gun, it would get repaired without any hassle.

For the two hundred dollar difference, I would buy the RI and spend the difference on Ammo.
 
The Rocks get stellar reviews. Keep in mind the Springfields are partially made in Brazil. The Filipinos know how to make some good 1911s.
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I wish people would stop saying this. Springfield has not used Imbel frames for several years. All their 1911's are Made in USA.
 
Yes Springfield and Imbel of Brazil have been broken up for a few years. They will not say who they get their frames from. Springfield has been making good 1911s since the 70s or 80s, they slides and frames are forged and it is rare for them to be out of spec. I would spend the extra $200 and get a slightly better 1911. You will get better parts, Better fitment, higher resale value, possibly stronger steel components, and the Springfield should take .45super or .460 rowland no problem
 
Purty sure that RI uses a cast frame vs the Springfield Forged, if that's a concern.
Awhile back, maybe last year, Mr. Rock Island (sorry, can't remember his name) spent a lot of time on a Guntalk podcast explaining the history, trials, and tribulations of his company.
He also explained how the 1911s were improved from just another version of old slabsides to the quality gun they now are.
It's worth anyone's times to hear that podcast, if they have a hankering to buy a Rock Island pistol.
You will be encouraged.
 
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Brazilian's have made some pretty good guns over the last 80 years too ;)
Where do you think all the Argentine Systema Colt workers went after they shut down?
Yep, to the Brazilian S&W & Beretta plants! Which are now...Taurus ;)

RIA has come a LONG way from the old Squires-Bingham factory in PI.
To say their rise is impressive is an understatement :)

Then there's this right here...
I would pay a premium for a Colt over a Rock Island, but not for a Springfield Loaded.
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Right on the mark.

If you want an even lower price on a RIA, check with SARCO or Bud's.
It's often far less expensive to buy from them, & pay a $25 transfer fee to a local FFL.
 
Thanks for all the responses guys. I didn't realize the links weren't working I have fixed that now. So far it seems that the only build difference is forged vs cast components. Is that worth the extra money? How much practical/functional difference did it make?
 
Forged vs cast is an old conversation.
The conclusion is that the quality of the work and of the finished product is more important than the process.
 
A forged frame has very little advantage over a good cast frame in most instances. The frame doesn't take the beating that the slide does and both the RIA and SA have forged slides.

I've had a Springfield Loaded for years and it has always been reliable and accurate. I have an Armscor-built STI for awhile now without any issues (Armscor builds RIA).
 
Brando1992 said:
So far it seems that the only build difference is forged vs cast components.
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No, not "components" -- "frame." Rock Island uses investment cast receivers. So do a great many other 1911 manufacturers. When's the last time you heard of a Rock Island, or Caspian, or Para-Ordnance 1911 frame -- or a Belgian Hi-Power receiver -- breaking?

As to slides -- we are told by Springfield that theirs are forged, but they decline to tell us by whom or where or how. Armscor (the company that makes the Rock Island pistols) uses extrusions, not investment castings, for their slides. Cutting to the chase, extruding is a form of forging.
 
Armscor (the company that makes the Rock Island pistols) uses extrusions, not investment castings, for their slides. Cutting to the chase, extruding is a form of forging.
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I don't think either statement is correct.

According to Armscor's FAQ:
What are your frames and slides made out of?

Our 1911 Frames are Cast 4140 Carbon Steel and our Slides are Forged 4140 Steel.
Click to expand...
http://armscor.com/support-center/faqs/

When I purchased my Armscor-built STI (Spartan), I contacted STI and asked about the extrusion process used in the frames. They responded they were no longer using extruded slides but were using forged.

Extrusion is a generic name for a process which essentially pushes a material through a mold, a lot like those play dough molds I had as a kid. It can be used on any number of materials including powdered metal (not saying this is what Armscor used to use -- that's what I was attempting to find out). So, to say a part is "extruded" says very little about the quality of the metal.
 
My vote would be for RIA, I don't know the "GI issues" you speak of, but compact 1911's tend to be more troublesome than their fullsize counterparts which may have been part of your buddies problem.

Cast vs Forging, forging maintains the metals grain structure and is stronger, cast parts have no grain flow, but are still way more than sufficiently strong for a pistol receiver.

For what its worth, forging is just as generic a term as extrusion, and not necessarily superior.
 
I say "it depends"

If you are dipping your toes in the 1911 pool to find out whether or not a 1911 is right for you, get the Springfield. If you later decide to sell it because it's not everything you thought it would be, the Springfield will get more of your money back and probably sell sooner.

If, on the other hand you have decided that no accumulation (most gun owners are accumulators, not collectors, myself included) is complete without a 1911, and you are going to keep it till death do you part, get the RIA.

Conversely, if you are a form over function person, Springfield. The only folks who would look down on the Springfield can afford the premium for the prancing pony, semi-custom or custom 1911's.

The reputation for reliability for either is a wash, same with service.

As for the frame, I have never heard of a steel frame, whether cast or forged, breaking. I can't say the same for aluminum frames.
 
Well I made a trip to the gun range and rented a Springfield Range officer, and a ruger sr1911, suprisingly I shot the ruger like it was made just for me, the Springfield not so well. But with 500 rounds through either it would probably be a different story what are yalls thoughts on the ruger sr1911?
 
@ Brando 1992; amongst my collection of 1911's, I have the SR1911 LWT, and 2 Springfields, one of which is 9mm. Apart from a minor issue with the link pin on the Ruger ( and super fast repair from their CS) I prefer the the SR by quite a margin over the Springers. It really points perfectly FOR ME, and has put 1000 rounds down range in a very short time, no issues. Btw, the Springfield ROC 9mm relies on a really tacky little plastic clip to compress the RSA when breaking it down for cleaning. Not necessarily a deal breaker, but a Royal pita of design.
 
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