OK, I placed my order...
I didn't like their counter offer on my 442, I'll just put it on consignment and get about $100 more (I guess they didn't really want a 442, maybe I should have seen what they'd give me for one of the other guns I'm going to sell).
Without that money up front, I decided that the guns are so close in benefits, that I'd go a little cheaper for now and get the RIA. I put it on layaway for now to hold it (from reading the 1911 forums, it seems RIA guns have been tough to find lately, at least if you want a particular model), but will wait about a month to pay it off. In the meantime I'll decide what holster I want (I usually like kydex/leather hybrids, but for 1911s and revolvers I like leather), and practice with my S&W 1911SC and Taurus PT140 M. Pro (different style of course, but same style of safety) until I am 100% confident in my disabling the safety on every draw. Hopefully, by the time I get the RIA I'll be ready to carry it on my late July camping trip to VA or WV or August vacation.
So, why the RIA instead of the Kimber I thought I had settled on:
I didn't like their counter offer on my 442, I'll just put it on consignment and get about $100 more (I guess they didn't really want a 442, maybe I should have seen what they'd give me for one of the other guns I'm going to sell).
Without that money up front, I decided that the guns are so close in benefits, that I'd go a little cheaper for now and get the RIA. I put it on layaway for now to hold it (from reading the 1911 forums, it seems RIA guns have been tough to find lately, at least if you want a particular model), but will wait about a month to pay it off. In the meantime I'll decide what holster I want (I usually like kydex/leather hybrids, but for 1911s and revolvers I like leather), and practice with my S&W 1911SC and Taurus PT140 M. Pro (different style of course, but same style of safety) until I am 100% confident in my disabling the safety on every draw. Hopefully, by the time I get the RIA I'll be ready to carry it on my late July camping trip to VA or WV or August vacation.
So, why the RIA instead of the Kimber I thought I had settled on:
- The more I read, the more it sounds like the RIA is more reliable.
- I went with the model that is $200 less than the Kimber. If I wanted the one that was $100 less, I'd have spent the extra $100 on the Kimber, but $200 is significantly enough more to go with the RIA.
- Eventually, I want the EMP. If I get the 25oz aluminum alloy Kimber I probably won't get the EMP (too similar), but with the steel framed RIA 1911 TAC compact it will be different enough that I probably will eventually get one.
- The extra weight of the steel frame will be better for taming recoil. When carried as a backup instead of primary, I'll just have to pair it with my lighter S&W M&P40c instead of my S&W 1911SC or CZ P01. Realistically, any of these 1911s would likely be carried as primaries anyway (either alone, or with my P290rs or a smaller .380 backup).
- Other than night sights, it has everything I want (and the Kimber at that price didn't have night sights either). There is one company that makes night sights for the RIA, and one that makes fiber optic, so while I won't have any brand choices, I'll have choices (1 brand of fiber optic, 1 brand of night sights, or stick with stock sights).
- Finally, frankly the RIA looks more functional. I know me. The Kimber is beautiful. I'd probably not put it in a holster very often. The RIA looks good (it is a 1911) but functional and practical. I'll have no problem putting it in a holster. In fact, it will look better to me once it starts getting holster wear. Maybe I'll look to Kimber for a full size (maybe a 10mm) later that will be mainly a range/target gun so it can stay pretty.
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