JavaScript is disabled. And a plain GI-style 1911 can be customized to run like a top and drive nails, but still look like the gun your granddaddy took to war. Read Next: Why The Model 1911 Will Never Die. The SDS had fixed sights, so I installed a set of LPA adjustable FO sights on it. Colt has an obvious leg-up in this round-up in terms of authenticity on name alone. Dimensionally, the Firepower is close to the original M1911A1. Mil-spec Model 1911 and 1911A1s served in every theatre of World War II. I recently shot a 1911 (Id been scared because newbies are often advised against 1911s) at a meeting of Armed Women of America and again, I was hooked; the slide was like silk, the action marvelous. While this finish is admittedly rather dull and crude looking, it actually provides better protection against rust and moisture than standard bluing does. Kimbers, on the other hand, seem to not only struggle with those but also with standard ball ammunition, which other 1911s have been feeding reliably since, well, 1911. That being said, as a newbie, I started with what most newbies are advised to get: a Glock 19. You can save a decent amount of money when opting for the SDS. The frame cuts and grip safety design are close enough to the original A1, but the iron sights and thumb safety mimic Colt 1911A1s produced in the 1970s and after. I would but neither, but that's me. It is a remarkably accurate pistol. We hear lots of love stories for the 1911s. If your wallet is thin, the SDS imported 1911-A1 Tanker is reliable and accurate enough for self-defense. 1911 .45 ACP Rock Island Tactical with Matte Black Finish #AC-RI1911TACA RIA 3.5" Would be slightly less accurate than the 5" barreled 1911's for competition shooting, but would be easier to carry if I ever decided to. I trust this gun with my life. Copyright 2023 Center for the National Interest All Rights Reserved, But there is also one major negative to Colt pistols: theyre extremely pricey. Chris Johnson, FN Senior Product Manager, walks us through two new FN striker-fired pistols at SHOT Show 2023: the FN 510 Tactical, chambered in 10mm Auto, and the FN 545 Tactical, chambered in .45 ACP. Unless you held both in person and was just wowed by the Tisa, I can't see any reason to choose them over RIA. Accuracy on one was very good, the other moderate. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. SDS 1911. I've owned 2 and both of them ran flawlessly. Give a Gift Or more to do with those guns not being in proper spec, such as the slide sized inaccurately, various pin holes in the right places, etc? Maybe, maybe not. Though the company is related only by name today, it is located just miles from the original factory. The Creedmoor is the hottest cartridge on the planet. Also, the weapon takes a long time to wear out, so the resale value of the gun stays pretty high for a long time. PROPERTY. Prices range from less than $500 to beyond $5000, and that's before gold inlays, engraving, or genuine ivory grips. Since this is a 1911 priced in the $400 to $500 range, its safe to say that its not going to be as nice as higher priced G.I style 1911s such as from Springfield or Colt. Last I saw they weren't a true 1911 mechanically, just a look alike. The trigger action is magnificent. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute("id","a054a513b69ce10e9245a75e4e1abad9");document.getElementById("e907838953").setAttribute("id","comment"); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Fenix Vs. Streamlight (2023): Which Flashlight Is Right For You? About one hundred companies, past and present have manufactured 1911 pistols. 4.25 a 3.5 from Armscor RIA Its the Tac version and a full size Charles Daly by Brixia in Italy on the same machining they used to build the Valtro. Out of all the different variations, Rock Island 1911 is the closest you will get to the timeless M1911. The tisas seems to be better fitted and a overall tighter gun . A 4" barrel would be nice for carry but the 5" is fine too. Caliber.45 ACP. On the left side of the frame is stamped INLAND MFG DAYTON, OH. If you look just under the magazine release button, youll also find a slight undercut on the rear of the triggerguard to give the hand a higher grip and improved control. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves." 10 yards in a quarter all eight rounds. Its the best option to save money on your gun purchase. Still, pricing can impact the decision if you want to save money. what if any significant does that mean. Rock Island Armory Rock Ultra Fshc For Sale Smith & Wesson M&P9 M2.0 Compact 9Mm Fde Century Draco 7.62X39Mm 12.25" 30+1 Black Pistol. As recoil is more muffled on 1911s in general anyway due to the extra weight, this can help aid in accuracy and particularly with follow up shots. Oct 26, 2021 Given a choice between the Rock Island and the SDS/Tisas, which would you buy? Type: Recoil operated, semiautomaticCartridge: .45 ACPCapacity: 8+1 rds.Barrel: 5 in.Overall Length: 8.6 in.Weight: 2 lbs., 7.5 oz.Grips: Wood, smoothFinish: Parkerized (steel)Sights: Fixed, post (front); drift adj. Short-profile A1 iron sights? One of the biggest cost savings in the RIA 1911 comes in the form of the parkerized finish. This is a bit of a slippery history, as most of their current production 1911s are made cheaply in the Philippines.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'americangunfacts_com-leader-2','ezslot_6',165,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-americangunfacts_com-leader-2-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'americangunfacts_com-leader-2','ezslot_7',165,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-americangunfacts_com-leader-2-0_1');.leader-2-multi-165{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:7px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:7px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}, Some folks swear by their Rock Island 1911s, and good examples do certainly exist. One was blued and the other Stainless. Handgun Search; Tabletop Compare; Add/Remove Handguns ; Add/Remove Handguns . I have owned three Kimbers (2 45s and 1 9mm) and they all worked flawlessly. After the foundation of the International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) in 1976, the 1911 rose to prominence as the best platform to use for building competition handguns. By Glenn Ranson / General Information / Leave a Comment. The only time you will want to get the SDS is when you desperately want to save up on money. On the other hand, SDS, or Tisas as many call it, doesnt have the same build quality. ROCK Standard FS 2-Tone 45ACP 8rd . Rock Island Armory, on the other hand, is a subsidiary of the Armscor corporation, which manufactures cheap 1911s in the Philippines. Rock Island is the name of an old, US government arsenal that made, among other things, great 1911 pistols. Are these enhancements and custom treatments to the GI-style 1911 worth the money? 1911A1 GOVERNMENT appears where the original had the stamp U.S. Learn More. Bottom Line:Springfield Armorys Mil-Spec is a mid-priced 1911A1 that offers a blend of nostalgia and modern features. I would but neither, but that's me. Bonus: Hickok45 video review - He compares them with $1k 1911 but I'm more interested in which is best between these and the other cheap 1911s. In the past it had three (Norinco, Springfield, Kimber) but they went away in the Great Divorce Sale. After youve settled on form, then there are about as many finishes and accessories as you could ever want, so its more than possible to make a 1911 truly yours. Because the SDS 1911 is more of a budget pick. M1911 vs. M1911-A1 In Brief As the alphanumeric designation indicates, the M1911 was officially adopted as the U.S. Army's first-ever semiautomatic pistol in the year 1911, thus becoming the most powerful-ever handgun cartridge adopted for general military personnel issue. Your email address will not be published. This makes Kimbers a bad value from the start, in our view. The arched mainspring housing with lanyard ring is close, as are the rear slide serrations and the sight layout. Both were close and required little adjustment. I will say this. 1911 the best 1911 on the market? I know of no one who has ever taken a 1911 out of the box and made it through a 100 rds without a malfunction. It was chambered in .45 ACP and made of steel. i have an old colt .45 , has a stamp that says not english made on frame just above the trigger on the right ide. It comes with 100 percent accuracy, so if aiming at a target is your concern, this will surely meet that need. Even though there are clear differences between the two, you can barely notice them. They should give you a pretty good representation of how a proper functioning 1911 should be. Build quality and overall dimensions are also similar to the original. The new-for-2023 lineup includes ultralight hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock. Conversely, with a Glock 17, I have two out of the box with no cleaning, no lube, and no mods whatsoever. Its built on the magnificent Wilson Combat modernized 1911 EDC X9 platform that does away with the grip safety. Both of them have a difference in the availability factor. For markings, the GI Standard FS lacks traditional roll stamping and features the Rock Island Armory logo laser engraved behind the left-side slide serrations. Whats worse is that Kimbers often have a hard time reliably loading a lot of different kinds of ammunition. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Compare. New // New. The Rock Island Armory M1911-A1 GI .45 ACP Semiautomatic Pistol features fixed sights, a frame-mounted safety, a beveled magazine well and a lowered and flared ejection point. Grips: Cocobolo, double-diamond checkered Finish: Parkerized (steel) The one I dont shoot is a first gen Delta Elite in bright stainless. Free shipping. In terms of dimensions and capacity, the Springfield pistol stays true to the real M1911A1; it has a 5-inch barrel, measures 8.6-inches long and comes with two, flush-fit, 7-round magazines. The grip is wrapped in G10 scales, and the front strap has an aggressive checkering pattern to help you hold the gun with sweaty or even blood-covered hands. The Rock Island 1911 FS 9mm Standard, on the other hand, has a forged steel frame and slide. You can get good resale value because many already know about the company. I paid $650 during the crazy times 2 years ago. Colt has been manufacturing 1911 pistols longer than any other manufacturer, and to this day, they are one of the highest quality factory 1911s that money can buy. People carry it because they want a connection to that history. They also come in a variety of calibers, ranging from .38 up to .45 (there are others, but those are uncommon, for instance, the .50GI ). Yes, SDS 1911 is a pretty decent choice 1911. From what information is out there, some of the Norinco 1911s shoot fine. In terms of usage, 1911s can come in a wide variety of barrel lengths, the longer ones being more accurate but harder to conceal. I got a 92FS INOX; as Ive gotten more into shooting, Im an old-school weapons kind of gal (10/22, Mini-14 .223/5.56, M1A 6.5 Creedmoor). Seriously dont listen to this clap trap all of the phillipine guns are quite good and priced great. Generally, price shouldnt concern you too much when getting a handgun. This is a preliminary range report on two of my newest .45 ACP 1911's. To get your hands on the Rock Island one, you will have to spend a little more than the SDS 1911. The sights are small and hard to see. Whether its the accuracy or the value, you will never question Rock Island. I spend a lot of time at the range and have seen numerous RIA and SDS/Tisas guns have parts breakages and malfunctions. Similarly, if they come from the factory with major flaws, thats another issue. Mine has been very accurate, and 100% reliable. To some extent that belief still exists but its not necessarily the case. kygunco.com . The ejection port on the Inland hasnt been lowered or flared, and you wont find any satin stainless bushings or out-of-place frame cuts on this example. Tisas pistols are a great entry level 1911. The trigger length is correct (albeit with an incorrect serrated shoe), the triggerguard is correct, as is the grip safety and arched mainspring housing. The checkbook says any 1911A1 has to be a budget model. American special operations units, like Delta Force, use it. Not surprisingly, the A2 was built to Dan Wessons top-shelf standards, which means that all the components are hand fit to close tolerances. Come join the discussion about collections, gear, DIY projects, hobbies, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more! The 1911 pistol is the most manufactured pistol in world history. The TaurusTX 22 Compact delivers class-leading reliability, capacity, and shootability in a 22 LR platform, and it's cut for a slide-mounted mini red dot. Skip to main content Skip to search. The targets below were the last 8- shot group I fired at 10 yards from each gun-SDS on the left and the RIA on the right. The fact that it was a steel GI spec gun that I was trained on in the service just made it my natural carry piece. The slide-to-frame and barrel fit, while good, is not optimal for the highest level of precision. The sights on the RIA GI 1911 are also minimalistic, which is to be expected on any G.I style of 1911. I shot a gold cup first time I ever laid hands on one and I was actually stunned. You are correct that DA/SA are more difficult to shoot well. kevinxlr 2 yr. ago When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. 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Handguns ; Add/Remove Handguns you buy the money Right for you than standard does. What Information is out there, some of the Armscor corporation, would... You buy slide serrations and the SDS/Tisas, which would you buy has beyond... Enhancements and custom treatments to the original factory 2 yr. ago when you desperately want to get SDS! Hunting stocks and a VGA 2-pound adjustable vertical-grip stock LPA adjustable FO on! Many already know about the company moisture than standard bluing does is close to the GI-style 1911 worth the?. A budget Model the RIA GI 1911 are also similar to the original factory its! Glenn Ranson / General Information / Leave a Comment government arsenal that made, among things!