Question about a 1911 pistol.....

dear people,i watching a numerous 1911(Colt gold cups,les baer,Rock River Arms,etc). but recently,i shoot one rock island 1911-A1 with fixed sight and without game on the frame,very fitty. my question is this pistol is cost-effective for customize to bullseye shooting or is waste money???? i search on google,but i don't see a RIA Custom....

KIf you want a base platform why not use a Range Officer?  Much cheaper in the long run.  RIA is not the greatest starting point.

The Rock Island 1911s are decent. The best prices for a Springfield Range Officer usually make the Springfield a better value.

Interesting question. I purchased a RIA 1911 a few years ago for just over $400 new, nearly half of what a RO goes for. It shoots suprisingly well. I'd be interested in hearing from a few pistolsmiths about using one as a base gun for a build.

JayhawkNavy02 wrote:KIf you want a base platform why not use a Range Officer?  Much cheaper in the long run.  RIA is not the greatest starting point.

wow,i see the springfield and is more pistol for the price,very nice starting!

Rob Kovach wrote:The Rock Island 1911s are decent. The best prices for a Springfield Range Officer usually make the Springfield a better value.

i see the psitol and is excellent starting point!

I don't have any experience with the Rock Island guns but enjoy my Springfield Range Officer.

It seems that choice/value between them comes down to your individual plan.

If you are 'getting started' and want a gun that can suit you for a few years (or many more at my skill level) with just a trigger job (or not), the Range Officer has a lot to offer.

If you are planning to have a 'full on custom' gun built where your gunsmith 'tosses out' everything (more or less) but the frame and slide, then RIA is a more economical choice because you are not paying for a lot of 'upgraded' parts (that may not be up to 'custom' standards) which you aren't going to use.

Opinions seem to say that the frame/slide on either is adequate (with some gunsmithing) for whatever use you might have in mind. The rest might or might not be worth paying for depending upon your needs.

Bruce

IMO, If your going to buy the ria, at 400$, and simply replace everything in it, why not just spend the extra 50$ to buy a new Caspian frame and slide? Then you know you would have a good fit. On the other hand, if you bought the RO, you would be competitive with a simple trigger job and a match bushing fit.

If you get a Rock Island that came with Novak sights and upgraded to the kensight for Novak cut, you would be able to get by just fine.

Getting a GI Rock Island then getting the sights cut in by a smith would put you in the same range as a Springfield RO

Gotta say that I own two Springfield Range Officers and I will not be buying a third. I have asked several gunsmiths and they all want to "squeeze and peen" the slide to frame fit and replace the barrel and barrel bushing at a minimum to bring it to something that is on call 

No, I am not knocking the RO it got me thru my first season. Good gun.

Please see the post  RIA Wad Gun

Astroimage's experience with an RO that won't shoot to call is extremely uncommon.
True they aren't known for tight bushings or slide fit but nothing that should require peeing an squeezing as slide to frame fit isn't the most important fit to deliver sub 3" accuracy.

I shot a 94 slow with 2 8s that weren't my stock Springfield's fault in my match this past weekend. They can shoot to call in most cases.

"From my experience with the S.A. 1911's, both guns are lacking proper fit with slide to frame rails, barrel hood and bottom lug has been over-cut and not properly fit to slide and barrel.  Slide to frame fit, barrel & bushing replacement brings it up to true match grade standards.

 
MSG David E Sams USA retired "

So, Astros, your economical solution to the $700 RO is???

Les Baer and Accuracy X.

give me the address where I can offer them $700.....

james r chapman wrote:give me the address where I can offer them $700.....

www.gunbroker.com

Astroimage2002 wrote:"From my experience with the S.A. 1911's, both guns are lacking proper fit with slide to frame rails, barrel hood and bottom lug has been over-cut and not properly fit to slide and barrel.  Slide to frame fit, barrel & bushing replacement brings it up to true match grade standards.
 
MSG David E Sams USA retired "

Astroimage, is that what David Sams said about both of your RO's?

Astroimage2002 wrote:Les Baer and Accuracy X.

I wouldn't put Les Baer pistols in the same category as a truly custom pistol built by a bullseye pistolsmith. I've seen Springfield Armory bullseye pistols from their custom shop that can match or exceed most any pistol out there. How about a Cabot pistol or a Travis Strahan Accu-Lock? Hey if you have the disposable income, get the best that meets your preferences. I think the others are saying that most Range Officers with minimal work, will get a shooter way up the bullseye ladder for a very reasonable cost. A lot of folks would rather spend the extra K's on ammo and/ or reloading components and train to educate the trigger finger.

Remember...Any corporate manufacturer has production quota's, and cost limitations.  Regardless how good the workers, I don't believe you can ever compete with the custom pistol, by a dedicated innovated bullseye smith.. A perfect example is the pistols from the AMU..Completely outside of the "box".. innovation...

I ordered one from KC Crawford sold two Les Baers to get that done. Custom is expensive but reliability and accuracy,over 30K to 50K rounds may be worth it in the long run. Over the 1000s of rounds you will shoot the cost of gun per round declines and a real good wadgun may cost less in the long run if you have to replace a lot of parts and redo the rails , bushing, barrell, ect.....

Jwhelan939 wrote:IMO, If your going to buy the ria, at 400$,  and simply replace everything in it, why not just spend the extra 50$ to buy a new Caspian frame and slide? Then you know you would have a good fit. On the other hand, if you bought the RO, you would be competitive with a simple trigger job and a match bushing fit.

   I bought the RIA frames and slides from E Sarco for less than $200 at the time.  I think the frames only (for dedicated lowers) were about $125.
Two wadguns built and one frame slide in reserve.  3 dedicated lowers built.   Total good experience to date.  YMMV
  That said I also have 2 ROs that are stock except for trigger work and love them too!   They are not quite the 1-1/2 in pistols the Custom RIAs are but pretty dang close for the total cost involved.