Surprising discovery

Dave W. Waits · 08-21-2010, 06:49 AM

Walked into the local gun shoppe a couple days ago and spied a SA Mil-Spec in the case with a $499.00 pricetag. Asked to look at it. Racked the slide and pushed down on the hood. It went down about 1/8th of an inch. Gave it back and spied a Black parked 1911. An RIA. Counterguy grabbed it and said, "Check it out,you may be surprised." I looked at it, the first turnoff was the stocks, slabs of some undetermined mystery wood. Basically, a clone of a 1911A-something. It had a Flat MSH and the Ejection-port was lowered and scalloped. Guy said they came that way. Had a med.length trigger too. Guy said to rack it and try it. Smooth rack, trigger was great. Barrel-hood didn't move, muzzle didn't move in the bushing. Hit the mag-release and the damned thing popped out and hit my hand...hard! Price was $399.00. guy said, try it, if I didn't like it he'd give me my money back.

So, I took it home and tore it down to clean and lube it. started checking and measuring parts, everything was in-specs. Didn't like the trigger or the military 1911 thumb-safety(I'm left-handed). I didn't have a spare Ambi in the parts bin but I did have a Ed Brown Extended safety so I threw it in. Didn't have to fit it. Put a extra Vedeki speed trigger I had(Long)in and put it back together and replaced the wood with the Kimber Rubber stocks I took off my Pro Carry II. Got bored yesterday and took it to the local range. Figured with the original-style Military sights, I'd bench the thing. Loaded up eight rounds of Win. Whitebox and settled in. After the mag ran out I looked at the target(25 yards) and there was one ragged-hole about 1-3/4" in diameter! Got up to go look closer and I noticed something else, the brass, all eight rounds, was in a circle of about 1-1/2 feet four feet away from the bench!

Went home and got on Midway's site and ordered about $220.00 worth of parts. I don't know how good the steel is or how long it'll last but, so far I'm impressed with this gun. It's gonna be fun to play with.

I'll keep you all posted on this one.

cohee · 08-22-2010, 07:50 AM

Keep us posted on your project and how the gun holds up.

Every time I walk by the RIAs, the price winks at me, but I wonder about the quality.

Thanks for posting

Dave W. Waits · 09-07-2010, 02:58 PM

Well, the parts came and went in. Took it to the range again, same results although, thisd time a lot easier to fire with. Here's a pic.

Dave W. Waits · 03-20-2012, 06:39 PM

Well, it's been a little over a year and believe it or not, a little over 14,000 rounds and some more mods for the RIA. No discernable wear on the Evil,Dreaded MIM internals. Couldn't duplicate that first group but, it will hold under 2-1/2" at 25 yards from a bench. Is dead reliable with the mags I bought. Not a single jam or bobble in over 14K rounds. I only hope that most will still turn their noses up at it(Keeps the price down so I can buy more).

This is one heck of a 1911.

retDAC · 03-20-2012, 10:54 PM

Thanks for the update. Is the ejection pattern same as when new?

Dave W. Waits · 03-21-2012, 07:27 PM

No sir, I tuned the Extractor and reshaped the nose of the extended Ejector, then I installed a EGW oversized Firing-pin Stop and dropped to a 14 pound recoil spring/ 23 pound mainspring. Ejection is constant, over my head and to the right rear(About 4:30) at four feet(I'm Left-Handed).

Fuego · 03-24-2012, 09:03 AM

I like the old brown plastic stocks the 1911A1's I was issued in 'Nam.

They just look right on a fighting pistol, along with a well worn parkerized finish.

My 1911A1 is pretty much as issued, but I did put some better sights on it. A friend of mine has a RIA, and it is a good pistol, and all the parts interchange with my old Colt.

Alabaster · 03-31-2012, 01:56 PM

Word. I have a RIA, and so do a few of my friends and family members. I get a chuckle out of how many of them are ashamed to admit it. It seems to me these loved ones of mine are very brand conscious and not very knowledgeable about guns. No harm intended, it's just truth. Seems they're all proud of their SA, Kimber, Colt, and custom guns. My Uncle in PA swears by his as though, "You're not gonna believe this!". I understand totally. Take it to an IDPA match and watch all the heads go, "Whatcha shootin'?" Tell 'em it's a RIA or another Armscor gun and their like, "Oh. Sorry about that. Have you seen my shiny new tactical_________?" Makes me roll when they run a $1500+ pistol and get owned by the little under $800 gun(All included). Just rich. Reminds me of the sleeper cars we were talking about here a year or so ago. People see 'em and think they're slow but they run like scolded cats. Good times.......

08-21-2010, 06:49 AM	#1
Dave W. Waits Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 24	Surprising discovery Walked into the local gun shoppe a couple days ago and spied a SA Mil-Spec in the case with a $499.00 pricetag. Asked to look at it. Racked the slide and pushed down on the hood. It went down about 1/8th of an inch. Gave it back and spied a Black parked 1911. An RIA. Counterguy grabbed it and said, "Check it out,you may be surprised." I looked at it, the first turnoff was the stocks, slabs of some undetermined mystery wood. Basically, a clone of a 1911A-something. It had a Flat MSH and the Ejection-port was lowered and scalloped. Guy said they came that way. Had a med.length trigger too. Guy said to rack it and try it. Smooth rack, trigger was great. Barrel-hood didn't move, muzzle didn't move in the bushing. Hit the mag-release and the damned thing popped out and hit my hand...hard! Price was $399.00. guy said, try it, if I didn't like it he'd give me my money back. So, I took it home and tore it down to clean and lube it. started checking and measuring parts, everything was in-specs. Didn't like the trigger or the military 1911 thumb-safety(I'm left-handed). I didn't have a spare Ambi in the parts bin but I did have a Ed Brown Extended safety so I threw it in. Didn't have to fit it. Put a extra Vedeki speed trigger I had(Long)in and put it back together and replaced the wood with the Kimber Rubber stocks I took off my Pro Carry II. Got bored yesterday and took it to the local range. Figured with the original-style Military sights, I'd bench the thing. Loaded up eight rounds of Win. Whitebox and settled in. After the mag ran out I looked at the target(25 yards) and there was one ragged-hole about 1-3/4" in diameter! Got up to go look closer and I noticed something else, the brass, all eight rounds, was in a circle of about 1-1/2 feet four feet away from the bench! Went home and got on Midway's site and ordered about $220.00 worth of parts. I don't know how good the steel is or how long it'll last but, so far I'm impressed with this gun. It's gonna be fun to play with. I'll keep you all posted on this one.

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08-22-2010, 07:50 AM	#2
cohee Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Mid TN Posts: 323	Keep us posted on your project and how the gun holds up. Every time I walk by the RIAs, the price winks at me, but I wonder about the quality. Thanks for posting

09-07-2010, 02:58 PM	#3
Dave W. Waits Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 24	Well, the parts came and went in. Took it to the range again, same results although, thisd time a lot easier to fire with. Here's a pic.

03-20-2012, 06:39 PM	#4
Dave W. Waits Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 24	Well, it's been a little over a year and believe it or not, a little over 14,000 rounds and some more mods for the RIA. No discernable wear on the Evil,Dreaded MIM internals. Couldn't duplicate that first group but, it will hold under 2-1/2" at 25 yards from a bench. Is dead reliable with the mags I bought. Not a single jam or bobble in over 14K rounds. I only hope that most will still turn their noses up at it(Keeps the price down so I can buy more). This is one heck of a 1911.

03-20-2012, 10:54 PM	#5
retDAC Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Huntsville, Ala. Posts: 409	Thanks for the update. Is the ejection pattern same as when new?

03-21-2012, 07:27 PM	#6
Dave W. Waits Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 24	No sir, I tuned the Extractor and reshaped the nose of the extended Ejector, then I installed a EGW oversized Firing-pin Stop and dropped to a 14 pound recoil spring/ 23 pound mainspring. Ejection is constant, over my head and to the right rear(About 4:30) at four feet(I'm Left-Handed).

03-24-2012, 09:03 AM	#7
Fuego Junior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Oregon Posts: 13	I like the old brown plastic stocks the 1911A1's I was issued in 'Nam. They just look right on a fighting pistol, along with a well worn parkerized finish. My 1911A1 is pretty much as issued, but I did put some better sights on it. A friend of mine has a RIA, and it is a good pistol, and all the parts interchange with my old Colt.

03-31-2012, 01:56 PM	#8
Alabaster Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: NOVA Posts: 370	Word. I have a RIA, and so do a few of my friends and family members. I get a chuckle out of how many of them are ashamed to admit it. It seems to me these loved ones of mine are very brand conscious and not very knowledgeable about guns. No harm intended, it's just truth. Seems they're all proud of their SA, Kimber, Colt, and custom guns. My Uncle in PA swears by his as though, "You're not gonna believe this!". I understand totally. Take it to an IDPA match and watch all the heads go, "Whatcha shootin'?" Tell 'em it's a RIA or another Armscor gun and their like, "Oh. Sorry about that. Have you seen my shiny new tactical_________?" Makes me roll when they run a $1500+ pistol and get owned by the little under $800 gun(All included). Just rich. Reminds me of the sleeper cars we were talking about here a year or so ago. People see 'em and think they're slow but they run like scolded cats. Good times.......