Posted: 3/14/2010 8:24:59 AM EDT
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Is a $525 Springfield GI really worth the premium over a a $380 RIA GI?
I'm not really a pistol person. I plan on shooting this less than 500 rounds per year. I'm not deploying with this, nor would I grab this first if someone broke into my house. Is the extra $145 really worth it? |
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Since I like Springfield's warranty, features, and construction (forged frame), I'd buy the Springer. For you, the RIA isn't a bad choice. They're well-built, warranty is just as good, and I can't say I've heard much bad about them at all. Use that extra cash on ammo! |
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Since I like Springfield's warranty, features, and construction (forged frame), I'd buy the Springer. For you, the RIA isn't a bad choice. They're well-built, warranty is just as good, and I can't say I've heard much bad about them at all. Use that extra cash on ammo! Does the forging matter much? When I first built my AR i was told in the forums to with a forged lower. As an amature shooter will I even notice the difference? |
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Quoted: Quoted: Since I like Springfield's warranty, features, and construction (forged frame), I'd buy the Springer. For you, the RIA isn't a bad choice. They're well-built, warranty is just as good, and I can't say I've heard much bad about them at all. Use that extra cash on ammo! Does the forging matter much? When I first built my AR i was told in the forums to with a forged lower. As an amature shooter will I even notice the difference? Forging matters in AR's because usually the cheapest companies cast and do it poorly with them. For 1911's, the frame material is of less concern than build quality. RIA can build a good pistol, and they do. |
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Since I like Springfield's warranty, features, and construction (forged frame), I'd buy the Springer. For you, the RIA isn't a bad choice. They're well-built, warranty is just as good, and I can't say I've heard much bad about them at all. Use that extra cash on ammo! Does the forging matter much? When I first built my AR i was told in the forums to with a forged lower. As an amature shooter will I even notice the difference? Forging matters in AR's because usually the cheapest companies cast and do it poorly with them. For 1911's, the frame material is of less concern than build quality. RIA can build a good pistol, and they do. ARs are aluminum, rather than steel, so it makes a bigger difference. |
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Since I like Springfield's warranty, features, and construction (forged frame), I'd buy the Springer. For you, the RIA isn't a bad choice. They're well-built, warranty is just as good, and I can't say I've heard much bad about them at all. Use that extra cash on ammo! Does the forging matter much? When I first built my AR i was told in the forums to with a forged lower. As an amature shooter will I even notice the difference? Forging matters in AR's because usually the cheapest companies cast and do it poorly with them. For 1911's, the frame material is of less concern than build quality. RIA can build a good pistol, and they do. ARs are aluminum, rather than steel, so it makes a bigger difference. +1 Exactly what I was gonna say as I read the post. Forged vs. Cast Aluminum is different then forged vs. cast steel. I would NEVER recommend a cast aluminum frame for a 1911 or an AR. |
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RIA makes an excellent pistol for the money. Cosmetics are a bit lacking, but this can either be improved or ignored.
Investment cast frames are fine. I would much rather have a well made cast receiver than a poorly made forged one. This goes for ARs also. Properly made investment cast AR lowers are just fine. If Cav Arms can make a plastic receiver, then why does any one doubt that a cast aluminum receiver will work? I do wish that RIA would offer their pistols without stocks, since that seems to be the first thiing that people change. The ones that they do provide will let you hold onto the pistol and shoot it, however. They just aren't much to look at. |
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Is a $525 Springfield GI really worth the premium over a a $380 RIA GI? I'm not really a pistol person. I plan on shooting this less than 500 rounds per year. I'm not deploying with this, nor would I grab this first if someone broke into my house. Is the extra $145 really worth it? Absolutely! There's a huge gap between the resale difference alone between the two brands. That by itself is enough for me to opt for a Springer. My .o2 |
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There's a huge gap between the resale difference alone between the two brands.
Things must be different in Tennessee than they are in Kentucky. Both seem to hold onto their resale value fairly well, here. I have even seen a used RIA sell in a shop for $20 more than an identical new RIA less than 5 miles down the road. I very seldom see used RIAs for sale, however. People must like them. |
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If you don't mind warped and off-center hammer, grip safeties, etc., and the "look" of a cast frame, then the RIAs aren't too bad.
I have a Springfield GI that looks 80% nicer than any RIA and has been 100% for me. It's soon to receive some upgrades in the spirit of Col. Cooper but only because I want it to better serve me as a carry gun. |
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OK, I took a micrometer and dial calipers to my RIA tactical and nothing is off center or out of sorts. I doubt I'll ever get it hot enough to warp...
The pistol shoots fine and is reliable, I carry it as a backup at work and have faith in it. I have 1911's from several manufacturers including Springfield. My RIA tactical shoots and functions right there with all the others. For more information the original poster of the question may want to check out some of the Rock Island Armory posts on the M1911.ORG site and 1911auto.org where RIA/ARMSCOR factory employees are on the forum. |
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OK, I took a micrometer and dial calipers to my RIA tactical and nothing is off center or out of sorts. I doubt I'll ever get it hot enough to warp... The pistol shoots fine and is reliable, I carry it as a backup at work and have faith in it. I have 1911's from several manufacturers including Springfield. My RIA tactical shoots and functions right there with all the others. For more information the original poster of the question may want to check out some of the Rock Island Armory posts on the M1911.ORG site and 1911auto.org where RIA/ARMSCOR factory employees are on the forum. I'm sure most of them are fine, but the two in the shop I work in (one a RIA GI and the other a Citadel) both have grip safeties with a tang that slants off to one side. It's pretty obvious. As I understand it, it's a flaw from the MIM process. Certainly wouldn't affect function in any way, but things like that are why some pistols cost more than others. 
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Things must be different in Tennessee than they are in Kentucky. Both seem to hold onto their resale value fairly well, here. I have even seen a used RIA sell in a shop for $20 more than an identical new RIA less than 5 miles down the road. I very seldom see used RIAs for sale, however. People must like them. I shall politely disagree with your premise................................. |
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Quoted: Is a $525 Springfield GI really worth the premium over a a $380 RIA GI? I'm not really a pistol person. I plan on shooting this less than 500 rounds per year. I'm not deploying with this, nor would I grab this first if someone broke into my house. Is the extra $145 really worth it? Sounds like the RIA will do what you want. |
| I have wanted a plain-Jane GI Springer for a while, but I've got a co-worker needing cash and has a RIA he wants to sell. What would be a fair price for a used RIA? I will admit, I am concerned about the cast frame. Granted, if I bought it I would not be doing any modifications to it, I would keep it in GI configuration. |
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I have wanted a plain-Jane GI Springer for a while, but I've got a co-worker needing cash and has a RIA he wants to sell. What would be a fair price for a used RIA? I will admit, I am concerned about the cast frame. Granted, if I bought it I would not be doing any modifications to it, I would keep it in GI configuration. I paid $385 for a new one a couple of months ago. Used will be less. Rarely see a used one, hard to say what a fair price is. Don't sweat the cast frame. Armscor has been making these for a lot of years under several different names, If there was a major issue, it would have been all over the net by now. |
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I have wanted a plain-Jane GI Springer for a while, but I've got a co-worker needing cash and has a RIA he wants to sell. What would be a fair price for a used RIA? I will admit, I am concerned about the cast frame. Granted, if I bought it I would not be doing any modifications to it, I would keep it in GI configuration. I paid $385 for a new one a couple of months ago. Used will be less. Rarely see a used one, hard to say what a fair price is. Don't sweat the cast frame. Armscor has been making these for a lot of years under several different names, If there was a major issue, it would have been all over the net by now. I passed on the "deal". He said he would be happy if he got $375 for it, and I almost said "I bet you would!" but I'm not one to rag on what someone else thinks their gun is worth. Just a quick search on Gunbroker I found several new for that price |
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Things must be different in Tennessee than they are in Kentucky. Both seem to hold onto their resale value fairly well, here. I have even seen a used RIA sell in a shop for $20 more than an identical new RIA less than 5 miles down the road. I very seldom see used RIAs for sale, however. People must like them. I shall politely disagree with your premise................................. What part of Tennessee are you in? Or, to put it another way, what part of Kentucky are you south of? The used Springfields and RIAs that I see around here, (north of Nashville), both seem to have held up well in price. The used RIA I saw selling for more than a new one was a little odd, I understand. I wasn't even using that one for my calculations. Regional tastes in handguns can be quite strong. This affects the used prices. Tastes also change over time. 30 years ago, you couldn't give Colts away in my home county. Now that has reversed itself. I will even go so far as to say that the few used RIAs I see around here have held onto their re-sale value better than the Springfields have. Maybe not a lot better, but better. |
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OK, I took a micrometer and dial calipers to my RIA tactical and nothing is off center or out of sorts. I doubt I'll ever get it hot enough to warp... The pistol shoots fine and is reliable, I carry it as a backup at work and have faith in it. I have 1911's from several manufacturers including Springfield. My RIA tactical shoots and functions right there with all the others. For more information the original poster of the question may want to check out some of the Rock Island Armory posts on the M1911.ORG site and 1911auto.org where RIA/ARMSCOR factory employees are on the forum. I'm sure most of them are fine, but the two in the shop I work in (one a RIA GI and the other a Citadel) both have grip safeties with a tang that slants off to one side. It's pretty obvious. As I understand it, it's a flaw from the MIM process. Certainly wouldn't affect function in any way, but things like that are why some pistols cost more than others. I noticed nothing like that on mine. OTOH, it doesn't have the original grip safety on it either... |
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I have wanted a plain-Jane GI Springer for a while, but I've got a co-worker needing cash and has a RIA he wants to sell. What would be a fair price for a used RIA? I will admit, I am concerned about the cast frame. Granted, if I bought it I would not be doing any modifications to it, I would keep it in GI configuration. There's nothing wrong with case frame 1911s. If there were, Caspian wouldn't cast all of their frames. A proper investment casting that is properly heat treated is just fine. |
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I just picked up a RIA tactical for $475 new.
Had a gunsmith buddy check it out. He said it's a damn fine pistol for the money. I'm very happy with my 1st 1911. Don't let the price fool you. I was leaning towards the Springer side until I found out about RIA's warranty and customer service. 
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So I had decided to go with the GI for 525, but then I saw the MIL-SPEC for only $75 dollars more. I just went and ordered that one. Ill pick it up next week and post pictures as soon as I can! You will like the Mil-Spec. I have both the GI and Mil-Spec and like the Mil-Spec more as it has better sights, which are a lot nicer for these old eyes , and the lowered ejection port. In addition it will made a great base gun for customizing if you ever want to go that route.
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RIA makes an excellent pistol for the money. Cosmetics are a bit lacking, but this can either be improved or ignored. Investment cast frames are fine. I would much rather have a well made cast receiver than a poorly made forged one. This goes for ARs also. Properly made investment cast AR lowers are just fine. If Cav Arms can make a plastic receiver, then why does any one doubt that a cast aluminum receiver will work? I do wish that RIA would offer their pistols without stocks, since that seems to be the first thiing that people change. The ones that they do provide will let you hold onto the pistol and shoot it, however. They just aren't much to look at. I'm happy with my RIA functionally - 1st round downrange was 2 inches left of dead center. Having said that, replaced the grips, then the MSH because I wanted the lanyard loop. The holes did not exactly line up. so some work with the retaining pin to make it right.... 
Next one will be a Springer, all I will have to do is change grips, and the lack of other hassle is worth the money to me. |
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The MIL-SPEC was actually back-ordered and since my local militia has an FTX this weekend, I just went ahead and bought the GI. http://mail.cryptospace.com/1911/a.jpg http://mail.cryptospace.com/1911/b.jpg http://mail.cryptospace.com/1911/c.jpg http://mail.cryptospace.com/1911/d.jpg Um.....you might wanna rearrange that strap,you're depressing the grip safety..... |
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Quoted: I have never seen one in person...Where can you purchase a RIA 1911? http://www.google.com/products?pws=0&q=Rock%20island%201911&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wf |
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The MIL-SPEC was actually back-ordered and since my local militia has an FTX this weekend, I just went ahead and bought the GI. http://mail.cryptospace.com/1911/a.jpg http://mail.cryptospace.com/1911/b.jpg http://mail.cryptospace.com/1911/c.jpg http://mail.cryptospace.com/1911/d.jpg Um.....you might wanna rearrange that strap,you're depressing the grip safety..... This. Traditionally, btw, the retaining strap on a 1911's holster goes between the hammer and the rear of the slide. |