Inferior firearms vs function and reliability

[Stantheman1986]

Honestly, as much of a Ruger fan as I am and owning a pile of Ruger GP100's and Single Actions, a Ruger .45 ACP/LC, etc and having wanted an SR1911 to fill the hole where I no longer have any 1911's .....

I recently started to regret my sale of a Springfield Armory Inc 1911A1 "GI" a few years ago and I want another plain jane, no frills USGI 1911A1, and the SR1911 is not that, Just like the .45 ACP/LC Redhawk was not the S&W 1917 Classic I wanted but in my effort to "ride for the Brand" I went with the Redhawk and I didn't regret it. But I still want a S&W 1917.....

So , I recently saw the Tisas brand 1911A1 for about $380 shipped on Bud's guns. In today's market that's so cheap it's almost free for a forged Series 70 1911A1. It looks like a clone of a 1911A1 and I don't care that it's made in Turkey. Apparently some of the Turkish gunmakers make awesome "sleeper" guns like the various CZ and Hi-Power clones that are cheap, and gun snobs turn away from them because they're not the "real thing".

The Turk 1911A1's get good reviews and for as much as I'd probably actually shoot it, with .45 being about $20-25 per 50 rounds these days, it would no doubt hold up for my intended use. If I were planning to shoot 1000 rounds a month through it I'd probably get the Ruger, and I still may at some point but as an occasional fun blaster I'm ordering a Tisas 1911A1 from Bud's . It will definitely fill the role of, a 1911 to put a couple boxes through after playing around with stuff like my .22 SP101 or a couple cap and ballers.

 

[DGW1949]

Took one of my "inferior" RIA 1911A1-FS pistols to the range yesterday to test out 8 new mags that I recently received....100Rds @ what I call "inside the house distance (21 feet ) using PMC 230-FMJ ammo. My goal was to tear both red X-rings out of the target but as you can see, I pulled too many to the left. Oh well, maybe next time.LOL.

DGW

 

[Stantheman1986]

My Tisas 1911A1 , plain jane model is on the way from Bud's so I'll see how that decision works out soon :)

 

[Stantheman1986]

https://www.classicfirearms.com/sds-duty-1911-45-stainless-w-enhanced-features/
I just picked up one of these Turkish 1911’s. The Turks are turning out an awful lot of firearms of all descriptions lately and the price point makes them very interesting. I would have preferred a Ruger 1911 but this will do.

My initial impression of the fit and finish was that it rivals any of the better American brands. Everything was very tight and stiff. Due to the weather, I was only able to get it out and put a few magazines through it. Function was great except for one style of older handload that won’t reliably function in my Sig 1911 either. I cannot comment on accuracy since it was 30 degrees and I was just banging at the steel plate. I think that this will be a great pistol.

The Turks are making good, all steel firearms and at "impulse buy" prices

I'll probably end up getting a Girsan Hi-Power at some point

 

[Stantheman1986]

Rock Island makes an awesome 1911, but my experience with their .38 revolver was, that it's trash

 

[Hvymax]

Rock Island makes an awesome 1911, but my experience with their .38 revolver was, that it's trash

I hope not. I just got one of the model 3's. It's got the S&W cylinder release.

 

[cavediver27]

I’m a long time solid Ruger fan. That being said, I purchased a Rock Island FS Tactical 2-years ago and it has functioned flawlessly with 1,500+ rounds of various factory ammunition and my reloads. I’ve had ZERO failures to feed, fire, extract and eject….NONE!! And it’s accurate too! I still love my Rugers but I always recommend RIA’s to people looking for a solid and reliable 1911.

 

[Stantheman1986]

I hope not. I just got one of the model 3's. It's got the S&W cylinder release.

I had that, whatever it is the 301, the Rock Island 4" .38 based on the Colt action and it went out of time after a few boxes of standard. 38

 

[gunman42782]

I worked at a gun shop/range for 7 years and sold no telling how many RIA 1911s in that period. The only time I seen anything wrong was a fella bought one, brand new, took it out on the range, and before he fired a shot he put the safety on, and when he went to take it off safe the safety actually snapped off! Obviously a bad MIM part. Other than that one mishap, everyone was always very happy with their RIA. A lot of folks would buy the plain Jane model and customize it to fit their needs. All that being said, a Hi Point usually will run, but who wants a Hi Point? The low budget guns really do not hold value well at all. Not that you usually can get what you paid for a new gun, but with a brand name gun you can get a lot closer than you can with budget guns, as a general rule. JMHO

 

[CHEVYINLINE6]

Of all these aftermarket 1911's, how about replacement parts ? I have a Auto Ordnance 1911 and have no problem getting replacement parts that fit. If you buy one of these Turkish made guns, are parts gonna be a problem ? Are they made to the same specs as a common mil spec U.S. made 1911 ?

CHEVYINLINE6.

 

[bisleyfan41]

Are they made to the same specs as a common mil spec U.S. made 1911 ?

Part for part.

 

[CHEVYINLINE6]

Part for part.

I have been buying spare parts for my Rugers for years now. I recently started buy parts for my Winchesters and muzzle loaders as money allows. In owning misc Rugers for over 40 years, I have only had to replace one part on a 1954 Standard model that has almost zero finish left. That part was a extractor. Many of the Ruger parts I bought years ago can no longer be bought new. Get parts now before ATF declares that trigger for your Bearcat a machinegun.

CHEVYINLINE6.

 

[DGW1949]

I can't answer in regards to the Turkish knock-off's but I can say for a fact that my two RIA 1911-A1 "Full Size" guns take Wilson generic 1911 fire-control parts, Wolff springs, and work great with Springfield and USGI pattern mags. I know that because those are the 'just in case' replacement parts I've tried in them....Hope this helps.

DGW

 

[Springer2]

I can't answer in regards to the Turkish knock-off's but I can say for a fact that my two RIA 1911-A1 "Full Size" guns take Wilson generic 1911 fire-control parts, Wolff springs, and work great with Springfield and USGI pattern mags. I know that because those are the 'just in case' replacement parts I've tried in them....Hope this helps.

DGW

RIA pistols are made in the Philippines and are excellent quality. They are bargains for what you pay and what you get.

 

[Stantheman1986]

Of all these aftermarket 1911's, how about replacement parts ? I have a Auto Ordnance 1911 and have no problem getting replacement parts that fit. If you buy one of these Turkish made guns, are parts gonna be a problem ? Are they made to the same specs as a common mil spec U.S. made 1911 ?

CHEVYINLINE6.

Any 70 series 1911 parts will fit the Turkish guns . My Turk 1911 is on the way and I'm already looking for extractors and recoil springs that will fit any standard 1911A1. 3 of my coworkers have Tisas 1911s and they all dropped in aftermarket parts

I had a Brazilian made SA, Inc 1911A1 "GI" and I replaced pretty much every part including the barrel with USGI surplus parts. I had plans to put a surplus slide on it but I got "Ruger itis' at that time and sold it probably to fund a GP100

 

[larry8]

I don't have any Turkish pistols but I have a Turkish made shotgun. It has a hard chrome barrel made with gear steel, front & back sights, pistol grip, and all the other stuff that anyone would want on a shotgun. I got this from that crook budds a few years back for $200, so I can't complain.

 

[gnappi]

RIA makes a pretty decent 1911. In general they skimp on fancy finishes but they're pretty solid performers. I have a few. One is an ultra FS 10mm that I found and bought a Commander length slide and .40 barrel for and that little bugger rocks. I also have a 6" .357 Sig slide for the Ultra FS.

The second is a BEAUTIFULLY nickle finished 1911A1 clone in .38 super, the other is a TAC II Commander single stack in .40.

All three work like clocks with any ammo I feed them.

 

[Kevin]

This is an interesting thread. Old, but I’ll comment since it’s still close to the top of the list of threads.

I had a RIA 1911, I shouldn’t have sold it, but I did. I shot it for years and never had one jam or FTF.

One reason why I sold it was I spoke with a gunsmith and they said the cheaper 1911’s might not be worth upgrading to make it “better” because of the lower quality metal they might use.

Not sure if he was correct or not. I should have gotten a second opinion.

 

[Hvymax]

RIA makes a pretty decent 1911. In general they skimp on fancy finishes but they're pretty solid performers. I have a few. One is an ultra FS 10mm that I found and bought a Commander length slide and .40 barrel for and that little bugger rocks. I also have a 6" .357 Sig slide for the Ultra FS.

The second is a BEAUTIFULLY nickle finished 1911A1 clone in .38 super, the other is a TAC II Commander single stack in .40.

All three work like clocks with any ammo I feed them.

Where did you find the 357sig setup???

 

[DeletedMember275]

I have a Tisas Commander-sized pistol that I have been working on, just for something to do. So far, everything fits just fine. This gun seems well made and well fitted. The pins do seem to be a bit soft, but I have a set of replacement pins waiting to be dropped in. For the price ($329), I can't complain.

 

[gnappi]

Where did you find the 357sig setup???

It's a .40 so the slide and mags were already there, I only needed a barrel which I had made for me.

 

[Hvymax]

Rechambered 9mm or faster twist? 9mm subsonic barrels are the best to rechambered.

 

[DGW1949]

This is an interesting thread. Old, but I’ll comment since it’s still close to the top of the list of threads.

I had a RIA 1911, I shouldn’t have sold it, but I did. I shot it for years and never had one jam or FTF.

One reason why I sold it was I spoke with a gunsmith and they said the cheaper 1911’s might not be worth upgrading to make it “better” because of the lower quality metal they might use.

Not sure if he was correct or not. I should have gotten a second opinion.

RE:
"I had a RIA 1911, I shouldn't have sold it, but I did. I shot it for years and never had one jam or FTF.

One reason why I sold it was I spoke with a gunsmith and they said the cheaper 1911's might not be worth upgrading to make it "better" because of the lower quality metal they might use."

I don't get what is was that your gunsmith was saying...If the gun you had was already 100% reliable, what could it have possibly needed to be made so much "better" that the steel it was made from wouldn't have been able to stand the stress ?....Just wondering.

DGW

 

[Kevin]

RE:
"I had a RIA 1911, I shouldn't have sold it, but I did. I shot it for years and never had one jam or FTF.

One reason why I sold it was I spoke with a gunsmith and they said the cheaper 1911's might not be worth upgrading to make it "better" because of the lower quality metal they might use."

I don't get what is was that your gunsmith was saying...If the gun you had was already 100% reliable, what could have possibly have needed to be made so much "better" that the steel it was made from wouldn't have been able to stand the stress ?....Just wondering.

DGW

If I remember correctly the gunsmith I spoke with was doubtful about putting in a bunch of money to customize a “lower end” quality gun. Yes, he was questioning the amount of stress the metal would take.

This was a long time ago back when I was just starting out in the shooting world. I didn’t know the right questions to ask at the time.

 

[BearBiologist]

Got an e-mail ad yesterday that Sportsman's had a 2-day sale (ends today) on the RIA Pro Ultra-Match @ $200 off. On-line reviews were good to great, my brother endorsed it (He shoots 1911s in competition), and I missed my 1911s (at one time I had a dozen or more). "Told" the wife I was using my saved allowance money, took a look and couldn't find anything not to like!! Have some Underwood 135 Defender ammo for my SA XDM-Elite to stoke it with.

 

[Rich/WIS]

Bought a higher grade RIA several years ago but can't comment on its accuracy or reliability as a 45. Stripped off the slide and replaced it with a Kimber conversion kit for a dedicated 22lr. Upper is still in the box unfired, My nephew bought a Tisas and has put a lot of factory and cast bullet reloads through it without any issues. Pistol seems well made and is as accurate as any basic GI model.

 

[BearBiologist]

I found a 1/2 price sale at Sportsman's for the XDM-Elite by Springfield Armory. Bought on the spur of the moment. It came with two mags but, evidently, someone had put the wrong ones in the box! They would NOT seat. I e-mailed SA customer service. They agreed to send me two replacements. Arrived yesterday and everything is great! GREAT customer service and a great feeling gun! Get my RIA and I'll be hitting the range!!

 

[Busterswoodshop]

RIAs are made by Armscor in the Philippines,

That right there is the main reason.
If they were made in America they would be up there with the rest of them .
I have never heard of a company going overseas because something can be made better. They go overseas because it is cheaper.

 

[Ride1949]

https://www.armscor.com/ria50e

 

[hittman]

I have never heard of a company going overseas because something can be made better. They go overseas because it is cheaper.

Thank the labor unions for that. ;)

In a world of “them vs. us” the labor union members have become “them” to many of us.