Popeye
08-14-2013, 11:50 AM
As some of you know I just purchased a Ruger Sr 1911 the other day.
I also own a RIA GI 1911.
First let start off by saying I love both of these pistols, but there are differences.
The Rock is like I mentioned in the title is a GI bare to the bone model of JMB's Creation. There is not one thing about this gun that screams buy me on appearance alone. That is unless your like me and love old military weapons. This pistol is about as close as I could get to the one I carried at times in the US Navy from 1966 to 69 without breaking the bank and still working reliably. I simply love this pistol even though the finish on it is questionable as to it's durability. I just don't care if this gun gets a mark or scratch on it as it will only add character to it's already old military look. It has many miles on it traveling in a Harley saddlebag. The only thing I did not like on it was the smooth wood grips that were on it. So I changed them out to Pachmry Grips that I found in a used grip and holster bin at the gun shop. How long they'll stay on there is any ones guess. I do like them though.
As far as reliability this pistol has been nothing short of perfection from shot #1. It's accuracy surprised me when I first got it. I believe it's accuracy far exceeds my ability to shoot it more accurately. It's trigger pull is about 5 lbs and is very crisp do to it's 70 series slide. The sights are small GI 1911a1 sights that are a little less forgiving than the larger Novak sights that are on the SR1911. However for the $419 I paid for it brand new, it is pure, the way it was intended to be 1911 fun.
Now for the Ruger SR1911. I have actually had dreams of owning one of these fine looking 1911's since the first time I saw them advertised. The SR1911 has been on my wish list for quite some time, But I've never been even able to lay my eyes on one much less touch one till the other day, when I found a LNIB with very few rounds through it.
This 1911 is just beautiful IMO. I like the black accents on it's brushed SS steel Slide and frame. This pistol is about as far as I would ever go from JMB's original design. The skeletonized trigger and hammer and beavertail works well with this pistol. The Novak sights are very nice when it comes to acquiring a target. The trigger is just fantastic at what I believe to be around 4 to 5 lbs. The SR1911 also has the 70 series slide. (No FP safety). The grips are typical 1911 style grips that work well for me so far.
As far as comparing it to the Rock GI, so far it has not been a 100% reliable. I'm hoping that it comes around with more rounds down range as every once in a while it will jam up on 230 gr Federal and Remington FMJ rounds. It accuracy is not better than the Rocks IMO at Ten yds. In all fairness though I have shot the rock a lot more. So the jury could still be out on that even if they do feel almost exactly alike in my hand when shooting.
So IMO if your looking for and entry level 1911 and you do not care how pretty it is or if it's American made the RIA 1911 just might be your best bet dollar for dollar. However if looks matter and your looking for a U.S. made 1911 the Ruger SR1911 just might be the one you should look at.
A new RIA Tactical 45 acp. goes for about $450 +/- and a new Ruger SR1911 goes for about $650+/-. So far though for me at least, I'm not totally convinced at this present time the $200 difference would be worth it. Being we all love pics here the two 1911's being talked about.
That Ruger sure is pretty and I hope it comes around.
8923
I also own a RIA GI 1911.
First let start off by saying I love both of these pistols, but there are differences.
The Rock is like I mentioned in the title is a GI bare to the bone model of JMB's Creation. There is not one thing about this gun that screams buy me on appearance alone. That is unless your like me and love old military weapons. This pistol is about as close as I could get to the one I carried at times in the US Navy from 1966 to 69 without breaking the bank and still working reliably. I simply love this pistol even though the finish on it is questionable as to it's durability. I just don't care if this gun gets a mark or scratch on it as it will only add character to it's already old military look. It has many miles on it traveling in a Harley saddlebag. The only thing I did not like on it was the smooth wood grips that were on it. So I changed them out to Pachmry Grips that I found in a used grip and holster bin at the gun shop. How long they'll stay on there is any ones guess. I do like them though.
As far as reliability this pistol has been nothing short of perfection from shot #1. It's accuracy surprised me when I first got it. I believe it's accuracy far exceeds my ability to shoot it more accurately. It's trigger pull is about 5 lbs and is very crisp do to it's 70 series slide. The sights are small GI 1911a1 sights that are a little less forgiving than the larger Novak sights that are on the SR1911. However for the $419 I paid for it brand new, it is pure, the way it was intended to be 1911 fun.
Now for the Ruger SR1911. I have actually had dreams of owning one of these fine looking 1911's since the first time I saw them advertised. The SR1911 has been on my wish list for quite some time, But I've never been even able to lay my eyes on one much less touch one till the other day, when I found a LNIB with very few rounds through it.
This 1911 is just beautiful IMO. I like the black accents on it's brushed SS steel Slide and frame. This pistol is about as far as I would ever go from JMB's original design. The skeletonized trigger and hammer and beavertail works well with this pistol. The Novak sights are very nice when it comes to acquiring a target. The trigger is just fantastic at what I believe to be around 4 to 5 lbs. The SR1911 also has the 70 series slide. (No FP safety). The grips are typical 1911 style grips that work well for me so far.
As far as comparing it to the Rock GI, so far it has not been a 100% reliable. I'm hoping that it comes around with more rounds down range as every once in a while it will jam up on 230 gr Federal and Remington FMJ rounds. It accuracy is not better than the Rocks IMO at Ten yds. In all fairness though I have shot the rock a lot more. So the jury could still be out on that even if they do feel almost exactly alike in my hand when shooting.
So IMO if your looking for and entry level 1911 and you do not care how pretty it is or if it's American made the RIA 1911 just might be your best bet dollar for dollar. However if looks matter and your looking for a U.S. made 1911 the Ruger SR1911 just might be the one you should look at.
A new RIA Tactical 45 acp. goes for about $450 +/- and a new Ruger SR1911 goes for about $650+/-. So far though for me at least, I'm not totally convinced at this present time the $200 difference would be worth it. Being we all love pics here the two 1911's being talked about.
That Ruger sure is pretty and I hope it comes around.
8923