Hi, my name is Jas4d and I just drank the cool aid.

I have carried a glock 22 as my duty weapon for the last five years, and every day I have ccw'd a glock 23 when not at work. I honestly thought that those plastic guns were the be all and end all of handguns. Well, the other day I decided to make the leap and buy a RIA 1911 tactical. Ohmyfuckinggod this thing is sweet. I want to carry it every day, and even beg to carry it at work. I love the trigger, the way the gun feels, and even the way it shoots. I'm sold, 1911's are awesome.

My questions is, what do I need to do to make it reliable enough for everyday ccw? Ive put a few hundred rounds through it with no failures but I know that some of the internals are not the greatest. Which parts would you switch out right off the bat?

On an RIA Tactical? I wouldn't switch out a damn thing to be honest with you... Ok I lied, I'd change out the grips first unless yours came with VZ grips instead of the stock smooth grips from the factory.

Send a couple hundred rounds down-range, for now just stick with 230gr ball ammo, then give it a good cleaning and inspect for odd wear marks on the parts that move, like where the barrel meets the barrel lug (keep that oiled lightly), look for cracks on the barrel link (recommend greasing that and your slide rails). If all looks well, send a couple hundred more down range to be damn sure of its reliability - then I'd carry it.

In the odd chance that you get FTF/FTE or weird wear marks contact Armscor at 775-537-1444, ask to talk to Sean or Arnel about it and they'll have a FedEx/UPS guy at your house the next day with a shipping sticker - all you have to do is provide the gun in a box.

I carry just a regular old RIA GI - the only thing I've changed on it are the grips. I sent mine in for some work when I noticed some strange gouges on the barrel. It came back with a few new goodies and had been tuned up.

Congrats on the Tactical model

ETA 1: Also on the subject of wear marks, you want to look for even wear marks. If it's just the parkerizing getting worn down on the slide or barrel or other moving parts that's just fine and perfectly within limits...

ETA 2: Got pics?

Me, personally? If I were to carry full time it would be a Commander, RIA mid size or CS. Whatever I carried it would have single thumb safety, but again that just me. Sights are important, especially front sight. A carry gun is usually going to be used in a close quarter scenario but if you can get your front sight on your target
you hopefully will survive any threat.

I'm not a big fan of the stock grips. What kind of grips give decent grip but won't irritate my skin when being worn IWB?

Also, how concerned should I be about sweating on the gun when it gets really hot out? With it about to be summer I am concerned that 8 hours of sweating every day will cause excessive rust. Is there anything I should do past keeping it clean and well oiled?




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regular cleaning and oiling should cover it for the sweating.

also, you just came from the dark side, do they really have cookies, or was that a lie?

The parkerized finish on your gun likes to soak in oil, so rub it down every now and then and it should be fine. I wouldn't worry about sweat causing corrosion so much.

As far as grips go, you've got a lot of options.

VZ Grips
Raasco Grips

Lots of people here like the VZ Grips, I'm partial to my Raasco's. Either way, you won't go wrong - it's all up to your own preference. I can tell you that from carrying my Raasco's with the half-tactical checkered pattern, it's not too bad and definitely not uncomfortable - plus the grip is very positive and not as abrasive on your skin as it looks.

The only thing I would change aside from ergonomics (grips, levers, sights) would possibly be some of the internals. When I picked up my Norinco years back I swapped out the FCG, springs, and the extractor. I ended up with a better trigger, and it made me feel more confident. If I didn't see myself carrying it I probably wouldn't have changed anything. I use shock buffs on all of my 1911s, and usually change the recoil spring after 3k rounds or so. I like the Pachmayr grips with the thumb relief which allows easier mag release operation. Since I shoot a lot of 230gn+P ammo I also like tungsten full length guide rods, the muzzle weight allows quicker follow up shots. Lots of folks say they are a PITA but if you use your noodle you can field strip and assemble just fine with no drama. RIA seems to have their act together, I'm sure you will get reliable service leaving it as is.

Get a cheap airbrush, a yard sale toaster oven, and put a finish on it. Moly Resin, Cerakote etc. 1911s are easy to take down completely to get a thorough application.

Would a painted finish be more durable than the stock finish? Also, will wood grips stand up to the daily wear and sweat of a humid climate?


You guys have upped my confidence in my 1911 already. I can't wait for my holster to arrive, it's a comp tac minotaur.

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The finish will wear on the RIA a little more than some of the others. I have thought about refinishing mine, but I love the wear marks.
As noted above - The only thing I would change would be the grips. The standard grips are not too hot. Also, bright white car paint for the front sight. (Get the kind that comes with a little brush.)
Outside of the grips and a little paint on the front sight, the only thing I have changed on mine is the spring. After close to 3000 rounds it seemed a little weak.

Congrats on a very good pistol.

You have a parkerized finish on the RIA which is ok for a finish, but it wears badly especially when carried. "Paint" won't hold up very well for carry applications but is the cheapest. The coating that the previous poster was talking about are not paint, they are applied the same way but have a much different makeup, and they will hold up a lot longer than parkerization will.

As far as grips go VZ, Rassco, Hogue, Linville, Gunner, Custom Killer Grips, 1911 Grip Store and Pachmayr. Any of these will get you a nice set of grips if you don't want wood. There are alot of choices out there, so go with what you like and fits you best.

Beware, the cool-aid is full of cyanide!

I'm glad you like your RIA 1911 tactical but a good CCW it is not.

IMO going from a Glock 23 to a full size 1911 for CC is taking a step backwards. What possible advantage could you gain from switching to a 1911 for CC? I'm thinking maybe you received some bad advice from a co-worker or maybe you spent too much time on these forums.

To each his own but I just dont understand the thinking behind this decision. You mentioned "duty weapon" so I'm assuming that you are a LEO. As a firearms instructor I try to discourage people I talk to from choosing 1911s for CC. Dont get me wrong they are great guns but as far as CC is concerned the cons far out-weigh the pros.

The 1911 is a great weapon with a rich history however it's strong points are in competion and home defense NOT as a CCW.

Just my 2 cents but most people who carry 1911s do it for the cool-factor or because they've watched too many Steven Seagal movies not because they are serious about self-defense.

Do you have anything substantial to support this?

Of course we do

I would not carry a 1911 simply due to the weight (40oz. for a full size all steel pistol) and the lack of magazine capacity. That being said, I love my 1911's.

He is a firearms instructor...... Opinions are like assholes, everyone has one. It is your opinion and that is fine, it is also fine if I disagree with you as well. Just because some of us prefer a platform that is tried, true and proven and has been around longer than you or I have, dosen't make me a wanna be, or " most people who carry 1911s do it for the cool-factor or because they've watched too many Steven Seagal movies not because they are serious about self-defense." I will tell you that your off handed attempt at an insult has failed miserably.

I'm liking those Raasco grips.

Look up the Defense Package from the SACS. It may put your mind at ease. Their trigger work alone is exceptional.

Ive got hours and hours of professional training and instruction, not to mention real world experience taking a weapon into harms way. I know what i like, and the 1911 platform appeals to me. If youre not going to do more than piss on my thread i ask that you take your opinions eslewhere k thanks.

With that out of the way, what kind of mags are perferred?


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I've heard good things about Wilson Combat's magazines as well as Chip McCormick's.

You can find them both at their websites or by clicking here for a MidwayUSA search that's already sorted out CMC's and WC mags.

Sarge's grips are also very popular.

Magazines I'd look at:

Wilson Combat
Chip Mcormick...

You've got to look out for some of the magazines. The 47D's are usually highly regarded, but just like the AR platform, there's a lot of crap out there too. Most are interchangable with the 1911 but some are weapon specific.

1911forum.com is the arfcom of the 1911 world.


For the parts, if everything works I wouldn't change anything unless it didn't work again. I don't know what parts in your RIA are MIM and which aren't... I'd suggest changing out the MIM for tool steel parts... (some MIM is made better than other MIM...)

The RIA is a popular pistol without a lot of complaints.

For your second 1911 I'd suggest a Dan Wesson VBOB.

I have a couple of different 1911s. I started building them from kits about 8 years ago after swapping parts out of them for years. There is a list of top failures with the 1911. Most manufactures fix the failures before they happen.

On the RIA Tact, I would change the grips and look at the barrel bushing. My personal preferance is for Hogue grips. The magazines that never fails me is the once with the horse stamped on the bottom.

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