Picked up a RIA 1911 today, what do I need to know

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Picked up a RIA 1911 today, what do I need to know

Posted: 5/29/2013 5:06:52 PM EDT

I bought a RIA 1911 tactical today, out the door for $510. Is there anything I should know about these?

I have a few things I want to do with it.

First, I need thinner grips. I might wait until the Magpul grips are released, as I really liked how they felt.

Second, I'm not happy with the sights as they are. I don't like all black sights, its hard to pick up the front sight on dark steel targets. I am considering painting the front blade red or orange. Or I might try to find night sights or a fiber optic front sight.

Third, I don't understand the overtravel set screw. Right now it is about a 1/4 turn out so that I can feel it on the front face of the trigger. Do these come adjusted from the factory, or should I set it deeper on my own? Or should I just remove it entirely?

I will hopefully get to shoot it later this week.

Posted: 5/29/2013 5:31:54 PM EDT

[#1]

You are supposed to ask these questions before you buy.

Posted: 5/29/2013 5:44:13 PM EDT

[#2]

shoot the piss out of it for a while and then decide what to change.

Posted: 5/29/2013 5:44:30 PM EDT

[#3]

Shoot it before messing with the trigger, if you don't like it then adjust.

If you ever have any issues with it contact RIA first they have some of the best customer service I've run across.

Go shoot the hell out of it and don't look back.

Posted: 5/29/2013 5:59:46 PM EDT

[#4]

I installed a dawson precision fiber front sight in about five minute a few weeks ago. No fitting required.

Posted: 5/29/2013 6:04:38 PM EDT

[#5]

Break it in carefully. 1,000 rounds rapid fire should do it.

I have a gov't model and love it except for the F&$*#($ front sight. When I can see it, the gun is extremely accurate.

Posted: 5/29/2013 6:05:41 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
I installed a dawson precision fiber front sight in about five minute a few weeks ago. No fitting required.

Is yours a gov't model or the tactical? I've been looking for a replacement sight since I got mine.

Posted: 5/29/2013 7:29:25 PM EDT

[#7]

1) Don't mess with overtravel if you don't know the system pretty well- you can really mess with the function.

2) VZ grips are hands down the best available, and many of the models are available in a slimline config. IIRC, you need shorter screws, though.

3) Sights are a pain in the ass. RIA uses an "almost" Novak cut (slightly deeper). Your options are paint, the Dawson FO sight, sending the slide to a place like tool tech to have the existing sights drilled & fitted with tritium vials, or buying Novak sights and having a gunsmith modify them to fit.

Posted: 5/29/2013 11:39:03 PM EDT

[#8]

Here is why I was asking about the over travel screw. It sticks out just a little bit so that I can feel it on the face of the trigger.

I'll look into that fiber optic front sight post, I like that a lot better than a black front.

Posted: 5/29/2013 11:55:49 PM EDT

[#9]

Quoted:

You are supposed to ask these questions before you buy.

Not for $510 OTD, for $510 for a RIA Tactical, you ask them after.

Posted: 5/30/2013 6:56:44 AM EDT

[#10]

Shoot the shit out of it

Posted: 5/30/2013 7:36:53 AM EDT

[#11]

Grips - The ERGO grips are very "grippy" and as thin as you get without changing bushings and screws.

For a more visible front sight you might want to try this...
http://pistol-training.com/articles/the-johno-diy-high-visibility-front-sight

Posted: 5/30/2013 9:24:49 AM EDT

[#12]

I just used white testors paint on the back sides of the sights. I'd suggest that before you pay to upgrade. You might find you are happy with a $5 option vs a $100 option.

Posted: 5/30/2013 12:59:07 PM EDT

[#13]

My tactical has two little dimples on the rear sight that I filled with white auto touch up paint. I also added a small dab on the front sight blade. Works like a charm.

Posted: 5/30/2013 1:55:28 PM EDT

[#14]

Good gun just shoot it.

Posted: 5/31/2013 4:16:43 AM EDT

[#15]

I painted a white dot with enamel on the front post of my RIA GI, definately helped against black targets and it's easy to do, if you mess it up it's easy to clean with thinner and try again. I also just picked up a RIA Tac II with VZ grips, now that I've shot with them a few times I see why they're so popular. The Tac II is also the first handgun I've owned with a fiber optic front sight, and I'm liking it.

Posted: 6/2/2013 3:49:23 PM EDT

[#16]

I have a RIA tactical and sold it to a friend then asked if I could buy it back. Simply put the gun works and works extremely well

For SD I do not use the sights and look at the target bringing the gun up to a peripheral vantage point. When I use the sites I do group better but not near as fast nor as aware of the whole field of view and SD is its main job.

Wulfmann

Posted: 6/2/2013 8:05:10 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:

Quoted:
You are supposed to ask these questions before you buy.

Not for $510 OTD, for $510 for a RIA Tactical, you ask them after.

AAFES sells them for $500.... tax free.

Posted: 6/3/2013 1:01:37 PM EDT

[#18]

Quoted:
I just used white testors paint on the back sides of the sights. I'd suggest that before you pay to upgrade. You might find you are happy with a $5 option vs a $100 option.

I did this with my Citedel. Just be sure to keep the front sight touched up. I was shooting mine and every shot was going right over the target, looked at my gun and the paint had worn off the top 1/4" of the sight.

Posted: 6/4/2013 9:56:04 AM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:

Quoted:
You are supposed to ask these questions before you buy.

Not for $510 OTD, for $510 for a RIA Tactical, you ask them after.

Yeah, I think it's a pretty good price too. Although it seems like all gun stores around me are expensive. I don't know why.

Posted: 6/5/2013 12:23:50 PM EDT

[#20]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I installed a dawson precision fiber front sight in about five minute a few weeks ago. No fitting required.

Is yours a gov't model or the tactical? I've been looking for a replacement sight since I got mine.

Not to steal the OP's thunder but I have a RIA GI, trying to find new sighs as well but I dont think I can put new ones on. Am I wrong?

Posted: 6/6/2013 4:39:46 AM EDT

[#21]

Quoted:
1) Don't mess with overtravel if you don't know the system pretty well- you can really mess with the function.

2) VZ grips are hands down the best available, and many of the models are available in a slimline config. IIRC, you need shorter screws, though. (You need shorter grip bushings as well)

3) Sights are a pain in the ass. RIA uses an "almost" Novak cut (slightly deeper). Your options are paint, the Dawson FO sight, sending the slide to a place like tool tech to have the existing sights drilled & fitted with tritium vials, or buying Novak sights and having a gunsmith modify them to fit.

Posted: 6/6/2013 4:43:16 AM EDT

[#22]

Quoted:

Quoted:
I installed a dawson precision fiber front sight in about five minute a few weeks ago. No fitting required.

Is yours a gov't model or the tactical? I've been looking for a replacement sight since I got mine.

Not to steal the OP's thunder but I have a RIA GI, trying to find new sighs as well but I dont think I can put new ones on. Am I wrong?

It's probably a staked front sight so you can change it. Dawson has some fiber optic front sights for the RIAs.

Posted: 6/6/2013 10:14:20 PM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:

Quoted:

You are supposed to ask these questions before you buy.

Not for $510 OTD, for $510 for a RIA Tactical, you ask them after.

AAFES sells them for $500.... tax free.

Still get bend over service member tax.

Though that's a steal, and well worth purchasing. They are going for up to $600 around where I live, and selling well.

Posted: 6/7/2013 11:31:34 AM EDT

[#24]

Quoted:
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt7/sonoran_Tj/RIATrigger.jpg

Here is why I was asking about the over travel screw. It sticks out just a little bit so that I can feel it on the face of the trigger.

I'll look into that fiber optic front sight post, I like that a lot better than a black front.

First of all, let me say that I just purchased a Springer R3 Enhanced, supposedly NIB, but upon field strip, was obviously used.
That may explain why the trigger set screw looked exactly like yours, protruding slightly from the trigger face.

Try this, remove your magazine,remove the slide assembly.
After removing the slide, carefully lower the hammer.

Use a flashlight, look into the magwell from above. You will see the trigger bar.
Now slowly depress the trigger, you will see the back of the trigger.
Does the set screw protrude from the rear of the trigger? Mine is not visible at all.
It should protrude enough to contact the frame after releasing the trigger, thus preventing over travel.

Here is a detailed step by step guide on adjusting the set screw: 1911 Set Screw Adjustment

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Picked up a RIA 1911 today, what do I need to know

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