Posted: 3/2/2014 8:33:50 AM EDT
| I am wanting to add a 1911 to my collection. Honestly I am not looking to spend more than $500 on it since it will be more of a range gun. I have other handguns for HD, carry, hunting. I was maybe looking towards Rock Island, Girsan, or something along those lines. Any input from you 1911 guru's would be helpful |
| Good advice above. My first 1911 is a RIA. It is a good gun to learn the platform, and to see if you want something fancier. Go with a basic GI or Tactical if you want the better sights and beavertail. Do't buy it planning to do a lot of upgrades (more than grips). As a starter 1911, it is all you need. Save your money for ammo and good mags. |
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Or... OR!
Instead of doing what smart people tell you to, you should buy a UMAREX Regent r350cr and then tell us whether or not it's awesome. It's the one I want and it's impossible to find decent reviews. It's cheap enough, and has all the cool shit that you need, I say GO FOR IT! You have been nominated, don't let us down! LINK IS HERE GO BUY IT 
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Quoted:
Or... OR! Instead of doing what smart people tell you to, you should buy a UMAREX Regent r350cr and then tell us whether or not it's awesome. It's the one I want and it's impossible to find decent reviews. It's cheap enough, and has all the cool shit that you need, I say GO FOR IT! You have been nominated, don't let us down! LINK IS HERE GO BUY IT 
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Or... OR! Instead of doing what smart people tell you to, you should buy a UMAREX Regent r350cr and then tell us whether or not it's awesome. It's the one I want and it's impossible to find decent reviews. It's cheap enough, and has all the cool shit that you need, I say GO FOR IT! You have been nominated, don't let us down! LINK IS HERE GO BUY IT http://www.slickguns.com/sites/default/files/Regent-R350CR-45-Handgun.jpg That's not a bad price, if it was a 5" I might try it |
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I bought a cheap-o "GI" Girsan from Budsgunshop a little while ago. It was back when they were first released. They are now "Generation 2". They are good quality for the price but they are not standard in many respects. I bought it as a project gun to screw around with so it will require more effort to make it what I want. I am not sure what all they changed on the Generation 2, but it looks like they removed the horrific "SARAC" roll mark that mine has (it might be an engraving actually, was done by importer). The machine work in terms of surface finish and fit is great, and their are little MIM parts, but..
The frame pins are not standard (pins for sear/disconnector, hammer), they are nail head instead of c'sink style, so no easily replacing them. ejector and extractor are not standard, main spring housing pin was oversize for some reason, I don't think sight cuts are correct either but I haven't gotten that far (and I am going to mill slide anyway).. and they are bad GI sights. Grip bushings and screws were proprietary, with metric holes (m5 x .8 and m3 x .5 IIRC). They might have changed this in Gen 2, my Gen1 would not accept 1911 grip screws so I had to mill/drill and tap frame to change out grips (it was that or turn down head of grip screws that came with it). The trigger is wrong and trigger frame slot was cut way oversize. It had a radius cut on the tang, but used GI grip safety, resulting in it biting the hell out me when I shot it.. So I fit the frame for a beaver tail, and noted that frame contour is not right. The real killer for me is the idiot label on the frame it inherited from its New Jersey importer, "WARNING: Before Using, Read Owners Manual" ..on the dust cover. I have some experience with RIA and would get one over the Girsans. The Girsan MC1911S-G2 (rail version with beaver tail) is a great deal if you are not going to screw with it.. and nothing breaks.. and you can stand the import marks. They seem to do great machine work. Others to consider are TISAS,Auto-Ordance,Bersa/American Classic Auto-A is US i believe. Bersa/American Classic is from Philippines like RIA, Tisas is Turkish, same importer as Girsan, with same idiot mark. Tisas I am pretty sure manufacturers Regents, but Regents are imported by UMAREX, oy. |
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Save up your money and buy a Colt or Springfield. Really not necessary, and more importantly not in the budget the man said. RIs make an excellent gun and for a first one that extra money could be much better spent on ammo. If you decide down the road you want something else then that's always an option. |
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My RIA Tactical has been flawless. Up to 2500 rounds without failure, with lots of different loads and bullet types. +p HP, plated RN, 230 grn FMJ ball, semi-wadcutters, flat nose moly bullets, etc.
$7 bottle of cold blueing took the billboard logo off, and it actually looks pretty good now too. |
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+1 to RIA. My first 1911 was a tactical and ate over 5k rounds before I sold it to my dad. The factory mags are iffy, but once I upgraded to CMC mags, it ran great.
The chamber had a small burr that was marring the brass on extraction, so I called Arnel (their gunsmith in AZ) and he said to send it in. Got it back 3 weeks later with a match grade barrel and bushing mounted, along with new mags. Can't say enough about their service.
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Save up your money and buy a Colt or Springfield. Eh, I sold my Springfield loaded after buying my first RIA. I wasn't impressed with the Springfield. I currently own six Colt 1911's and they are great pistols, but my RIA Tac II VZ full size is my favorite 1911 by far. My advice to the OP is get the RIA, they are very good 1911's. I would suggest the Tac version for the beavertail and the sights. |
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Eh, I sold my Springfield loaded after buying my first RIA. I wasn't impressed with the Springfield. I currently own six Colt 1911's and they are great pistols, but my RIA Tac II VZ full size is my favorite 1911 by far. My advice to the OP is get the RIA, they are very good 1911's. I would suggest the Tac version for the beavertail and the sights. Quoted:
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Save up your money and buy a Colt or Springfield. Eh, I sold my Springfield loaded after buying my first RIA. I wasn't impressed with the Springfield. I currently own six Colt 1911's and they are great pistols, but my RIA Tac II VZ full size is my favorite 1911 by far. My advice to the OP is get the RIA, they are very good 1911's. I would suggest the Tac version for the beavertail and the sights. The loaded isn't Springfield's top tier now is it? |
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The loaded isn't Springfield's top tier now is it? Quoted:
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Save up your money and buy a Colt or Springfield. Eh, I sold my Springfield loaded after buying my first RIA. I wasn't impressed with the Springfield. I currently own six Colt 1911's and they are great pistols, but my RIA Tac II VZ full size is my favorite 1911 by far. My advice to the OP is get the RIA, they are very good 1911's. I would suggest the Tac version for the beavertail and the sights. The loaded isn't Springfield's top tier now is it? Is Springfield's "Top Tier" $500 like the OP is asking about. Or is Just a few bucks more? I guess an extra $800 gets you a TRP, but does it still have the same number of MIM parts as the loaded? I could tell him to save a few bucks more and get a Dan Wesson, but that isn't really helping here. He is asking about 1911's in the $500 range. Myself and several others feel that the RIA is hard to beat in that price range. |