1911 - Need help deciding...

[vicb]

Okay, I am looking to pick-up my first 1911 but I am unsure about what I should go with.

Turners has a Kimber custom II in black for about $750 and a RIA 1911 GI nickel plated for $540. The picture below is like the RIA I am looking at.

For the money and quality, what are the pros and cons?

[stormvet]

I would buy the Kimber, nothing against the RIA they are good low cost 1911s. But the Kimber is built better with more bells and whistles. If I were going to buy a rock I would get a basic black one. That one looks more like a 57 chevy bumber then a 1911 handgun.

[C.W.M.V.]

Wow! 540 bucks for a rock island?! No way!
What I would do is go onto gunbroker and get a RIA tactical delivered to my ffl for 400 dollars. I got my rock island officers model for about 500 out the door.

[C.W.M.V.]

Oh and I like it better than the colts and springers I've owned because I'm not scared of getting this one dirty. Its a great god damn gun!

[cocorador]

Wow! 540 bucks for a rock island?! No way!
What I would do is go onto gunbroker and get a RIA tactical delivered to my ffl for 400 dollars. I got my rock island officers model for about 500 out the door.

+1. I did the same thing. Shot quite a bit out of my rock in the last month. Aound 1200 or so rounds with different types of bullets. No problems. At least this way, you can see if you like 1911s. If you do, then you can go for the big dogs, Nighthawk, Wilson, Baer, Brown. Or you can upgrade your rock, checkering, bluing upgraded controls and bushing, maybe even a new barrel. Arnel and Dave at Rock Island can do all these upgrades for a lot less than others and you can have it back in a few weeks if their not too busy. They just can't do eny metal finishing in house. Yes it's a cast frame and slide, but I'm sure it will hold up for a lot less money.

Just my opinion.

[GunLover]

Go with Kimber. You will be happier in the long run.

[jbooker9]

I say get the 2 tone RIA use the rest of the money to buy lots of ammo. I saw the 2 tone RIA and I think i may have found my next pistol. I own a kimber and can't say that I would recomend them or ever buy another one

[-hanko]

What CMWV said...post #4...

Buy ammo. Practice is FAR more important to you than a gilded gun with no bullets to shoot.

A basic RIA gun with a bunch of ammo will get you up to speed on your basic shooting skills. It's also a great gun to improve...you win both ways.

The gheyness of the grips mounted on the RIA gun astound me...are you buying from a store in the ghetto or the bario??

Be patient and shop for price; my general Turner's experiences can be described as pathetic. You're usually working with arrogant arseholes.

-hanko

[vicb]

The only thing I am worried about is the black finish on the Kimber. I would hate to get any scratches or dings on it.

[vicb]

Hanko- I just googled the RIA pic... It was the only pic I found in less than a minute. The actual grips are brown.

[Greg-Dawg]

The only thing I am worried about is the black finish on the Kimber. I would hate to get any scratches or dings on it.

BINGO. Buying a high priced 1911 is great and all, but when you get it scratched or get rust on the barrel even though you've oiled it...but allowed it to get exposed by using an orange chamber indicator, etc. that extra $400+ just went down the drain.

If you're going to get an expensive 1911, then you better take excellent care of it. That's just me.

[-hanko]

Hanko- I just googled the RIA pic... It was the only pic I found in less than a minute. The actual grips are brown.

I figured as much, hence the smillie...

Let us know what you end up with.

-hanko

[sirgiles]

between the 2, kimber.
but at that price range, i'd get a SA instead.

[DaveFJ80]

I like the RIA and like how it shoots. However after holding both side by side, the Kimber Custom II actually feels better in my hands - specifically the safety switch has more clearance with my hand on the Kimber than it does on the RIA, and reaching for it with my thumb feels more natural on the Kimber.

But for the difference in price (almost half the price, depending where you get it from), if you don't plan on doing too much to the gun or even shooting it too much like me, I would get the RIA Tactical and do a few cosmetic upgrades like a cerakote or bluing over the parkerized finish (I've seen some good results), and put a different trigger & grips on it since I like the look of the Kimber's trigger and black rubber grips, as well as get a different safety lever to help with the clearance. In the end, it'll still be cheaper than the Kimber and the finish will probably hold up better.

However if you have the funds, get the Kimber or look into the SA Loaded.

[C.W.M.V.]

http://e-sarcoinc.com/pistolrockisland.aspx