Need another 1911 - RIA or Springfield Loaded?

[Capybara]

Would like to hear opinions on which sub $1,000 1911 to buy. I used to own a Springfield Loaded. I loved shooting it. But then divorce loomed its ugly head and for financial reasons at the time, I had to sell it. I liked everything about the gun but it was stainless and I discovered that I hate stainless guns, I much prefer blued or parked over stainless. That Loaded I bought many years ago, perhaps early 90s? It shot great. So Turners has them on sale for $939 and my LGS has them for $999. But I am curious about RIA/Armscor 1911s. They are considerably less money. I know they are made in the Philippines whereas I believe the current Loadeds are built domestically? I think my old one might have been made in Brazil but assembled here? I though I recall someone posting that they switched to US manufacturing quite a while ago?

I do want something with Night Sights, mainly because i have a hard time seeing irons at dimly lit indoor ranges I don't care about a rail as this will be a fun range gun, not an HD gun so I don't need to mount a light or laser. I've heard good things about both 1911s and I know the Loaded since I owned one but I have never shot an RIA/Armscor, I've only handled them in my LGS. I'd love to get a Nighthawk or an Ed Brown but those are just out of my range.

So what should I consider?

[SDDAVE56]

I can only comment on what I have, SA stainless GI, and a Mil Spec, parkerized. Both function flawlessly, with the ammo I currently shoot through them. That being, Federal American Eagle 230 gr ball, and Federal HST 230 gr SJHP. Mil Spec being my duty gun, GI being my off duty gun. They both reside in my safe, but come out, and still prefom well.

Mil Spec had a few issues new out of the box, but SA warranty fixed that, and zero issues after. GI, zero issues from day one. SA Customer Service A+. Sent both back to SA Custom Shop for some minor tweaks, and years later both still run 100%. Mil Spec went to Novak's for night sights.

When I was shopping for a 1911, 2001, gun shop employee talked me out of a Kimber. and recommended the Mil Spec. Don't have any experience with Kimber, but happy with the Mil Spec. Money well spent.

[acaligunner]

I would go with the Loaded Springfield 1911 in blue with the factory night sights. It’s right at $990 / 1,000.

The Mc Operator is also nice but at $1,290 ( lay a way maybe ) ?

Other than that, the only thing that bothers me about Springfield is the lock on the mainspring housing.

But I will still be buying a Mc Operator soon, because Springfield is a nice 1911.

The RIA is have no experience with, sorry.

Just buy what you want - in the long run firearms will give you decades of service so there’s that.

I have a Nighthawk and don’t even think of the money I paid for it, oh yeah, then there’s this girl that doesn’t leave me alone
IMG_9405.jpg

[Grendel Guy]

I've a SA GI parkerized. I put a 400 corbon barrel in it. When I shoot it against empty cans, it doesn't just put a hole in the can it tears it in half, earning it the nickname Shredder.

[Capybara]

I can only comment on what I have, SA stainless GI, and a Mil Spec, parkerized. Both function flawlessly, with the ammo I currently shoot through them. That being, Federal American Eagle 230 gr ball, and Federal HST 230 gr SJHP. Mil Spec being my duty gun, GI being my off duty gun. They both reside in my safe, but come out, and still prefom well.

Mil Spec had a few issues new out of the box, but SA warranty fixed that, and zero issues after. GI, zero issues from day one. SA Customer Service A+. Sent both back to SA Custom Shop for some minor tweaks, and years later both still run 100%. Mil Spec went to Novak's for night sights.

When I was shopping for a 1911, 2001, gun shop employee talked me out of a Kimber. and recommended the Mil Spec. Don't have any experience with Kimber, but happy with the Mil Spec. Money well spent.

Thanks for the input and experience. I personally wouldn't touch a Kimber, those are out for me. QC issues, feeding issues, pass.

[Capybara]

I would go with the Loaded Springfield 1911 in blue with the factory night sights. It’s right at $990 / 1,000.

The Mc Operator is also nice but at $1,290 ( lay a way maybe ) ?

Other than that, the only thing that bothers me about Springfield is the lock on the mainspring housing.

But I will still be buying a Mc Operator soon, because Springfield is a nice 1911.

The RIA is have no experience with, sorry.

Just buy what you want - in the long run firearms will give you decades of service so there’s that.

I have a Nighthawk and don’t even think of the money I paid for it, oh yeah, then there’s this girl that doesn’t leave me alone
IMG_9405.jpg

Wow, that Wilson is a beauty!

[Capybara]

I've a SA GI parkerized. I put a 400 corbon barrel in it. When I shoot it against empty cans, it doesn't just put a hole in the can it tears it in half, earning it the nickname Shredder.

Nice! I'm probably going to get the Springfield, I was just curious about the RIAs. At the older Calguns, there was a large contingent of RIA fanatics who really talked them up but here at the new, less active Calguns, I haven't seen any posts about RIA/Armscor in a long time.
The Stainless Loaded I had was operationally flawless for about two decades so that's pretty hard to pass up for something unknown. I've heard 1911s can be finicky because its a tight gun but my Loaded fed every misc ammo I ever put through it. I never tried hollow points because
they are expensive and I'm not using it for SD so why bother?

[Grendel Guy]

Nice! I'm probably going to get the Springfield, I was just curious about the RIAs. At the older Calguns, there was a large contingent of RIA fanatics who really talked them up but here at the new, less active Calguns, I haven't seen any posts about RIA/Armscor in a long time.
The Stainless Loaded I had was operationally flawless for about two decades so that's pretty hard to pass up for something unknown. I've heard 1911s can be finicky because its a tight gun but my Loaded fed every misc ammo I ever put through it. I never tried hollow points because
they are expensive and I'm not using it for SD so why bother?

I may be wrong, but doesn't Citadel have affiliation with Amscor/RIA? I ask as I a Citadel in 9mm. Works flawless with any ammo.

[TheFlashG]

You sound like you're set on the Springfield and can't go wrong with that one.

I could get some flak for this comment, but...
I recently bought a Kimber Shadow Ghost and it has proven to be 100% reliable, very accurate, and also fun to shoot. Those can be had for less than $1K.

[jyo]

Don't have any experience with the RIA pistols, but for many years I had a 4" stainless Springfield "Loaded" 45---completely reliable and shot to where the sights were---very nice trigger too! But it was HEAVY and I wanted a lighter pistol for carry so I regretfully sold the Springfield and bought a much lighter HK 45C poly-pistol that was equally reliable and also shot directly to point of aim... But I can recommend the Springfield 1911 pistols...!

[the_tunaman]

When I first moved out here (Henderson) I bought a Springfield Emissary, and it has become one of my absolute favorites. One of the best features was the sticker on the box labeled “Not on CA DOJ Roster “ 😎

That being said, it was my first Springfield and based on this experience I’d happily buy more.

I also have a couple of Kimbers (like the poster above) - a Raptor and a Custom II (.45), and they have performed flawlessly. I was actually looking for a 9mm Kimber when I bought the Emissary (no Kimber’s in stock).

[akjunkie]

Springfield 1911s made in Brazil.
Try to get one with serial # starting with NM.
Suppose to mean National Match.

RIAs are made out of softer metal.
Tried releasing the slide with slide release lever and made a small burr on the slide.

[Capybara]

Springfield 1911s made in Brazil.
Try to get one with serial # starting with NM.
Suppose to mean National Match.

RIAs are made out of softer metal.
Tried releasing the slide with slide release lever and made a small burr on the slide.

There seems to be a lot of conflicting information out there. According to this, made in USA with the Brazilian IMBEL forgings ceasing in 2010 https://backfire.tv/list-of-gun-manufacturers-and-if-they-are-made-in-the-usa/#:~:text=All%20Springfield%20Armory%20firearms%20t oday,all%20made%20in%20the%20USA.

This poster says similar but began in 2014 https://www.reddit.com/r/1911/commen...y_100_made_in/

That sounds really bad about the RIAs, I'm buying a 1911 for history and longevity. A copy with softer metal isn't appealing at all.

[Grendel Guy]

One thing Capy, I seem to remember a thread about the RIA having a problem with wall thickness varying on the magazine well on their "enhanced capacity" gun. Don't know if it was a problem in their conventional 1911s.

[saudadeii]

I have an RIA. Bought back in 2013 while the specific model was on roster (M1911-A1 Tactical). Mine has the big billboard logo on the slide. It has somewhere in the neighborhood of 1000 rounds (don't really keep count). It's been 100% with factory ammo. No problems with lot's of different mags including WC, CMC, Mecgar, Kimber (Kimpro), and Ruger.

It does use a different dovetail for the sights (Novak) but quite a few places offer Novak cut sights. The ambi safety is also a bit different.

The only other "gripe" I recall is that RIA uses cast frames. Still, I don't recall reading about any actual issues with it.

My only other 1911 is a Ruger CMD.