Citadel 1911

[Click Boom]

The citadel is basically a RIA tactical.

[Mwfillmore]

OP... If you don't mind me asking, whats the cost on your citadel? Obviously i can find them online... 470 at bud's gunshop... in the 500+ range on gun broker. What did your LGS charge?

[Dattebayo]

Believe it is on sale at Turner's for $450 till the end of the day. It is normally $150 more.

[Mwfillmore]

Dang... too bad that's a 6 hour drive for me. Not to mention I've got 20 more days before i can feed my addiction again any way.

[Dattebayo]

Dang... too bad that's a 6 hour drive for me. Not to mention I've got 20 more days before i can feed my addiction again any way.

You can always do a deposit of 30% to lock in the price till you are ready.

[screamkinghector]

I'm heading to turners now. I'm glad I ran into this thread.

[Dinosaur Jr]

RIA = CITADEL = ARMSCOR. I've checked out the Citadel. It's a competent, solid 1911 at a value price point. I believe you get two mags with the Citadel kit, as opposed to one with the RIA. But be prepared to buy some quality mags (Wilson Combat/Chip McCormick/Tripp Research) especially if you have feeding problems. Many 'factory stock' mags don't perform well.

I probably shouldn't tell you about VZ Grips, Ed Brown and Wilson Combat upgrade parts either...

[screamkinghector]

RIA = CITADEL = ARMSCOR. I've checked out the Citadel. It's a competent, solid 1911 at a value price point. I believe you get two mags with the Citadel kit, as opposed to one with the RIA. But be prepared to buy some quality mags (Wilson Combat/Chip McCormick/Tripp Research) especially if you have feeding problems. Many 'factory stock' mags don't perform well.

I probably shouldn't tell you about VZ Grips, Ed Brown and Wilson Combat upgrade parts either...

Thanks for the info! I dros'd yesterday. Got NIB felt solid!

[Dinosaur Jr]

Thanks for the info! I dros'd yesterday. Got NIB felt solid!

Everyone I know with an Armscor-made 1911 is very happy with it. I will likely pick one up eventually.

[dave85620]

Based on the RIA and the clones made under Armscor, which is more reliable- the base GI model or the Citadel/ RIA "tactical"?

The visual difference from what I can tell, is in the beavertail, slide serrations and cutouts on the trigger. I think they use different sights too, but is there a difference in the internals?

I would take a more reliable, less accurate 1911 if at all possible. Thanks

[23 Blast]

Everyone I know with an Armscor-made 1911 is very happy with it. I will likely pick one up eventually.

I'm sure they're much better now, but this Citadel reminds me a lot of the Armscor 45EFS that Turners was selling about 9-10 years ago. The Armscor I had, while having all the tacticool accessories on it (beavertail, Novak sights, front slide serrations, ambidextrous safety, skeletonized trigger), was unfortunately a very, very, VERY poorly finished and fitted firearm. The inside of the barrel looked honestly like someone "violated" it with a dremel that had some abrasive attachment on it. The underside of the slide had machining marks everywhere and was actually "lumpy" to the touch, as if someone was machining it by Dremel while the unfinished slide was in a garage vise grip.

Performance-wise, it was reliable for about a magazine or two, then would jam (failure to feed, most of the time). I cleaned, and polished, and even used lithium grease on the slide rails - just about everything under the sun to lubricate it - and it was just basically a POS.

That gun was my first taste of a 1911, and if not for me getting a Colt XSE shortly thereafter (which was just about everything the Armscor EFS was not), might have been forever soured on the 1911 platform and become *gasp!* a Glockophile.

[ROM1]

Come on guys! You want an Ed Brown finish on a cheaper than dirt Citadel? Give me a break. The pistol is reliable and built like a tank, albeit a WWII tank, which is what it is. I've had zero FTF or FTE with mine on the stock mag but I have bought "reliable" mags that work just as well. For the money you will not go wrong. As to the above post about dremel this and vise grip that mine shows nothing of the kind. Perhaps I got a good one or 23 Blast got a poor one, who knows, but the over all general consensus is they are worth the money and owners love them for what they are.

[heidad01]

^^^ This.
High grade fit and finish is over 1K. For $500 or less, expect to do some of the fine finishing touches yourself.

[ifilef]

Come on guys! You want an Ed Brown finish on a cheaper than dirt Citadel? Give me a break. The pistol is reliable and built like a tank, albeit a WWII tank, which is what it is. I've had zero FTF or FTE with mine on the stock mag but I have bought "reliable" mags that work just as well. For the money you will not go wrong. As to the above post about dremel this and vise grip that mine shows nothing of the kind. Perhaps I got a good one or 23 Blast got a poor one, who knows, but the over all general consensus is they are worth the money and owners love them for what they are.

The general concensus appears to be that all, if not most 1911s require a considerable break-in period.

I watched a video on YouTube and the guy opened the RIA box and there was a card with a disclaimer advising 500 rounds recommended for break-in. I don't know if such a card is enclosed with the Citadel, but I would not be surprised.

In any event, I will do a DROS soon of the Citadel 1911 due to the 1-in-30 rule. Luckily, got mine on sale at Turner's (substantial factor in purchase along with overall good reviews).

[ifilef]

I'm sure they're much better now, but this Citadel reminds me a lot of the Armscor 45EFS that Turners was selling about 9-10 years ago. The Armscor I had, while having all the tacticool accessories on it (beavertail, Novak sights, front slide serrations, ambidextrous safety, skeletonized trigger), was unfortunately a very, very, VERY poorly finished and fitted firearm. The inside of the barrel looked honestly like someone "violated" it with a dremel that had some abrasive attachment on it. The underside of the slide had machining marks everywhere and was actually "lumpy" to the touch, as if someone was machining it by Dremel while the unfinished slide was in a garage vise grip.

Performance-wise, it was reliable for about a magazine or two, then would jam (failure to feed, most of the time). I cleaned, and polished, and even used lithium grease on the slide rails - just about everything under the sun to lubricate it - and it was just basically a POS.

That gun was my first taste of a 1911, and if not for me getting a Colt XSE shortly thereafter (which was just about everything the Armscor EFS was not), might have been forever soured on the 1911 platform and become *gasp!* a Glockophile.

Citadel is a part of Armscor, and I've read that Armscor has been making 1911s for a very long time, at least from WWII.