Rock Island 1911

[Steyrlp10]

she is new to shooting, I'm taking her out soon with a .22 to get her used to shooting, her being even interested in a gun is a big step, so I wanted to make sure she had one she wanted. we just put down for a RIA 38 super. the guy at the counter was telling me the new RIAs has a standard barrel so it'll be easier to get it barreled down to 9mm. IMO I don't think the 9mm will be too bad for her...

I look forward to your range report. I hope she knows that she can do what I did -- the 1911 frame for .38 special HBWC and the standard .45. I'll eventually add the 9mm to keep the other two company

My vice is that they're all Colts

[BunnySlayer]

I have a similar vice with two Colts and a Smith. You can also buy your wife a .22 cal upper received for her 1911 and practice with that for about the cost of an inexpensive .22 pistol. I have one and even though I reload it's still cheaper by far than centerfire practice.

[Rekrab]

I've let a few smaller girls shoot my RIA in .45 and they had no problem shooting it. However, for some strange reason they did have trouble racking the slide.

[semperfidelis354]

ooh, completely forgot about the .22 conversion!

[Mrs. BunnySlayer]

BunnySlayer, stop blogging and get back to the loading bench. I need more ammo for this weekend!!! Hop to it!!

SemperFi354, seriously, get the RIA in .38 and then buy the 9mm upper. It's a great gun, easy to handle, and she'll really enjoy shooting it. Also, as BunnySlayer recommended, the Kimber .22 upper for the 1911 is an excellent investment as you can shoot your 1911 all the live long day for a lot less money. The lack of recoil allows you (okay ME) to focus on sight picture and trigger control. When I switch back to the 9mm or .45 ACP upper, the lessons learned practicing with the .22 upper stick with me.

[semperfidelis354]

BunnySlayer, stop blogging and get back to the loading bench. I need more ammo for this weekend!!! Hop to it!!

And thus the whip has been cracked. lol

SemperFi354, seriously, get the RIA in .38 and then buy the 9mm upper. It's a great gun, easy to handle, and she'll really enjoy shooting it. Also, as BunnySlayer recommended, the Kimber .22 upper for the 1911 is an excellent investment as you can shoot your 1911 all the live long day for a lot less money. The lack of recoil allows you (okay ME) to focus on sight picture and trigger control. When I switch back to the 9mm or .45 ACP upper, the lessons learned practicing with the .22 upper stick with me.

Thanks for the great advice!!! put the down payment on the RIA 38 today, in another month it'll be paid off, then we'll talk about the conversion.... ok maybe AFTER I get one of my own in .45!

next question, is all I need to buy for the conversion the 9mm barrel? or does it need a special mag? I was looking at the 9mm roto barrel from sarco, n e one have experience with that?

[DirtNapKing]

A month ago I was 100% against RIA 1911 products. They were out of country and under budget so I just assumed cheap was cheap. Against my pleading my buddy bought one. Ran it pretty dry on the break in and it ran flawlessly. He handed it over to me and it felt just fine. I would say for somebody who is on the fence with 1911s and you don't want to drop a grand, the RIA 1911s are the way to go. Plus its a good base gun to build up. If the trigger is a problem for her a shorter one is an easy drop in down the road. They usually average $28 The 1911 single stacks seem to fit smaller hands well in my exp. I have yet to see a female shy away from a full sized 45.

[sarge1572]

full size 1911 in 45 acp, short trigger, target loads, 11 lb recoil spring (for the light loads) and pachmeyer grips. Basically a gold cup configuration.

Make sure it's the steel frame and slide and recoil is minimized significantly. A good two hand grip and she'll be deadly!!!

Jeff (sorry, womans group, Jeffrina!!)

[BunnySlayer]

I too was skeptical of the RIA however my shooting pal bought one in .38 Super and had Wills gunsmithing in Corona make two more slides, one in .40 Smith and one in 9mm. The 9 is the one my wife likes. So I bought her a 9mm 1911 of her own. The RIA shoots great, but is far from a stock gun.

[Steyrlp10]

BunnySlayer, stop blogging and get back to the loading bench. I need more ammo for this weekend!!! Hop to it!!

Lol... the guys do like it rough once in a while, don't they?