RIA 1911 10mm?

49willys · May 16, 2025, 07:19 PM

Looking at a rock island 1911 in 10mm,know nothing about them.I have a 15 year old ria in 45 auto and am not very impressed with it.the sights are horrible and it doesnt feed hp ammo reliably.are the newer pistols better?

Nodak1858 · May 17, 2025, 12:36 AM

I grabbed one a year or two ago. I have had zero issues with it shooting all kinds of ammo. Picked up a 40 cal barrel as well, no issues with that either . I have a 38 super RIA 1911 and love that one as well. I'm sure there's a lemon like any brand gun but I'm very happy with mine. Plus bought a 9mm barrel for the Super so basically 4 guns for the pice of 2

44caliberkid · May 17, 2025, 11:22 AM

I’ve had an RIA 1911 10mm for about 2 years. Great gun, zero trouble. Recommend.

49willys · May 17, 2025, 03:56 PM

I bought it,its the fs tact 2.new condition.thanks all for the replys,your good words sold me on it.

Hawg · May 17, 2025, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 49willys

Looking at a rock island 1911 in 10mm,know nothing about them.I have a 15 year old ria in 45 auto and am not very impressed with it.the sights are horrible and it doesnt feed hp ammo reliably.are the newer pistols better?

My RIA .45 was made in 2011 and it feeds everything including empty cases. I did toss the ACT mag and went with CMC Shooting Stars.

The Happy kaboomer · May 19, 2025, 12:01 AM

I've owned an RIA 1911 10mm w/adj sights for several years.....It has run flawlessly.

bamaranger · May 22, 2025, 12:56 AM

About 4-5 years ago, I bought a RIA GI model 10mm, out the door for $450. I created a thread on the pistol and a search on this forum should yield same. It discusses some minor issues I resolved easily and my overall impression has been positive.

M y log on this pistol as I type this, shows the round count on the gun at 350 rds. The pistol came with 1 mag and I believe it was made by Metalform. I have since acquired several Ruger 1911/10mm mags, also made by MF. After resolving a premature slide lock issue, the pistol has been entirely reliable with XTP hollow points, truncated FMJ and truncated lead ammo using the MetalForm mags. Ed Brown mags have not done so well in my gun. I added a Wilson Shok-Buff to the recoil spring assembly and the reliability of the gun does not seem effected.

The OEM sights on the GI models were hard for me to see/use, but shot exactly to point of aim. Were I still 30 yrs old and good eyes I would not have altered them. However , I sent the slide off to Harrison Consulting over in GA and he installed a set of his "retro" sights on the gun, a big improvement in ease of use.

In the 2023-24 deer season I took a whitetail doe with the gun at about 15 yds. My full power handload drives a 180 gr XTP to 1175+ fps and the same charge drives a FMJ truncated 180 to 1205 avg. I also have a lead 180 truncated load that runs just over 1000fps .

I consider my RIA GI 10mm a good gun and well worth the money. The GI guns are still available for around $450 total and I do not believe you can get in the 1911/10mm game with a better bargain.

EchoFalcon23 · May 22, 2025, 04:38 AM

Thanks for the info! Sounds like the GI 10mm is a great value, especially with some minor tweaks. Sights definitely seem like the main upgrade needed. Curious if anyone has tried Mec-Gar mags on these?

Hawg · May 22, 2025, 05:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EchoFalcon23

Curious if anyone has tried Mec-Gar mags on these?

I use CMC Shooting Stars in my .45 but the Mec-Gars should work fine.

44caliberkid · May 22, 2025, 05:52 PM

I’ve used Mecgar, Brownells, and McCormick, everything I’ve tried works.

49willys · May 27, 2025, 11:37 PM

Can anyone suggest a good leather holster for it

bamaranger · May 28, 2025, 10:08 AM

Holsters are a preference thing, and these days a good leather holster is not cheap either. Much depends on one's intended use. Modern theory advises some type of retention system (strap or friction) and a covered trigger.
Wandering the boonies I've found the GI flap holster works as well as it ever did. They can still be had affordably. I take the shackle off them and thread them onto a heavy pants belt or a dedicated gun belt.
For concealed, social carry, I like the Yaqui style slide holsters or the Askins Avenger (Bianchi #4) style holster. The Yaqui leaves the gun relatively exposed to dings and doinks, but is a simple and fast rig. The Avenger puts the gun up high and has a good deal more protection to the gun. Neither of these patterns use a thumb snap and are outside waistband styles.
I recently acquired an inside waistband holster, a Bianchi #3 "pistol pocket" and am surprised how comfortably I can carry a full size 1911 in that manner.

BrianO · June 9, 2025, 02:05 PM

Totally get where you’re coming from. The older RIA 1911s were kinda rough, especially with sights and feeding issues. The newer ones in 10mm are definitely better. Worth checking out if you’re into 10mm.

bamaranger · June 13, 2025, 11:39 PM

The scope of their 1911 is surprisingly extensive. Assorted finishes, barrel/slide lengths, and chamberings. Enhanced models as well with all the nifty 1911 mods.

Testimony to how popular old slabsides still remains. Price point doesn't hurt either.

May 16, 2025, 07:19 PM	#1
49willys Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 169	RIA 1911 10mm? Looking at a rock island 1911 in 10mm,know nothing about them.I have a 15 year old ria in 45 auto and am not very impressed with it.the sights are horrible and it doesnt feed hp ammo reliably.are the newer pistols better?

May 17, 2025, 12:36 AM	#2
Nodak1858 Senior Member Join Date: September 7, 2009 Location: N. Dakota Posts: 444	I grabbed one a year or two ago. I have had zero issues with it shooting all kinds of ammo. Picked up a 40 cal barrel as well, no issues with that either . I have a 38 super RIA 1911 and love that one as well. I'm sure there's a lemon like any brand gun but I'm very happy with mine. Plus bought a 9mm barrel for the Super so basically 4 guns for the pice of 2 __________________ We've all heard that a million monkeys banging on a million typewriters will eventually reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know this is not true.

May 22, 2025, 12:56 AM	#7
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,788	GI 10mm About 4-5 years ago, I bought a RIA GI model 10mm, out the door for $450. I created a thread on the pistol and a search on this forum should yield same. It discusses some minor issues I resolved easily and my overall impression has been positive. M y log on this pistol as I type this, shows the round count on the gun at 350 rds. The pistol came with 1 mag and I believe it was made by Metalform. I have since acquired several Ruger 1911/10mm mags, also made by MF. After resolving a premature slide lock issue, the pistol has been entirely reliable with XTP hollow points, truncated FMJ and truncated lead ammo using the MetalForm mags. Ed Brown mags have not done so well in my gun. I added a Wilson Shok-Buff to the recoil spring assembly and the reliability of the gun does not seem effected. The OEM sights on the GI models were hard for me to see/use, but shot exactly to point of aim. Were I still 30 yrs old and good eyes I would not have altered them. However , I sent the slide off to Harrison Consulting over in GA and he installed a set of his "retro" sights on the gun, a big improvement in ease of use. In the 2023-24 deer season I took a whitetail doe with the gun at about 15 yds. My full power handload drives a 180 gr XTP to 1175+ fps and the same charge drives a FMJ truncated 180 to 1205 avg. I also have a lead 180 truncated load that runs just over 1000fps . I consider my RIA GI 10mm a good gun and well worth the money. The GI guns are still available for around $450 total and I do not believe you can get in the 1911/10mm game with a better bargain.

May 22, 2025, 04:38 AM	#8
EchoFalcon23 Junior Member Join Date: April 17, 2025 Location: Dover Posts: 11	Thanks for the info! Sounds like the GI 10mm is a great value, especially with some minor tweaks. Sights definitely seem like the main upgrade needed. Curious if anyone has tried Mec-Gar mags on these? Last edited by EchoFalcon23; May 26, 2025 at 04:19 AM.

May 28, 2025, 10:08 AM	#12
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,788	holsters Holsters are a preference thing, and these days a good leather holster is not cheap either. Much depends on one's intended use. Modern theory advises some type of retention system (strap or friction) and a covered trigger. Wandering the boonies I've found the GI flap holster works as well as it ever did. They can still be had affordably. I take the shackle off them and thread them onto a heavy pants belt or a dedicated gun belt. For concealed, social carry, I like the Yaqui style slide holsters or the Askins Avenger (Bianchi #4) style holster. The Yaqui leaves the gun relatively exposed to dings and doinks, but is a simple and fast rig. The Avenger puts the gun up high and has a good deal more protection to the gun. Neither of these patterns use a thumb snap and are outside waistband styles. I recently acquired an inside waistband holster, a Bianchi #3 "pistol pocket" and am surprised how comfortably I can carry a full size 1911 in that manner.

May 17, 2025, 11:22 AM	#3
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,271	I’ve had an RIA 1911 10mm for about 2 years. Great gun, zero trouble. Recommend.

May 17, 2025, 03:56 PM	#4
49willys Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 169	I bought it,its the fs tact 2.new condition.thanks all for the replys,your good words sold me on it. Last edited by 49willys; May 17, 2025 at 04:25 PM.

May 19, 2025, 12:01 AM	#6
The Happy kaboomer Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Posts: 292	I've owned an RIA 1911 10mm w/adj sights for several years.....It has run flawlessly.

May 22, 2025, 05:52 PM	#10
44caliberkid Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2017 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,271	I’ve used Mecgar, Brownells, and McCormick, everything I’ve tried works.

May 27, 2025, 11:37 PM	#11
49willys Senior Member Join Date: March 19, 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 169	Can anyone suggest a good leather holster for it

June 9, 2025, 02:05 PM	#13
BrianO Junior Member Join Date: May 29, 2025 Posts: 10	Totally get where you’re coming from. The older RIA 1911s were kinda rough, especially with sights and feeding issues. The newer ones in 10mm are definitely better. Worth checking out if you’re into 10mm.

June 13, 2025, 11:39 PM	#14
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,788	RIA'S The scope of their 1911 is surprisingly extensive. Assorted finishes, barrel/slide lengths, and chamberings. Enhanced models as well with all the nifty 1911 mods. Testimony to how popular old slabsides still remains. Price point doesn't hurt either. Last edited by bamaranger; June 13, 2025 at 11:41 PM. Reason: more detail