Photos & Story
by R.K. Campbell
Contributing Editor

Whenever the major periodicals run the newest 1911 pistol on the cover, there is always a reader that complains. Aren't there any other guns, they say? Why sure there are, but the 1911 remains an important force not only in firearms manufacture, but in the professional community. Let's face it; those who believe in other pistols tend to own one or two examples, while 1911 shooters seem content with not less than a baker's dozen. And a dozen holsters or more-and a Dillon press.

I think some of the complaints received are legitimate. Few of us can do anything other than admire the latest $4,000 custom pistol. Eye glasses, school books, cheerleader outfits, and at some point, wheels, conspire to keep that elevated 1911 a dream. There is a market for good affordable pistols of all types, but especially the 1911.

There is a need for modestly priced handguns for those who wish to defend themselves, and the need is by and large well met. But there is a catch to the modestly priced 1911. It can be brought to any standard the owner is willing to pay for, or has the skill to accomplish. This simply isn't the case with other types of handguns.

As an example, try finding a good solid Astra A 100 and bringing it up to SIG P 220 standards. On the other hand, as long as the 1911 you chose is loyal to the original template, and aftermarket parts fit with a minimum of file work, you can improve your 1911.

The pistol covered in this report takes us back to a time when, if you wished to own an enhanced 1911, you did the work yourself. The Colt 1911A1 and even the benchmark Series 70 pistols were very much basic models by modern definition. They were usually well made of quality materials and reliable with hardball ammunition.

Those who actually used the guns managed to find a way to improve the trigger action and fitted high visibility sights. Feed ramp polishing known as "throating" allowed the 1911 to feed exotic bullet styles with reliability. Speed safeties as large as gas pedals and beavertail safeties large enough to paddle the creek with became popular.

Eventually, the factory noticed the money the custom pistolsmith was making and begrudged him that income. Today, most companies offer elevated 1911s. Springfield offers the Loaded Model, Colt the Enhanced line, and Kimber, well, practically every model. Whether these pistols are used as macho identity icons or working guns is a moot point. They sell well.

There are a number of individuals who collect high-end tactical customs. Making a black gun does not make it tactical, but there are a number of very reliable, well turned out black pistols. There is also a steady market for a bare bones 1911A1 pistol. I find this a little surprising.

When we occasionally run across a stock Series 70, we ooooh and aaah over the gun as if it were a newborn infant. Yet, a generation ago, we could not wait to put it under the lathe and chop it up! Even today, with many desirable features available at a modest cost in factory trim, many of us modify our pistols to perfectly suit our tastes.

For the past few years I have used several examples of a Philippine-produced 1911. Marketed in America as the Rock Island Armory (RIA) 1911, the guns seem to be well-made and have given good service. They are strictly 1911 in profile and appearance, with embryonic sights and small controls.

However, they usually feed hollowpoints better than military pistols and are tighter. They are a good base gun, adequate for self-defense. I have not run a torture test but have seen several with thousands of rounds fired through them. They should last a lifetime kept by the bedside or under a counter.

The big news for me was the introduction of an RIA pistol in .38 Super. I am a .38 Super fan. I like firing, carrying and using the "Super." I have to admit I have never shot anything living with the Super, which is not the case with the .45. Still, the Super is an interesting cartridge I have a lot of confidence in. I can't ask anyone else to feel the same way. After all, it's my hide.

The Super is remarkably easy to fire in the 1911 format. Recoil is less than any 9mm pistol I have fired, despite the power of the Super. Control is excellent. But the Super is no lightweight.

Unique Powder
I currently deploy a load featuring a hefty charge of Unique powder in a Hornady TJ case, topped by a Rainier Ballistics 124-grain JHP. This load clocks an honest 1,366 feet-per-second (fps) in my personal Super. The 115-grain bullet will break 1,400 fps. Loaded with the new Barnes 115-grain 9mm, the possibilities are interesting. I will leave the ballistic discussion with a final comment: what the .357 SIG will do, the Super will do as well or better, but in a package with better accuracy and much better control. As a bonus, the Super is friendly to lead handloads and heavy for the caliber bullets.

My RIA .38 Super departed from the 1911A1 template in several regards. The pistol featured an enlarged ejection port or "slide window" which is an improvement over the original .38 Super. These pistols have long triggers and flat mainspring housings. I don't know why so many modern pistols have gone this route. I can use them, but prefer an arched housing and short trigger.

Still, after firing the RIA .38 Super I found the pistol quite mild to fire, quick into action, and controllable. My initial break-in was accomplished by firing Zero brand remanufactured .38 Super ( a good resource for those who do not handload). The pistol ran at full steam.

Over time I have fired Winchester 130-grain FMJ, Winchester, 125-grain Silvertip, and the Remington 115-grain JHP. All loads functioned well, with good results. The carry load is the hottest factory .38 Super, from Cor-Bon. A 115-grain JHP at 1,400 fps should get the job done, and it comes in that white and blue box. Accuracy is good.

After a few months of use, I found the RIA gun good enough for who it was for. It is reliable and accurate enough. A couple of benchrested groups rivaled my original Colt, which features a Kart Custom barrel. But the Colt had been lousy in stock form-a Kart barrel should improve the RIA gun even more.

I liked this pistol well enough to put it in the forefront as a carry gun. To do this, the pistol needed a few upgrades. Foremost in mind was replacing the small sights. As I near the half century mark, I find small military type sights ever more difficult to use. They are precise when properly lined up, but difficult to see clearly and quickly.

I did not wish to get into machine work-pay someone else-so I elected to use sights that fit the existing dovetail. I used Chip McCormack's new version on an old theme. The sight features a wedge that fits the existing dovetail and the main sight body screws into the wedge. This gives the sight a modern, rakish look without the expense of machine work.

The sight picture is excellent. The rear sight has a huge opening compared to the skinny front sight. This allows quick alignment even with less than perfect vision, and accuracy is good. The only drawback is the gun shoots a little high after the sight has been fitted. However, I found it dead on at 50 yards and the gun accurate enough for good shooting. While I may fit another front sight, then again, I may not.

Stock Safety
The stock 1911A1 safety is something I have never had trouble with. Few of us do. But if we don't explore our options we will not discover just how fast a "speed safety" is. And, under stress, or in competition, we wish to have every advantage.

From Brownells, our premier parts supplier, I ordered the Gunsite Drop Safety. This safety moves the shelf of the 1911 safety lower in relation to the shooter's thumb. It has to be used to be appreciated. Not only is the safety faster in action to thumb off, the safety is much more quickly activated when on the move.

But with proper fit, the safety is positive in operation and crisp in movement. I fitted mine in a few minutes. If you are not completely familiar with the inner workings of the 1911, a number of competent gunsmiths can accomplish the task.

These two operations greatly improved the practical handling and usefulness of my pistol. The final improvement was admittedly for flair. Still, the custom stocks fitted to this gun improve the looks of the gun and do give a good gripping surface.

Esmeralda O'Sheehan is among the best kept secrets in the handgun world. Like myself she is a mixture of Irish and Native American talent. Her handgun grips are finely detailed, and flawless in execution. The gripping surface offers adequate adhesion for good control, but will not abrade your hands. I like the grips very much. Loaded with my personal handloads, this is a formidable piece.

Haugen Holster
For carry, a gun this good deserves a good holster. I chose a special design from Haugen Handgun Leather. This holster features a reinforced open top with a strong welt supporting the holster mouth. The sight track is of generous proportion, for protection of high profile sights.

A shield or tongue protects the wearer from the handgun. The outer belt loop is placed for comfortable carry, the tunnel loop makes for excellent retention. The holster rides high for speed and comfort. I executed several draws from his holster with the RIA .38 Super.

I timed myself with the Competition Electronics Pocket Pro. My times were good, very good, even surprising. While I did not draw from concealment, some of my times to a center hit at seven yards were as low as .79 second. This is fast, pardner, very fast. It was part 30 years of the 1911 in my hands, part the holster and part a beautiful clear day.

I enjoyed this project. The RIA gun is all 1911, a good pistol that is holding up well. I have finished loading and firing 1,000 rounds in Starline brass and another 500 in Hornady TJ brass, with excellent results. The simple additions have made the pistol more capable, more quickly used, and increased the pistol's pride of ownership quotient.

It was very much a return to the good old days. I do have to admit the search for a first rate holster was easier than ever, but then we can't always go back, can we?

If you are searching for quality products and a good defense handgun, I hope this report is food for thought. This simple but effective combination works for me.

Sources

Chip McCormack
PO Box 1560, Dept. GWK
Manchaca, TX 78652

Haugen Handgun Leather
PO Box 6124, Dept. GWK
Bismarck, ND 58506

Brownells
200 S. Front St., Dept. GWK
Montezuma, IA 50171

Esmeralda O'Sheehan
8448 Fourth Ave., Dept. GWK
Hesperia, CA 92345

The Dealer Warehouse
(Source for Rock Island Armory Pistols)
4813 Enterprise Way, Unit K
Dept. GWK
Modesto, CA 95356