My First Rock Island 1911

[kgh]

So what are your initial impressions?

[dumbell2]

Originally Posted by kgh

So what are your initial impressions?

Initial impressions:
Wow! Much nicer gun than I was expecting-kind of like a COTEP moment.
I was hoping that the fit and finish would be at least as good as on the Springfield GI I have-it is quite a bit better.
The barrel is nicely fitted with no perceivable movement.
Slide to frame fit is very good-only a little movement at the rear, with about double that at the front-still very acceptable,
The rear of the slide is very nicely blended.
Very few sharp corners or edges on this gun-only place the slide is sharp is on the back edged of the hammer channel.
The lines of the gun are pretty straight and have a nicely softened look to them.
The trigger is quite nicely fitted with a little side to side movement and a bit more up and down movement. Trigger break is about 6lbs (by feel) and pretty clean. I took the gun apart to clean and oil and it felt like a poor mans version of a Les Baer-the tooling marks did not bother me at all, but made the gun look like the parts were fitted together.

All in all I am very happy with my purchase.

There are a few things I am not that fond of:
1) The Rock Island bilboard-but it might grow on me-otherwise I can have it removed.
2) the made in the ipines markings on the bottom of the dust cover.
3) The ambi saftey-it also feels a little mushy, but that could be because it is contacting my grips on the one side; and
4)The design of the trigger-although it is in the same color as the rest of the gun.

While I was picking the gun up I had a chance to look at an American Classic Commander and the fit and blending at the rear of the slide was even superior to my ROC. The ejector filled the relief space in the slide perfectly and the stf fit was the equal of my gun.

All in all very impressed-if this thing shoots as good as it looks it will be a winner. I am sure I will be buying and messing with a few more of these.

I would compare it more thoroughly to some more expensive, well known brands, but I do not want to make any enemies.

[Mike45]

Welcome to the club DB2 (we need a rock icon!).

I think that Rock are a great value and a very good entrance gun for new 1911 owners.

What I have found is that the gun is not perfect but it does not take much to make them so. For the money you spend to make them into what, you could have a Colt or top end springer, which you would end up putting money into make those guns the gun you want. So in the long run the Rock is a good value.

I do like the fact that Rock Island does a very good job of fitting the slide and hand blending the back of the slide. They do this on every gun. Which makes every gun just a bit different. That is a very nice touch.

If it was me I would get rid of the ambi and grips.

If you are going to change the sights don't try it yourself just send it to Arnel and have him do it, he will do a great job.

Rock's like to be keep wet put lots of oil on the finish and I like to grease the rails. I have seen so many pic's of Rocks that look like the the poor things need a drink of oil. The finish really looks top notch if you keep it oiled.

Well I guess I will get of my high horse and enjoy your pic's.

[dumbell2]

Thanks Mike.
The ambi has to go, but what do you think about the VZs?

[Mike45]

Originally Posted by dumbell2

Thanks Mike.
The ambi has to go, but what do you think about the VZs?

I love the grips DB2, I have the same ones on my CD.

[SemperFi1977m]

congrats DB2!...I love my GI and can only imagine the tac is even better. I love whatever tool it is you use to wipe out the serial# in your pics....in the first pic, I thought I saw Arabic stampings haha.

For as rediculously cheap my GI was....I have always been impressed with its fit and quality. Cant wait to hear how she shoots!

BTW...it looks like the tacs have stainless barrels? Very nice

[dumbell2]

Originally Posted by SemperFi1977m

congrats DB2!...I love my GI and can only imagine the tac is even better. I love whatever tool it is you use to wipe out the serial# in your pics....in the first pic, I thought I saw Arabic stampings haha.

For as rediculously cheap my GI was....I have always been impressed with its fit and quality. Cant wait to hear how she shoots!

BTW...it looks like the tacs have stainless barrels? Very nice

Thank you Sfi! I just use the swirl edit funtion that is free with Photobucket.

[kgh]

Thanks DB2 and Mike. All good information. I've thought about picking up a Rock but I have so many other things on my list that I'm not sure which to start with.

[RockIsland1911A]

As you all can prolly tell i like RIA's. I love my rock's, only had one minor problem out of the three i currently have, and it was my newest one the tact compact, with the help of COTEP members(Cappi and one other person?), tuned the ejector the way they explanned, and running like a top.. had it for less than 2 months with 600 rnds thru her already not one hiccup after the tune.
So i guess you could say im sold on them,
but hey that just my opinion.
John

[CalWhit33]

I was very pleased with my gi beater. Bought it with the expectations to shoot it a lot. Had some issues with my reloads through it but other than that it was very impressive. Have fun with it and good luck. If I had more disposable income I'd pick up a nickel one.