A few months back I posted a question asking about RIA’s 1911A1 in 9mm, it interested me in several ways 1) being a 1911 2) caliber 3) brand and 4) a light gunsmithing project ( I ain‘t cutting on one of my Baers). After saving my pennies for months and months I finally purchased one.

*RIA Standard FS 1911A1*

First impression???? Holy Toledo!!! The build quality is quiet impressive, fit and finish is top notch…..the barrel fit is really good with no movement or play anywhere, the trigger has a slight bit of take up and a clean break, the ambidextrous safety is postive and smooth, the beavertail safety is fitted nicely, though it does have a slight edge exposed on the top right side but fitment to the frame ears is really good. The parkerized finish is smooth and even, looks more like a Teflon coating then a park finish. The slide to frame fit is snug, only a minor bit of side to side rock but very very smooth, better than most $600 to $1,000 1911’s that I have handled in the last few years. Sights are installed in dovetailed slots with a small gap under the rear sight and offers a clean square sight picture. Mainspring housing is not only checkered but made of steel, preferred over plastic MSH found on a lot of 1911’s nowadays.

One of the biggest surprises???? The barrel, from what I had read and info on RIA’s website I was under the impression the pistol came with a standard type barrel but mine has a ramped barrel installed. That was an issue that had me worried a little about buying this pistol, I have talked to shooters who had a standard barrel and had no reliability issues but some had feeding problems, nothing worse than a auto that doesn’t feed correctly!

OK so what didn’t I like????? The plastic/rubber grip panels, easy fix. The squared non-beveled mag well opening, well not an issue really, was one item I wanted to gunsmith for myself. While an issue for some shooters, the full length guide rod doesn’t bother me, I may keep it I might not. The cartridge ejection relief cut on the slide is a little on the square side, I would prefer a more rounded shape but we will see if that is an issue down the road. The front sight ramp has no serrations. The front strap serrations, only on a small area and are deeply cut into the frame, kinda wanted to do checkering on it, not now!!! The mainspring housing moves inward slightly at the top with heavy grip pressure.

Range report---
My main goal here was to function check the pistol and do basic accuracy testing, done at 12 yards standing with a two hand hold. I only had 115 grain FMJ ammo on hand…first up was the Winchester Forged ammo, steel cased, didn’t realize it when I bought it, wont do that again. The cases had a white oxidation on them and I had more than 15 failure to extracts in 50 rounds. Switched to Winchester, brass cased, white box target ammo, performed well, grouped good...

Then on to Magtech ammo, again performed well and shot good...

Though I wasn’t having a good day group shooting the pistol and ammo seemed to want to group better. Toward the end I did have three FTE’s, two at least I believe I caused, I tend to high grip with my left hand and the thumb drags on the slide at times, add to that the lighter recoil impulse of the 9mm ammo, easy to see I was at fault not the pistol. Total round count was 193. The pistol is supplied with one MecGar 10 round magazine and I bought two 9 round nickel coated MecGar mags, the three FTE’s happened when using the nickel mags.

Final say---Quiet happy over all with the pistol, it handled nicely, shot good, is well built and cost only $480. Looking forward to more range time and trying some heavier bullet ammo.

Gunner

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https://www.instagram.com/41gunner/
41 Mags rule, Baers rock!

Thanks for the review Gunner. I've had my eye on the various RIA's for a few years now, seems they keep getting better all the time. I've read quiet a few good reports about them. A good bang for the buck if you ask me.

It's also the first I've heard of them sending a 9mm out with a ramped barrel. Nice to have though for sure. It caused me to stop and think if it could shoot 38 Super if you did a barrel swap?

Looking forward to your update on future tests with it. As for the grips? Got any plans for turning out a set of Desert Ironwood grips for it?

Murphy

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Planning on using the RIA as a guinea pig for making 1911 grip panels, already have several sets of Desert Ironwood scales for it, gotta make some templates, a sanding/sizing/drilling jig and the basic layout plans then I can try a set, when I have some free time for the project of course.

Gunner

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https://www.instagram.com/41gunner/
41 Mags rule, Baers rock!

I've kinda-sorta been Jonesing for a 9mm 1911 (although Melodie would probably steal it from me) and I was leaning this way. Mebee I'm leaning a little harder now...

I've developed a thirst for a nice set of Desert Ironwoods for a blued 1911 Springfield I picked up this past year. I lucked into what I guess one would call an early version of a loaded model, still NIB. 3 Dot sights, but not the Novak style. Commander hammer with an up swept tang style grip safety, lowered and flared ejection port. I've added a new trigger, extended thumb safety and have a S&A magwell to add to it. The gun was made in 2000 and has no front slide serrations, which I tend to like em' that way.

I've given some thought to giving the grip safety the treatment shown in this photo. (Hope this works)

It shouldn't take much to turn it into something. Here it is as it came to me.

Murphy

I have been too. I got all excited about the Hudson H9 when I came out but a lot of realistic reviews say it’s sinikar to a 9mm 1811 as far as trigger, low recoil, etc. I have the old Llama 9mm Largo/.38 acp, but it’s not as fun to plink with since I’m always worried about losing brass!

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https://facebook.com/M2bKydex/

There are days we spend more time chasing brass than shooting. A 9mm shucker would be a blessing those days.

I used to be a snob about a 1911 HAS to be in .45 ACP. Then I got a Ruger Lightweight Commander in 9mm and really like it. That led to a Ruger CCO by getting the Officer Model and swapping the LWC slide onto it. That led to a Dan Wesson Guardian in .38 Super, and that led to a couple of Wilson Combat EDC X9s. Now I have one .45, a 10mm and all the rest of my 1911s are one form or another of 9mm.