Rock Island 4.25"

[Rooster41]

I have another post about a Kimber. SO now I will try and decide between the two. Ive got a couple of 3" 1911's (Sig Sauer and Kimber UC2) a 5" Springfield, all 45 ACP. So I now want a 4" 1911. I also want a 10mm 1911. While pursing gunbroker today I found a 4.25" 10mm Rock Island. Any one have one this short in 10mm. I ve shot the RIA before. My dad has one in 22 TCM, 40SW, 45ACP and 10mm. Great handguns. SO I know it should be good. But I am just curios if any of you have one with the 4.25" barrel and your likes and dislikes. Since I have to qualify with every gun I carry and I decide to get this, it may have to fall into the "off duty carry" collection. Thanks in advance.

[cwlongshot]

To my eye the "Commander size" is optimal and handling/best looking version. Kinda in the same way a 5.5" SAA is. It just seems correct. Balances well shoots fine. Ya da ya da.

I bought a steel frame LWT Colts Commander in 45 many moons ago. I carried that gun for about 6 years daily and loved it.

Good luck

CW

[sqlbullet]

Don't have one.

Philosophically, I don't like shorter barrels with full size grips.  In general I feel they still print but offer less velocity and sight radius.

OTOH, they point very nicely and are more comfy for things like appendix carry.  My new-to-me Jericho 941FS is my new favorite gun from an "feel" perspective.  And I imaging this 4.5" rock would be the same.

[cwlongshot]

But that's just it. A Commander length isn't shorter than the grip. It's a more balanced look and feel. A GOVT seems long after some Commander shooting.

I agree with you where we speaking of the Officers like sub 4"

CW

[sqlbullet]

I wasn't clear.  We are in violent agreement.

My Jericho 941FS has a full size grip with a 3.6" barrel.

The shorter than 5" barrels just are "nicer" to point.

[gnappi]

I wasn't clear.  We are in violent agreement.

My Jericho 941FS has a full size grip with a 3.6" barrel.

The shorter than 5" barrels just are "nicer" to point.

Agreed, my 3.5" Witness 10mm compact points as well as or even better than my 5" 10mm Colt, carries better IWB too.

[robhub]

I have this gun in the Tac Ultra configuration, with the rail and full length dust cover. I'm happy with it.

As far as a carry gun goes I prefer the commander length 1911's over the full size for comfort reasons.  I'm not exactly tall, well under 6ft, so the shorter barrel means a lot less digging and poking with most holsters.  With a good belt and holster, I have used this for a winter carry gun. The one thing I would probably change on mine if it was to be a regular carry gun would be the ambi safety, it's sharp.  I'm a lefty so I'd need to keep an ambi on it, I'd just swap it for something a bit smaller and smoother.

Had to have the holster custom made since I have the Tac version.  Hard to find an off the shelf holster to accommodate the full length dust cover.

[50BMG]

My favorite 1911 out of all the dozen or so that  I own is a stainless Colt Combat Commander.
Great balance.
Faster cycling of the lighter slide.
Love that size..

[BENTENMM]

Like Rob mine isn't the standard Commander.. Tac-Ultra II 51994. I polished up the internals on an already sweet trigger even running a 34# Wolff Hammer spring it blows away  my other guns. I added a Fusion Firearms Ultra Match Grade 5" Threaded Bull Barrel wearing a what was CMB (custom muzzle brake) now Rex Silentium Gun Fighter Comp.. Running a 24# Recoil spring and Wilson Flat Bottom FPS it can tamely shoot the stoutest of loads and print awesome groups. Hogue under grip rubber.. and not shown in photos a Wilson Stainless extended catch & Grip Screws (Wilson's fit these otherwise you will have a hard time finding some that do or you will have to change bushings) The ultra's fiber optic sight is awesome easy to change colors or replace.. The rear is fully adjustable, I actually had to stone mine to get it to sit down on the slide more for my POI change due to comp.

All and all for the price it is a great stock pistol you'd be hard pressed to find a better one. The length and handling is the best of both worlds. I used to CC carry it appendix in a stock setup with the light. With the comp as well, but have since moved to a Witness Poly Compact as I Live in Georgia and more often than not its lighter clothing. I set out to do exactly what I've done with mine.. I wanted 5" Ballistics and a comp without having a 12" gun 11+1 on  slightly modified Tripp Cobras.. The rail can hold my pistol brass catcher, because shooting 10mm is expensive.. but its so much fun ,you better be reloading

Funny anecdote: A few weeks ago at a local range this older couple shooting at the benches next to me.. Her shooting a .38spl him a 6" .357mag.. Me shooting this gun rapidly putting 10 shot groups in 3" circles @ 15yd same as them slowly squeezing them off into 8" bulls.. Old man asks that's no standard .45acp 1911 is it? Me: No Sir, these 10mm hand loads trump your magnum & put your wife's .38 to shame! With the benefit of capacity, blink of an eye reloads, yada yada yada..

Whether you decide to get a Commander length or not, I stand behind RIA's product and their service. -Ben





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[Rooster41]

Thanks Gents, Lots of good info. The Kimber sure is pretty but I am leaning towards this one more and more.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/853144965

Robhub this is the one I am looking at. The version with the full rail and dust cover. TAC Ultra MS. I also am a lefty. We The People Holsters make a holster with the rail. I am going to contact them and see if they will make one that will accommodate a TLR-1 weapon light. I have one of their holsters for my G19 MOS w/optics cut and flashlight. Its a great holster.

Thanks again fellas.

[BENTENMM]

I'm a lefty as well, and as Rob stated I never seemed to have an issue with the ambi-safety. My gun ended up being $720 shipped to a Free FFL purchased on Technet Armory EZ-Pay.. So the price of that one on GB is pretty Good. I found a few pics on my phone and have a link to the guy I got my AIWB Boltron Holster from.. I paid $40 shipped/tax. They are now a little more. I contacted him and he made a pretty damn good fit and I just used a Harbor Freight heat gun and slowly got it to be perfect. He even left the end open on the barrel as I expressed my future desire to comp it.. It does work great with the comp as well, I just had to dremel sand/buff the open edges so the comp ports wouldn't snag.

Here's his link. Send him a message and he will respond helping you get exactly what you want. I just re-read his description and it seems it might not come with a clip any more!? Still worth a shot, more options are always nice.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Boltaron-OWB-Light-Bearing-Universal-Mount-Holsters/164083204345?hash=item26341f00f9:m:m1GKZyTsYPcE1jvI_-g_j2Q&var=463702635729

We the people make em` with lights? Maybe custom? Most likely more $$ than..

https://wethepeopleholsters.com/collections/1911-iwb-holsters/products/1911-4-commander-with-rail-only-iwb-kydex-holster-for-concealed-carry

Glad to be of assistance and if you do end up with one of these RIA's you won't be disappointed! -Ben


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[Acroyer]

I have one of the MS Ultra Tac versions, and like it quite a bit.  I did have trouble with mine, and ended up installing a flat bottom firing pin stop to help with slide speed.

Also, the only mags I can use to make it reliable are the Tripp Cobra Mags.  Using any other mag, and I have tried several brands, and I usually don't make it through the mag without a stoppage.  Tripp mags have run 100%, though.

[Reverendpdp]

Here are BEFORE and AFTER pics of my Rock 10 (TAC).  At first it was a little finicky, but with help from this forum and YouTube, I added a few upgraded parts... polished some parts, smoothed some edges and went with a custom Ceracoat.  Now it's purring like a kitten, and will gobble anything I feed her. 



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[Overkill338]

The Commander is the best looking and handling 1911. Then I'd take a RIA over a Kimber any day.