Thoughts on the RIA Tactical Ultra MS 4.25-inch 8Rds 10mm

[Kenk]

Morning Folks, any of you have, or have shot the RIA Tactical Ultra MS 4.25-inch 8Rds 10mm?
Thanks

Ken

[Grenadier]

I do not own a RIA pistol nor have I ever fired a RIA pistol. They seem to be selling lots of them and it appears people are generally happy with their RIA pistols. I was deciding what brand of 10mm 1911 pistol to buy and I considered RIA for many reasons. However, I came across the notice below on the home page of Bar-Sto Precision.

Unfortunately we no longer are going to be able to fit any barrels to the 1911 Rock Island Armory line of firearms. Regretfully we have recently ran into guns that are so far out of spec in areas, that we are un-willing to attempt a barrel fitting. We do apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. We are not by any means saying anything bad about RIA, just that we have run into some issues and will no longer be able to work on them.

I decided to purchase a different brand of 1911.

[Kenk]

Thanks, I currently have their Rock Ultra FS HC 10mm / 17rd and really like, I just don't know anything about the Rock Ultra MS


Ken

[sqlbullet]

That posting by Bar-sto is not new.  It has long been the standard of most custom pistolsmiths and job shops not to work on budget guns.

There are two issues they run into.

First, if you buy a $300 RIA and have a $200 barrel fitted at a cost of $265 you are now $800 into a gun that is still worth $250 used if you decide to sell it.  And people who didn't get that would pay for the work, fall on hard times and need to sell, and then be mad at the shop because the added cost did not add value.  That is hardly the shops fault.

Second, there was a time when RIA guns had dimensional issues.  I think the issue was related to worn tooling they purchased used when they got into the 1911 business, but don't quote me on that.  However, starting in the mid 1990's they made a big push to quality, and in 2011 they opened a factory in the US.  Today's RIA gun is made on modern CNC machines, and I have found the example I own to be a better made gun than my Ruger or Para.

But, issue #1 about custom work on a second tier brand still applies.  Buy them to shoot, but not to hold value.

[Kenk]

Thanks, I was just wanting to buy the Tactical Ultra MS and leave it as it is, no big updates

[dred]

Thanks, I was just wanting to buy the Tactical Ultra MS and leave it as it is, no big updates

If the pistol has the features you want ... go for it.  RIA's lifetime warranty is real; they'll get it running if you experience problems. 

[robhub]

I've recently picked up one of these pistols to pack around the orchard as we've been having an issue with a cougar.  I shoot 1911's better than most other handguns and it seemed to be a handy sized firearm.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with it.  I've had issues with the slide not locking back on empty with the magazine that came with the gun but only that magazine.  Replaced it with the 9 round Cobra mags from Tripp Research and that issue went away.  I've only put 150 rounds through it so far, all Sig Sauer Elite Performance 180 gr FMJ.  Two malfunctions, both stovepipes of fired shells.  Right now I'm chalking it up to break-in period, if it continues to happen I'll look into heavier springs.  Looking at the Armscor website they did change to a heavier mainspring at some point in production.

One thing I will say is this thing is difficult for me to field strip.  The full length guide rod means I need a third hand.  Usually have my wife capture the recoil spring with an allen wrench while I hold the slide back to expose the little hole in the guide rod.  I think the only way I could manage to field strip it myself would be with a vise.

Being left handed I had to custom order a holster for it, but I'm used to that.  However, from what I did see, holsters for right handed shooters may be difficult as well.  I didn't see anything for a commander length 1911 with a rail AND a full length dust cover on the shelves of my local gun stores.

[Kenk]

Thanks for the info robhub

[Mike D]

I do not own a RIA pistol nor have I ever fired a RIA pistol. They seem to be selling lots of them and it appears people are generally happy with their RIA pistols. I was deciding what brand of 10mm 1911 pistol to buy and I considered RIA for many reasons. However, I came across the notice below on the home page of Bar-Sto Precision.

Unfortunately we no longer are going to be able to fit any barrels to the 1911 Rock Island Armory line of firearms. Regretfully we have recently ran into guns that are so far out of spec in areas, that we are un-willing to attempt a barrel fitting. We do apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. We are not by any means saying anything bad about RIA, just that we have run into some issues and will no longer be able to work on them.

I decided to purchase a different brand of 1911.

I talked to Irv at Bar sto about this since I am buying a six inch HC Rock Island Ultra and want an extended threaded barrel made for it. That statement on their website only applies to the low end  bargain model rock islands. He will still build and fit  barrels for the ultras and the tactical series.


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[sqlbullet]

Thanks for that information Mike D.  That is good to know.

[2AinVA]

One thing I will say is this thing is difficult for me to field strip.  The full length guide rod means I need a third hand.  Usually have my wife capture the recoil spring with an allen wrench while I hold the slide back to expose the little hole in the guide rod.  I think the only way I could manage to field strip it myself would be with a vise.

You might see if 1911ultratool.com has anything.  My old hands can only get a 10mm plug in with their stuff.


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[RJM52]

Don't have the Ultra but do have the same gun with the standard dust cover...  Bought it for $500 off GunBroker and it shoots as well as the 10mms I have that cost 2-3 times more.

Sights are excellent and easy to see, zero malfunctions, trigger breaks clean but a little heavy.  Only think is that it does throw brass a ways....but most of my 10s do...

Bob

[Kenk]

Thanks Bob!

[Acroyer]

Haven't checked this forum in a while...

I mentioned in some other posts that I can only get Tripp Cobra mags to run consistently in my TAC Ultra MS (the box says "Tactical 2011", but it has the full rail and all...).  I was having trouble with the slide outrunning the magazine.  I also fitted it with a flat bottom firing pin stop.  Since getting the mags and doing the change, the pistol has been 100%.

I really enjoy the feel and the balance of the pistol.  I did change out the red fiber optic for a green/yellow, because, for me, the red did not light up very well.

I paid way too much for it when I bought it.  It had just come out, couldn't find them in many LGSs, I wanted it, etc.  Did I mention I paid way too much?  TOO MUCH!  Oh well, in another 10 years I'll probably get over it.  It was lower than the MSRP at the time.

Would I buy one again, at the prices they go for now?  Sure, knowing that the factory mag will need replaced, at least.

[Bruno747]

I had one of the commanders.

Just be patient, from the reviews I have read, my experience, and videos, the few of these that are running out of the box are unicorns, fully expect it to not run worth a crap to start. What you do from that point forward is up to you. It took me several iterations of things including sending mine back to get it running right.

I believe mine was the 51994 model. There are posts from me detailing everything I needed to do to get mine to run reliably and it was a decent amount of work. Utimately I let it go because I never could find a holster that fit it well and my dan wesson ran so much better with so much less work.

Also now that I no longer have it and am no longer enamored with it, I can honestly say it had bar none, the most ghastly barrel I have ever seen on a gun EVER. If it was used when I got it I would have thought someone sorely mistreated it from what that barrel looked like inside and would have passed.