Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns Rock River Arms GI 45

I have a chance to buy a used RRI GI45 in like new shape. It has the std. GI sights. What is a fair price for a used RRI?

Elk Country

$349. That is the going rate for used RRA's in that condition and configuration at my local store.

I am bettng on some confusion.

There is Rock River Arms(RRA), which is an American made manufacturer, and Rock Island Armory(RIA), which I believe are from the Philipines.

I am betting it is a RIA. RRA would likely run substantially more.

Yep, I noticed the same misunderstanding going on. RRA is a semi-custom maker of 1911s, on par with Ed Brown, Les Baer and the like. RIA are overseas mass produced economy 1911s.

I can't find a thing pertaining to 1911s on Rock River Arms web site.Am I not looking in the correct place or something?

High.

They started out making only semi-custom 1911s, but they transitioned into making almost exclusively semi-custom AR-15 variants. Not sure if they're still making the 1911s.

OK, I found this, so I guess they still make them: RRA 1911

My mistake guys...it is a Rock Island Arms 45 auto. Sometimes my fingers type faster than my brain!

Oregon...you hit the nail on the head...we are at $350 right now. easn't sure if I should try to talk him down another $25. I've heard good things about the reliability of RIA 45s. Is it worth the money for a beater truck/camping gun?

Elk COuntry

They're good basic 1911s, if he's got a second magazine to go with the gun and you want it then $350 would be a fair price.

That's an old article I think, Hawkeye. Rock River stopped making .45's when they got real busy with their bread and butter (AR's) during the 2008 election. I don't know that they ever got back into it.

I've not heard anything bad about them and they're priced right. If you're in the market, I think that one's worth the money.

When the AR rush set in a couple of years ago Rock River Arms went to building them as fast as possible and discontinued their .45s to concentrate on the the feeding frenzy.

I talked to Chuck when I was at Perry a couple of weeks ago and they are still not doing any builds on 1911s. While he didn't come out and say it, I'd certainly not hold my breath for them to start up again. Too bad because Chuck (& Matt as well) does a first-class job in building accurate .45s

At $350, your "used" price is a little over what I paid for mine new a few years ago. Seems the "new" price has gone up a bit (about 25%! ) - must be due to the satisfaction and demand?

Anyway - the gun itself is a good starting point for the price, and the RIA warranty service is famously good. I had some minor trouble with the extractor on mine, which was cured with a little extractor tuning and the replacement of the stock firing-pin stop with a fitted one from EGW. The grip safety had edges so sharp that it would chew the web of my hand with extended shooting, until I did a slight "de-burr" on it. The ramp is slightly less than perfect, but close enough that it works.

Other than that - I would say that the RIA is plenty good for the price. One warning though - in case you aren't already aware of it....Because of the price, the RIA GI is pretty poular amongst those who would buy a 1911 and tinker with it themselves or put it in the hands of a less-than-qualified gunsmith. You should inspect it closely - especially to see if the frame ramp or the barrel have been boogered up by someone who didn't know better. If the ramp is highly polished (a sign that someone thought it needed work - whether it did or not), that would set up a flag to measure closely.

If it hasn't been touched by tools, it's probably worth buying.

New price is between 365 and 369. The Rocks are very good pistols. PM me if interested and I'll point you toward two very reputable dealers.

Rooster