Rock Island 1911A1 make over

[imarangemaster]

Well, I got my Rock Island 1911A1 that I am going to carry as a duty weapon "out of jail" this morning. Decided that it had to be a little more "WW-IIish" to go with my M1 Carbines. First thing I did was to loose the glossy wood grips. I had a pair of NOS post war USGI brown plastic grips that I installed. Next was the hammer. I had a USGI wide spur 1911A1 hammer kicking around in my parts drawer that needed a home, so I installed it. Last to go was the flat mainspring housing. I had a parkerized, ribbed, arched mainspring housing (with no lanyard) that was also in my junk. I'd love to have a GI one with a lanyard ring on it, but I just can't justify $60-75 for one, just for looks, with an appendage on it that I will not use on it!

The Rock Island already has a marvelous trigger pull straight from the box, so the only thing remaining is to polish the feed ramp.

Pardon my cell phone pictures. Better ones later.

Before:


After:


WIde spur hammer:

Information

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[imarangemaster]

UPDATE, range report. I went shooting it today! Feel the Rock Island 1911A1 LOVE! I am so excited that I could wet myself like a happy puppy.

200 rounds of 4 different loads of 45 ACP, 3 different makes of magazines, ZERO malfunctions and dead nuts on at 15 yards!

Took the 1911 with me to work on patrol in the mountains. Went to the rock quarry on USFS land that everyone shoots at. No paper targets, just clay pigeons and pine cones as targets.

20 rounds of Hornady "Critical Duty" 220 grn +P ballistic tip ammo. Dead on POI and POA at 15 to 20 yards. snappy, but controllable. I hit 6 out of 6 clay pigeons at 15 yards off-hand, weaver stance.

150 rounds of my .45 ACP reloads: 200 grain Bear Creek Supply moly coated hollow base .452 round nose over 6.5 grains of UNIQUE. The hollow base allows it to be loaded to same length as 230 grain slugs. Between that and the moly, I had to bump the load of Unique up from 6.0 grains to 6.5 grains. Actually shot to the same POA as the Critical Duty loads. Smooth feeding and positive ignition.

50 rounds Tula steel cased 230 grain. Fine, but dirty.

30 rounds PMC 230 grn FMJ. Shot same as Tula, almost the same as the 200's.

Three different magazines: RI 8 round factory, Mec-gar 8 rounders, and Chip MC'Cormack flush fitting blue steel 8 rounders. (Look like US GI mags, but hold 8). All magazines fed fine.

The only additional change to the stock weapon was a Combat "Shock-Buff 1911 recoil buffer to soften the banging on the action. Trigger pull was about 2.5 to 3 lbs. and crisp. I had forgotten what a visceral joy shooting the 1911 gives you!

[browningautorifle]

Sort of the way I went also. I wanted a GI but they're scarce around here in any kind of shape. I had to get a brand new Auto Ord and return some minor changes to GI. Perfect fit and function with similar accuracy results. I HAD about 35 mags so it was an easy justification for a govt model...

[imarangemaster]

I have talked to MANY Rock Island 1911A1 owners through the last 6 years or so. EVERY single one loved them. The ramps are nicely polished. the barrel is throated, they feed anything, and the trigger pulls are the best out of box basic 1911. What's not to like. I had one and foolishly sold it. I regretted it ever since. Glad I got another one.

[browningautorifle]

I have to agree, I have this one now and have no intention of selling it. I had a Rem-Rand, (it had an Ithaca slide)... 1,031,415 I think. It was so worn, the mainspring housing pin hole was oblong and threatened to burst out of the frame at some future time. I decided to just buy a brand new gun. No more surplus...

[Midmichigun]

LOL! Thanks guys... keep inspring me to get one!
My brother picked up a Ruger version of the 1911 and LOVES it. He said he can't get it to jam up either!
But I do like your Rock Island.... thanks for the range report too!

[imarangemaster]

Now that I am feeling the Rock Island 1911 love, this is what I want to get to replace my 14 shot CZ83 .380! This 3.5" RI is on my short list!

(Photo courtesy of member of a different 45 forum)

[imarangemaster]

This thing even feeds CCI .45 ACP snake shot. I just killed a 5' Timber Rattler with 11 buttons that was between me and the dam I had to check on. I saw him, unloaded the chamber and mag with Hornady Critical Duty 220 +P, and loaded my mag of 45 snake shot. Chambered a round, shot three times (big snake) and it cycled the action fine. If it cycles and feeds snake shot, it will feed anything!

[imarangemaster]

Here's the Rock Island in its final incarnation with lanyard ring and duty rig.

[Bill Hollinger]

I sure hope you didn't let that snake go to waste! You DID eat it, right?

I be lovin' me some rattle snake!!! bon appetit