RIA 1911 Gov and a Taurus .357 Magnum

[csl2006]

Well I purchased the Rock Island Armory used for 350$. It is the GI edition fixed sights (too all that don't know, that means the sights are non adjustable). I'm having a machinist at work dovetail the slide for novak sights seeing I dont really need to spend the money on a new slide with novak dovtails (About 150-200$). It shoots pretty good. The barrel bushing is snug which is a good find on a cheaper 1911. The slide is smooth as glass. I ordered a match trigger for it, a Wilsons Combat high rise beaver tail safety, a stainless barrel bushing (everything ordered is and will be stainless, you'll see why). The Taurus I bought new for a conceal carry. It is a snub nose .357 Mag. 5 shots fixed sights. Shoots very good suprisingly. The Double action is pretty crappy if you go to "squeeze the trigger" but in defense mode your pulling instead of squeezing and it "pulls" and cycles fine. The single action has a hair trigger which is great for practicing up close groupings. Well enough talk here's some pictures.....after I get back from town :P

[csl2006]

15734

RIA at 25 yards 7 rounds slightly high right. Last round bullseye compensated low left. Shooting from bench. Gun not locked down just steadied arms on the bench.
15735

Taurus .357 shooting .38 specials at 7yards and 15yards. 15 yards bottom last round bullseye compensated high. 3 hole in holes :D Free handed both yardages.
15736

15737

[Heavy Chevy]

Nice,,,,,i love my Taurus .45 millennium Pro PT 145!
They both look like a handful of fun! Gotta love shootin!!! My cousin has that same snubby,357,,, they are nice!

[csl2006]

Thanks. I heard good things on the Taurus pro but i've recently heard bad things on them. I wont judge them because i've never shot one yet. I'm taking my gun smithing classes later this year and getting my FFL and class 3. I heard when the taurus 24/7 came out was suppose to compete with Glock and Springfield Xd's which I could find hard to believe. But after shooting this cheaper 1911 I held way better groupings with it then I did with my Springfield XD 45 5" tactical. And I shoot ALOT thousands of rounds a year at my little range out in BFE. I traded the Keltec PF9 in awhile back. It was ok, but for the money and the caliber 9mm was not really impressed with it. The DAO was horrible on the gun and you couldn't holding groupings even at close distance. It shot if I remember right 8-10" low at 7 yards. (I shoot 7yards max on conceal guns, thats 21 feet. Thats way more distance then you're going to use if your in that position to use your concealed weapon out in public. Plus I dont take my time drawing the firearm neither and aiming it.) The 1911 is purposely a Range gun or In Home gun. But I'm not bragging up RIA 1911's I was honestly suprised how well they functioned and when it warms up I will put it threw its paces to see how it holds up. But anyone looking to get a 1911 I really wouldn't worry about "name brand" unless your looking to resell. For a 450$ 1911 new for the price buy it. Throw couple hundred bucks into in on various parts and have a nice plinker.

[Mikz86TA]

Gun show is this weekend here. I want a revolver cor a concealed like that. I hate Taurus tho.
But a .357 stubby is exactly what I want. My buddy had ur exact Taurus. But it was a sh!tpile and fell apart every time we fired it. It was new too when he bought it. Hope u have better luck with the brand

[csl2006]

sounds more like he got a factory defect. They have lifetime warranties. Why didn't he send it back in?

[Mikz86TA]

Its been years ago. Def was defective.

[Heavy Chevy]

well, we have all had our own experiences for sure but Taurus makes a lot gun for the money! i have shot the Springfield Xd many times and own Glocks! Taurus is just as good if not better! thats just my opinion tho! My PT 145 is a good and reliable gun that groups well and has yet to jam on me! Both my glocks have jammed up on me! They seem to be choosy on the ammo you use! I can shoot the cheapest of rounds outta my Taurus and it wont let me down! All imo tho!

[csl2006]

I never cared much for glocks. They're over rated in my opionion. They get famous because they're on tv and movies alot. I have seen my buddies brand new glock which was a 40caliber jam like crazy. I was like best hand gun in the world eh? lol it was probably a defect also. But only thing someone can do is go shoot a gun or buy a gun test it out before knockin it down a peg. Everyone talks crap on those Hipoint 9mm and .45's. I think they're a pick of the litter type of gun. Buddy has one I dumped 4 mags threw it as fast as I could no jams nothing. I wouldn't buy it though because its a 150$ .45acp. I dont really trust my life on something that cheap.

[12sws27]

My Taurus PT99 has been very reliable and accurate since I first fired it when I was in jr high school (when my father bought it) to a few months ago when i took it to the range with some friends. I was in jr high in the mid-late 80's.

I also have a model 85 .38spl that my grandfather use to carry in his boot. Never had a problem with it either. The sites (if you can call them sites) are off but it's a .38 spl....pretty much made to point and shoot at close range.

I would gladly buy another Taurus if they made a compact model 809 or 840. I don't like double action only. Maybe I should go shooting with someone that owns a double action only and get used to it because a single/double action (9mm/40s&w) that is light weight and concealable isn't very common.

[XTREME80]

I got my mom a Taurus 38 ultra lite for X-Mas and she loves it.

[csl2006]

Heres a before and after. I had to modify the frame where the old grip safety was. Keep in mind I'm sending the frame and slide off to get dipped later on after im finished installing other parts.

Springfield Armory match barrel bushing, Night Hawks match adjustable trigger, STI rear beaver tail safety.

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m542/Codyl2006/1911before.jpg

I also had to cut down the hammer to make it function until I get the STI trigger ordered.

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m542/Codyl2006/1911newparts.jpg

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m542/Codyl2006/1911frontnew.jpg

This was a bit tedious to get a tight fight and a functional fit

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m542/Codyl2006/heavilymoddified1911safety.jpg

[csl2006]

I also have the trigger set to what feels around 1.5-2 Lb of pull. I'll check it when my trigger pull gauge arrives.

[csl2006]

http://i1131.photobucket.com/albums/m542/Codyl2006/968d9c3d.jpg