Just got my first 1911, now what?

[Reggywill]

Just got a RIA 1911 on trade and am wondering what should I do to it first? I've heard I should get the ramp polished and things of that nature but I'm not sure where to have it done or what else I should do to improve the performance. Any ideas?

 

[cundiff5535]

I say leave it alone, shoot the crap out of it... save your money and go buy a Kimber!

 

[rockhopper46038]

Go learn the 1911 manual of arms first. Get used to the safeties. Shoot it until you become competent with it. As a modern 1911 it probably already has the basic reliability improvements that have become pretty standard over the years (like a ramped and throated barrel and a lowered ejection port). If it doesn't, those would be a good start.

 

[Stschil]

Just got a RIA 1911 on trade and am wondering what should I do to it first? I've heard I should get the ramp polished and things of that nature but I'm not sure where to have it done or what else I should do to improve the performance. Any ideas?

Bask in your newfound superiority to Glock Owners.


Have fun with it. Shoot every type of ammo you can and see I you need to do anything to it before you go throwing money at it. Then, decide whether you want to spend that money on a RIA or put it toward another 1911.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

 

[avengedXT]

I would say do what I would do if I just got a RIA 1911 - and cundiff5535 noted it already.

Shoot the hell out of it.

 

[zinx]

I 3rd the shoot it. Spend your time learning the gun and your money on ammo.

 

[JetGirl]

Why would you alter anything without finding out what it's originally like?
Don't do anything to it until you shoot, shoot, and shoot some more.
P.S.
The act of shooting it actually polishes the feed ramp.

 

[Fordtough25]

Bask in your newfound superiority to Glock Owners.


Have fun with it. Shoot every type of ammo you can and see I you need to do anything to it before you go throwing money at it. Then, decide whether you want to spend that money on a RIA or put it toward another 1911.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

I don't know about the first part but heck yes to the rest!

 

[pops66goat]

Get some cheap recoil buffers to protect the internals, and maybe some Wilson Combat mags...and again shoot the hell out of it!!

 

[JetGirl]

Get some cheap recoil buffers to protect the internals

Bah.
If a 1911 needed them, they'd come with them.
Everything I've ever read about them says they are more trouble than they are worth.
I ended up being given about 15 packs of them and pitched them.

 

[sgreen3]

Go to the local gun shop buy ammo, and then take it to the range. Dont worry about the other stuff till you find out how it functions. Congrats on the pistol, RIA makes a nice 1911.

 

[88E30M50]

My RIA needed nothing other than better mags when I got it. To be honest, it did not even need that. The ACT mag that came with it worked well, but since I was adding extra mags, I just switched to Wilson Combats and used the ACT mag for range work and reloading drills. The only think I did to it was add an extended thumb safety and Duracoat in in Magpul Dark Earth.

The RIA's can be pretty well equipped as bought. The best thing that can be done to almost any pistol is to shoot it.

 

[bcannon]

Shoot it - shoot it - shoot it and then shoot it sum more - figure out then what upgrades would benefit you - how do you know if it even needs upgraded if you haven't shot it? Save your $ and go have some fun first

 

[Jeremiah]

start saving up. get chip mcmcormick or wilson combat mags. probably around 10 will do. throw the factory mags away. shoot it. if it starts to act up, then wory about upgrads.

Vz grips, better sights, a 10-8 flat trigger, maybe. don't waste your money on a kimber. Decide what you want in a 1911, buy it from a reputable company. Dan wesson, Sprignfeild ( TRP or better), colt, or wilson.

 

[AllenM]

Change the cheap grips out. and shoot it

 

[DaveyCrink]

piiiiictures!

 

[Sticky]

As said, shoot it and see that it works ok with your choice of carry ammo. Maybe upgrade the magazines; not necessary if the stock ones work fine.

The only thing I always do to all of my 1911's is install an eighteen or seventeen & one-half pound recoil spring. It sometimes reduces frame slap and felt recoil to a surprising degree; especially if you use full power ammo.

 

[davedolli]

Shoot it a lot, get use to it, then decide what you want or need on your pistol. If you decide you want many mods, it would probably be cheaper to just buy another pistol with all the things you want. You will want more than one 1911, trust me.

Dave

 

[cundiff5535]

start saving up. get chip mcmcormick or wilson combat mags. probably around 10 will do. throw the factory mags away. shoot it. if it starts to act up, then wory about upgrads.

Vz grips, better sights, a 10-8 flat trigger, maybe. don't waste your money on a kimber. Decide what you want in a 1911, buy it from a reputable company. Dan wesson, Sprignfeild ( TRP or better), colt, or wilson.

Dont waste your money on a Kimber, lol... now thats funny!

 

[redryder]

Check out www.1911forum.com. Lot of good stuff over there.