A Modern Classic: Armscor / Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS 45 ACP Pistol

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ConcealedCarry.com Digital Trigger Pull Gauge.

When history's greatest firearms designer, John M. Browning, first conceived the pistol that would become known as the Model 1911 after it was adopted as the standard U.S. service pistol in that year, he likely had a pretty good idea that his brainchild was a very fine pistol. Still, it is doubtful that he foresaw the lasting popularity and world-changing effect that his pistol would enjoy well into its second century. After World War I, the 1911 pistol saw some minor design enhancements, with the modified version being officially adopted as the M1911A1 in 1926; these enhancements included a shorter trigger, relief cuts in the frame behind the trigger, an arched mainspring housing, a slightly longer grip safety spur, a slightly shorter hammer spur, a slightly wider front sight, and redesigned grip panels. Glock® fanboys notwithstanding, the M1911/M1911A1 pistol remains the finest combat sidearm ever devised; its popularity continues to soar today, as evidenced by the ever-increasing number of companies who are climbing aboard the 1911 bandwagon, carrying its banner forward into the 21st Century and beyond.

One company that is anything but a "bandwagon-jumper" is Armscor. With roots running back as far as 1905, Armscor (Arms Corporation of the Philippines) has been making firearms since the early 1950s, and currently is among the world's largest producers of 1911 pistols under their Rock Island Armory brand. With their U.S. headquarters in Pahrump, NV and a manufacturing plant in Cedar City, UT, Rock Island Armory currently exports to over 50 countries on 6 continents. Rock Island Armory has earned a reputation over the decades for crafting high-quality 1911 pistols at very competitive prices, and the model under consideration here is a case in point: the Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS 45 ACP Pistol.

The M1911A1-FSP GI Standard is an all-steel pistol, and finished in GI-type black Parkerized, which is a tried-and-true method that traditionally and effectively protects the steel from corrosion while increasing its resistance to wear. The end result is a tough, aesthetically pleasing, dull-black finish that appears very businesslike. The pistol's all-steel construction is not exactly light in weight, but the 2.5-pound heft goes a long way towards taming the recoil of the "as God and John Browning intended" 45 ACP cartridge.

While the M1911A1-FSP GI Standard is pretty much a pure, GI-style M1911A1, there are a few notable enhancements that make the Rock Island Armory pistol perform even better than the genuine item. I remember well the days of my youth, when a shooter would have to pay a small fortune for a Colt 1911A1, then would have to spend several hundred more hard-earned bucks at the Gunsmith's to make the thing run reliably with modern hollowpoint ammunition; the Rock Island Armory pistol comes with just the sort of enhancements that were previously the Gunsmith's livelihood, and the RIA pistol runs like a sewing machine right out of the box. First, the extractor is perfectly tuned for positive extraction, while the slide's ejection port is lowered and flared to aid in positive ejection, eliminating the familiar "stovepipe" jam. Secondly, the barrel's chamber is throated and polished along with the frame's feed ramp for reliable feeding. The 1911's design incorporates a feed ramp built into the frame, creating a transition between the feed ramp and the chamber; this is seldom a problem when feeding GI-type FMJ Round-Nose "Ball" ammo, but often creates a feed jam when the sharper shoulder of a modern hollowpoint tries to transition over the feed ramp into the chamber. Throating the barrel and polishing the feed ramp greatly improves upon this, and my M1911A1-FSP GI Standard ran perfectly using a variety of ammunition types, from GI-style Ball to Lead Semi-Wadcutters to Jacketed Flat Points to Jacketed Hollowpoints, both in Standard and +P pressure loads. Feeding, extraction, and ejection were positive every time with no (as in, ZERO) malfunctions of any kind.

Another difference between the GI-style M1911A1 and the Rock Island Armory pistol is the mainspring housing: with the A1 redesign, the standard 1911's flat mainspring housing was changed to an arched unit, supposedly making the pistol point better for smaller-handed shooters. The RIA M1911A1-FSP GI Standard features a vertically-grooved flat mainspring housing, as preferred by a great many modern shooters, myself included.

The M1911A1 design modifications that are retained in the M1911A1-FSP GI Standard include the A1's frame relief cuts, along with the slightly longer grip safety spur and slightly shorter hammer spur, which goes a long way towards preventing the web of the shooting hand from being pinched between the hammer spur and grip safety spur; I have fairly large hands, with substantial meat between my thumb and trigger finger, and I had no problem with "hammer bite" using this pistol.

The M1911A1-FSP GI Standard's trigger is a compromise between the longer 1911 trigger and the shorter 1911A1 trigger. As I do not have overly-long fingers, my preference is for just such a "medium-length" trigger, and the 2.71-Inch trigger reach is just right for me. Rock Island Armory specifies the trigger pull at 4 to 6 pounds, with the trigger on my example measuring just under 3 pounds (2 pounds, 14.6 ounces, to be exact), with just a hint of take-up and a very smooth, grit-free pull. Perfect.

The sights are pretty much standard GI, meaning fairly rudimentary. The front sight is a slot-mounted, rounded, low-profile blade, while the rear sight is a low-profile unit dovetailed into the slide, and therefore is drift-adjustable for windage. If you are familiar with such tiny GI 1911 sights, then you know that they are not exactly quick to acquire, and the rounded front blade only works really well when lighting conditions are perfect; still, the low-profile sights have the advantage of being almost completely snag-free, and once you manage to find that little front sight, the sight picture is very precise. These are not Target or Competition sights; they are made to basically not be used with precision, only for quick and close-up work in combat situations, which equates very well for self-defense situations.

The factory grips on the M1911A1-FSP GI Standard are not unattractive: a plain, unfigured, lightly-colored wood, which are smooth rather than checkered. The appearance did not bother me at all, but I do prefer some texture to help me hold a positive grip, especially on a pistol that bucks and snorts like a stoutly-loaded 45 ACP. Of course, any aftermarket grip panels made for a standard full-size 1911 will fit the M1911A1-FSP GI Standard, so the sky is the limit: I chose a set of Eagle Grips' Kirinite® Black Pearl grips with their new REACTIV MAXX™ checkering. I have long been a fan of Eagle's REACTIV™ checkering for its retentive properties, but the new REACTIV MAXX™ checkering takes retention to a whole new level. It is hard to describe the feel of these grips, and the positive hold that they offer, to one who has never handled a set, so let me urge you to try a set if you get the opportunity; you will be amazed at how well these grips grab your hand. The standard REACTIV™ checkering is wonderful for most applications, and is really best for concealment underneath a jacket or a lightweight shirt, as the checkering will not hang up on your clothing. The REACTIV MAXX™ is much more aggressive, and might affect the way your cover clothing drapes, so the MAXX is preferred for open-carry or off-body use; even so, the MAXX checkering is not abrasive to the hand, and is not at all uncomfortable under recoil. The hold is so positive that you can literally hold the gun with thumb and finger of one hand, and be unable to pull the pistol loose with the other hand; it really has to be felt to be believed. Raj Singh at Eagle Grips has really come up with something special in his REACTIV™ and REACTIV MAXX™ checkering patterns. These innovative patterns cannot be used on wood grips, but Eagle Grips' proprietary Kirinite® material is perfect; both stable and beautiful, Kirinite® can be had in a wide variety of colors and patterns. Eagle Grips' REACTIV MAXX™ 1911 grips are available for a very reasonable $139.95 on Eagle Grips' web site, https://www.eaglegrips.com/

Standard 1911 magazines have a capacity of 7 rounds of 45 ACP, which has served Mankind well for 114 years, but modern spring technology allows an extra round or two to be squeezed into the same space, and the M1911A1-FSP GI Standard includes two eight-round magazines. These magazines are made by ACT-MAG; the body of the magazine is highly-polished blued steel, the follower is steel, and the base pad is polymer. These are very nice, high-quality magazines, and two are included in the bargain price of the pistol; also, of course, any magazine for a full-size 1911 pistol, everything from your "gun show specials" to the high-end magazines, will work just fine in the RIA.

Shooting the Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS was a pleasure. As mentioned above, the weight of the all-steel frame mitigated the 45 ACP's recoil, which really isn't a problem for an experienced shooter anyway, and I was able to shoot the pistol all day without fatigue. Also as mentioned above, I experienced zero malfunctions of any kind. Accuracy was very good, bearing in mind that with the GI-style sights this is not meant to be a target pistol; informal plinking at targets of opportunity yielded minute-of-soda-can accuracy out to extended ranges, while standing offhand shots on paper at five yards yielded group sizes ranging from two to three inches with a variety of loads, with all shots landing reasonably close to point of aim.

Specifications: Armscor / Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS 45 ACP Pistol

Again, as the Armscor / Rock Island Armory M199A1-FSP GI Standard is basically a standard M199A1 pistol, any holster made for use with a full-size 1911 or 1911A1 will fit perfectly. I own several 1911 holster rigs, but the one "workhorse" holster I keep going back to is the DEFCON 4 holster from Rob Leahy at Simply Rugged Holsters. The DEFCON 4 is a wonderfully designed holster, hand-made from quality Hermann Oak leather, double-laminated front and back for shape retention and ease of holstering, and features a "Flab Tab" on the back side to keep the pistol from gouging into your flesh. The DEFCON 4 is a high-ride pancake design that conceals beautifully and rides comfortably, with either two or three 1-3/4" slots as desired for cross-draw, neutral angle, or FBI cant; the three-slot option also allows the DEFCON 4 to be work on Simply Rugged's excellent Chesty Puller Harness for a comfortable chest carry option. For even greater versatility, the DEFCON 4 also comes with detachable Inside the Waistband (IWB) straps at no extra cost. The DEFCON 4 sells for a very reasonable $140.00 US in plain Tan, Black, or Oxblood ($20.00 upcharge for Oxblood), as well as a variety of custom hides and degrees of ornamentation for additional cost. The DEFCON 4 has been my primary 1911 holster for ten years, and, even though it shows some battle scars, it continues to perform as new. Highly recommended. Check out the DEFCON 4 along with Simply Rugged's entire line at https://www.simplyrugged.com/.

There are many options in 1911 pistols these days, for which I am thankful; one can only stand so many plastic Wondernines without seeking the sanctuary of steel, wood, and John Browning's design genius. It might just be because I am old, but the lines, the heft, the feel, and the smell of a fine 1911 pistol stirs the soul as no striker-fired polymer tool can. With all the brands, and all the models, of 1911 pistols available in this Golden Age, it is easy to spend thousands of dollars on a 1911 pistol; these high-end, boutique 1911s certainly have their place, and I do own several such pistols, but the 1911's true place is a companion machine that you can depend on for your life, without spending that life's savings. This is where the Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS really excels: it is a quality, basic M1911A1 pistol at a price that is accessible to all shooters. Current MSRP of the Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS is only $499.00 US, and can be had for substantially less than that price with a bit of judicious shopping. This is far less than most pistols on the market, for a pistol that is better than many pistols costing hundreds more. The Rock Island Armory M1911A1-FSP GI Standard FS is built to last, and is backed by a Lifetime Warranty. Check them out at https://www.armscor.com/firearms-list/m1911-a1-fspgi-standard-fs-45acp-8rd.

Armscor / Rock Island Armory: https://www.armscor.com/

To Buy Armscor / Rock Island Armory Products Online, Click on the GUN GENIE at Davidson's Gallery of Guns: http://www.galleryofguns.com/?WT.mc_id=GunBlast

Order Ammo Online at Lucky Gunner: https://www.luckygunner.com/handgun/45-acp-ammo

Eagle Grips, Inc. https://www.eaglegrips.com/

Double Tap Ammunition: https://doubletapammo.com/

Federal Premium Ammunition: https://www.federalpremium.com/

Lehigh Defense Ammunition: https://lehighdefense.com/

Simply Rugged Holsters: https://www.simplyrugged.com/

Boge Quinn

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