Rock Island 1911: To Be, or Not to Be

**Zendetta** · Posted On: 5/10/2009 12:12pm

Originally Posted by hungryjoe

My mother was hell on wheels with a handgun. .45 was not too much for her and she's a fair bit smaller than you. I bought her a Charter Arms 44 special that's loaded with Glaser rounds for home defence. She's 71.

Go buy the 1911.

My mom is a mild-mannered, retired english teacher.

But she just got her CCW permit. Cool moms are awesome; you just reminded me to call mine and wish her a happy Mother's Day.

**Robstafarian** · Posted On: 5/10/2009 12:59pm

Originally Posted by Zendetta

My mom is a mild-mannered, retired english teacher.

But she just got her CCW permit. Cool moms are awesome; you just reminded me to call mine and wish her a happy Mother's Day.

Heh, nice to know my thread is bolstering your memory.

FYI, I still plan to visit the range before I buy...I don't want to depend on my ability to find someone who will pay my cost plus shipping if I don't like it.

**pakuakid** · Posted On: 5/10/2009 5:03pm

I bought myself one of these a few years back and its a good pistol.Only 2 complaints I have with it are 1) The stock grips seriously suck.Mine were very slick and I found the Hogue grips were a world of difference. 2) The sights on the GI version are tiny. Outside of those two things I have nothing bad to say about this gun it's never given me any problems.

**Knave** · Posted On: 5/11/2009 2:04am

Greetings.

"If I could afford a Benelli or Saiga 12 right now, it might be a different story. But I can't."

IMO, saiga 12 would be a bad home defense shotgun. Even after converting mine, replacing the gas tappet, replacing the gas plug, replacing the main spring, and modifying my magazines, I still wouldn't trust it in a life or death situation. I'd take my 870 over it any day.

**adouglasmhor** · Posted On: 5/11/2009 2:44am

Originally Posted by Robstafarian

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Phrost, as much as I respect your opinion, a shotgun is out of the question due to my balance problems. Pretty much the easiest way to knock me down, especially as stiff as I would be in the middle of the night, is to give me a decent push at my shoulder (the right would take a decent push; you could yell at my left shoulder and make me fall).

I am still weighing the financial aspect, but I've got some hours yet on those auctions.

Would I be able to fire the weapon immediately after picking it up at the range, or would it need to be taken home and cleaned first?

20 gauge, you wouldn't even feel it and it would still do the job, cartridges are slightly dearer though.

**Robstafarian** · Posted On: 5/11/2009 12:54pm

Quick update, I just got back from the range. I fired Winchester USA 230 grain from a Colt Mark IV/70 Series Government.

More to come later, possibly including a picture of the target.

**Robstafarian** · Posted On: 5/11/2009 3:16pm

I only fired 20 rounds because I wasn't feeling well when I arrived, and I got tired quickly from standing around that much (I sat down for a few minutes at something like the 14 round mark). That said, the recoil wasn't unpleasant and I'm sure I can learn to control it better in the future.

I used a really lazy modified Weaver stance firing from ~30 feet. In fact, I didn't even remember the push/pull aspect until the middle of the second magazine.

Attached are a few pictures of the target. Sorry for the blurring; my camera doesn't have image stabilization and my hands are shaky. I have included a few close-ups of groups.

There are a few things to note about the target:

I swear that gun didn't shoot straight. I aimed straight at the the center, with my sights level, and shot high and to the left.
Speaking of high and left, look left near the shoulder area (the target guy's right shoulder). Those are my first three shots (in one wide hole). After the first shot the range officer said "you're shooting high and left, try to correct it." After the second shot the range officer said "well, at least you're consisent." After the third shot, the range officer said "wow."
There was at least one flier (my fourth shot).
All my shots after the first three were an attempt to compensate for the "high and left" issue.
As I became tired, my shots starting hitting low and left. Notice the grouping in that area.

Suggested viewing order of the pictures is RangeTarget1, RangeTarget2, RangeTargetTriple, RangeTargetDouble, TiredGroup2, TiredGroup1.

Once this posts, I'm going to buy the Rock Island and the previously listed accessories.

**IMightBeWrong** · Posted On: 5/11/2009 3:36pm

Originally Posted by oldman34

If you are dead set on a pistol, a Glock in .40 will serve you better with a higher ammo capacity and good stopping power.

It'd also leave him with the same carry weapon as me. My 23 gets more use than any of my other handguns nowadays.

**Robstafarian** · Posted On: 5/11/2009 3:46pm

Originally Posted by zaohu

It'd also leave him with the same carry weapon as me. My 23 gets more use than any of my other handguns nowadays.

I don't intend to carry my weapon anywhere other than to the range, and it'll be packed at that.

Funny thought now that I look at the bottom two pictures...

Originally Posted by Bas' commentary at least once in every fight

He should go for the liver shot.

**Robstafarian** · Posted On: 5/11/2009 10:55pm

Well, I won the auction.

It feels pretty strange to have this done after all this time. In fact, I almost feel like I've done something wrong (no, I'm not surrounded by anti-gun types).