I picked up the RIA Rock Ultra FS HC 10mm this morning before work (5 min wait to get background check results – I’m squeaky clean).
As usual, the handgun was covered in cosmoline and was in a plastic bag. It came with one mag (as expected) and a manual. The envelope with the spent cases showed an inspection date of 12/18/2020, meaning the gun is new.
The recoil spring is Popeye strong…you probably need to open a can of spinach to rack the slide. I’m not joking…it’s strong and probably needs to be. One of the things I struggle with when handling the gun is racking the slide. I wish the slide had more aggressive serrations, because I sometimes can’t get a good enough grip to properly rack the gun.
I field-stripped the gun to clean off the preservative (it is not lube). The machining is really nice. This gun has a bull barrel, too…there’s no bushing, so you need to use a tool or paper clip to field strip the gun. Now, to break down the recoil spring assembly (which consists of the recoil rod, spring, and reverse plug), you’re not going to be able to do it your fingers. The spring is far too strong. Use the slide to help with that process.
The thumb safety needs to be tightened…it’s a bit loose (all of my Filipino 1911s were).
I changed the fiber filament of the front sight. I had trouble removing it. It appears as if someone (maybe) used an adhesive or even Locktite to secure it. I replaced it with a TruGlo filament.
I took the gun to the range this evening, along with my RIA 22TCM. The Rock Ultra manages recoil very well…I had no issues controlling the handgun, although I was using 180-gr FMJ range ammo (S&B and Ammo Inc). It shoots far better than my Glock 22, but it has a lot more weight than the G22, as well. The 10mm was launching spent casings against the side of the booth and I’ve no doubt it’ll throw brass 30 or so feet.
The S&B ammo is NICE ammo! It’s clean and very accurate. I was shooting from 7 yards. I always do…no need to shoot further than that, IMO, and it’s a good distance to benchmark a handgun. I shot 25 rounds of S&B, noting that my grouping was relatively tight. I then loaded a mag of the Ammo Inc. That ammo sucks!! I was all over the place and at first thought it was me. No. The ammo is very inconsistent and was throwing ammo all over the target. I will not be buying anymore of that ammo…well, I might, if the ammo prices keep climbing. Bad ammo is better than no ammo, I guess.
As always, when shooting 1911s, I always shoot low left of center. The groups may be tight, but I still shoot low left. I think I’ve determined what I’m doing wrong. When the gun is in my hand and I’m aiming down the sights, I’m almost 100% certain that the gun isn’t aiming straight down-range. I must be aiming left. Also, I caught myself (twice) flinching when pulling the trigger. The flinching is making me pull low left – I actually saw it when reviewing my GoPro range footage (which is why I use the camera when shooting). So, I’ve to work on getting better at shooting 1911s. I did eventually walk the rounds to bulls-eye with the 22TCM 1911, though (I shot 50 rounds).
I will return to the range soon, but will probably bring the AK pistols next go around. I may bring the Rock Ultra as well, if I can find more 10mm ammo.