Rock Island Armory Tac Ultra Cs - 9mm Review

Review: Rock Island Armory TAC ULTRA CS 1911s (9mm & .45 ACP)

It'southward not often that nosotros are asked to examination multiple handguns at the same time. In fact, I wasn't expecting more than ane and it was a surprise when Rock Island sent out two of their latest 1911s for T&Due east. I am non complaining, as the two were their latest releases from their growing TAC series. The Tac serial focuses on getting tactically (go figure) features into the handguns for the best price possible. Knowing there is a tradeoff betwixt toll and features, I was curious to dive direct in.

The 1911 CS' equally they arrive with accessories.

Overview

Information technology was a great day when the Rock Island Arsenal MS 1911s arrived for testing at the shop. Due to my motility late final year, the handguns were shipped to my day job where many a co-worker are 1911 fans. As soon as I had them unboxed and near the A&D volume for entry, the ink had not dried before the two disappeared into the hands of my Sales Manager who promptly gave them a full shake-downwardly.

We affectionately refer to him as our "Ogre" and then the Officer-sized handguns looked comparatively small in his hands. Not one to baby a gun (we use him for torture testing internally on our own rifles), the handguns were immediately and incessantly, tapped, racked, and dry out-fired near so many times I was agape we would pause a firing pin. His pronouncement upon the completion of his homo-handing was "Squeamish… I similar the grips."

Grippy!

Now with at to the lowest degree one of the handguns in my possession we proceeded to insert and remove magazines and beginning footling with the handguns and get-go reviewing the features. The Tac series jams a whole lot of squeamish-to-take features into the handguns (noticeably absent is a ramped butt). Nosotros immediately noticed the reddish cobweb optic front sight and praised it for light collection and likewise the adjustable rear sights although at that place were white dots. The extended thumb-safeties were ambidextrous and had a positive, if loud, click to their manipulation. There was no mistaking their disengagement.

Going further, the handguns feature balderdash barrels which matched up nicely with the slide and total-length dusk covers replete with rails for accompaniment mounting. The racking activeness using the wide rear serrations was smooth and no hang-ups even with moving slowly and deliberately. The slide release and magazine release were aggressively checkered and the hammer was an open up "gainsay" manner with serrations to make it easy to cock dorsum with the thumbs. Of annotation, the grip condom had an extended beavertail and so even the Ogre was not in danger of slide seize with teeth.

Bull barrels.

Just, the most obvious and encouraging component to the handguns was the grips. Manufactured from G10, calling them aggressive would exist an understatement, they are plainly mean. The grips are an assault on the palm of your easily with the front i/3 beingness scalloped like fish scales made of diamonds the rear course stepped straight-edges that a palm and fingers adhere to like Velcro. Simply put, the grips keep the gun in identify. I swear y'all could put Crisco on your easily, turn your hand palm to the ground and open your fingers and the gun would not leave. Thank the heavens RIA opted for a smoothen front strap or I might call handling the gun from grippy to "torture."

The finish on both was a solid matte black with the only color punctuating the otherwise tedious exterior the reddish fiber optic sight, gunmetal gray G10 grips, and laser-engraved logo to the rear of the slide. It was an impressive handgun, if simply for the demure nature by which information technology carried itself.

Shooting & Living with the Tac CS'

As the guns were received in the winter in OH, opportunities to shoot outdoors were rather limited. I could have opted to freeze my derriere off, but because these handguns are normally kept warm from body heat, I (selfishly) opted to keep testing indoors. That said, the firearm was carried daily for a few weeks in a custom Kydex holster manufactured by a friend (more than on that later) and I was fortunate to not have to test it outdoors in a real emergency scenario.

Testing was washed indoors at ranges from 3 to 50 yards nether optimal atmospheric condition. The range is held at relatively stable temperatures above 60 degrees (they broadcast outside air), minimal humidity, and nether fluorescent lighting. The majority of ammunition used for testing was Freedom Munitions reloads (200 gr RN for .45 ACP and 147 grain RN 9mm). Defensive ammunition was as well tested for including Geco, Federal XST, and Hornady XTP.

Group in the lower left. Nifty for offhand.

Magazine chapters for the handguns was 8 rounds of .45 ACP and 9 rounds of 9mm in single-stack magazines. The 45 magazines were overnice and sleeky with cut-outs for like shooting fish in a barrel circular-counts. The flooring plate had an angled front lip to assist with ripping a magazine out, if needed. On the other hand, the 9mm magazines felt "cheap" and those they were the showtime choice for the toll-savings to get the handguns their needed features. Information technology had a flat and flush floor plate that was incomparably not "tactical."

.45 ACP

9mm.

Unfortunately, the first 9mm handgun sent by RIA was having issues with 9mm magazines dropping free. The rear lip of the expanded feed port was protruding into the magazine well causing magazines to non drop-free without being rocked forward. RIA was incredibly responsive and had labels sent the side by side day and the handgun returned quickly with armorer's notes on the event and prepare. After the return of the 9mm handgun, the magazines both loaded upwardly and dropped-free without upshot.

While I could wax on the weapons manipulation of the TAC Ultra CS 1911'south, I volition go out it at this, they are 1911s true and through. The slide release is in the same awkward spot, the safeties are disengaged intuitively, and the unmarried-action trigger is no ameliorate or worse than like in the field. Not top-notch, but with simply minimal accept-up and solid breaks at 4.i and 4.5 lbs (tested with a Lyman trigger pull meter) for the .45 and 9mm, respectively.

Upon earnestly handing the handguns and putting them in the firing position, their weight becomes credible quickly. The balderdash barrels and extended grit covers button the weight upwardly and forrad of the typical 1911. Its not a bad thing, merely at nearly 3 lbs for each, loaded, those sensitive to such things volition notice and get tired faster. Personally, I have the upper body forcefulness but the weight was noticeable in the holster and my EDC belt, which I constantly had to adjust during the day for falling down. On a good note, the handguns forced me to upgrade to a truthful gun belt, but being the value-conscious buyer I am—I did non savor the added expense.

Expanding farther on the topic of weight, I was not a fan of the weight of the 9mm version. In this case RIA opted to not modify the handgun for the caliber instead making the bore smaller on the barrel. Equally such, the handgun felt extremely heavy for the caliber and chapters. That said, the weight did start in terms of recoil reduction only 9mm has not been known to be a particularly snappy round.

Shooting was a pleasant experience, for about two magazines each. Later on that point, the very grippy grips started to evidence their true colors and bit into the hand. Later on near 150 rounds, I had to stop and get my gloves to continue firing with my hand feeling raw. Recoil for the TAC Ultra's was slightly less than other 1911s I have fired, which I would attribute to the weight. In typical fashion, both were a solid "push" on the hand with the 9mm beingness slightly more comfortable for rapid firing.

Focus on front cobweb optic

Accuracy for the two models was almost identical with the 9mm's group edging out the .45 by a hair. At 10 yards (what I would consider standard for a handgun engagement), both handguns kept groups under 2" off-manus using the Freedom Munitions reloads. The adaptable sights were a huge plus in this area. The .45 ACP was perfect for windage merely needed to be moved up slightly and the 9mm had significant adjustment needed to bring it on cypher.

Sights

Reliability with both was flawless, but one had to be conscientious loading the 9mm magazines, especially the JHPs. The tapered round did not seem to want to settle into position compared to the almost direct-walled .45. Short of purposefully limp-wristing, the handguns ate all the rounds I could feed them across a broad range of weights and powder loads. +P defensive rounds (Federal) and normal JHPs (Hornady) did not cause any issues. In fact, the guns seemed to similar the heavier loadings during firing with recoil being perceptively smoother.

Focus on rear dots.

Because that the guns are ready for EDC I continued testing after the exam-firing stage confident in their ability to shoot defence force loads. Swapping my typical Glocks for the 1911 was non an piece of cake transition for me, primarily for the weight mentioned before. However, I did approve of the slimmer magazines.

Originally, I went with an cheap leather IWB holster but immediately ran into problems. Every bit I am not sedentary on a daily footing, my movement was causing the handgun to rub confronting my body. The grips, which would be great in an emergency shoot, became a detriment to comfort. Within hours of holstering, I was chafed and within a mean solar day, raw. While I could wear an undershirt, I typically don't and didn't want to dress around the gun to that level.

The fix was relatively unproblematic. I sent the handgun off to a friend who within a day returned it with a custom kydex slice which fixed two things one) fit the extended dust cover nicely and two) had a strip of kydex on the inside of the holster to protect my skin from the grips. From there, it was a smooth, comfortable ride.

As the weeks went on, I grew more accustomed to the handgun and appreciated it more being "just a 1911." The RIAs were solidly congenital and my initial concerns of the potential trade-offs for the price were put to rest. The handguns are good value.

The Expert:

• Solid, positive controls.
• Adjustable sights. Fiber optic front was practiced to go and easy to selection upwards.
• Astonishing grip texture. If the gun leaves your hand, it was an Act of God.
• Bull barrels were consistent out to the tested ranges.

The Notable:

• Grip texture could exist termed "too ambitious". After a 250-round session my right mitt was raw. Would not recommend any carry position that has the grip rubbing against skin.
• Triggers had some have-up, but broke clean like a typical 1911.

The Bad:

• Guns are heavy, especially for EDC. The 9mm is especially so as the gun is non lightened or otherwise modified for the smaller caliber. The large bull barrel feels front end-heavy on that version.
• The first sent 9mm had an consequence where the mag well did non allow the magazines to drop free. It was stock-still promptly, but buyers should look for the issue.

Terminal Thoughts:

Information technology'south always difficult for me to wax on or laud the 1911 platform, but I came away liking the handguns. As such, what is most important to me is that guns part, period. This is especially true of guns designed for concealed carry. In this respect, the Stone Island Armory Tac CS 1911's delivered.

Outside of the issue with the 9mm magazine, function was flawless beyond the multitude and diverseness of rounds shot. Each ate JHPs, FMJs, and pulverization loads of a diversity of strengths with nary a complaint. Even cantankerous-loading different types of rounds into the magazines and semi-limp wristing was not enough to become them to choke.

But, I came abroad liking the .45 more. On an emotional level and equally a physical sensation, the .45 felt "correct." 9mm, to me, is simply too pocket-sized for the size and weight of the handgun unless the handgun is scaled for the caliber like the .380 Browning. Perhaps if the 9mm was double-stack, I would be able to recommend it.

Here's my bottom line: Buyers should not fault the .45 for its 9mm sibling.  I would carry the .45 ACP any solar day (with the right holster to go on information technology from rubbing or and undershirt.). For the street price of  $545-615 (retail, $799) the features these 1911s bring to the table make them a compelling argument for your hard-earned money. Rock Island Armory and Armscor constitute the correct balance.

Gallery

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Source: https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2015/04/28/review-rock-island-armory-tac-ultra-cs-1911s-45-9mm/

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