Rock Island Armory 1911 GI Standard .45 ACP vs Ruger SR1911 .45 ACP

Two full-size single-action .45 ACP 1911s with the same 8-round capacity, the same 5.0" barrel, a thumb and grip safety each, and no optic cut. Dimensions are nearly identical: the Ruger SR1911 .45 ACP is 0.13" longer overall (8.67" vs 8.54"), 0.04" wider (1.34" vs 1.3") and 0.5 oz lighter at 39.0 oz against the Rock Island Armory 1911 GI Standard .45 ACP's 39.5 oz. What separates them is fit-out. The Ruger breaks 0.5 lb lighter at 4.5 lb against 5.0 lb, uses a skeletonized aluminum trigger, an extended thumb safety, Novak drift-adjustable 3-dot sights, a stainless frame and slide and hardwood grips, and includes two magazines. The RIA is parkerized 4140 steel with GI-type fixed blade and dovetail sights, smooth wood grips and one magazine. MSRP is $420.00 against $1259.00, an $839.00 difference.

Pick the Rock Island Armory 1911 GI Standard if:

• Price leads: the $420.00 MSRP is $839.00 under the SR1911
• You want a plain parkerized GI-pattern gun to build on or shoot as-is
• The 1.3" width is 0.04" narrower and the gun is within 0.5 oz of the Ruger anyway

Pick the Ruger SR1911 if:

• You want the 4.5 lb trigger, 0.5 lb lighter, with a skeletonized aluminum shoe
• Novak drift-adjustable 3-dot sights beat GI-type fixed sights for your eyes
• A stainless frame and slide, an extended thumb safety and two magazines are worth the money to you

Capacity, barrel length and size are effectively the same gun. The $839.00 gap buys a lighter trigger, better sights, stainless construction and a second magazine.