RIA vs. American Tactical 1911.... your thoughts?

[RevolverFan]

Just to go against the grain here, but have you considered a Taurus PT1911? Bud's is selling them for about $500, and I received a flyer from CDNN yesterday that had a .38 Super version selling for $399. Personally, I would buy the Taurus over the other two any day.

[Montkun]

Just my personal preference to not buy firearms online. Once i factor in FFL fees, taxes, and background check i can just buy the gun outright in the shop after feeling and inspecting the weapon. I won't have to wait for it to arrive and turn it away because of an apparent flaw just to get what feels right in my hands. Plus i like supporting local gun shops, we need more available IMO.

[GreenWolf70]

Don't get me wrong, I like my LGS and most of the time they are way cheaper than the online guys, but we have another local gun shop that is trying to build up a customer base by handling FFL transfers free of charge. So my question would get down to local taxes versus transportation costs. I inspect all my Internet gun purchases before I will accept them. I consider that part of the FFL service (to act as a business to business transaction, to keep me, the customer, out of that entanglement). I have used FFL holders in the past who would inspect the firearm before I got there and then ask what I wanted to do. Then again I have used FFL holders who got so upset about the quality of something that they sent it back and told the seller to make it right without asking me. But I have never let a FFL holder tell me that I can't inspect something until I accept delivery.

As of right now, my LGS has been as cheap, or cheaper than any of the online stores and I only go to the Internet for stuff they don't carry. Huntsville is lucky that way. Recently our PX has started carrying firearms and they advertise price matching in the PX, so I asked the firearms salesman and he said they will match any of the gun stores withing driving range, but not "that pawn shop". Which got me laughing because "that pawn shop" is the third largest distributor and the largest retail sales store in Alabama, maybe the South and possibly the entire USA and no one can match their prices, especially on sales. I haven't seen a single firearm in Gander Mountain that comes within $100 of Larry's. Academy sometimes on Black Friday has a firearm or two on sale that is cheaper, but that is about it.

And you guys really get charged for the cost of a background check? Do you hold your hands up in the air while waiting for the receipt (as in I'm being robbed)? I usually ask them that if I feel this way now, do they really expect any repeat sales?

[Montkun]

There's an LGS near me that has a $50 deposit on background checks, if you pass you get it back. If you fail, you lost $50. I bought a set of Hogue stocks for my 1911 about an hour ago there because they were only $12. I almost busted out laughing when i saw the background check sign. It's only a $5 fee anywhere else for a background check, that's why i don't buy guns from them. Also, i usually go to the next county to buy guns because the tax rate is lower outside of Allegheny County because we somehow have to keep paying for a stadium built 40 years ago that's been gone for nearly a decade now.

[olfarhors]

until recently i had never purchased a firearm online either.
but when i can pick up a Pt1911 Stainless for 429 and a Pt1911 AL for 449, shipping next day was 16 bucks for each, my gunsmith charges 15 bucks for FFL and inspects the gun when he recieves it, well i can't touch those prices here, not even close.
so far so good as to online purchases, but i do feel better being able to handle a weapon before buying it, just not 200-250 dollars better.
OH we don;t do background checks at all if the buyer has a carry permit, much less charge for them.

[scrabtree6]

I would grab one of those 38 super guns in a heartbeat if only they didn't have a damn rail on em :/ I wish when Taurus had the polished and gold 45's they didn't have a rail... why make a gun to be pretty and stick a huge tactical rail on it. Ok back to Armscor and ATI =P I know we never get off subject around here after all lol.

[jwc007]

Congratulations on your new RIA 1911! May it serve you well! I know of several people who have them, have no complaints, and like thme very much.

Also, i usually go to the next county to buy guns because the tax rate is lower outside of Allegheny County because we somehow have to keep paying for a stadium built 40 years ago that's been gone for nearly a decade now.

Some taxes never go away! Makes you wonder where or who that Money is going to?

[Montkun]

Thanks jwc, i appreciate it. I'm itching to hit the range in the morning, and already changed out the stocks to a Hogue set with finger grooves on them. Makes the pistol look really cool having the black on black, almost stealth fighter cool but it can't go Mach 1. Lol i gotta get a picture of it since i fell asleep for work about 2 minutes after i put them on. I also need to get some new sights since those basic blacks leave much to be desired before a round even gets through the pipe.

[Montkun]

Here's the new look with the Hogue's on it. Now it feels absolutely perfect in the hand. Well, off to the range to throw some lead.

[mike145]

Just curious, is the thumb safety blued or parked. It looks different then the rest. Both of my GI's were parked. Either way it looks great. Don't forget the range report.