This is my personal gun purchased to compete in 3-Gun tactical competition. I like it because it is heavy and feels good to grip. Rock Island Armory has mastered the feel of the 1911 and made it better than ever. Its narrow grip fits my hand well and is highlighted by the G10 stippled grip panels. I notice that its center of gravity is forward, which tames recoil a bit.
I love the many custom features. An extended lower forward receiver Picatinny rail accepts tactical lights or lasers. It also adds forward weight where needed and houses a full-length recoil spring guide rail that aids accuracy.
Look at the skeletonized trigger that is adjustable for overtravel – a nice feature! Micro-adjustable sights with a fiber-optic front insert are very visible. The slide is serrated on front and back to add in gripping, and the extended beavertail rear grip protects me from hammer bite. An ambidextrous safety and custom flared magazine well are included, too. What else could I ask for?
FNX-45 TACTICAL
Here is a truly modern pistol needing little customization. It feels light in my hand. The grip’s deep checking surrounds the pistol grip, aiding my confidence to absorb recoil. It is a large pistol but weighs a half-pound less than the all-steel 1911A1. The polymer frame is mated to a stainless-steel slide and cold hammer-forged barrel. This weight distribution seems a bit top-heavy to me at first.
My medium hands fit the grip well, and I can reach the large, curved trigger easily. This is a double/single action pistol, meaning the first shot will need a substantial pull of 10 pounds and be reduced to 5 pounds thereafter. This system is safe to carry loaded and will get the gun into action fast.
The big advantage of the FNX is the magazine capacity of 15 big .45 ACP cartridges. Wrapping my hand around the grip, I am reminded that there will be no need to reload for a while! The steel magazine is double stacked and tapered to a single-feed design, which I find very reliable. It also has the advantage of aiding in quick reloading. The witness holes in the magazine are numbered to 15 to monitor remaining ammo.
The handgun is completely ambidextrous. Slide hold-open, safety, and magazine release are duplicated on both sides. I like the exposed hammer, which gives me control to set the firing condition of the gun.
The muzzle is threaded to .578x28 TPI, and the high-profile sights allow viewing above the suppressor. The rear sight base can be removed to allow a modern red dot sight to be mounted if desired.
SHOOTING THE RIA
What a great day for shooting in Area 51 in Arizona! Targets of opportunity abound, and it seems the aliens have left reinforcements of root beer eggs. Today I am shooting both Sellier & Bellot and Nosler 230-grain jacketed hollow-point bullet cartridges. They are impressive-looking projectiles designed for self-defense.
First up is the RIA 1911A1. Sights are well-defined with three dots that align naturally. I can choose to carry it with safety engaged or hammer at half-cock. The grip safety is there to protect from an accidental discharge, too. Several root beer bottles explode violently when hit by the 230-grain hollow points. The single-action trigger makes this easy. Two root beer bottles line up and are taken out with one bullet.
My three-shot group at 11 yards on steel shows it is accurate. It is also easy to keep the flapper steel swinging with well-placed hits, and head shots are no problem. Pop cans are a bit more challenging but explode and shred, their skins flinging high in the air. Finally, I must test the pistol’s long-range accuracy on a 2-liter bottle at 35 yards. I experience no take-up on the trigger, and the gun’s natural balance aids in a one-shot hit. Impressive! The slide was held open after each magazine was expended, and no jams were encountered.
Shooting the FN
Next up is the new kid on the block, the FNX-45 with its 15-round magazine. Will it be up to the task? The FNX certainly points naturally, and the sights are easy to pick up in daytime. I elect to fire the first shot double-action, as this may be the method of carry.
Lining up two root beer bottles, I find the long, heavy double-action pull is manageable and hit both with one bullet. A double hit with double action! The 2-liter jugs explode one after another with precision shots from the FNX demonstrating accuracy at the closer 11-yard range.
The steel flapper can be hit regularly, too. Two root beer bottles remain at 35 yards distance. Although the high-profile sights are not adjustable, they are highly visible. Both are hit with well-aimed shots. I must admit that this pistol is impressive, despite its heavier trigger and fixed sights. One failure to feed was encountered in today’s test of hollow-point ammunition. No failures to hold open were encountered.
WHICH IS THE BETTER HANDGUN?
Practically speaking, they are about even.
RIA FS TACT
- Thin grips
- Best trigger – light pull, lack of creep
- Easier to completely disassemble
- Triple-safety design
-
Adjustable standard sights
FNX-45
- Higher magazine count
- Double-action trigger is faster for a first shot
- Double-safe design
- Accepts red-dot electronic sights
- Interchangeable grip back straps
-
Threaded barrel
FINAL THOUGHTS
At first, I did not believe that the FNX-45 could hold up to the FS TACT. However, based on testing, I am rethinking that concept. There are many times when a high-capacity magazine would cancel the need for a spare one, saving weight overall.
Although the FS TACT trigger is superior, the FNX45 double-action trigger is probably faster for a first shot. Reliability and accuracy are equal. I would like to test it in a practical pistol match soon.
For now, I will stick with my 1911A1. I am used to it, and it feels comfortable to me. However, if you cannot decide, buy one of each and have the best of new and old!
