By R.K. Campbell | Contributing Editor
The 1911 has been a big part of my life for fifty years.
I enjoy firing the pistol, building and modifying the 1911, owning as many as finances and marital harmony will allow, and reading about the 1911. A modern 1911 isn’t the same pistol issued to the US Army in 1912. There have been quite a few improvements.
The great majority of 1911 handguns are Government Model types with a five-inch barrel and steel frame. Other popular variations include the Commander with a 4.25-inch barrel, various lightweight frame models, and the Officer’s Model. Each has a purpose.
Among the 1911 types that are not seen as often is the 1911 Long Slide. These pistols feature a longer slide and six-inch barrel. The pistol is even heavier and longer than the standard Government Model. The weight works against a carry gun but as a shooter and competetion pistol these are useful handguns. The Rock Island Armory 1911 Long Slide illustrated is among my most trusted and most accurate handguns.
Rock Island Armoy/Armscor has been providing affordable 1911 handguns for many years. The pistols are serviceable and offer good value for the money. The pistol illustrated is a different 1911 type, among of the elevated models featuring a target trigger, ambidextrous slide lock safety, extended beavertail grip safety, and good fitting.
The Long Slide version may be built on your Rock using a Rock Island Armory Long Slide kit. These Long Slide Kits usually retail for about $575. They are supplied with several upgraded parts. The primary component of the kit is the long slide and six-inch belled barrel.
The pistol illustrated is a factory Long Slide Target model. Instead of using the conventional barrel bushing and recoil spring plug of the Government Model the belled barrel is fitted to the slide directly. Accuracy potential is enhanced. Due to the dynamics of a long slide pistol the conventional barrel bushing may not offer the proper tilt during the recoil cycle. The Long Slide 1911 offers the proper barrel tilt and lockup. It features a two-piece guide rod that is easily disassembled.
Obviously, the pistol is longer and heavier than the traditional 1911 Government Model. The balance is well suited for target shooting and long range accuracy. Recoil is modest for a .45- caliber handgun. Let’s look at some of the particulars:
Height: 5.5 inches.
Overall Length: 9.65 inches
Width: 1.2 inches
Caliber: .45 ACP
Weight Empty: 48 oz
Sight Radius: 7.75 in.
This is a pleasantly muzzle heavy handgun. The longer sight radius results in easier accuracy, and here’s why: The rear sight is a Bomar type fully adjustable sight. Unfortunately, the adjustable sight found on many Rock Island 1911 pistols has a tendency to fly off the slide under heavy recoil, especially the 10mm version.
However, the sight offered on the Long Slide Match is a superior unit in every way. Trigger compression is a smooth and clean 4.5 pounds. The barrel feed ramp is properly polished for good feeding with the requisite 1/32-inch gap between the two halves of the feed ramp. As long as you load the .45 ACP cartridge to a 1.250-inch overall length per factory specs the long slide pistol will feed well. Fit and finish are good with the pistol finished in a durable parkerized coat.
Firing the pistol has been a good experience. There have been no failures to feed, chamber, fire or eject. The pistol has a pleasant balance in off-hand fire and is very steady.
It’s important to note the .45 ACP bullet doesn’t gain much velocity with the extra inch of barrel but the 30-40 fps upcharge in velocity is useful.
Most of my shooting has been with handloads. As an example a hard cast 200-grain SWC over enough Unique powder for 1,050 fps has proven accurate. Another sure combination is the Hornady 200-grain XTP jacketed hollow point over Titegroup powder for 1,000 fps.
The pistol recoils straight to the rear and muzzle rise is modest, and I found it is more than accurate enough for most forms of competition. It isn’t difficult to connect most of the time on six-inch-wide steel plates at a long 50 yards. In short the Long Slide model is quite an accurate 1911 variation with pleasant firing characteristics.
During range work the pistol is carried in a belt slide. This is the only practical holster type for range use. I suppose the Long Slide would be okay for hiking and hunting if you like the long slide type for this use. Use a heavy belt! Still the long slide pistol isn’t as heavy as some Magnum revolvers.
A holster well suited to competetion use is the Wilson Combat Range Tac. The front end of the Long Slide 1911 model protrudes slightly from the bottom of this holster but doesn’t prevent a good sharp draw.
Since the Wilson Combat Range Tac holster rides low on the belt this is an aid in drawing the long slide pistol. There are pistols faster on the draw than the Rock Island Long Slide Match but there aren’t any more controllable in speed shooting. In short the Long Slide Match does exactly what it was designed to do offer a trained shooter every advantage.
Firing results- firing from a solid bench rest for accuracy
Load Five shot group in inches
Hornady 200 gr. XTP 2.0 in.
Hornady 225 gr. Flex Lock 2.15 in.
Handload 200 gr. SWC 2.2 in.
Handload 200 gr. XTP 1000 fps 1.9 in.
