Crossing my fingers. This is a good one. Love the not a Glock. Glock like comparison. Excellent video. Feel bad. You have to repeat wording. So much. Hence " UA-cam Censorship "
I just picked one up, I’ll be shooting it this weekend. I’ve seen a few stove pipes in other reviews. I hope 🤞🏻 it runs alright, would be a good match gun for my 12yr old.
I love seeing manufacturers step out if their comfort zone. Aluminum frame? Heck yes! Slim, low bore axis? Ohh, yeah. Slide cuts AND forward serrations? Wow. 9 out of 10 for me because I don't like the thin rounded 1911 trigger guard.
Slide cuts means lint and dirt get easy access. If they make a version without the cuts, I think I'll have to buy one. An indestructible version of an indestructible gun? Perfect.
I'm glad you pointed out that detail with the slide. I'd seen another review yesterday that pointed out the longer rails, but I didn't even realize that would mean it wouldn't work with Gen 3 slides. A little unfortunate, but hopefully they come out with good optic plates (and hopefully one with a dovetail, haha.)
It could be my eyes playing tricks on me but that is a Glock styled pistol with a 1911 grip angle which means less canting of the wrists and a more natural aim point for those that are used to shooting M&P, CZ, Sig, etc. It is funny how so many companies are taking several design cues from Glock pistols and putting their twists on a new model of striker fired pistols that in many ways fixes the things that Glock refuses to. Then they still bring them to market at a price that is competitive. Glock could pay attention and do the same instead of bringing a restippled same old boring Blocky Glock to market. I look forward to the what's for dinner range video and what your impressions are; thanks for the in-depth table-top.
Good tabletop, I wonder if they're going to make a 19 sized version. Looks like it would fit glock holster. I wish they'd gone with a gen 4 mag release.
I have gone through about 20-gun purchases in a year and this Rock Island STK100 has, by far, been the biggest disappointment of them all. BRAND NEW, the three flat head screws, on its left side started to unthread themselves after about 100 rounds, no Loctite on them at all, too much Loctite on the optic site cover, had to use a heat gun to get them off, magazines won't lock in without a good slam, and biggest issue, fails to eject about 40% of the time. AND , I can only get 9 rounds into the 10 round magazines, UGH! The finish looks like third world flat black house paint, and the barrel looks like Harbour Freight's $ 9.99 1000-piece socket set metal. Nothing like a $500 paper weight and a constant reminder of my bad choice. Just have to wait 4-6 weeks for the Rock Island " gunsmith" to spray some oil on it , shoot 1 round , and proclaim it fixed.
Hoping that the frame is not casting but forged. The screws thats holding it together can be a fail point . Lets see the long term wrap up on how reliable it is . Thank for the review .
Thanks for the review. I just ordered one. From what I have been able to find out, the slide is in fact Gen3 compatible (edit: see response below from Graham Baates), and it does not need an optics mounting plate, the optics are directly mounted to the slide, just take off the rear site. Of course, I have not verified these matters personally, but I will soon when I get mine. Thanks again for the review. Your detailed video work and descriptions really helped me make a decision.
@@GBGuns Interesting. Thanks for the additional info. I will check it out when I get it. It's not actually an important point to me though, if it was then I would have taken a lot more interest in finding out for sure. Incidentally, it was one of the RIA reps that said the slides were interchangeable in a video, but I can't find that video now.
Yeah, I saw the same video. If my extractor was bent a little differently it would work, but since this is a loaner T&E gun i have to assume it's a perfect example AND I can't modify it and produce a truthful video.
@@GBGuns Understandable. If it's so close some modifications might be likely, of either the slide or extractor, or both. But when it comes down to it, it either fits off the shelf or it does not. I'll be very excited to get mine and might try the MBX Defender mags in it, all steel, and pricey. Don't know if you have any experience with them but they seem to be a cool match for this all metal "un-Glock". I think this is a very progressive rethink of the Glock and am very excited about it. Everything seems to be going polymer and RIA went the other way. Very cool IMHO. I am an old school DA/SA shooter so this style isn't my primary "go to" but this one definitely got me excited. You have inspired me to go after a Grand Power as well, but I haven't done it yet (kicking myself for passing up a Stoeger Cougar 8000 Inox recently). I have a Sar PL8ST coming with the RIA that I just could not resist. Cool range toy that just looks absolutely the part, and has all the right moves as a spiced up CZ clone. Your video on that one prompted me to go after that as well.
Does your optics cut work? I tried a vortex viper ( incidentally is shorter than a venom they claim fits) and my viper is too long. Also not a Doctor footprint
Excellent review. I've been looking at this pistol but the red dot compatibilities are troubling. I'm a huge RIA fan as their 1911s are great for the $.
I picked up one of their complete Glock slides when they were bringing them in for about 200$. Hopefully these are better quality. The parts kit included was subpar and I actually ended up breaking a striker.
Gun experts or gunsmiths may not need or want to look at the owners manual, but one never really knows what quirks or specifics that a manufacturer would like you to be aware of
My fellow stealth builders....It's true, you can put sweet fuck all onto the STK lower, but that's ok, it's kinda dodgy looking anyway, and I kinda think RIA knew that. What you can do however is toss that STK lower into a corner and whip out a p940v2 do a very minimal bit of fit and finish et voila! you have a p80/STK hybrid. Recoil spring is heavy, I'd recommend loading +P. You're welcome. =)
This pistol seems great in concept, but when you showed the trigger pull and said, "A bit of creep" it looked to be like a whole lot of spongy goin' on.
@@GBGuns -- I don't remember any Glock I shot having 1/4" of creep between the wall and the break. "Better than other stock triggers out there" Seriously, Graham? Any striker gun from CZ, Canik, S&W... hell even Ruger and Taurus... have better triggers than that creeeeep show. A company whose bread and butter is 1911s and that's the best they could do? Disappointing....
We don't Ruger in this house, and haven't done a S&W in ages so I can't speak to them. Canik is a Walther clone so of course it has a great trigger. There are many different trigger experiences and most have a valid application. This one is average, nothing noteworthy, but not great either. Not great as in not ideal for defensive use, not ideal for target use, just an overall ok trigger.
I love your videos keep up the good work but just wanted to say the trigger on this gone to me looks terrible. I know you say that Weight does it matter but when you're older and you have arthritis in your hands weight is very important. So maybe think about your entire audience not just people your age that are healthy. Otherwise really like what you're doing.
Leave it to Rock Island to surprise you with some good innovative stuff ! The industry seems to be going back to old fashion Steel. I would say that this STK 100 is more M&Pish than Glockish.
The frame being screwed together is disconcerting. The sharp edges on the magwell opening could have been given a radius during machining. The rear sight as part of the optics plate. To many shortcomings. Meh, pass for me.
@@layrad if it’s not picked up by a large holster manufacturer with level 2 retention it’s not worth it…. It’s not like it’s a small firearm meant for concealed carry.
$600.00 "Quite impressive for an all metal gun?" That's screwed together? At that price range there are so many better choices to pick from it's ridiculous. A used CZ for one. Nah, you can keep that thing.
Something about this gun bothers me. It looks poorly made. I could be wrong, but it looks like they cut a lot of corners to make this affordable. I will reserve judgement until I see your range review.
It is real metal... finally a green compliant handle and no environmental toxic waste heat defecting goo to worry about getting stuck around innocent unlucky jelly fish heads... and no out fumbling it together. Yes it checks the boxes.
Solid review brother. Enjoyed the close ups. Looks like a winner
We hut the range with it today. I'll tell you about it.
@@GBGuns Patiently awaiting What’s for Dinner.......
I thought so to when i first saw it. Compact version hopefully!
Guns a turd.
Crossing my fingers. This is a good one. Love the not a Glock. Glock like comparison. Excellent video. Feel bad. You have to repeat wording. So much. Hence " UA-cam Censorship "
Mine shipped yesterday...
Let's hope you have better luck!
I just picked one up, I’ll be shooting it this weekend. I’ve seen a few stove pipes in other reviews. I hope 🤞🏻 it runs alright, would be a good match gun for my 12yr old.
I love seeing manufacturers step out if their comfort zone.
Aluminum frame? Heck yes!
Slim, low bore axis? Ohh, yeah.
Slide cuts AND forward serrations? Wow.
9 out of 10 for me because I don't like the thin rounded 1911 trigger guard.
Slide cuts means lint and dirt get easy access. If they make a version without the cuts, I think I'll have to buy one. An indestructible version of an indestructible gun? Perfect.
I like how they went with the XD style rails.
This is my favorite gun for any type of rapid fire. If I ever compete this will be the gun I use. People don’t realize that this gun was born to race.
I'm glad you pointed out that detail with the slide. I'd seen another review yesterday that pointed out the longer rails, but I didn't even realize that would mean it wouldn't work with Gen 3 slides. A little unfortunate, but hopefully they come out with good optic plates (and hopefully one with a dovetail, haha.)
It could be my eyes playing tricks on me but that is a Glock styled pistol with a 1911 grip angle which means less canting of the wrists and a more natural aim point for those that are used to shooting M&P, CZ, Sig, etc. It is funny how so many companies are taking several design cues from Glock pistols and putting their twists on a new model of striker fired pistols that in many ways fixes the things that Glock refuses to. Then they still bring them to market at a price that is competitive. Glock could pay attention and do the same instead of bringing a restippled same old boring Blocky Glock to market. I look forward to the what's for dinner range video and what your impressions are; thanks for the in-depth table-top.
I'll definitely be getting a G19 size one if it also comes cut for a dot. Hopefully RIA has plans for a compact model.
I love your kids Band-Aid. 😉
Can't wait to see the shooting impressions, I'm thinking about getting one. I love my Rock Island 1911
We've got some great RIA 1911s...this gun...not so great on the range. Video coming.
@@GBGuns Damn, I honestly want to just buy the gun for the grip and swap it to my custom glocks, after hearing you say that.
Good reviews GB, content are straight to the pt.
Lubed and packed for freshness in the plastic baggy. ♠️☯️🎩
Good review, thanks. Really excited for this gun
I like this one. Great review 👏🏾
Very nice review. I like the looks of the gun a lot. Don't know when these will be available but definitely leaning towards a purchase.
Alot of interesting new pistols out. Liking this though and looking at the Sar review you had done
Part II of that SAR P8L will be out soon!
Thanks GB. Great job. Good info.
I would buy that frame by itself in a heartbeat.
Good tabletop, I wonder if they're going to make a 19 sized version. Looks like it would fit glock holster. I wish they'd gone with a gen 4 mag release.
Nice! Hope it runs good.
Very Nice ! 👍
Great table top review brother. Thank you
USN Retired
I have gone through about 20-gun purchases in a year and this Rock Island STK100 has, by far, been the biggest disappointment of them all. BRAND NEW, the three flat head screws, on its left side started to unthread themselves after about 100 rounds, no Loctite on them at all, too much Loctite on the optic site cover, had to use a heat gun to get them off, magazines won't lock in without a good slam, and biggest issue, fails to eject about 40% of the time. AND , I can only get 9 rounds into the 10 round magazines, UGH! The finish looks like third world flat black house paint, and the barrel looks like Harbour Freight's $ 9.99 1000-piece socket set metal. Nothing like a $500 paper weight and a constant reminder of my bad choice. Just have to wait 4-6 weeks for the Rock Island " gunsmith" to spray some oil on it , shoot 1 round , and proclaim it fixed.
What are the chances , my local shop just had a batch of these & i went to your channel yesterday to see if you had a video on it !
Nice 👍
Hoping that the frame is not casting but forged. The screws thats holding it together can be a fail point . Lets see the long term wrap up on how reliable it is . Thank for the review .
Thanks for the review. I just ordered one. From what I have been able to find out, the slide is in fact Gen3 compatible (edit: see response below from Graham Baates), and it does not need an optics mounting plate, the optics are directly mounted to the slide, just take off the rear site. Of course, I have not verified these matters personally, but I will soon when I get mine. Thanks again for the review. Your detailed video work and descriptions really helped me make a decision.
I hope you have better luck with yours. We tried three different slides, none of them fit over the ejector.
@@GBGuns Interesting. Thanks for the additional info. I will check it out when I get it. It's not actually an important point to me though, if it was then I would have taken a lot more interest in finding out for sure. Incidentally, it was one of the RIA reps that said the slides were interchangeable in a video, but I can't find that video now.
Yeah, I saw the same video. If my extractor was bent a little differently it would work, but since this is a loaner T&E gun i have to assume it's a perfect example AND I can't modify it and produce a truthful video.
@@GBGuns Understandable. If it's so close some modifications might be likely, of either the slide or extractor, or both. But when it comes down to it, it either fits off the shelf or it does not. I'll be very excited to get mine and might try the MBX Defender mags in it, all steel, and pricey. Don't know if you have any experience with them but they seem to be a cool match for this all metal "un-Glock". I think this is a very progressive rethink of the Glock and am very excited about it. Everything seems to be going polymer and RIA went the other way. Very cool IMHO. I am an old school DA/SA shooter so this style isn't my primary "go to" but this one definitely got me excited. You have inspired me to go after a Grand Power as well, but I haven't done it yet (kicking myself for passing up a Stoeger Cougar 8000 Inox recently). I have a Sar PL8ST coming with the RIA that I just could not resist. Cool range toy that just looks absolutely the part, and has all the right moves as a spiced up CZ clone. Your video on that one prompted me to go after that as well.
Does your optics cut work? I tried a vortex viper ( incidentally is shorter than a venom they claim fits) and my viper is too long. Also not a Doctor footprint
Awesome wow
Excellent review. I've been looking at this pistol but the red dot compatibilities are troubling. I'm a huge RIA fan as their 1911s are great for the $.
This is just the first half, you should see our Shooting Impressions videobefore making a decision
Armsacor said the gun came set up for the vortex venom red dot.
Correct, and field reports say it's only that optic, not others that follow the same footprint.
Awesome
I picked up one of their complete Glock slides when they were bringing them in for about 200$. Hopefully these are better quality. The parts kit included was subpar and I actually ended up breaking a striker.
Well this gun failed in a few ways when we took it to the range.
I hope they got a timny trigger for this beautiful pistol....
but the back grip serration helps increase recoil lmao hit and miss
Good quality reliable guns rock island! Made in the phillipines high quality.
Hi Graham, can you show how the 2 piece aluminum frame is put together and provide some comments on that? Thank you.
I did
wish it had interchangeable side grip panels
Looks nice, but pass for me. Way better guns for $599 or less in my opinion.
Nice job Graham. Does a Gen5 G17 slide fit and work on the STK100 frame? Thanks
I don't know, don't have one to test, our article explains a little more
Can’t wait to see you shoot it. One is available for me at $500 out the door.
This gun was a fail for us in a couple ways.
@@GBGuns So much potential, guess they threw it away.
@@tfkhc37 Or we got a bad example. Their T&E policy makes me think I shouldn't touch the gun and they must have wanted it this way.
Will this firearm work well with my enormous hands?
Have you seen Graham's hands, I'm confident will work well for you
Aren't these heavily lubed in case the ship sinks !
They have been sending review guns out. Is that new, or one someone had for review? Looks like it had a bunch of ammo through it.
Looking forward for this model to run through 20,000 endurance test in case it bids as alternative firearm to our local law enforcement (PH).
Ours didn't last 30 rounds.
“I don’t think it’s a glock clone”
Glock mag release
Glock takedown lever
Glock extractor
Glock slide release
Just saying, looks a lot like a Glock.
Gun experts or gunsmiths may not need or want to look at the owners manual, but one never really knows what quirks or specifics that a manufacturer would like you to be aware of
My fellow stealth builders....It's true, you can put sweet fuck all onto the STK lower, but that's ok, it's kinda dodgy looking anyway, and I kinda think RIA knew that. What you can do however is toss that STK lower into a corner and whip out a p940v2 do a very minimal bit of fit and finish et voila! you have a p80/STK hybrid. Recoil spring is heavy, I'd recommend loading +P. You're welcome. =)
Did you see our range video?
The finger guard looks small for a gloved hand.
I want this
No screwed together gun for me, nice review though
500 rounds to break-in?
Where can my Dealer order this gun?
So this is RI slides only?
How cool is this gun?.....I hate Glocks, but I want this!
Wait until you see the second video
@@GBGuns I'm looking forward to it. I hope they come out with one in .40 S&W.
Hard to find though.
This pistol seems great in concept, but when you showed the trigger pull and said, "A bit of creep" it looked to be like a whole lot of spongy goin' on.
Not spongey, just the normal Glock-like creep
@@GBGuns -- I don't remember any Glock I shot having 1/4" of creep between the wall and the break.
"Better than other stock triggers out there"
Seriously, Graham? Any striker gun from CZ, Canik, S&W... hell even Ruger and Taurus... have better triggers than that creeeeep show.
A company whose bread and butter is 1911s and that's the best they could do? Disappointing....
We don't Ruger in this house, and haven't done a S&W in ages so I can't speak to them. Canik is a Walther clone so of course it has a great trigger. There are many different trigger experiences and most have a valid application. This one is average, nothing noteworthy, but not great either. Not great as in not ideal for defensive use, not ideal for target use, just an overall ok trigger.
@@GBGuns -- We don't strive for "OK" triggers in this house and I won't piss on a Glock if it's on fire.
Then a budget gun like this probably isn't for you. They had to cut costs somewhere to have an aluminum frame and price it with the polymer
People are dumb. They tried to say Kahr was a Glock clone. I can’t wait to find this for sale.
Will a Glock trigger fit it tho been really curious about that
We don't have this pistol anymore, Glock-pattern magazines hardly even fit.
I love your videos keep up the good work but just wanted to say the trigger on this gone to me looks terrible. I know you say that Weight does it matter but when you're older and you have arthritis in your hands weight is very important. So maybe think about your entire audience not just people your age that are healthy. Otherwise really like what you're doing.
The gun bit you and made you it's owner.
Haha, RIA doesn't care, even after transfer they sent a memo with this gun about how they remain the owner (this is a loaner sample).
They should've incorporated a built in magwell smh~
Leave it to Rock Island to surprise you with some good innovative stuff ! The industry seems to be going back to old fashion Steel. I would say that this STK 100 is more M&Pish than Glockish.
Are Glock barrels compatible?
I wouldn't try it. See our Shooting Impressions video
👍🏻🙏
The frame being screwed together is disconcerting. The sharp edges on the magwell opening could have been given a radius during machining. The rear sight as part of the optics plate. To many shortcomings. Meh, pass for me.
tighten that grip on the 1911
Lol
Id get one if it was 10mm
Will it take G17 barrels?
Maybe, it won't take slides and only certain mags
Yes but you have to do some minor gunsmithing on the barrel
@@lennylemens such as? Will dremel or file work?
Does it fit in Glock Holsters?
No
@@layrad than definitely not interested in buying
@@whoisjohngalt9773 I'm sure holsters for it will show up soon. And like others have commented, some places can do custom orders
@@layrad if it’s not picked up by a large holster manufacturer with level 2 retention it’s not worth it…. It’s not like it’s a small firearm meant for concealed carry.
$600.00 "Quite impressive for an all metal gun?" That's screwed together?
At that price range there are so many better choices to pick from it's ridiculous. A used CZ for one. Nah, you can keep that thing.
Something about this gun bothers me. It looks poorly made. I could be wrong, but it looks like they cut a lot of corners to make this affordable. I will reserve judgement until I see your range review.
Way to expensive for a Hand gun
If I was glock I'd be in for 15% of every sale.
I would not buy that. When you buy a sig
Ouch thats an ugly glock lol. Probably a reliable gun.
The ugliest Glock clone yet!
It is real metal... finally a green compliant handle and no environmental toxic waste heat defecting goo to worry about getting stuck around innocent unlucky jelly fish heads... and no out fumbling it together. Yes it checks the boxes.
Looks promising, but I want them to make a budget 2011 9mm that takes Glock mags
The Glock mag design would make the grip too fat i think.