I have this on layaway, can't wait to get it out and go to the range. I bought it for no other reason than I just liked it a lot when i saw it at the gun shop. I'm not a 1911 guy at all, so I could care less about what this gun is or isn't, I like it and that's all that matters to me.
I'm a fan of the 1911 I've learned to not get locked in on one particular way of gripping a gun they are all different grip angles safeties etc I am comfortable holding small pistols whatever it takes great job on your video.
What I did was put some 'bright white' touch-up paint on the front sight. I even placed a little on the upper sides of the rear sight. Now you can pick up those sights easily. I'm still waiting for someone to sell night sights for this handgun.
RI missed the boat going with blow back operation. Still, I was tempted by it, given the 3.75" barrel and the value that adds to .380 ACP ballistics. The .380 ACP will meet the FBI penetration requirements with one of the half dozen or so loads using the 90 gr XTP, but only when you can get the muzzle velocity up around 1025-1050 fps. DO do that you need at least a 3.5" barrel, and the shorter Colt Mustang, Sig P238 and Kimber Micro, with their 2.75" barrels come up a little short, at around 980 fps. However the deal breaker for me was the blow back operation. The 1911 is a delayed recoil locked breached design (as are the Colt Mustang, Sig P238, and Kimber Micro) , which means this not a 1911. It weighs the same 22 oz as a PPK/S and the recoil is just as sharp, while the delayed recoil locked aluminum framed Sig P238, Kimber Micro, etc with weights in the 13-14 oz range are surprisingly soft recoiling pistols. That's unfortunate as a steel framed, 3.75" barrel, .380 ACP using a true 1911 operating system would have been superbly controllable yet still reasonably light and small for concealed carry.
Weight lite enough to carry easily, wear a gun belt, not a Walmart special, produces less recoil. I think RIA tried to produce it as a toggle link barrel but couldn't get it to work. Your Mustang sig and Kimber are not 1911's either as they have a cammed barrel, not a toggle link. I have one and carry it in summer Just my opinion
I was not entirely satisfied with Browning 1911-380 and wanted to like the Baby Rock, but the blowback operation soured me up on this. The Browning has a proper locked breech system, although using a cam slot instead of a link. Also, Baby Rock uses a different grip angle. So, it's close, but no cigar.
What left you dissatisfied? I have had a few issues with the pistol myself. It occasionally hiccups with ball ammo but feeds self defense like a champ. Go figure. I used it for anti-animal defense more than anything else. The 380 is going to stop anything smaller than a bear.
You talking about the Rock or the Browning? I have a Browning Black Label and have no issues with the fit and finish. It fact I find it too tight. A good 1911 should not be precision tight.
That thing looks like a cool little gun,.. !! Awesome job being able to finish that run too,...great job Erika even if it was five years ago...Graham, that last shot was spot on,..lol just paint the front post I think that'll help a bunch, but ya probably already knew that.
I love Rock Island/Armscor pistols. The only thing I'd change about his gun is replacing the rubber grips with a nice set of walnut grips like the Baby Citadel has. I have big hands, and the beaver tail and higher riding slide would suit me perfectly just like the full size 1911s. Some white and orange paint could help rectify the sight problem.
I’m going to pick one up tomorrow + a box of ammo. Then I’ll have 2 different backups to swap out every few days. The other backup I have is the M&P Shield. So I’ll be satisfied!
Shooting with black sights against a black target is tough. We used to use a carbide lamp to blacken the sights since carbide black is darker than target black.
A Sig p238 is smaller, lighter, comes with better sights, is tilting barrel instead of blow back (and is therefore significantly closer to a true 1911 than this is), and fills the hand just as well with the same exact capacity (if using the 7 round magazine instead of the 6).
It appears to be a blowback like the later Llama .380s. Not really a miniaturized 1911. And not a Browning system. Try an early Llama. You will fall in love with it. The early ones are recoil operated and much better.
Well, the first thing I did was dab some white paint on the sights. Then I took the black finish off the sides of the slide, and made a pair of custom wood grips. It looks exactly like a $750 Browning Black Label.
Me too. I was looking for one of these, but import bans during the 'rona times made that impossible so I went with the Browning. Real happy with it, although I do wish it too was all steel. But it has that classic look and matches my Springfield Milspec .45 perfectly.
@@Catgat37 It's just a bit small in my hand, but I've never had trouble holding on to it or engaging the hand safety. Hope you like yours as much as i like mine, real fun gun.
just got mine I LOVE IT. 10/10 only thing I wanna change is the sights. put some LS grips on them. Looked amazing. No aftermarket sights though, will have to do something about that.
The Philippine-American War was fought between 1899 and 1902, the first John Browning pistol was the 1903 Pocket Model. The 1911 didn't see combat until WWI.
I like the idea of a 1911-380 with a longer barrel. The Browning 1911-380 is 85% of Combat Commander with a 4.25" barrel. The Baby Rock is good at 3.75" but the Browning is better. With 380 you need as much velocity as you can get. This is not a knock on the RIA product, my outdoor gun is a RIA TAC II in 10mm, but if you are going bigger on a 1911 chambered in 380 you might as well go with the Browning.
I would love to have one of those I don't even know why anyone debates caliber sizes when it comes to shooting human flesh a hot 22 caliber round will ruin your day just as bad as any other bullet that enters your body
Yet so many people debate caliber sizes. People don't even like to listen when you explain to them that 380 is actually just a 9×17. And there are many hot rounds out there that have way more than sufficient ballistic testing.
The pistol looks great other than the sights. Thinking of picking one up for a budget 1911 and it being compact for my smaller hands. Wish springfield had more of the 1911 emp 4" contours available, else i'd pick that one up for twice the price lol.
If you find some better sights for the gun please let me know. I can't find any on the web. I have written to both Ameriglo and Truglo and neither make sights for this handgun.
I just bought one of these about a month ago and I love it! I have run into a bit of an issue, though. My pistol only came with one magazine and I have tried two more magazines in it, but neither one works properly in it. I bought the blued version from Advanced Tactical and it would not latch in the pistol when I tried to insert it with the slide closed. When I inserted it with the slide open, I could not close the slide. I tried an OEM stainless magazine also with similar results. Any thoughts?
That was the first time 1911 for used in combat in the Philippine Islands, but the 1911 has been around since 1911 and was the sidearm adopted in 19 12 or 1913 by the United States military and saw combat in world war I !!!
Manual says 500 round break-in period. Looks like that's what it's going to take for mine. 300 rounds so far and getting a little better each time ( very little ). Sent it back once , it was a single shot when I first got it and no last round hold open. 200 more rounds and maybe I'll have a usable gun. I have a few more RIA products and not one has been good right out of the box.
It's a llama 380 I pulled up a parts diagram for the llama and for the baby rock and put them next to each other and other than different grips every single part is identical
No optics cut…😢 RIA could have had real winner here. Imagine this with an 8 round magazine and an optics cut! That would be a true alternative to the Sig P365-380.
I've never really been much of a .45 ACP guy, it's just too heavy/weak of a round. Mostly due in part to the fact that it's just an older round designed for lower pressures. Browning didn't actually want the 1911 to be chambered in .45 ACP, the U.S. did. That's why the earlier 1911 models were in .38 ACP, Samuel Jackson's character in "Kong" actually uses a set of those earlier pistols. Definitely an interesting caliber, personally I'm more of a .40 S&W guy. It's often more powerful and cheaper than .45 ACP all while still maintaining reliable expansion. Law Enforcement Officers have had better luck with .40 S&W (and 9MM surprisingly) than .45 ACP actually. Clearly not everyone needs .40 S&W or .357 SIG, but they definitely seem to be impressive on the streets for LEO. I do believe that there's a definite level of naivety towards 9MM and it's capabilities though, for MOST people 9MM or .380 ACP will serve you just fine. If your a person that values hard barrier penetration or wants a more powerful cartridge, more power to you...I'm one of those people myself. Just don't go in believing that you need a .45 ACP to kill someone, a projectile is a projectile. People would be surprised at how many medical examiner's can't even tell the difference betweem FMJ and JHP rounds...yet everyone wants to believe they need to pay $1.25 a round to get performance. Rant over.
how is the recoil to the web of the hand? every damn blowback 380 i have ever owned stings pretty hard -beretta cheetah -CZ 83 -Sig 232...(Hogue rubber grips fixed that)...sold it because of the stupid spring in the frame that flies to Never-Never Land during cleaning..Sig doesn't sell that spring alone, gotta buy a whole $50 spring kit...Did that *ONE* time
+swordsman3000 not bad at all. A trick we use is to ensure the firing hand is high on the stock and arm pushing forward while the support hand pulls towards you.
i think that may stem from another probable fudd legend that .45 acp was designed because the phillipino warriors werent being put down with the smaller rounds at the time so they made a more powerful one.this again is probably horse shit and im no expert but the 1911 and .45acp are so closely associated its probably why
They missed the boat on this one . Should be locked breech, alloy frame lowering weight to under20 ounces , ambi safety. Someone should just clone the no longer in production Colt Government 380Pocketlute. I have that and the Mustang Pocketlite, as a lefty I fitted both with C&S ambi safety. A 25 ounce blowback 380 makes no sense
The casings are not really for the customer. They are for states that require the casings. In states with that law, the casing are sent to the state by the FFL dealer and they are recorded. The failed idea is casing found at a crime scene can be compared to the stored casings for use in tracking the gun. Maryland had the law and never used a case in a crime search. Complete waste of resources and money.
I have this on layaway, can't wait to get it out and go to the range. I bought it for no other reason than I just liked it a lot when i saw it at the gun shop. I'm not a 1911 guy at all, so I could care less about what this gun is or isn't, I like it and that's all that matters to me.
Hey man how do you like it? I just got ordered one and still waiting on it. I'm a big fan of 1911s
You are the first person with a review of this that said anything about the frame...thank you so much
I'm a fan of the 1911 I've learned to not get locked in on one particular way of gripping a gun they are all different grip angles safeties etc I am comfortable holding small pistols whatever it takes great job on your video.
What I did was put some 'bright white' touch-up paint on the front sight. I even placed a little on the upper sides of the rear sight. Now you can pick up those sights easily. I'm still waiting for someone to sell night sights for this handgun.
I did the same on front sight. I opened up the rear sight w/ball cutter. Works like a charm.
I think I would paint the front sight. Nice little gun. I may consider it for my EDC gun.
I'd like the size of the 1911 A1 380, the 1911 was the sidearm for the United States military when I was in service, it's still a superb weapon !!!
RI missed the boat going with blow back operation.
Still, I was tempted by it, given the 3.75" barrel and the value that adds to .380 ACP ballistics. The .380 ACP will meet the FBI penetration requirements with one of the half dozen or so loads using the 90 gr XTP, but only when you can get the muzzle velocity up around 1025-1050 fps. DO do that you need at least a 3.5" barrel, and the shorter Colt Mustang, Sig P238 and Kimber Micro, with their 2.75" barrels come up a little short, at around 980 fps.
However the deal breaker for me was the blow back operation. The 1911 is a delayed recoil locked breached design (as are the Colt Mustang, Sig P238, and Kimber Micro) , which means this not a 1911.
It weighs the same 22 oz as a PPK/S and the recoil is just as sharp, while the delayed recoil locked aluminum framed Sig P238, Kimber Micro, etc with weights in the 13-14 oz range are surprisingly soft recoiling pistols.
That's unfortunate as a steel framed, 3.75" barrel, .380 ACP using a true 1911 operating system would have been superbly controllable yet still reasonably light and small for concealed carry.
Donald Trump Browning is not a true 1911. It has all polymer lower. RIA Baby Rock is all metal.
+Shaq Deisel Here's the real twist. Browning invented the .380 but scaling down the .45 with the intent of using it in blowback...
Weight lite enough to carry easily, wear a gun belt, not a Walmart special, produces less recoil. I think RIA tried to produce it as a toggle link barrel but couldn't get it to work. Your Mustang sig and Kimber are not 1911's either as they have a cammed barrel, not a toggle link. I have one and carry it in summer Just my opinion
I was not entirely satisfied with Browning 1911-380 and wanted to like the Baby Rock, but the blowback operation soured me up on this. The Browning has a proper locked breech system, although using a cam slot instead of a link. Also, Baby Rock uses a different grip angle. So, it's close, but no cigar.
Are you sure the grip angle is different? Blow-back operation is how a lot of .380's operate.
What left you dissatisfied?
I have had a few issues with the pistol myself. It occasionally hiccups with ball ammo but feeds self defense like a champ. Go figure. I used it for anti-animal defense more than anything else. The 380 is going to stop anything smaller than a bear.
+John Shepherd sights, fit, and finish. I own a couple RIA. This one just wasn't the same.
You talking about the Rock or the Browning? I have a Browning Black Label and have no issues with the fit and finish. It fact I find it too tight. A good 1911 should not be precision tight.
+John Shepherd the Rock
Reminds me of the Colt Model 1903 Pocket Hammerless (Browning design). Looks nice and good review 😎👍
That thing looks like a cool little gun,.. !! Awesome job being able to finish that run too,...great job Erika even if it was five years ago...Graham, that last shot was spot on,..lol just paint the front post I think that'll help a bunch, but ya probably already knew that.
+Eric “PoorManPrepper” K Thanks!
I love Rock Island/Armscor pistols. The only thing I'd change about his gun is replacing the rubber grips with a nice set of walnut grips like the Baby Citadel has. I have big hands, and the beaver tail and higher riding slide would suit me perfectly just like the full size 1911s. Some white and orange paint could help rectify the sight problem.
I’m going to pick one up tomorrow + a box of ammo. Then I’ll have 2 different backups to swap out every few days. The other backup I have is the M&P Shield. So I’ll be satisfied!
Shooting with black sights against a black target is tough. We used to use a carbide lamp to blacken the sights since carbide black is darker than target black.
A Sig p238 is smaller, lighter, comes with better sights, is tilting barrel instead of blow back (and is therefore significantly closer to a true 1911 than this is), and fills the hand just as well with the same exact capacity (if using the 7 round magazine instead of the 6).
The SIG lacs a grip safety, significant on a single action auto. Cocked and locked is the only way.
It appears to be a blowback like the later Llama .380s. Not really a miniaturized 1911. And not a Browning system. Try an early Llama. You will fall in love with it. The early ones are recoil operated and much better.
Well, the first thing I did was dab some white paint on the sights. Then I took the black finish off the sides of the slide, and made a pair of custom wood grips. It looks exactly like a $750 Browning Black Label.
totally agree it is a great 380, easy for a new shooter and size perfect for a person with smaller hands. Two thumbs way up!
Nice gun. I’ve got the Browning black label 380. Love it.
Me too. I was looking for one of these, but import bans during the 'rona times made that impossible so I went with the Browning. Real happy with it, although I do wish it too was all steel. But it has that classic look and matches my Springfield Milspec .45 perfectly.
I was looking for a funner 380 to trade my Glock 42 for yesterday. The baby rock felt meh in my hand. The Browning Black label felt amazing.
@@Catgat37 It's just a bit small in my hand, but I've never had trouble holding on to it or engaging the hand safety. Hope you like yours as much as i like mine, real fun gun.
just got mine I LOVE IT. 10/10 only thing I wanna change is the sights. put some LS grips on them. Looked amazing. No aftermarket sights though, will have to do something about that.
I am also looking for sights for this pistol... if you find the front sight in fiber optic or tritium, please tell me.
The Philippine-American War was fought between 1899 and 1902, the first John Browning pistol was the 1903 Pocket Model. The 1911 didn't see combat until WWI.
I like the idea of a 1911-380 with a longer barrel. The Browning 1911-380 is 85% of Combat Commander with a 4.25" barrel. The Baby Rock is good at 3.75" but the Browning is better. With 380 you need as much velocity as you can get. This is not a knock on the RIA product, my outdoor gun is a RIA TAC II in 10mm, but if you are going bigger on a 1911 chambered in 380 you might as well go with the Browning.
Plastic frame 1911s are trash, even if its in 380
Just put one on layaway in FDE with G10 grips! Can't wait to carry it off duty!
@johnrodriguez5277
I’m looking at a FDE version. How’s yours?
Armscor SAYS they are negotiating with vendors to get night sights available by the end of this year. I hope so
If RIA get TFO sights on the Baby Rock, that would be great.
I would love to have one of those I don't even know why anyone debates caliber sizes when it comes to shooting human flesh a hot 22 caliber round will ruin your day just as bad as any other bullet that enters your body
Yet so many people debate caliber sizes. People don't even like to listen when you explain to them that 380 is actually just a 9×17. And there are many hot rounds out there that have way more than sufficient ballistic testing.
just picked one of these up yesterday....love it. the only complaint is the saftey....its real easy to disengage. other than that awsome pistol.
+Shane Trapp Awesome! I hope you enjoy it. They're fun!
good thing it has grip and thumb safety.
The pistol looks great other than the sights. Thinking of picking one up for a budget 1911 and it being compact for my smaller hands. Wish springfield had more of the 1911 emp 4" contours available, else i'd pick that one up for twice the price lol.
Great review, it is built and packaged like they are proud of it. I would think a gunsmith could change out the front sight?
If you find some better sights for the gun please let me know. I can't find any on the web. I have written to both Ameriglo and Truglo and neither make sights for this handgun.
I want it.
I just bought one of these about a month ago and I love it! I have run into a bit of an issue, though. My pistol only came with one magazine and I have tried two more magazines in it, but neither one works properly in it. I bought the blued version from Advanced Tactical and it would not latch in the pistol when I tried to insert it with the slide closed. When I inserted it with the slide open, I could not close the slide. I tried an OEM stainless magazine also with similar results. Any thoughts?
Back here, its two magazines in the box. So is my Bersa Thunder 380CC, two mags. Boy, Eagle Imports.
That was the first time 1911 for used in combat in the Philippine Islands, but the 1911 has been around since 1911 and was the sidearm adopted in 19 12 or 1913 by the United States military and saw combat in world war I !!!
Correct
A dab of white out on the front sight helps.
Thanks for the great review
Paint the front sight. Great shooting anyway.
Ordered mine today
A beauty! I'd like one.
RIA will sell a ton of 1911 as small as this and with external extractor if they make it in 9mm parabellum.
Manual says 500 round break-in period. Looks like that's what it's going to take for mine. 300 rounds so far and getting a little better each time ( very little ). Sent it back once , it was a single shot when I first got it and no last round hold open. 200 more rounds and maybe I'll have a usable gun. I have a few more RIA products and not one has been good right out of the box.
just love this gun
It's a llama 380 I pulled up a parts diagram for the llama and for the baby rock and put them next to each other and other than different grips every single part is identical
it reminds me of the star i owned as a boy. that was .32acp
I have ria in ph.. the 911.. the only problem I can't get " permit to carry" only for house defence..
Which do you like the best between this (the Baby Rock) and the Llama .380 1911? Thanks.
So, is this a direct blow back? How stiff is the recoil spring and how is the recoil compare with other 380 or 9mm?
Grip angle looks different compared to browning 380 .
Super easy to configure front sight to you taste.
Love my baby but would like to replace my sights yet I'm having no luck. U happen to have a lead on any?
Nice review.
No optics cut…😢
RIA could have had real winner here. Imagine this with an 8 round magazine and an optics cut! That would be a true alternative to the Sig P365-380.
This video, and the pistol in it, was made long before everyone decided they needed an optic to shoot.
Why is there 2 safety's on the gun?
Wish I could find one!
Did you ever get one!
I saw one....but they had a Browning black label at the same shop....so.
Colt Mustang is still the best 380 1911 style pistol.
Hadn't shot the Mustang to date but I do shoot my Colt Government Model 380 and stand by it firmly.
*_Cool Beans!_*
WAs their any trouble with failure to chamber or feed? With any ammo type?
could someone please tell me the difference between this and a Colt General officer's gun.
If you can find one. Still looking.
That front sight post needs some red paint
+PlanetRigo and some MiracleGro
What would you recommended for "night sights" on this Baby Rock 1911?
+Schpankme Verimuch I don't know, the factory sights were one of our complaints. I don't know what fits.
Graham Baates
NP, I was hoping for you to save me some research time. >:)
Thanks much
Mine doesn't have a grip safety. Is it a newer model?
Possibly, this is an old video.
I've never really been much of a .45 ACP guy, it's just too heavy/weak of a round. Mostly due in part to the fact that it's just an older round designed for lower pressures. Browning didn't actually want the 1911 to be chambered in .45 ACP, the U.S. did. That's why the earlier 1911 models were in .38 ACP, Samuel Jackson's character in "Kong" actually uses a set of those earlier pistols. Definitely an interesting caliber, personally I'm more of a .40 S&W guy. It's often more powerful and cheaper than .45 ACP all while still maintaining reliable expansion. Law Enforcement Officers have had better luck with .40 S&W (and 9MM surprisingly) than .45 ACP actually. Clearly not everyone needs .40 S&W or .357 SIG, but they definitely seem to be impressive on the streets for LEO. I do believe that there's a definite level of naivety towards 9MM and it's capabilities though, for MOST people 9MM or .380 ACP will serve you just fine. If your a person that values hard barrier penetration or wants a more powerful cartridge, more power to you...I'm one of those people myself. Just don't go in believing that you need a .45 ACP to kill someone, a projectile is a projectile. People would be surprised at how many medical examiner's can't even tell the difference betweem FMJ and JHP rounds...yet everyone wants to believe they need to pay $1.25 a round to get performance. Rant over.
I'm one of those guys that wants something fun in every caliber. My wallet disagrees with me.
A dot of white paint is all you need
Use odel paint orglow in dark sight paint
how is the recoil to the web of the hand?
every damn blowback 380 i have ever owned stings pretty hard
-beretta cheetah
-CZ 83
-Sig 232...(Hogue rubber grips fixed that)...sold it because of the stupid spring in the frame that flies to Never-Never Land during cleaning..Sig doesn't sell that spring alone, gotta buy a whole $50 spring kit...Did that *ONE* time
+swordsman3000 not bad at all. A trick we use is to ensure the firing hand is high on the stock and arm pushing forward while the support hand pulls towards you.
Not bad but snaps back more than my 40 cal 229
Your statement linking the 1911 to the Philippine War is wrong. The “war” ended in 1902.
i think that may stem from another probable fudd legend that .45 acp was designed because the phillipino warriors werent being put down with the smaller rounds at the time so they made a more powerful one.this again is probably horse shit and im no expert but the 1911 and .45acp are so closely associated its probably why
What is the going price on the Baby Rock? Does it come in 9mm? I have pistols with no dot but I only use white targets, no problem.
+Rafael Madrigal just 380. Prices can vary
how does that barrel lock to the slide?
+Chuck Bridgeland It's built just like a standard 1911.
+Graham Baates look at 8:47. I don't see barrel lugs. (Nor, for that matter, as you note, the swinging link.)
They missed the boat on this one . Should be locked breech, alloy frame lowering weight to under20 ounces , ambi safety. Someone should just clone the no longer in production Colt Government 380Pocketlute. I have that and the Mustang Pocketlite, as a lefty I fitted both with C&S ambi safety. A 25 ounce blowback 380 makes no sense
The casings are not really for the customer. They are for states that require the casings. In states with that law, the casing are sent to the state by the FFL dealer and they are recorded. The failed idea is casing found at a crime scene can be compared to the stored casings for use in tracking the gun. Maryland had the law and never used a case in a crime search. Complete waste of resources and money.
👍👍👍COOL 👍 👍 👍
+dings da It's the 1911 Browning would have made for the modern market.
awesome!!!!!!!! the slide does'nt lock
Gotta love the complaints because it's not made in the US.
The Llama Micro-Max is a better gun. Imported by Eagle Imports, manufactured by Metroarms in the Phillipines, a better company than Rock Island.
Did the gun come with both of the magazines for you? I have not been able to find mags on the secondary market.
Would browning 1911-380 mags work?
Both came in mine. Have you tried directly through Armscor?
Advanced Tactical has them. Make sure you order the standard factory replacement magazine. The other one did not work.
@t Grips and mags.
www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=GRIPS+RIA+Rock+Island+Armory+Baby+380+&_sacat=0 Grips and mags.
Bought one for my wife for Christmas.... biggest piece of crap I have ever owned firearms wise..... Too bad, my 3 Rock island 1911s are awesome.
Paint the front post plz wtf smfh. use glow in the dark paint. helps at night.
tx