Two late Birthday presents.

[Guest TankerHC]

Wife wanted to get me the Sig .45/.22 deal and she and some friends tried and couldn't find anyone with both in the promotion. She didn't know I was looking but neither could I. Always got the same response. We arent doing that, thats Sig's promotion. Well I have bought guns on promotion so I knew that (Where were those Sig 2fer deals anyway?). Last year it was a couple of Henry's and she wanted to do it again this year so she knew I had been talking to my BIL about this 1911. She also knew I had been talking about another Bolt .22 I already have an 82G, wanted to get another MKII which I shouldnt have sold in the first place.

 

I never cared for the build quality on these Citadels, when they came out years ago I shot one that belonged to my cousin and to be blunt it was a complete POS. Magazines wouldnt fit correctly in the well (None of them of 3 or 4 different brands), which in turn caused so many malfunctions we just put it down but fortunately he had his V16 Longslide with us that day so we had lots of 1911 fun. Plus, I had never seen a 1911 with out of line serrations. How the hell does that happen? Another question I had was why was Armscor letting guns like this out of their factory. I owned one of the first Citadel 1911 .22's, and it was equally a piece of junk. But at least the magazine didnt fall apart like the Chiappa I owned. I did eventually own one of the older Citadel 1911's, for about a week. POS.  Well when told what I could do, I didnt hesitate (I'm not gonna look a gift horse in the mouth?). So I did what I felt the wife would want me to do. I got both of them. The Citadel and the .22 Bolt gun. For less than the cost of just a Sig. So this is a sort of out of the box review on the Citadel M-1911. 

 

The reason I bought a gun I previously considered a POS was because there was a discussion on here about low cost 1911's. I made a comment about the Citadel, something or another and I believe it was Dolomite (Could be wrong but I think it was) that said he carried one. (Excuse me if I am incorrect on that) and disagreed with my opinion on the Citadel. So a few weeks ago I decided to go to Academy and look closer than just through the glass case. These are not 2010 (or 11 or whatever it was) Citadels. I suppose I shouldnt be surprised since Rocks werent the best low range 1911's when they came out either and Martin and his crew I notice arent making a lot of comments about the upcoming American made Armscor 1911's when asked about expected build quality and cost. I suspect the American Armscor 1911's fresh off a new line will not be the greatest quality either but then there is that .22 TCM which was, right off the line, along with that .22 TCM Rifle. 

 

So out of the box and disassembled, my opinion of todays Armscor Citadels. Fit and finish (Finish generally) excellent. Lateral movement of the slide is very minimal. Comparable to my R1 Enhanced, same as the Rock Tactical. Lockup excellent. Internal components seem to be pretty well fitted, in fact I could find nothing wrong, I could find no tool marks, although I am sure they are there and the fit on the lug and  barrel bushing are perfect, if they aren't I cannot tell. The sights are just cheap Novak "style", and by style they mean they sorta kinda look like Novaks, flat, no dots, but front and rear are both adjustable so that is an easy upgrade for the future. But it does have its issues.

 

It rattles badly. But the thing is it only rattles where most 1911's rattle, the palm safety. But it an exceptional amount of rattle. Way too much, I compared the play in the palm (grip) safety to several other 1911's including a Rock Two Tone and the others arent even close to as bad as this one. But again, easy fix,  When I say fit and finish, by finish I mean "Their CNC machines did a really great job. But this gun is supposedly parkerized. Well it isn't any parkerizing I have ever seen. The finish seems like with some minor rubbing it would come right off and there are bare metal spots all over this gun. Bare metal - Right side of the rear sight, all the way down the bottom of the left side of the rear sight, specks of bare metal all over the left side of the front serrations, the front and rear of the plunger tube, not the pins but the tube itself are completely bare metal, the left and right front rim of the trigger guard bare, the left top and 1/8th inch of the front of the front sight are bare. Dont get me wrong, it isn't like you pick it up and there is bare metal everywhere, but a close look and it is obvious, quickly obvious if you know what it should look like. But again, on this gun I don't care, because I plan on cerakoting it. And out of the box I dont think I have seen a dirtier gun. On the left side of the rear side it looks like mud crammed under the sight, the chamber is filthy but I dont care, Ill just shoot it clean. 

 

But here's the thing, if anyone is planning on getting one of these any time soon. Now would be the time. At Academy 6 months ago they were 599. Around beginning of January they were 569, today they were on sale for 499. However they are going on Buds now for $471. I believe they may be clearing these out for a new model, but not sure. 

 

Either way for 500 + tax you get a solid 1911 with what I consider a really good slide to frame fit, checkered backstrap, mag release and slide release. a really nice ambidextrous safety, when I complained about the Ambi safety on the Tisas that is because it feels like you could break it off just pushing a little too hard, not this one, this is solid. Full length guide rod, decent (Nice actually) grips, and the magazines are Armscor, but surprisingly well made, not the same mags as the ones that even came with the Tacticals. I wouldn't bet my life on them, but I can pretty much guarantee tomorrow they will perform. 

 

Look at the two pics here and you can see the tiny bare metal spots all over the gun and there are some larger ones as well.

 

 

 

ON the .22 bolt gun I sometimes think that selling all 3 of my MKII's, a standard MKII from wally world, a BTVS and a TRR was a mistake because you could shoot an eyeball out of a flea with all three of them, even the cheapo wally world gun. But I took a look at this Ruger American .22lr and for little more than a Walmart Standard MKII you get, A RUGER, what is now arguably the best .22 bolt gun out there (A couple of websites claim it is better than the 77 which costs almost 3 1/2 times more), a bedded action(Ruger Power Bedding) polymer stock with metal fittings and a cap for comb height adjustment, (Extra cap in photo), and the barrel is free floated. It uses standard rimfire scope bases, but unlike my other .22's it is drilled and tapped for weaver mounts, it has the Marksman trigger just like it's big brother, fiber optic front and adjustable rear sights. I am really impressed with this gun out of the box. I plan on using it for .22 F-Class and will be mounting a BSA Platinum 6-24x44 on it.

 

Plus it comes with a discounted NRA annual membership, if anyone wants it feel free  to ask. And also if anyone here doesn't already know, if you own a Ruger Single Six, Bearcat, Super Blackhawk or Blackhawk (Old model's), Ruger has designed an entirely new action and will install it free (Parts and labor). They will send you a shipping box and send the original parts back to you for collectors purposes. They claim it is a new invention and entirely new action, but what it does is prevent the revolver from firing if the hammer takes an accidental blow. 

 

[RED333]

YOU A LUCKY MAN to have a good wife.

[Fourtyfive]

Nice

[hipower]

Again, I am envious.

[Oh Shoot]

Groovy to the max.

 

I handled the full size American .22 last week, first one I'd seen.

 

I think I might have bought it if ammo wasn't the way it is. Even though I have plenty to feed it for some time, especially being a bolt gun, it still felt "weird" to me thinking about adding a .22 right now.

 

I thought the trigger was quite nice was one thing.

 

- OS

Edited March 11, 2014 by Oh Shoot