After more than seven years in the making, Rock Island Armory finally launched its 5.0 handgun in 2023. The launch marks a number of firsts for the company, as this is one of the first handguns to emerge from RIA with an all-new handgun design patent, thanks to the firearm’s innovative RVS recoil system. This handgun is also unique in that it’s one of the first handguns from RIA to be made at the company’s all new Cedar City, Utah, manufacturing facility.

The RIA 5.0 is designed to be a shooter, thanks to the newly designed and patented recoil system. One of the unique elements of the gun is its square-shaped barrel, and the design of this system reduces felt recoil, ensuring that shots come quickly, easily and accurately. One of the other highlights in the RIA 5.0 is its “buttery-smooth” trigger, which ships from the factory with a 5-lb. trigger pull, but American Rifleman staffers who shot this pistol on the range shared that the trigger felt significantly lighter than that.

Other stand-out features of the RIA 5.0 is the gun’s two-piece modular grip, as well as an optics-ready slide. The pistol also features front and rear slide serrations, a left-side push-button magazine release and slide-stop lever, Picatinny accessory rail and a flat-faced trigger. The gun is equipped with a 4.91″ barrel, and the overall length of the gun measures in at 8.11″, while the height and width measure 5.17″ and 1.33″, respectively. Unloaded, the pistol weighs 39.5 ozs.

The RIA 5.0 employs 17-round, flush-fit magazines. The suggested retail price on the pistol is $998.88. For more information, visit armscor.com.

Article by AMERICAN RIFLEMAN STAFF