Remington R1 1911

[Avyctes]

Wow, beautiful 1911. 

Anyone see the article in the latest issue of Shooting Times (probably April 2010 issue as I just got it in)? 

I just bought a stainless improved mil-spec Springfield Armoury last year; kinda wish now that I'd waited and got this one instead.

Remington's 1911 from the Rand factory is one I'd love to have in my collection but never ran across one I could afford.   This one looks to be affordable. 

I'm going to 2 of the 3 day NRA event in Charlotte next month, so maybe I'll get to see it and handle it.  I'm certainly hoping so!

If you don't subscribe to Shooting Times I'd recommend stopping by your favorite mag rack and checking out the article on this new 1911.  Supposedly it is the first of more models to follow in Remington's new 1911 line.  I for one am very glad to hear it.

Chris.

[teddy12b]

I just got an email alert about this new pistol.  Hopefully it's a quality gun at a fair price.  I guess there were the only kid on the block NOT making a 1911 so they jumped on the bandwagon.  I like that they are going to expand their line though.  Hopefully it's affordable.  Most the 1911's I see are out of my price range these days. 

[Avyctes]

Per the ST article, MSRP is $699.

[1911crazy]

For a looksee go to; www.theoutdoorwire.com/story/1272007982kakrr1ff4c9

I'll wait for the reviews first then we can see if it can run with the big dogs.  Since its manufactured in NY i hope the quality and functioning can match my norinco and my new auto ordnance army ww2 copy.  I hope its not like my new springers/colts were.  I guess we will have to wait and see if its a usable 1911 or just more hype and junk for the trunk.  Ya it looks good on the outside but its whats on the inside that counts.

Pro's so far "0"

Con's  No chromed lined barrel.  So its one minus already.  The manufacturers of 1911's just don't get the message on making it right from the start.

[mr.frosty]

Heres the link. Doesn't look to bad 699.00 msrp isn't to bad either

http://www.1911r1.com/

[Avyctes]

Con's  No chromed lined barrel.  So its one minus already.  The manufacturers of 1911's just don't get the message on making it right from the start.

It's a Stainless barrel, does it really need to be chrome lined as well?  Does chrome lining really make or break the pistol?  Do you mean that any firearm without a chrome lined barrel is a loser? 

Just a couple of questions to clarify your statement. 

In my book, a chrome lined bore does not fall into the category of affecting function of the firearm, merely barrel life and aids in cleaning.  Most of my guns don't have chrome lined barrels, but I love them nonetheless and it does not affect function.

A couple of 'pros' for the R1:

Pro: Has a dovetailed front sight
Pro: Has the standard 3-white dot sighting system.
Pro: Match grade Stainless barrel
Pro: Match grade Stainless bushing (which offers a nice two-tone contrast)
Pro: Has loaded indicator
Pro: Has all the latest military enhancements such as lowered/flared ejection port, beveled mag well, etc
Pro: Comes with barrel bushing tool (heck yeah, my Springfield didn't even come with that)
Pro: Comes with nice hard shell case (much better than Taurus PT1911 case, but about on par with my Springfield case)
Pro: 3.5 - 5.0 lb trigger (not bad, I think my SA is heavier than that)

In my book, it sounds like Remington is getting this one right, not wrong.  I've only read the one review on the piece (in ST), but it was glowing.  I'll have my hands (hopefully) wrapped around an example in a couple of weeks at the NRA convention.  I think I may be adding this one two my want list.

[LocnLod]

If I hadn't just purchased a Springfield Mil-Spec I would seriously look into this Remington. 

And, I thought I knew a lot about guns in general but I've never heard of any current manufacturers chrome lining any combat pistol barrel, much less a 1911. 

[1911crazy]

To me not having a chromed lined bore is a downfall.  I'll still own it but i will pay attention to cleaning it better after shooting it.  Having a chrome lined bore is a plus.  It makes the barrel last much longer.  All the norinco 1911a1's have chrome lined bores and forged frames.

Lets not forget if the bore is chrome lined the chamber is too.  I shoot alot of steel cased ammo so its really a big plus.

I find it still missing the chrome lined bore, yet it has the rest of the bells and whistles but it doesn't have it were it counts, in the bore?

I can't really judge the remington 1911 r1 yet but i'm waiting for the reviews and the right out of the box reliability and dependability is it has it too.  I'm not buying another high priced 1911 that i have to tweek in to get it right. We'll see if its as good as my norinco or my new auto ordnance(right out of the box functioning correctly).

[1911crazy]

If I hadn't just purchased a Springfield Mil-Spec I would seriously look into this Remington. 

And, I thought I knew a lot about guns in general but I've never heard of any current manufacturers chrome lining any combat pistol barrel, much less a 1911. 

I just purchased a springer 1911a1 made in brazil and i haven't shot it yet and i may trade it in on another 1911 and maybe the new remington if it shoots and functions the way a 1911 should.  After having two new colts and one new springer that had problems right out of the box with functioning i'm kind of gun shy and more gun shy on the more expensive ones too.  I find the cheaper the 1911 is the better it functions.

The norinco has a chrome lined barrel.

The CZ pistols have chrome lined bores (polygonal rifling in the cz83/82, cz75/85)

[LocnLod]

I didn't know that and I even have a CZ-75SA!  My Mil-spec shot reliably out of the box but if I was a more finicky buyer I'd have problems with the out of spec trigger (8.5 lbs) and the 5" groups at 25 yards.  As I had always planned to send it to their Custom Shop for work that would take care of those problems anyway (match bushing and defense package) it didn't bother me.  I'm in week 3 now of the wait and it's killing me.
adam

[Mikey]

Crazy:  I've seen pictures of the Remington 1911 but did not know it was actually made in nys.  I thought it was assembled in nys, not necessarily made here.  If it is assembled here it should shoot pretty good.

If it was made in nys it is more than likely of a bloomberg-paterson design, somewhat limited and firing only non deadly bullets designed not to be fatal..................

[Avyctes]

Mikey,

I had the same thoughts when I read Remington's email and it mentioned being made in NYS.  The only thing more ironic would be Glock setting up a hi-cap mag factory in SanFran.  Hoho...

Back on topic - I've only had one failure to feed with my SA improved mil-spec.  I tried the particular cartridge 3 times, would not feed, jammed every time.  Handed it to my dad, he stuffed it in his mag of his SA TRP and it fed and fired fine.  I haven't had my 1911 long, just got it a year ago, but it has functioned flawlessly each time I've taken it out with that one exception.

Crazy, I hear ya on the chrome bore, and agree with every single point you made.  I just disagree that the gun should have a chrome bore so we can shoot Brown Bear and Wolf through it.  If we're talking functionality, the chrome lining does nothing to impede feeding or aid it, to make it more accurate or not, etc.  I think the chrome lining falls into the bells and whistles category, not the list that determines if they 'got it right'.  Per the features they have listed, it sounds like a nice combat 1911, as nice as they come without going custom shop, which is I believe Remington's intent (that is , to make a nice combat 1911 - not a custom shop pistol). Of course, the proof is in the pudding.  If it feeds and ejects and shoots to point of aim when I get one, I'll be happy

Anyone else going to the NRA convention?  I just got an email from LaPierre that Glen Beck is now slated to speak Sat.  But I am really looking forward to seeing the vendor's displays, especially this R1.

[1911crazy]

We will have to wait and see if its good or not. I have to be honest. I purchased a new remington 1100 12ga since the store had a railroad car of them on the remington's aniversary.  The first one jammed in the field,  the replacement jammed in the store with the salesman refusing to give my money back,  now do i trust the 3rd one while bird hunting in blackbear country if it won't jam in the store?  I pawned it right away and chalked it up to stupidity. I took the loss and played it safe on my part.  So remington's so called quality has fallen off since around '94.  They even had to purchase shotguns from the boys in russia at Izhmash to try to recoup business.
Now there going to offer me a new 1911.  I'm kind of on the fence now about it.  But i'll wait for the reviews.

Now i had an older remington 20ga 1100 that was flawless but i wanted a 12ga.

Fact;  My older remington 700 in 338win mag('94) will put two bullets thru the same hole at 100yds using winchester super "x" ammo if i do my part.  Thats not too shabby.  Thats a brand new rifle right out of the box while sighting in the scope with less than a box of ammo thru it.  Since its so accurate i only shoot 1 rd to check the scope before hunting.  Since its so accurate i don't shoot it that much. I been thinking of donating it to the local swat team when i'm done with it.


So remington and quality in the same sentence scares me too.

[williamlayton]

Chromed bores came too light with fouling of early AR's.
I like chromed bores but my Norinco is not chromed.
Bells and whistles---well, I am not sure about that but I understand the thought.
While I am an anal old fool, in a non-combat weapon that stays relative clean--if you don't count dust and lint, and I don't--I am not that concerned.
Blessings

[1911crazy]

I'm really surprised with all the out of sight high prices on some of the 1911's no one has stepped up to the plate and offered a slide and frame rails thats industrial chromed too.  Does any 1911 manufacturers offer a chrome moly steel frame?   All i see is some offer a 4140 cast frame while some offer a forged frame but there few and far between.  I say this because some of the well ridden and put away wet 1911's in the used case are kind of beyond what i would call used.  The used 1911 (norc) was very loose on the frame to slide fit but there were others that were even worse.  I was just wondering if a 1911 manufacturer offers a better quality slide and frame fit or a better material.  Today with modern plastics i'm surprised that no one has offered a type of plastic shoe or slipper to install in the frame rails to stop the metal to metal contact to cut down on the slide/frame wear.  I think its time to modernize the 1911 since our armed forces are putting it back into action.  I've seen plastic coatings used in trailer truck drive shafts on the splines so why not in a 1911 on the slide or frame.

If we think back years ago we sat back fat dumb and happy with our homelite chainsaws.  Then the stil and husqvarna chainsaws were imported here and the rest is history.  They offered a carbuerator system with no vapor loc, plus the anti vibration handles.  Were sitting back fat dumb and happy with our "1911" model of the 1911 design.  While old is good an upgrade to a modern or something out of the envelope could be better? It always doesn't have to be the samey same design?

Why can't we as a country do something first rather than follow the others?

I worked for a few companies here that could knock the socks off the rest of the world yet we are too afraid of failure rather than push the edge of the envelope and go were someone has never gone before?

My last question is what are the gun companies R&D departments doing??

[Avyctes]

My last question is what are the gun companies R&D departments doing??

I'd say they're looking at plastics.  Seems like everyone is nowadays.

A great percentage of the new firearms today are of the plastic variety.  Don't get me wrong, I like'em and own a couple (Walther P99, HK P30, Ruger LCR), but I'm still a steel framed kind of guy.  If they come out with a 1911 with a plastic lower, hmmm, I'll just say I'm not too sure how I'd feel about that.

But that's what I think a lot of them are doing.  Made me happy to get my CZ SP01 in and wrap my grubby fist around all that metal.  Not to mention the stainless Mil-Spec 1911 I got from Springfield.  Can't beat a fistful of metal at the range... packing is a different story and I understand the allure of the guns that defy gravity for concealed carry.

[Avyctes]

Well, I said i was going to the NRA convention in Charlotte, and hoped to see the R1 at Remington's booth, and I did.  Actually I think they had 12 of them at 3 different kiosks.  I handled several of the R1s, and they are nice. 

The slide to frame fit is not the tightest I've ever felt,  but that may improve on the production guns.  The piece is pretty much a no frills combat style 1911 and if you're not expecting anything more than that you will not be disappointed.  It feels good in the hand.  Safety is very positive and easy to operate (much easier than my Springfield which is very stiff).  I couldn't check mag release because there were no mags in the guns, but the trigger release is nice, very very little creep, just pretty much steady pressure building up to a firm, crisp let off.  Sights are good, finish looked great (but I'm partial to black parked 1911s), so that much is relative to what you like.  An all stainless model would be nice.

That said, it remains on my want list, although truth to tell, there was so much to see and I saw so much, I didn't feel the elation I expected when I was finally standing there with it in my hand after the last few weeks leading up to it .  But I liked it enough that I stopped by 2 or 3 times and handled them. 

That was my first NRA convention and I must say I so enjoyed it that I will have to definitely go again.  I didn't think I would like it as much as a good gun show, but I think I liked it even better. I saw some very nice stuff, and spoke to a lot of nice people in the gun world, got to see (not meet) Ted Nugent and R. Lee Ermy, as well as Chris Cox and a Medal of Honor recipient who was signing autographs.  But the guns and gear was very interesting. 

[1911crazy]

Well like Mikey and you guys said to me a while back the loose slide to frame fit is ok and you don't want the fit too tight too.  My accuracy of my norc is from the national match barrel bushing that i installed and fitted in the slide.

Now if i do pick up a 1911 R1 i really don't plan on doing anything to it but shoot 500rds thru it to see if it meets the out of the box dependability and reliability requirements first.

I'm having flash backs from the 70's with the S&W model 29 in 44mag the Dirty Harry revolver and when the S&W salesman blackmarketed them because of the high demand for them after the movie. They upped the price to well over $500 but under $700. I'm hoping the gun shops don't do this to the remington 1911 R1's too?  If they do they can stuff it were the sun don't shine.  I own a few ruger redhawks in 44mag. ever since they were first offered.  I don't own any smiths to this day because of there blackmarket on the 29's.

These gun companies can rip us off before the internet but now we have the numbers to teach them a lesson DFWU if we ban together to fight the BS that happens sometimes.  We should boycott rip off's.

[Dixiejack]

Just saw this post and decided to jump in and rejuvenate it.  I have the R1 1911 on order at my gun dealer. Supposed to be in the 1st of August. He handled one at the trade show and was impressed with the quality.

[Avyctes]

Ironically enough I scanned Gunbroker this past weekend for R1s, saw several on there.  Still on my list.

[jimster]

The local gun shop in my area has the Remington 1911, I handled it a bit and was impressed, they did a good job on the one I handled.  I liked it mostly because it was a basic 1911 without a lot of extra's and sights you could see. I like the wide hammer too. Heck, I'm not a fan of big letters on a gun either, but they did the "Remington" letters pretty good too, I kind of liked it.

[williamlayton]

I like hard chrome---lots of folks do this. I am not sure what you are referring to about industrial chromed. I am pretty sure hard chrome is industrial.
Hard chromed weapons are offered by everybody.
Good looking??
A 1911 is a 1911.
Spoofted up at 700 bucks---well, I dunno--you can get a Spartan from STI for that price--it has a cast frame and slide--but--it is another choice.
I personally think that some good looking handles, in the material that melts your butter, can go a long way to spoffing it up.
Colts are about as pretty as they come without make-up.
The Remington should be a pretty good, clean gun----good looking is in the eye of the beholder.
I got a couple that are better looking and will perform as good as they look.
You can't get a silk purse for the price of a sow's ear.
Blessings  

[1911crazy]

I really don't think the New Remington 1911 R1 will be as good as my new Auto Ordnance Army WW2 copy was right out of the box flawless.  I been hearing of jamming every so often with the R1 already on another forum and they accept it and i have no clue as to why they still think its good even though it jams.  To me any kind of jamming is unacceptable in any auto pistol.  I just don't get it if the boys in Wooster,Mass (auto ordnance) can do it here in the USA why can't all the others manufacture it so its flawless in operation too?  If i purchased another brand new 1911 that doesn't function again I want some explaining from the company.  I don't care if it costs me $500 or more that 1911 better function right out of the box.

I have heard the new auto ordnance 1911 is hard to find because of the sales and demand.  Thats good because its a great 1911.

I believe the russians mastered the art of using hard industrial chrome in there barrels first on there ak47's.  The Chinese at norinco were taught by the russians how to use hard industrial chroming in there barrels.  The orginal 45acp barrel in my norinco 1911a1 is chromed. Since the sks's are chromed except for the yugo's and the russian saiga's I don't think there are too many weapons imported from europe thats not chromed.  Even the CZ pistols have chrome lined barrels too.

To take it one step further I believe the chambers are chromed with the barrel bores too otherwise they would or may chip away in the front of the chamber.  This is why they use so much steel cased ammo because of the chromed chambers. I shoot all steel cased ammo because it's still cheap.  Heck i can buy new steel cased ammo or new yugo brass cased ammo over buying new brass to reload.  The prices on new brass are out of sight and getting worse.

[fatercat]

i bought one couple days ago. i will give you first hand report as soon as it cools down from the high 90's here. $600.00 out the door. trigger is good. tight fit. if it jams it will go back to remington. 

[mrussel]

The local gun shop in my area has the Remington 1911, I handled it a bit and was impressed, they did a good job on the one I handled.  I liked it mostly because it was a basic 1911 without a lot of extra's and sights you could see. I like the wide hammer too. Heck, I'm not a fan of big letters on a gun either, but they did the "Remington" letters pretty good too, I kind of liked it.

 The one I looked at was just the opposite. The frame is a cast. I dont have a problem with that. My problem is there are obvious marks on it which show its a cast.It just looked bad. Similarly,I could see the marks from the MIM process on the safety. It seemed reasonably tight and all,and the grittiness in the slides action Im sure would go away with a good cleaning,which you of course always have to do with a new gun. Still,I compared it to my RIA 1911,and the RIA from outward appearances for the most part looked to be more finished and more "perfect". The only thing that looked better about the Remington was the barrel. The barrel was bright and shiny and polished on the outside by the ejection port where its much less so on my RIA. I'm just not impressed,especially when you can get a Springfield GI for about 500-550,which is less than the Remington was.

 Thats sort of my bottom line when it comes to 1911s. If its not as good as a Springfield (and similarly priced),it better be as cheap and as good as an RIA.

[fatercat]

better than plastic. usa made(unliks springfield)

[mrussel]

Con's  No chromed lined barrel.  So its one minus already.  The manufacturers of 1911's just don't get the message on making it right from the start.

It's a Stainless barrel, does it really need to be chrome lined as well?  Does chrome lining really make or break the pistol?  Do you mean that any firearm without a chrome lined barrel is a loser? 

Just a couple of questions to clarify your statement. 

In my book, a chrome lined bore does not fall into the category of affecting function of the firearm, merely barrel life and aids in cleaning.  Most of my guns don't have chrome lined barrels, but I love them nonetheless and it does not affect function.

A couple of 'pros' for the R1:

Pro: Has a dovetailed front sight
Pro: Has the standard 3-white dot sighting system.
Pro: Match grade Stainless barrel
Pro: Match grade Stainless bushing (which offers a nice two-tone contrast)
Pro: Has loaded indicator
Pro: Has all the latest military enhancements such as lowered/flared ejection port, beveled mag well, etc
Pro: Comes with barrel bushing tool (heck yeah, my Springfield didn't even come with that)
Pro: Comes with nice hard shell case (much better than Taurus PT1911 case, but about on par with my Springfield case)
Pro: 3.5 - 5.0 lb trigger (not bad, I think my SA is heavier than that)

In my book, it sounds like Remington is getting this one right, not wrong.  I've only read the one review on the piece (in ST), but it was glowing.  I'll have my hands (hopefully) wrapped around an example in a couple of weeks at the NRA convention.  I think I may be adding this one two my want list.

I had not read that list. There are some good things on there.  The stainless barrel is nice,as is the bushing. The bushing tool is a nice thing to add,but does it have a extended guide rod? I could have sworn it had the GI length one,so the wrench is not really necessary. In fact,I don't even use a wrench on an extended,I just use a spent cartridge. The hard shell case again is nice. Not a big deal,but still nice. Trigger pull of course is very important. The one I tried felt OK. Nothing special,but OK. Loaded indicator I dont really care about,but some people Im sure like it,so I have to agree its a plus. The dovetailed front sight for me is a big deal. Does anyone know what the dimensions are?

 Overall,it has a decent list of features.Still,I cant cant get over how poor the finish of the parts was. Perhaps I just saw a bad one. Maybe Ill keep an eye out and see if the others around have the same issues. I do like the idea that its made in America. All things being equal,of course I would buy American. I cant justify though buying something inferior,or paying really high prices though. Now there ARE American made products that are outrageously expensive,but have quality to match their prices,and that's a different story. Its not that THOSE things are not worth the money,they certainly are,its just that I cant afford it. I'm talking about companies that are not competitive. I don't know if the issues I saw with the Remington were just a bad model,or maybe something that will get worked out as they ramp up production. I hope they can get it right.

[williamlayton]

The STI Spartan sounds like it is in the same class range--it also has a cast frame and slide. I have heard the frames and slides on the Spartan are imported--but I don't rememberthe source of this info.
There is nothing wrong with investment cast--but, as with tooled, there can be something wrong with them--depends on the quality of either.
My take, and it is my serious opinion, price range of the unit displays a large amount of insight into the overall quality of a weapon.
You just cannot get a Baer or Wilson for $700.
You cannot make a quality--stand behind the work--firearm for such prices.
They--and it probably is--can be a great source of a base build to a quality piece if that is what you are desireing.
Chances are it will work fine--but is that what I am really hearing. It really sounds like you folks are comparing apples too apple crates.
I think the two need to be in seperate discussions.
Blessings   

[mrussel]

The STI Spartan sounds like it is in the same class range--it also has a cast frame and slide. I have heard the frames and slides on the Spartan are imported--but I don't rememberthe source of this info.
There is nothing wrong with investment cast--but, as with tooled, there can be something wrong with them--depends on the quality of either.
My take, and it is my serious opinion, price range of the unit displays a large amount of insight into the overall quality of a weapon.
You just cannot get a Baer or Wilson for $700.
You cannot make a quality--stand behind the work--firearm for such prices.
They--and it probably is--can be a great source of a base build to a quality piece if that is what you are desireing.
Chances are it will work fine--but is that what I am really hearing. It really sounds like you folks are comparing apples too apple crates.
I think the two need to be in seperate discussions.
Blessings  

I think the Spartans frame and slide are made by Armscor,the same company that makes the 1911. At least thats what I read.

 If thats the case,then I would no sooner use a Spartan for a build than I would a RIA. Actually,I WOULD sooner use an RIA,if its the same. Why pay 400 bucks more,to gut it and end up with exactly the same thing as a gutted and rebuilt RIA. I dont see anything wrong with the RIA,but you get it expecting it to be what it is,and leave it as is. If you want to make a high quality pistol,start with a really good frame and slide.

[williamlayton]

The guts and parts make a difference.
I like what STI does with parts---they are probably as close to an SVI as you can get.
Now that is not the Spartan but the guts are.
Again, we are going to disagree on the internals and how important they are.
Blessings