Author Topic: How's your Remington 1911R1? (Read 5016 times)

Dixiejack · « **on:** August 29, 2011, 02:22:08 PM »

I stopped by the archery shop that keeps a case full of Kimbers to drool over and they have a Remington 1911R1 .45 on the top shelf. They had $649.95 on it. This is the second one I've seen and it pales next to the Kimbers but at close to half the price, are they a good investment?

The salesman said this was the 5th one they have had and none of the other 4 have come back. Since the 1911R1's have been out for while it got me to wondering about asking owners of the new Remington 1911R1 what are their thoughts. Kind of give us an update of how they are performing, if any upgrades have been made, accuracy after being broken in, etc.

This will give those who are straddling the fence a heads up on whether to buy one or buy another brand in the same price range. Thanks for any information you care to share.

williamlayton · « **Reply #1 on:** August 30, 2011, 04:12:08 AM »

Any 1911 with a decent forged ( some cast ) frame and slide can be a good'un.
Fitting and good parts are the key.
You can get good fitting accidentially--more likely, IMO, you get mediocre to poor.
Good parts are massed prodced but good fitting is one at a time.
Tightness is the key to accuracy---but-- there is a compromise between fitting and accuracy and reliability.
One needs to assess what they are trying to do---just like in the gaming world---there are choices to be made for the specifics of the attempt.
There is no right/one way fits all---we are individuals and we make those choices.
Blessings

Dixiejack · « **Reply #2 on:** August 30, 2011, 07:18:01 AM »

Just wanting to know if anyone is or has had any mechanical problems. How they shoot. If they have done any after market upgrades, etc.

Bill, I know you are very particular about how your guns functions as everyone should be. I have seen you write that every gun you bought and own you sent it off and had it gone through part by part. That gives you comfort in knowing that it will probably work. Now, before I raise your hackles, hear me out. Anything, handguns included have moving parts. Moving parts are prone to malfunction. It might be on the first shot or the millionth shot or it might not ever and you will never know until it happens and you pray you are at the range when it does. Semi-autos are not as stable as revolvers. Whether it be a S&W, Kimber, or a RG66 (yep, got one, belong to my late father-in-law)but the more you pay, the more dependable they should be (by logic). I shoot my S&W's revolvers and my 1911's and everything else I got, but I don't shoot that RG. It is in the box and looks brand new. Never has been shot. It will never be shot by me. So, just getting back to the subject of the Remington 1911R1, if I bought one, I would expect it to shoot good on the range and be a dependable backup to my 20 gauge house gun. I would go hog hunting with it and that is some dangerous game to encounter especially if a sal just had pigs. I would take it on walks through the woods. But if I knew it is not dependable, I would buy something else.

williamlayton · « **Reply #3 on:** August 30, 2011, 02:57:04 PM »

Dixie
That don't raise the hairs on my neck.
Your shore right---I have a Sig that happened to.
Mainly I just like to make them mine and special to me---course it makes it more special when you know what you do to them helps ease the anxiety.
It is just like buying a Wilson or Baer--a lot of the things I have done are not functional--like the short GI trigger or the arched mainspring or Heinie slant pros---but most are---and the Wilsons and Baers are pretty expensive when you add things.
I just find I can get and old shooter at a good price and have these things done to them--my way--for about the same price, well, probably a little more and get agoodun the way I want it over a Colt or Kimber that are advertised with a lot of bells and whistles that I don't care for.
I am just a hard headed old fart.
Blessings

Dixiejack · « **Reply #4 on:** August 30, 2011, 04:58:51 PM »

I glad you took my reply in spirit it was intended. I am just curious about how the Remingtons are functioning. The first one I saw didn't impress me at all. The slide lock wouldn't function with the factory mag. but worked fine when it was swapped out with a Taurus mag. the grips looked like cheap plastic and didn't fit right. Just two of the things I noticed.

The one I saw yesterday looked really nice. Slide worked slick and the grips looked more like wood. The salesman field stripped it and it went back together like my WWII US&S .45. Side to side had hardly any play. Of course until you get a range report from owner/users, it's like a crap shoot buying one.

Have you got your S&W 586 .38 Super back yet?

Dixiejack · « **Reply #5 on:** August 31, 2011, 04:32:02 PM »

I guess nobody has bought a Remington 1911R1 or they don't want to talk about how great/bad their pistol is.

Steve E · « **Reply #6 on:** September 20, 2011, 05:14:44 PM »

I have had mine about a year now with about 2k rounds through it and it is very reliable. The only bobble I had was about 10 rounds that had a minute amount of lead scraped up at the end of the bullet and wouldn't let the slide go fully into battery. Other than that one time it functions perfect and the accuracy surprised me. I did put a beaver tail GS and a Commander style hammer on it. Otherwords, I'm very happy with mine. I want a Commander version, are you listening Remington?

Steve E..........

Doc45 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2011, 05:40:50 AM »

I've had mine for over a year now and have ran between 1500-2000 rounds thru it. The one thing I did not like was the beaver tail. It came stock with a G.I. unit. Tore up the web of my shooting hand. I changed mine out for a Wilson Combat extended piece. I also changed the the thumb safety and slide realse to Wilson stainless pieces. I also swaped out the trigger and sear and now have a 2.5 lb. trigger pull. Great gun.

Savage · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2011, 09:44:43 AM »

Quote from: Doc45 on September 21, 2011, 05:40:50 AM

I've had mine for over a year now and have ran between 1500-2000 rounds thru it. The one thing I did not like was the beaver tail. It came stock with a G.I. unit. Tore up the web of my shooting hand. I changed mine out for a Wilson Combat extended piece. I also changed the the thumb safety and slide realse to Wilson stainless pieces. I also swaped out the trigger and sear and now have a 2.5 lb. trigger pull. Great gun.

That's what happens when you buy a GI or an A1 model. Great if you want a copy of the original, not so great if you want a shooter. By the time you make all the changes needed to have a decent shooter, you could have paid a little more for a pistol ready to go out of the box, likely cheaper than buying parts to fix the R1. I consider the GI or the A1 to be project guns.
Savage

Dixiejack · « **Reply #9 on:** February 18, 2012, 02:52:02 PM »

Well, I gave up on the Ruger 1911 and bought a Remington 1911R1. Took it out to my friends pond and we spent several hours shooting turtles off logs or attempting to. Very challenging when you are shooting 30 to 100 yds. away. We shot 2 boxes of Federals w/o a single malfunction. Had some web pinch and we put on some golf gloves and that helped a lot. I am very happy with my R1 after my first encounter. Windage was slightly off for me but I'm not doing anything about that until I can get it on some bags. Trigger pull is a heavier than my other 1911 (it's a custom), but is a heck of a lot lighter than my S-W 4566. That's a whole different story.
Thanks for the feedback you gave me. Have you done any customizing since posting back in August and September?

Rangr44 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 05, 2012, 10:42:07 AM »

Ever since it's introduction almost 2 years ago, I've been waiting for Remington to add an alloy-framed LightWeight Commander to their mix.

But now, with the recent introductions of the "Enhanced" 1911R1 (fancy sights, trigger & fishscale stocks) and the Stainless 1911R1, I've given up on a LWC & bought a standard R1 Saturday ($595).

No report, yet - since I've yet to have my state paperwork clear (aka: waiting period) & pick the R1 up.

.

ole 5 hole group · « **Reply #11 on:** March 06, 2012, 02:39:30 PM »

The latest issue of Handloader (April 2012) has an article on the enhanced version.

Dixiejack · « **Reply #12 on:** March 06, 2012, 11:57:25 PM »

Rangr44, you got a good price on your R1. I wonder if the Enhanced beavertail grip safety and the trigger would be just a simple swap out in the standard R1. Also, doesn't the Enhanced come with an ambi safety?

Rangr44 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 16, 2012, 09:17:07 AM »

Since a 1911 is a 1911 is a 1911, I'm sure those items would indeed switch out - but I don't care, since I''m just not interested in those "enhancements".

The basic R1 has the lowered EJ port, & flat MSH I like/want, along with double-diamond checkered walnut grips, and ( SURPRISE ! ! ) a bushing tool ! (which I thought I wuz gonna have to buy later.
The two 7-shot issue mags are nice, also.

So far, 250 rounds of Federal hardball has gone down the pipe w/o issue (this AM)

.

Dixiejack · « **Reply #14 on:** March 18, 2012, 11:44:57 AM »

I like your "enhancement" of the Remington logo. What did you use to do that?

Rangr44 · « **Reply #15 on:** April 12, 2012, 03:29:22 AM »

Gold paint.

BTW, One doesn't "invest" in an issue 1911, from ANYONE - you shoot the snot out of it.

When sales people start using the term "investment", IMHO, they're throwing out bait & gettin' ready to set the hook in some innocent's mouth.

When potential buyers start using the term, IMO they bought the BS, hook/line/sinker.

I'm up to a little over 500 rounds down the pipe as we speak - between my grandson & I - without any issue arising, with the exception of one grip screw needing tightening at about the 250 round mark.

I DON'T SHOOT GROUPS - I shoot to hit what I aim at, and the R1 has been good enough to let me do 23x25 on the small clay pigeons (for Sporting Clays ?), set out a few feet apart on a sandy/clay backstop 21' away.

I - am - a - happy - camper. .

.

Dixiejack · « **Reply #16 on:** April 12, 2012, 12:52:30 PM »

Well, in my opinion my Remington 1911R1 is a better INVESTMENT over a Kimber or any $1,000+ 1911 for what I wanted and that is to "shoot the snot out of it". No salesman hooked me into buying it and there was no BS to buy into.

Rangr44 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 20, 2012, 08:18:05 AM »

So far, I've put 20 boxes (1,000 rounds) of Blazer Brass hardball downbore, with zero issues, and about the same accuracy as the Colt LWC I used to have.

My Grandson wants me to will it to him (he may get the R1 sooner), after he went 21x25 on small Sporting Clay pigeons set out on a dirt backstop @ 11yds. (His misses were mostly sighters)

BTW - Now 21 y.o., he's been shooting a .45ACP 1911 since he was 11y.o.
When he was a little guy, he took to the .45 Auto like a fish to water, because he didn't know he wasn't supposed to be able to shoot it well.

I bought a Caspian Arms Commander rowel hammer, and installed it in the R1, just because I like the hammer type better than the long spur.

Since I don't intend to install a beavertail grip safety, I simply ground a radius into the top of the grip safety/tang to give the large rowel clearance.

I got the idea from this fella's R1:

And here's mine:

.

Swampman · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2012, 02:09:05 AM »

Thinking about one pretty hard.

animal · « **Reply #19 on:** July 22, 2012, 11:36:58 AM »

I just picked one up last week. Have only shot 300 rds. so far. Decent accuracy and a real sweet shooter. I have huge hands and have not noticed any discomfort. It is actually my most comfortable shooter other than a 22 Smith. Nice solid American 1911.

animal · « **Reply #20 on:** August 22, 2012, 02:52:52 PM »

Got my Galco concealable belt holster with a free polo shirt and belt knife for 83.00 from L.A. police gear yesterday. Carry at 3 oclock position is a breeze ( comfortable ) sitting and walking. The gun rides high in a canted position. Very nice.

Swampman · « **Reply #21 on:** August 25, 2012, 01:06:07 PM »

Bought one today. I haven't shot it but I'm very impressed.

PAHUnter04 · « **Reply #22 on:** September 15, 2012, 10:39:57 AM »

I just got two in stock, very impressed with fit and finish. I got the SS model and the Enhanced model.

Regards PAH

PAHUnter04 · « **Reply #23 on:** October 26, 2012, 04:07:58 PM »

I also just got a Ruger 1911 SS in stock. Great trigger and REAL GOOD LOOKING GUN. The black safety, hammer, sights, and slide release against the light SS frame really sets it off.

The Remingtons and Ruger are VERY VERY nice. They go well right along with my Kimbers and Colts. But make no mistake about it, they are FOR SALE....LOL

Regards PAH...

animal · « **Reply #24 on:** December 30, 2012, 02:28:17 PM »

Shot 850 of about every type 45 acp with no failures to feed so far. It is fu-un to shoot.

SharonAnne · « **Reply #25 on:** December 30, 2012, 05:17:37 PM »

They look good on line but I have never had the chance to see one up close.

Regarding the standard tang grip safety. At first I only had two red marks. The more I shot the worse it got. When I was actively bleeding after an extended practice session I had a beavertail grip safety installed. To me they are a necessity. All depends on how hard or soft your hands are and how much you shoot. Ross Seifried, the last person to win the IPSC championship with a standard pistol (just before comp guns began to dominate), asked the old timers what to do about the grip tang cutting his hand. He was told, 'shoot more, it will toughen up'. Since he had just shot 85,000 rounds in the previous year he wondered how much it would take. Then he had a beavertail installed.

Swampman · « **Reply #26 on:** December 31, 2012, 02:32:00 AM »

Mine shoots great no problems with the safety cutting my hands.

SharonAnne · « **Reply #27 on:** December 31, 2012, 04:11:36 AM »

Swampman, how many rounds do you shoot in one session and how many rounds in a year?

Swampman · « **Reply #28 on:** December 31, 2012, 04:24:28 AM »

Around a hundred per session and a few thousand a year. I wanted a stock 1911 without all the goofy add ons.

Mike in Virginia · « **Reply #29 on:** December 31, 2012, 12:26:34 PM »

I sure would like to get in a shootout with you folks that fire so many rounds. Not a shootout at each other, but a timed event where you had to actually prove what you say you can do. I'm fairly confident I'd beat any of you by a wide margin.
Shooting a handgun is like many other skills. It ain't all about the number of rounds per year. It's more about the internal talent you naturally have or don't have. A muscian with no ear for sound is lost before he starts; no amount of practice will carry him to perfection. The English major with 12 college degrees can't write fiction that will sell unless he has both the education and the natural talent. The fastest fast draw experts practice, but they are not the fastest from simple practice. You can't be what you want to be unless you have natural ability. A true expert with a handgun has much, much more going for him or her than practice.
Practice is good and neccessary, but I invite anyone on plantet Earth to try and out shoot me. I know what this sounds like, but I don't miss, and I can get 50 out of 50 rounds of any caliber on target much faster than you can unzip, pee, and zip back up.
I can't afford all the ammo that you folks fire per month or per year, but that's okay, because I don't need to. Practice your butts off, but when you encounter a person who has the natural ability to NEVER miss, you will be put in your place. I can say with complete honesty that I've never missed, I've never passed gas, I've never told a lie, and that I'm the closest thing to a perfect human you'll ever know. You are all very special for simply knowing me via the Net. If you met me in person, you wouldn't be able to live another day without my physical presence. I'm all anyone has ever dreamed of being. It's so nice to be me. As much as you'd like to be me, you can't.