Remington R1 1911: should i get it?

[Lvl21nerd]

i want the Remington R1 1911 very, very badly. it is setup right out of the box exactly how i want my first 1911 to be; i just wonder if it is worth the $650ish asking price i see

anyone here own one? have experience with one? thoughts?

would i be better off buying a Springer and then customizing it later?

 

[huduguru]

I'd pass on the Remington as it has a cast frame made in the Phillipines. They have a nice finish and that's what the uninformed see and think they are the best 1911 on the market. If you drop a cast frame 1911(it happens) on the thin dust cover, it can crack or snap much easier than a forged 1911 that will most likely just dent. Heck, even a Taurus 1911 has a forged frame.

You can get a Springfield MilSpec with a forged frame and slide and a great warranty for about $650 and a real Colt for a little more. The Colts have the most forged and barstock parts out of any production 1911. Heck, you can get a used Colt for less than that.

If you are going to get a cast frame 1911, why not just get a Rock Island
tactical for around $550? I've heard great things about them and they don't hide the fact that they are made in P.I.

There are many better options out there for a 1911 around $650 than
a Remington...

Just IMHO, of course....

 

[Sniper X]

Thye do look very nice, but aren't they also all MIM parts as well as the cast frames? I guess for a 1911 shooter that isn't to be depended on for ones life they will probably be nice.

 

[Quack]

the Remington as it has a cast frame made in the Phillipines

That is not correct. Yes it is a cast frame, but not from the Philippine's. Caspian and STI use cast frames and you don't hear a problem with them breaking, so the whole cast vs. forged is just a lot of opinion and hype. The internals are mostly cast parts as well.

If you want a shooter, then the R1 would be a better choice than a mil-spec or GI. The barrel fit is much tighter than that of a mil-spec. A friend's mil-spec had a very loose barrel bushing that I replaced for him. He couldn't get a consistant group even at 7 yards, while my out of box R1 shot a ragged hole at the same distance, and had a better group at 15 yards than the mil-spec did at 7 yards with the same ammo/shooter/day.

The trigger does have a little creep and is slightly gritty, but it's still much better than the stock mil-spec that i was looking at.

The sight's provide nice visibility and the front is dovetailed, so replacement is much easier than the mil-spec.

My R1 is no longer stock since i bought it as a project gun and had 1500rds though it before i modified it. If you search the 1911forum, you will find plenty of satisfied R1 owners.

 

[SmokeySam81]

I recall the NRA gave them a nice review in the American Rifleman a few months back, and it sounds like they are a good bet if you want out of box accuracy. I am eying them a bit, but alas, I am poor. And cast doesn't always mean brittle, just depends on the alloy, but it definitely can be and I think I will wait for it to be on the market a while to see how it performs over a little more time.

 

[Quack]

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/remington-r1-review/

 

[Quack]

here's the measured factory trigger pull (10 pull average)



first range outing with the R1 shot at 15 yards. the 4 high shot were me finding where the POA/POI was. 14rds total fired hand-held.

 

[Steve E]

I have one of the R-1's and absolutely love it. It is the most accurate 1911 I have (I have 4). Fit and finish are top notch with no play in the slide/frame fit. I did put a Commander style hammer and a beavertail style grip safety on it. I called the Factory and they hinted that it would soon be available in other calibers, I want one in 38 Super.

Steve E......

 

[wristtwister]

We've only had 2 Remington R1's come through the shop, and while Remington touts them as being "readily available", our distributors tell us they would take 500 of them if they could get them from Remington... so somebody isn't being straight about their "availability". I've got a waiting list for them (if they ever show up) and the $650 +/- price tag isn't a problem... but if you've got one, you're lucky to have the opportunity to field test it.

As for the Filipino parts, the Phillipines have been making 1911's since the Second World War, and I've got several that were made of Filipino parts. None of them have given me a moment's trouble, and some of the Phillipine 1911's actually seem better than some of the domestic ones.

What I'm beginning to notice as a trend, is that the gun manufacturers are hyping their products a lot and testing the waters to see if they want to put them into full-blown production, or make limited runs of them. I've seen it with several manufacturers lately, and unless 2 guns being available in a six month period is "readily available", then somebody needs to straighten out the hype and start putting the products in the stores. Ruger, Kel-Tec, and Remington have all hyped up a bunch of advertising about new products and left the customers shrugging their shoulders wondering where the guns are. We're seeing limited exposure of a lot of the "hot items" from last year's shot show, not to mention this year's... and so far, we've seen 1 PM-30, 2 R1's, and very limited runs of LCP's and no LC-9's. I realize the LC-9 was just introduced, but the other guns have been out for a while, and when the distributors can't get them... it means somebody isn't being straight with the public.

I don't have a problem selling anybody's guns... but I do have a problem selling promised products that never show up at the distributors.

WT

 

[Watergoat]

Funny, the local dealers had R1s every time I looked. Price tags seemed to run about $565, IIRC.

 

[dogbaloo]

Can't speak for the Remington...but...

I see a lot of poo poo'n of cast frames and MIM parts. The cold reality, and as one poster has pointed out, Caspian uses cast frames as an example, and just about every gun manufacturer uses MIM parts, including Sig (I was very surprised to learn this). I really wouldn't sweat it.

Now, if you can't find an R1, a few alternatives I've found that are very impressive: ATI and of course RIA. Holding one of those will make you a believer. Where it's made shouldn't bug you too much; they've making 1911's in the Phillipines for 80 years and I'd argue they make more there than we do here!

 

[rellascout]

I recall the NRA gave them a nice review in the American Rifleman a few months back, and it sounds like they are a good bet if you want out of box accuracy. I am eying them a bit, but alas, I am poor. And cast doesn't always mean brittle, just depends on the alloy, but it definitely can be and I think I will wait for it to be on the market a while to see how it performs over a little more time.

Doesn't American rifleman give everyone a nice review. When was the last time you saw the NRA say this one is a real dog with fleas. Their reviews are more like press releases.

They seem to be well built for the price point.

 

[Quack]

The article was by Wiley Clapp. he pointed out a few things, so it's not necessarily sugar coated

There is no evidence that either of the two specimens I had for evaluation was hand-fitted or -finished. They had rather heavy trigger pulls (about 5 pounds), and both exhibited creep and a little overtravel. I have to remind myself that I am an inveterate user of M1911 pistols, and I am accustomed to pistols tuned by custom pistolsmiths. So the multiple sharp edges and corners that such ’smiths remove were present on the Remington R1s I evaluated. I could get used to them, as well as the less-than-ideal trigger pull.

Based on what I have seen in the early samples, the R1, while perhaps a bit rough in some aspects, is nonetheless generally solid and reliable.

 

[SGW42]

American Rifleman is good about laying it on thick about the good parts, but I have seen them starkly print the negatives (just not elaborated on). They're not gunblast.com.

I also like the R1 because it is setup as I would like a 1911 to be out of the box. But too many hidden variables about the sources of production for me.

 

[briang2ad]

The whole forged/cast thing is too overblown. I would guess that the QUALITY of either is the real measure. I DON'T here about bad frames from RIAs and they have been out for years. Browning went to cast frames on the Hi Powers to handle the high pressure/high wear .40 S&W - OK?

IF Remington pulled off a GOOD TRIGGER like RIA, they'd have it down pat. Go to any show, pick up an RIA, and see a well executed trigger pull - pretty good for a sub $500 gun. I WISH RIA would make a more basic model with good sights - real Novaks.

 

[rellascout]

IF Remington pulled off a GOOD TRIGGER like RIA, they'd have it down pat. Go to any show, pick up an RIA, and see a well executed trigger pull - pretty good for a sub $500 gun. I WISH RIA would make a more basic model with good sights - real Novaks.

Real Novaks on a sub $500 gun? The cost to ship install and mill for the Novaks would cost you 25% of the current cost of the gun. No way they would do that. The tactical does not even have real Novak cuts. Novak knock offs with off spec cut.

People its a sub $500 gun. If you want more you are going to have to pay more. IMHO

 

[briang2ad]

OK - but make it the SAME dovetail - I understand the RIA dovetail does not fit them - that would be better. I still think the RIA trigger is amazing for a sub $500 gun.

If the Rem is over $600, I'd have to ask about Rem customer service, because SA is superb. My SA Milspec was 9 years old before I noticed that the feedramp was not done right on it. It was also having some occasional FTFeeds. They took it back, paid the shipping (a major plus), and put the tightest one piece SS barrel on and a decent (not perfect) trigger. It is a tac driver and 100% now. And I hear this is routine at SA. So... if you find an SA with tight barrel and lock up, its tough to beat.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

All I know about the RI is I find them attractive guns at a decent looking price when new. They don't seem to be moving in my area. My local gun store had one that sat for months before moving. I also see new ones at gun shows, but have never seen one sold. I'm waiting for a used one under the 500 buck mark to cross my path. I want one for no reason other than the way it looks and that it says Remington on it.

 

[rellascout]

OK - but make it the SAME dovetail - I understand the RIA dovetail does not fit them - that would be better. I still think the RIA trigger is amazing for a sub $500 gun.

I agree. Its a good gun and it would be nice if the cut matched. It might be a patent issue. The Armscor tooling and machinery is pretty good stuff and it is very close to the orginal pattern.

I personally think used 1911s from Colt are a better value but I understand that people like the RIAs.

The the OP. There are 2 schools of thought on 1911s.

Some people will say get the cheaper production that matches your wants straight from the factory because it will be cheaper. Economy of scale is working for you in a big way when you go this route. All the "features" you get on a gun like the R1 will cost you less this way. This is why so many people love the RIA tacticals. It gives them everything that want for under $500.00 It is the same appeal of the R1, STI Spartan, SA loaded and the Taurus 1911. IMHO The downside to this is you get a "upgraded gun" made to look like a semi-custom gun that is not custom at all. It is a production gun which might or might not fit your needs and desires 100%.

The other school of thought which I personally perscribe to is that you want to get the best base gun you can get your hands on. Shoot the stock platform. Shoot a 1000 rounds and see what you like and what you don't like about the stock Govt. Shoot other peoples semi-custom or nicer production guns. Then determine which sights you like. Which beavertail you want. Which safety feels right for you. Then have those things done or do the work yourself to your base gun. That is the beauty of the 1911platform. You can truely make a custom gun built to you spec based on your individual needs. This is why I like Colts. They are a great foundation. A NIB is $700 and you can find used ones from $500 to $650 all the time. If you choose down the road you don't like the 1911, there are actually some people who don't , you can sell it for $600 to $650. The same it not true for th value 1911s. In the end it will cost you more $$ but you will have the 1911 you wanted not the one someone else spec'd out for you.

YMMV one approach is not necessarily better than the other.

 

[briang2ad]

Rellascout: Some good points. Actually you have a "higher view" of quality of RIA than I've heard from many on the www. I got mine on a trade, and liked getting decent sights for the money. It is a good, comfortable gun, and something different from my Milspec SA, which is now sweet (now that SA graciously fixed it after about 17 years of ownership).

But, I assume that a used Colt for $5-600 will be series 80, which has a FPB, which I probably would not want. Also, how is a Colt warranty compared to SA? Thanks.

 

[sideways]

You should get out the door for 600.00 or less.

 

[highxj]

Just a quick response as I've been up all night working.....but I just picked up an R1 last week at a LGS.

I've been shooting 1911's (mostly Colts and SA's) in competition and informally for over 25 years and used to build my own competition guns. The wife and I just happened to see this pistol, and I had actually been wanting a spur hammer GI type, simple, 1911. I was impressed, and after researching them, bought it the next day.

To make it short, it's a very nice piece for the bucks. My example has a creep free sear letoff of just a smidge over 4 lb. on the Lyman scale, it's smooth, well fittted, and accurate. The barrel is nicely ramped and it feeds everything so far. My minor 200 gr. lead SWC load was punching 5 shot groups of under 2" at 25 yards and not much over 3" at 50. It's just what I was looking for and short of the extended safety I fitted, I'm leaving it as-is. I have other 1911's with all the bells and whistles.

My only gripe so far is that it shoots low, to the tune of about 3-4" at 25 yards. I haven't decided how to address that just yet. I'm still trying to find details of what sight cuts they used. By my calculations I need a .028" shorter front/taller rear sight.

Dan

 

[RevDerb]

Paid $585 + tax for mine from my LGS a couple of months ago and am extremely happy with my purchase. Shoots straight and feeds everything that I've offered it to this point. Besides, I like the look and feel of it.