JFrank
Member
My old Remington R-1
Last edited:
Upgrading from a Remington 1911R1, next?
- Thread starter mac-iurranc
- Start date
-
- Tags
- 1911
- Status
OP
OP
mac-iurranc
Member
Well, if isn't a Colt, it's kinda a Ford Corvette.
But hey, OP, that Remington looks great; adjustable sights, nicely finished. How is the trigger?
If you really must have a new pistol, look for a Colt Competition. Really like mine; great trigger and sights. And it is a handsome pistol.
Moon
Indeed my R1 is not that bad, the trigger could be lighter, with a little less travel but it breaks like glass. I am selling it for 560€ and it is already reserved for a new owner waiting for one more detention authorization. It's nearly half the price, I know it will make another beginner happy like I was.
The thing is it feeds only round ammunition, factory made with a strong load, and copper plated. I can't use cheap lead bullets and light loads for reloading: they get stuck on the barrel throat (I polished the feed ramp but I am reluctant to work on the barrel itself). New recoil spring, Wilson combat and colt magasine doesn't help. It cost me an eye to get them, I will keep them.
I haven't found an armorer willing to do that kind of work, it's not a common thing, here any armorer can work eyes closed on shotguns, but selling hand guns require a special authorization, which is pretty rare, and tuning pistols is adventurous.
The original sights were so wrong they made you shoot below the C50 at 25m ! Later I found out Remington has a bad batch in early 2000, they replaced the sights for free in the US, when I called Remington France they told me they have no such plan here. So I fitted new front and adjustable back sights ... and of course it makes my R1 unsuitable for TAR (Tir aux Armes Règlementaires: shooting with regulatory firearms, they must have original parts, and nothing that gives you an advantage).
It's a great name on a good guns now, yet I am willing to upgrade to a nice 1911 (stainless, even smoother on the trigger), that shoots spot on out of factory.
Last edited:
OP
OP
mac-iurranc
Member
Thanks you guys, I knew I should ask here
Based on your advices, and manufacturers with a good dealership network:
I have Kimber, Springfield, Ruger on my short list (1000-1500€), maybe a Colt if I can put my hands on a mint used one, or a discount.
Availability may be a factor in my decision, that will keep me busy searching for a little while, it's a good thing to slow down.
Based on your advices, and manufacturers with a good dealership network:
I have Kimber, Springfield, Ruger on my short list (1000-1500€), maybe a Colt if I can put my hands on a mint used one, or a discount.
Availability may be a factor in my decision, that will keep me busy searching for a little while, it's a good thing to slow down.
jdavis123
Member
From your last post it appears that you haven’t been able to narrow down your choices much from your original list of available 1911 pistols. You are wise to slow down and evaluate further before making a final decision. If possible, you should handle and perhaps shoot several different makes. Guns that suit someone else may not feel right to you at all. I find is odd that you received so many recommendations for guns that are not sold there. Perhaps they are available on the used markets. Good luck with your search.
Last edited:
SwampWolf
Member
My pet 1911 is a SIG Model TTT (love the compact but fully adjustable rear sight on it), a s/s pistol chambered in .45ACP. I haven't looked lately but SIG used to make quite a few s/s 1911s. Referencing "not 1911 autos", one of my favorite autos of all time is my Smith & Wesson Model 945: not quite a 1911 and not quite a "3rd generation" iteration, but sort of a best composite of the two configurations. Unfortunately, finding one is akin to coming upon a deer with a spiral-shaped horn between its eyes.
For the money and otherwise, it's hard to beat a Ruger; especially their 1911 in target guise.
tuckerdog1
Member
I have thirteen 1911s of various makes ( Colt, RIA, STI, Magnum Research, Taurus, Ruger, Sig & ATI ). I have also owned 1 Springfield, which I hated. But that was probably not typical for Springfield. On your short list, I'd highly recommend a Ruger. I own two of them ( 45 ACP & 10mm ). Both have been 100%. Looks are a personal thing, but I think the Rugers look really good.
The Colt Gold Cup Trophies are nice pistols but I'm partial to Colt 1911's.
I have a Kimber Eclipse II in 38 Super that is very reliable and purchased new in 2016.. I have not knowledge of how reliable a 45 ACP version is but Kimber does have good and bad times. But, on the other hand, I've never had a 1911 that I could not work reliability wity ba kittle TLC.
I have a Kimber Eclipse II in 38 Super that is very reliable and purchased new in 2016.. I have not knowledge of how reliable a 45 ACP version is but Kimber does have good and bad times. But, on the other hand, I've never had a 1911 that I could not work reliability wity ba kittle TLC.
CapnMac
Member
I have to wonder if Remington Arms France has caught up to the US types & inventory yet. The ownership change will have large "ripples" which may not have reached across the Atlantic quite yet.
I do not think the current Roundhill owned "Remington," which rents the brand name from Vista Outdoors who bought the name at the auction, builds anything right now beyond 870 shotguns and 700 rifles, if that. Does anyone know different?
3C
md7
Member
Here are the brands selling 1911 here, sorted by availability :
Tanfoglio
Taurus
S&W
Ruger
Sig Sauger
SAI
Kimber
The Ruger SR1911 stainless looks good in pictures, it's in my price range. The SAI 1911 Mil-spec is surprisingly cheaper, I will definitely look into it, thanks for the heads up
I’d go Springfield (SAI) from your list of options, or Ruger.
THEWELSHM
Member
OP
OP
mac-iurranc
Member
I had a mitigated experience with my R1, it points right now but is still picky. Not sure I want to gamble again on a R1S
I didn't knew about the Remington R1S, I found one in stock, its price point is 1300€ - $1465
A Springfield Mil-Spec Stainless is 1150€ - $1300
Kimber Stainless II 1200€ - $1350
Ruger SR1911 stainless 1600€ - $1800
All prices are internet prices, add 50 for shipping and paperwork...
All these are in my price range, and available in stock. I didn't knew about Kimber and Springfield before this thread, I am glad I asked instead of listening only to my club (Sig sauer fans, with deep pocket).
The Kimber may be the best choice on paper, but I am a little bit worried about specific sights mount and in general everything uncommon, I won't easily find aftermarket parts.
The Springfield Mil-spec, is growing on me, it has subtle upgrades compare to my R1 like the raised mainspring housing, match grade barrel, all forged and feeds on any ammunition according to all reviews.
Ruger is well... Ruger, I have a 22LR Mark III Target, great but expensive.
I will ask about my short list availability and pricing to my two local armorer that do handguns.
Atavar
Member
Kimber parts are easy mail order, albeit a bit of delay for you.
OP
OP
mac-iurranc
Member
In theory yes, it's not impossible but it's a long road. I tried that many times (genuine replacement sights for my R1, springs and firing pin for my Colt Trooper MkIII etc), but stopped either because of the export and import paperwork, additional costs from the buyer, shipping and taxes. Or just a no export policy from the seller.
Not complaining, it's a variable I am taking into account, and it's not enough for me to strike Kimber from my short list.
I like to think I am patient and determined, my wife says I am stubborn, sometimes it helps
The Ruger uses a cast frame. If I could only have one 1911 then I would rather it be a full size and full forged pistol and steel framed rather than an alloy forging, especially since the OP will not be using the pistol for carry where aluminum has real benefits.
What parts on a Kimber do you think may need replacing that cannot be replaced with Wilson Combat or from other makers of 1911 parts? Kimbers are fully forged and CNC milled frames in steel or aluminum depending upon model with forged and CNC milled slides.
RIA are cast 4140 steel frames and Ruger is investment cast frame. I am okay with that to a price point beyond which I would rather a forged steel CNC milled frame. The cast frame on my RIA I am not worried about failure or wear, it is just that if one gets really close and starts inspecting the frame with a serious eye it is just not as crisp and clean as my two Kimber pistols.
Of several SA I have looked at and passed on (which are fully forged frame and slide) I have noted that they have very sharp and unfinished edges and have a lot of scratches on them out of the box. And at that price point I want a USA built pistol and I have not been able to determine if the SA is fully USA built. If it were a lower price tier pistol that would not matter to me but in the mid price range it does (to me). I would like to be wrong here on the origin as I really do like the Range Officer pistol from Springfield.
3C
What parts on a Kimber do you think may need replacing that cannot be replaced with Wilson Combat or from other makers of 1911 parts? Kimbers are fully forged and CNC milled frames in steel or aluminum depending upon model with forged and CNC milled slides.
RIA are cast 4140 steel frames and Ruger is investment cast frame. I am okay with that to a price point beyond which I would rather a forged steel CNC milled frame. The cast frame on my RIA I am not worried about failure or wear, it is just that if one gets really close and starts inspecting the frame with a serious eye it is just not as crisp and clean as my two Kimber pistols.
Of several SA I have looked at and passed on (which are fully forged frame and slide) I have noted that they have very sharp and unfinished edges and have a lot of scratches on them out of the box. And at that price point I want a USA built pistol and I have not been able to determine if the SA is fully USA built. If it were a lower price tier pistol that would not matter to me but in the mid price range it does (to me). I would like to be wrong here on the origin as I really do like the Range Officer pistol from Springfield.
3C
CapnMac
Member
The rub of it is the "international" aspect. ITAR applies to a whole host of US items. Then, there are the laws about firearms parts imports into France. As our friend notes above, this can be a lot of fees, some picayune, some with more of a bite.
Our friends in the shooting community in France are to be much commended for their dedication, for many are the hurdles put before them. My friends in Europe much rely upon Brownell's Europe, which can be frustrating, as the stock they have is not the same (or has differing availability) as the US Brownell's.
Now, for all that frustration, our friends in Europe did not go through the ammo drought we in the US did.
OP
OP
mac-iurranc
Member
Ruger SR1911 it will be.
The armorers and supply chain have spoken. All of the "in stock" items I had collected were actually not in stock, but supposedly on backorder, or some fishy arguments from online sellers like in stock at the supplier depot.
With some instance from me having my local armorer pass a few phone calls to suppliers, I found a deal on THE only one Ruger SR1911 available in stock. I can't tell if it's the only one in the official Ruger's import distributor, that would make it the very last in the country, or just the last in my armorer's supplier, but it's on the way now.
I will have it next week, and post some pictures to do my part, and give a little back to this community. Titanium firing pin, novak style sights, CNC tight fitting, better ergonomics, my objectif to upgrade from my basic Remington R1 is achieved.
Thanks guys for your advices, comments and all, I am grateful you helped me.
Merci beaucoup les amis
The armorers and supply chain have spoken. All of the "in stock" items I had collected were actually not in stock, but supposedly on backorder, or some fishy arguments from online sellers like in stock at the supplier depot.
With some instance from me having my local armorer pass a few phone calls to suppliers, I found a deal on THE only one Ruger SR1911 available in stock. I can't tell if it's the only one in the official Ruger's import distributor, that would make it the very last in the country, or just the last in my armorer's supplier, but it's on the way now.
I will have it next week, and post some pictures to do my part, and give a little back to this community. Titanium firing pin, novak style sights, CNC tight fitting, better ergonomics, my objectif to upgrade from my basic Remington R1 is achieved.
Thanks guys for your advices, comments and all, I am grateful you helped me.
Merci beaucoup les amis
tuckerdog1
Member
Looking forward to the pictures. I'm curious, is it difficult or easy to buy firearms in France. It varies a lot here in the States. Some places you can find & buy at a yard sale in minutes with an exchange of cash and a handshake. In other places, you have to kiss the ring of the local overlord & wait weeks or months for a permission slip.
OP
OP
mac-iurranc
Member
It is possible, more or less difficult and under constraints depending on the sport you are willing to do.
Hunting :
Over 16 to participate and share a shotgun
Over 18 for a full license
Passing the licence : 4h group class, plus 2h individual exam (mostly a ball-trap session with an examiner, and a MCQ test). As for now license is for life.
Shotguns and rifles : no limit within the hunting category
Acquisition: buy one, get home with it immediately
Taxes : ~ $200/year small game, for big game: add something like $20
Local club : anything from $50 to hundreds $ / year. The club can and sometimes do refuses newcomers
Ball-trap:
As far as I know it's like hunting without the license (so some people starts ball-trap basically to own a legal shotgun).
It's surprisingly easy, for now, but read buying a gun below...
Range shooting:
First you must find a club (range are private, or non profit associations) with free seats, you may wait for a few months for a seat depending on the local conditions
License: a MCQ test is done on your first days at the club, a target practice exam must have >= 80% on 50 shots at 27 yards. Just make holes it doesn't matter where.
Many clubs require 6 months with CO2 before allowing you to use firearms.
This practice has to be renewed 4 times per year to keep the license alive and allow you to ask for detention authorizations.
The club check your file before allowing you to have a seat (see below like buying a gun)
Buying a gun (common rules):
Be over 18
Have no criminal records (jail time, agressive behavior, psychiatric conditions, of course no state security related cases or even suspicions). Your file is checked by the armorer every single time you buy a firearm.
Hunters : shotgun and rifle, buy and get home with it
Range shooters : a maximum of 12 detention authorizations are given by the authorities, renewable every 5 years (so basically the state own your firearms, you pay for it and have a pass to keep it or you must sell it, prove the destruction or non reversible deactivation)
Before giving an authorization your files are checked, the authorities may conduce investigation if something doesn't look right.
At any given time your authorizations may be revoked, just be a good citizen and it goes pretty well.
All kinds of EDC are forbidden, to transport a (secured and locked) firearm you must have a purpose : go to the range, go hunting...
I'm not complaining, in EU some countries are worse than that really. I guess we should feel lucky to have traditions about hunting, else it would have been absolutely dissuasive.
To which state does the French rules look like ? California ?
Last edited:
I'm no expert, but even California is not that strict. Or so I believe.
I'm next door in Arizona, and here it's completely different. We don't have illegal knives, or guns. Of course if you want to own fully automatic firearms or silencers, you have to have a license (called a tax stamp for some legality issue?) for said weapons.
I have a carry permit, although I no longer need one to carry concealed in most places. The permit does allow me to carry concealed in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. The carry permit also allows me to walk into a gun store, buy a rifle or pistol, and walk out with it. We're a bit spoiled here.
I wish you the best of luck with your new pistol. I am fortunate in that I have the knowledge and skills to build my own guns (mentored under a pistolsmith many years ago), and I'm thankful for that.
I'm next door in Arizona, and here it's completely different. We don't have illegal knives, or guns. Of course if you want to own fully automatic firearms or silencers, you have to have a license (called a tax stamp for some legality issue?) for said weapons.
I have a carry permit, although I no longer need one to carry concealed in most places. The permit does allow me to carry concealed in bars and restaurants that serve alcohol. The carry permit also allows me to walk into a gun store, buy a rifle or pistol, and walk out with it. We're a bit spoiled here.
I wish you the best of luck with your new pistol. I am fortunate in that I have the knowledge and skills to build my own guns (mentored under a pistolsmith many years ago), and I'm thankful for that.
tuckerdog1
Member
That's pretty tough. I know California has a lot of restrictions. Some downright stupid. Handguns have to be on an approved list. And two identical pistols will have one approved and the other not approved for something as lame as the color. A friend in New Jersey had been looking for years for a specific pistol. I found it here in Texas & bought it for him. But I could not send it to him until he'd received some permission slip from the state ( took months ), and that was valid for only 90 days. So glad I live where I do.
Anyway, glad you do get to get your SR1911. Post pics.
Anyway, glad you do get to get your SR1911. Post pics.
I hope you enjoy your SR 1911. I've had one for 8 or 9 years. I like it but it doesn't really get shot a lot. I tend to shoot the pistol I carry more & .45 acp is more expensive than the ammunition my carry pistol uses. The only problem I have had with mine was when it was new. Occasionally I would get hit in the head with a spent shell casing. I did a little research & adjusted the tension on the extractor & it has been fine since.
CapnMac
Member
In looking over such things with my friend in Yvelote, e determined it was a cross between the FOID (Firearm Oners Identification Card) states, and a blend of CT & MA with CA.
My friend in Bern thinks the French rules are much stricter than Canton of Bern (the various Cantons can be more strict than just Swiss national laws.). And my friend in Prague much prefers Czechia law on such things.
Socially, MA is probably most like France in that firearm owners keep such things very much to themselves, often even among other Club members. All the French shooter I have met are a enthusiastic bunch, and very dedicated--possibly from having to overcome all the hurdles, legal and social placed before them.
I salute my French brethren.
- Status
