Remington 1911 R1 Stainless 45 Acp Centerfire Pistol Review

Remington'southward R1 is a no-frills design that stays true to the original (more than or less). (Photo: Francis Borek)

Think of Remington, and what pops into your mind? Chances are it's not something good. Peradventure it's the controversy over the Model 700's trigger design? Maybe it'due south disappointment over the Bushmaster ACR? Or information technology could exist anger over the closure of the Marlin factory and the precipitous decline in quality?

It cannot be argued that many of the Freedom Group'south decisions have proven to be quite contentious (and garnered a seemingly unending string of bad press). Nevertheless at that place is a beacon of hope for the company, a blueprint Remington flirted with during one of mankind'southward darkest hours that, like a phoenix, could prove to exist a (partial) rebirth of the brand.

Remington is no stranger to John Browning's masterpiece handgun, the 1911 pistol, and their R1 1911 handgun in .45 ACP is a testament to this.

Background

During the First World War, the U.s.a. Army adopted the 1911 design from Colt subsequently a very lengthy trial plan, only the Navy and Marine Corps weren't besides impressed and decided to stick with revolvers. However they could plainly see that the future of side arms lay in self-loading pistols and both branches began to put out feelers. To the amazement of the Marine Corps, renowned gun designer John Pedersen whipped upward a self-loader chambered in .45 ACP. It used a "hesitation-locked" system and would become the basis of the successful Model 51 series of pistols.

What you get within big green box is a R1, two viii-round mags, and manual. Not shown is the bushing wrench. (Photograph: Francis Borek)

Both the Navy and Marine Corps were suitably impressed with Pedersen's design, and placed a contract with Remington in 1917. Soon after still, the U.s. declared war on the Central Powers and the contract was cancelled earlier any could be congenital. Remington was instead contracted to build the M1917 rifle for the Army and, in a fit of irony, also received a contract to produce M1911 pistols.

Mail service-state of war, Remington produced the Model 51 in a diverseness of calibers equally a compact pistol up until the start of Globe War Two. Though in that location exist Earth War Two-era M1911A1 pistols with the Remington name, these were produced by the unrelated Remington-Rand Typewriter Company. This company was spun off decades before and Remington themselves wouldn't produce another 1911 until earlier this decade

Enter the R1 1911

With the 100-year anniversary of John Browning's at present timeless design approaching, Remington introduced their line of 1911s in 2010, dubbed the R1 1911, to cash in on the craze. A variety of designs take since been offered including tactical models with threaded barrels and VZ grips, long slide variants, officer'southward models, and commemorative editions, all in a multifariousness of finishes and calibers. Fifty-fifty the slides and frames vary, with more expensive variants featuring forged frames, with less-expensive variants having cast frames. The variant reviewed here is the basic 'USGI' model — a no-frills, total sized, blued 1911 with wood grips and chambered in .45 ACP and priced every bit a more than budget friendly 1911.

It isn't too obvious at first glance, only there are casting lines on the frame and crude marks that haven't been fully polished out. (Photo: Francis Borek)

This Remington R1, like many bones 1911s, has an appearance reminiscent of a surplus USGI pistol merely does not accurately mimic one. The sights are large, white three-dot sights that offering good visibility and durability over precision accuracy. The cease is bluing that appears to be more black, but is durable and has stood up to repeated use. Rollmarks are tasteful with the pistol'south name on the right side about the cage, and a large company name on the left. Despite this, it is tasteful rather than the ugly billboard rollmarks seen on many 1911s these days.

The trigger is aluminum and, rather oddly, a short trigger. Though present on the 1911A1, curt triggers have fallen out of favor with well-nigh shooters. The mainspring housing is flat, steel, and has vertical serrations. There is a tiny notch in the top of the bedchamber to act every bit a loaded chamber indicator. The barrel bushing is, strangely enough, stainless. The double-diamond grips appear to exist wood. The key word is 'announced' and they are so heavily varnished that it's easy to mistake them for plastic. Overall however the R1 succeeds in giving off the advent of an old-schoolhouse, USGI 1911 save for a few quirks.

The rather tasteful billboard rollmark. (Photo: Francis Borek)

On the range

On the shooting range, the sight moving picture is a fleck "bulky." The sights are big and piece of cake to pick upwardly, but will hinder precision. All the same this pistol isn't really marketed or offered as a precision target slice. The ergonomics are what y'all would expect from a 1911, that is to say "really good." One of the reasons why JMB'southward blueprint has endured through the years are those ergonomics and the R1 1911 does nothing to alter them.

The safety on the R1 is easy enough to hit, though rather strangely it is the early variant of the safety. This was replaced with a much larger variant on the M1911A1, so information technology's a little odd to see it hither. Replaced because of complaints that it wasn't like shooting fish in a barrel to manipulate, I had no issues here. The double diamond grips also offering enough traction to manage the recoil of the .45 ACP, even after lengthy shooting session and sweaty hands. The slide is also easy and smooth to dispense, not like several other 1911s in it's price range.

Closeup of the short trigger, safety, and over varnished grips. (Photo: Francis Borek)

The trigger is… kind of strange. I expect a prissy, make clean break with 1911 triggers. Yet this ane is a tiny bit mushy, though that could be from the Series 80 condom. On the way to the intermission, in that location is a tiny bit of travel to become there before it finally breaks around 6-7 lbs. I found that the trigger reset is likewise short and rapid burn strings are quite fun with the R1. Non a neat trigger by any means and certainly there are trigger snobs furiously typing up how their $2000 Ed Brown has a better one. Just one has to recollect that this gun was purchased for $629 and was non marketed as a slicked up competition or custom slice. For the price, this gun works.

With Federal 230 grain FMJ, I managed to bring in a five round 2 inch group, standing, two-handed, at 10-yards. CCI Blazer 230 grain FMJ brought in the same group, while Tulammo steel cased 230 gr FMJ brought in 3 inches. For me, that'south perfectly acceptable.

A stainless bushing is a rather uncommon sight in budget 1911s. (Photograph: Francis Borek)

Conclusion

Information technology'southward pretty disheartening to encounter what has happened to Remington. Call me sentimental, merely it'due south just a shame to come across what has happened to a once dandy firearms company. Fifty-fifty if they tin contrary all of the problems overnight, I dubiousness that many will give them another hazard.

Despite this, the R1 1911 is a step in the right management. Information technology is a nice, affordable 1911 that will give many shooters plenty of service for whatever they choose to use information technology. Though Remington'south more than contempo forays into the handgun world have shown to be a bit of a disappointment, their R1 1911 keeps chugging along. Although they tried to modernize John Pedersen'south famous Model 51, they merely couldn't, only when they kept to John Browning'southward original design, it works. Simply put, the R1 1911 is an affordable and reliable option in the earth of 1911s.

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Source: https://www.guns.com/news/review/gun-review-remington-r1-1911-handgun-in-45-acp

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