Remington Model 1911 R1 – A Great Entry Level Pistol

Terril gives us a honest first impressions review of the Remington R1 1911 handgun.

Remington offers plenty of "souped up" 1911 pistols, but their base model offers the nostalgic look and feel of pistols from a bygone era.
Remington offers plenty of “souped up” 1911 pistols, but their base model offers the nostalgic look and feel of pistols from a bygone era.

U.S.A.-(Ammoland.com)- Remington represents a true “jack of all trades” company. The company reached prominence thanks to their New Model Army series of revolvers during the American Civil War and survived the post-war pistol drought with their successful Rolling Block rifles. In the early 20th century, Remington was as competitive as Colt or Savage in the American handgun market; but over the last several decades, the company has focused on their rifles and shotguns. It was not until 2011 that Remington reentered the market when they introduced their R1–a 1911 style of handgun and one that caught my attention from its initial release.

1911 pistols are a source of frustration for me. I always had a problem with viewing these pistols not as tools but as portals of nostalgia. Further, the influx of imitations have muddied the waters. Everyone and their grandmother is making a 1911 pistol, some good, some not. Cue those who feel the need to tweak the platform with different cartridges, short reset triggers, and overzealous machining. This is mostly to meet demand. Over one hundred years after its introduction, 1911 pistols are just as prolific as ever to meet any need from self-defense, competition, even hunting. Left in the dust is the classic “GI” model. I am drawn to the basic model, similar to how the pistol was first introduced. A pistol that is both good-looking yet unrefined wrapped into one product. No fancy G10 grips, skeletonized parts, fancy finishes, and night sights. Plain walnut grips, blued steel, low profile sights appeal to me. There are a few good manufacturers of this style, but the Remington guns have been more prolific on the shelves wherever I happen to be. They certainly look nice, and the price was right, so I ultimately bit on the R1.

But would this temper my hostile feelings toward a design loved by everyone else but me?

Remington Model 1911 R1 : General Features

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The standard Remington R1 represents a full sized 1911 pistol boasting a five-inch stainless steel barrel and blued carbon steel slide, frame, and appointments. The presentation is finished off with a pair of checkered walnut grips. From a distance, the R1 looks like a standard GI 1911. And the feel in hand sure is similar. The R1 is a hefty pistol, weighing in at two pounds, eight ounces fully loaded.

The "American" style magazine release, slide stop, and manual thumb safety on the left side of the pistol are placed appropriately and left in blue. The hammer is serrated for cocking the pistol but otherwise is normal sized and lacks the funky skeletonizing found on other "more hip" pistols.
The “American” style magazine release, slide stop, and manual thumb safety on the left side of the pistol are placed appropriately and left in blue. The hammer is serrated for cocking the pistol but otherwise is normal sized and lacks the funky skeletonizing found on other “more hip” pistols.

The trigger has some texturing to it as well, but it is left in-the-white. The well-milled slide serrations are in the appropriate place for the thumb and forefingers to grip.

The most obvious differences between the R1 and a standard 1911 are the three-dot sights--not large by today's 1911 standards but much higher and easier to see than GI sights.
The most apparent differences between the R1 and a standard 1911 are the three-dot sights–not large by today’s 1911 standards but much higher and easier to see than GI sights.

The rear of the grip does not have the curved mainspring housing found on a typical World War II model but instead uses a checkered flat housing like those found on original 1911 models. This gives the grip a straight appearance.

Another notable difference is the inclusion of a stainless steel barrel bushing that retains the recoil spring at the muzzle of the gun.
Another notable difference is the inclusion of a stainless steel barrel bushing that retains the recoil spring at the muzzle of the gun.
We can't forget the obvious Remington trade markings either.
We can’t forget the visible Remington trade markings, either.

Even with these minor differences, the R1 is a 1911 not only in form but function. It is a single action handgun, meaning the handgun’s hammer has to be cocked for the pistol to fire. Browning’s locked breech design, first used on the 1911, is of course, incorporated here. The barrel tilts down to unlock under recoil and locks when the slide travels forward under the pressure of the recoil spring. A beautiful system that every modern pistol uses today. This model comes in 45 ACP, and the pistol feeds from two of the included seven-round magazines.

Initial Inspection

My R1 came in its green cardboard box with included manual, cable lock, two magazines, and a bushing wrench. After ponying up the cash for some four hundred fifty rounds of 45 ACP, I went on to take apart the pistol–my first time disassembling one in years. Disassembly is more complicated than newer designs, but the more times I disassembled the pistol, it became easier. But first out of the box, the pistol was very tight, and I had to use the included wrench to power off the barrel bushing so I could take the slide off. I cleaned and lubed the pistol with my standard 3-in-1 machine oil, and that was all the maintenance I would go onto do. The pistol would go through testing without cleaning or lubrication, and it would do better than I expected.

On The Range

The Remington R1 was my first serious reentry into automatic pistols, having shot revolvers for a long time. I am used to a tucked grip and a heavy double-action trigger pull. A tucked grip is unnecessary with an autoloader, and a 1911 has a hair trigger by comparison. With that in mind, I started by shooting at a series of targets from seven to twenty-five yards with Remington UMC 230 grain FMJ ammunition. Loading the magazines for use was an easy proposition. The mags are big, the ammunition is big, and the springs were not too tight. I could get all seven in the magazine without any trouble, which isn’t always the case in some guns. Slapping the magazine into the butt of the grip and briskly racking the slide chambers the round, though at times I forgot about the thumb safety–another aspect absent on revolvers–as the pistol can’t be loaded with the safety on.

Taking a firm grip to disengage the grip safety and aiming the pistol to the target was organic. Like any 1911, the R1 is a natural pointer, and the sights were easy to pick up. Taking my time offhand, I placed my seven rounds into a two-inch group at seven yards. At twenty-five, the best I could do was six inches. Could I have done better? Probably. I will throw out my excuse of dealing with a very light four and a half pound trigger pull with very short travel and reset. I am tempted to put too much finger on the trigger to leverage the twelve-pound trigger on a revolver, and some of my shots strung out to the side from time to time. The R1 proved to be a test of the fundamentals of trigger control. In later sessions, a pattern developed where my shooting was terrible starting but improving later on in the day.

The pistol points well, shoots well, and looks good doing it.
The pistol points well, shoots well and looks good doing it.

Despite the good shooting, I was initially skeptical of the R1 when it came to performance. The recoil of the heavy 45 ACP round was pretty tame in this weighty pistol, though after some one-hundred round sessions, the web of my hands were getting raw.

The pistol points well, shoots well, and looks good doing it. But that doesn’t mean I had no issues. I was more surprised by having far fewer issues than I believed. There is a fraction of horizontal play in the trigger; something considered normal for me might be unacceptable to 1911 aficionados.  Regarding malfunctions, I counted three. Three double-feed malfunctions occurred, twice using Remington and PPU 230 grain full metal jacket rounds and once while testing some Sig Sauer Elite Performance 200-grain hollow points. This leads me to believe there was an extractor lacking the right tension, but as the curse of the range ended up showing, it was cured by more shooting. [new gun? limp wrist?] After hitting the two hundred round mark, I experienced no problems.

An typical off-hand ten yard group using Remington 230 grain FMJ ammunition.
A typical off-hand ten-yard group using Remington 230 grain FMJ ammunition.

Final Thoughts

The 1911 served as the standard issue pistol for the United States armed forces for over seventy-five years. The gun’s cult status is undeniable, and there is no wonder why there is such a market for it, even when technology has advanced. Remington made a good, safe choice when they chose the 1911 to be their first re-entry into the handgun market. They bring another brand to what is, frankly, an oversaturated market. Budget-friendly 1911s can be a hit or miss affair, and some will contend you need to spend thousands on a good 1911. But some of us want a taste of it without buyer’s remorse. I can’t tell you that the Remington is better than a Kimber or a Springfield, but what I can say is that I left the range with a gun that was far smoother of a shooter than what I expected.

 

Product Specifications

  • SKU 23792
  • Brand Remington
  • Model Number 96323
  • UPC 885293963238
  • Caliber: 45AP
  • Action: Single Action
  • Capacity: 7+1
  • Finish: Satin Black Oxide
  • Stock: Walnut/ Double Diamond Grips
  • Sights: FT: Dovetail w/Dot RR: Dovetail w/2-Dot
  • Barrel: 5
  • Length: 8.75
  • MSRP:  $1015.00
  • Product Manual

 

About Terril Hebert

Terril Hebert is a firearm writer native to south Louisiana. Under his motto-Guns, Never Politics-he tackles firearm and reloading topics both in print and on his Mark3smle YouTube channel, where he got his start. Terril has a soft spot for ballistics testing, pocket pistols, and French rifles. When he is not burning ammo, he is indulging his unhealthy wildlife photography obsession or working on his latest novel. Scourge of God, published in 2017. See more from Terril on youtube under Mark3smle

3.6/5 (8 Reviews)
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F Riehl, Editor in Chief

Follow Up Questions & Answers Does Remington still make 1911 R1? Yes, as of 2021 Remington still manufactures the 1911 R1 as of my knowledge. Is the Remington 1911 R1 a good gun? The Remington 1911 R1 has generally received positive reviews for its reliability, accuracy, and value for money. However, individual experiences may vary, and it’s always recommended to research and handle a firearm before making a purchase decision. What caliber is a Remington 1911 R1? The Remington 1911 R1 is available in several calibers, including .45 ACP, 9mm, and .40 S&W. The specific caliber depends on the model… Read more »

Green Mtn. Boy

@ Kevin

“Carried Remington Rand 45 cal 1911A1 in the Army”

The pistol to which you refer to was not manufactured by Remington Arms Co. but rather Remington Rand a typewriter manufacturer.

kevin

Remington
My first gun Remington 22 bolt action
My first deer kill, Remington 700 adl 30.06
Caried Remington Rand 45 cal 1911A1 in the Army along with a lot of other stuff
Made in USA it’s all good for me.
I have a R1 enhanced, nice gun, looks great, shoots good.

MB

Some readers my want to be the Quality Control Testing department for Remington, Taurus and Sig, but not me. Thank you for risking your hard earned money for our benefit, it seems to have worked out for you this time. I can’t afford to take that risk, but it’s because reviewers and writers do it for me. So thank you for that. I will buy Ruger, Smith & Wesson, Glock, FNH, & CZ, instead, companies known for good quality and better service if a less then perfect product slips by their QCT dept. Remington sad to say lets the customers… Read more »

Bill

I’m glad that Rem is finally getting things right! I pray they stay right. but with all the great guns out there, I won’t be using my money as their testing grounds.

Tom Marshall

Hello Bill, Any “testing” for the Remington R-1 was certainly completed long ago. As you can see here in my other reply I have had mine for 3 years with exemplary performance and he reasons why I like mine. Which does not excuse the other well known issues they recently had. Possibly due to trying to rush some product to market before it was ready. Very recently I bought a new RP45. Which is based on the Para design. Which they had bought. While I have had a few feed issues (1-3 on a typical day at the range of… Read more »

Wild Bill

@hotshottertom Marshall, If the RP45 is just “… based on the Para design… ” then what are the differences? If you had written that Remington’s RP45 was an exact copy of the Para Ordinance 14/45 design then I might be interested in it.
I just love my Para Ordinance 14/45 and would not settle for anything lesser.

Green Mtn. nBoy

I’m sure they are a great gun as Remington has such a sterling reputation for quality and design as of late,just think of the difficulty involved in screwing up the venerable 1911.

Wild Bill

@GMB, I concur. I would be extremely hesitant to buy any Remington pistol for the same reasons that you have expressed.

Green Mtn. nBoy

@ Wild Bill

It’s a shame what has become of Para under the tent of the big R,however that has also happened to most of the others that R has absorbed.

Considerthis

Strange that no one has pointed out two things about the R1-
All parts not exchangeable with 1911 parts.
Extended safety fits fine, extended slide lock a no-go.
Remington mags have a cut out at the top rear, the primer shows.
Standard 1911 mags can cause the slide to drag, a little work with a dremel tool will allow them to work. At least that’s my experience.

Roland T. Gunner

I forget the details, but Remington had some problems with these early on. I remember being disappointed, because I expected a lot from a 1911 made by Remington.

RetVetArk

I picked one of these up four yrs ago and the sales receipt says
I paid 513 including shipping and tax. I also think they had a
rebate going on at that time. Wonder why the msrp listed in this
article is twice what it was in 2019? Would be a great display
1911 but the days that you have your firearms out for display are
long gone.

Barrett 50 Cal

I carry a custom 1911A1. Highly polished in all the right places. Trusted and tested for over 100 years. Wilson mags are a must.

Robert S

I bought a Remington R1 awhile back when they had their rebate going. I was wanting a 1911 and couldn’t pass up $399 after $100 rebate. I was very pleasantly surprised by the fit, finish and smoothness of the slide and action. The bullets were all going to same place on the target, but not the one I was aiming at. A $20 long trigger from Brownell’s dropped right in and solved that problem. Looks better with the long trigger, too, in my opinion. The gun is a shooter and I haven’t had any feeding or extraction issues from day… Read more »

Great North Woods

I’m having a little trouble understanding how only a $20 long trigger can make you suddenly begin hitting your own target rather than that of someone else. Speculating that if a heavy trigger was your issue, then maybe have a qualified gunsmith take a look at your hammer / sear surfaces. I often wonder if most problems are a result of an individual not knowing how to hold a pistol for best accuracy or over estimating their ability to hit a target placed at too great a distance.

Jruss

I tried having a gunsmith shipped to my house for $20….almost put in jail for human smuggling!
But on a serious note. The trigger pull poundage will change accuracy, usually to the left or the right depending on hand used for trigger pull.

Tom Marshall

I really enjoyed this article. I bought a new R1 on Black Friday 2015. From a local gun shop that was haviong a promo. $435 less a $50 mail in rebate (possibly $75) was a pretty compelling price, I thought. Firing 49 rounds weekly ever since I am now somewhere around 7000 total. After having a few issues with some Sig ammo (bullets were oversized and would not chamber) initially I have not had a single problem. Mostly Winchester white box and a small amount of Independence with alumunum cases. All fine. Always cleaned after each use. Barrel bushing is… Read more »

Duke Santos

I have a Remington 1911 and it works like it should. Fortunately Remington just copied a proven design instead of re-engineering one

Charles

I wonder if the 1911 wacks the hand like the a1 doesnt

Tom Marshall

Question for Charles. What is an a1? I am unfamiliar with the designation. But, curious. Thank you, Tom

Big Bill

1911 A1, probably.

JDC

Couple of thoughts here: First of all, thanks for admitting you haven’t reviewed many (any?) semi-auto pistols. The 1911 is a great platform, but one that I would not have chosen for my first SA review. Next: A few pointers. A few things to always include in any review…MSRP, number of rounds you fired, types/make of ammo, whether you used a rest for accuracy tests, and weather conditions at the range. Also, if you have access to a trigger pull guage, list at what point the trigger breaks. Your definition of “hair trigger” might be 5# since you shoot DA.… Read more »

Gunny

I have had no less than a dozen of these “so called excellent entry level” 1911s come.thru my.shop over the last couple years. they have all been, to the pistol, Varying degrees of trash. I wouldn’t spend 40 dollars let alone 400 on this overhyped junk. I wonder how much these “writers” get paid to give such glowing reviews. I guess all one need to is look Who is advertising in the publications.
Build quite wise I’d put this model in the same category as a taurus 1911 which I would not use for a paperweight