https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgilHdVY46U
There is just something about the 1911 handgun that excites shooters across the world. It is no wonder why the 1911 pistol is the most copied handgun in world. The 1911 pistol is extremely accurate, has a five-inch barrel (gov model), a thin slide profile, a short single action trigger, beautiful grips and chambered in .45 ACP, just to name a few characteristics.
I consider the 1911 handgun a confidence booster. At the range, I love nothing more than to hear the sound of metal pinging shot after shot. Nothing handles the .45 ACP cartridge quite as accurately and smoothly as a quality built 1911 handgun.
I took the Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced to the range with the full expectation that it would perform as well as it looked. The aesthetics and features of their 1911 R1 Enhanced were incredible. It embodied all of the historical characteristics that make the 1911 a one-of-a-kind handgun and added some modern day improvements that most shooters would find appealing.
1911 R1 Enhanced Specifications
Model: 1911 Enhanced Stainless
Caliber: .45 ACP
Mag Capacity: 8
Overall Length: 8.25 inches
Overall Height: 5.5 inches
Trigger Pull: 3.5 – 5 (3.75 pounds is my trigger scale)
Finish: Stainless Steel
MSRP: $990
The Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced Stainless model has a sharp-looking matte stainless finish that adds a touch of class. The positive fit, feel and finish of the gun matched the Remington quality that I have come to know with their rifles and shotguns. The grips are textured brown, diamond checkered with a cut on the left side for easy thumb access to the magazine release button. The skeletonized aluminum single action match grade trigger measures 3.75 pounds on my trigger scale and has a nice clean break that is all historical 1911. The flat-checkered mainspring housing has nice texturing and the extended beavertail safety allows for a high grip on the pistol. The professionally engraved slide (also matte stainless finish) has both front and rear deep-cut serrations with a orange fiber optic front sight and black combat adjustable rear sights. The match grade five-inch stainless barrel with barrel lugs on top that hug the interior slide, keeping the interior components tight. The 1911 R1 uses a GI (or partial length) guide rod, which is consistent with the John Browning design from back in the year 1911. Remington includes a bushing wrench for disassembly, along with two eight rounds magazines in the case.
I took the 1911 R1 Enhanced to the range with great expectations. Using Remington 230 grain full-metal jacket rounds, with steel targets 10 yards away, I felt confident the 1911 R1 would perform with accuracy and reliability. Understanding 1911 handguns very well, let’s just say my expectations were high.
I’ve always been a fan of fiber optic front sights. I like the way they stand out, allowing for easier target acquisition. Shooting the 1911 R1 was as simple as putting that red front dot on the target and pulling the trigger. I know that sounds basic and elementary, but I have learned that most pistols require a slight adjustment when at the range. Basically, not all handguns are created equal or point and shoot in the same manner. This 1911 R1 required no adjustment whatsoever. Just point and shoot. It can’t get any easier than that.
I typically stand about seven yards away from my target when I review a gun for the first time. It’s sort of like a baseball player warming up his arm, and he then eventually backs up after his throws hit the intended target. I want to see where my shots hit according to my sight hold on the target. This way of “warming up” helps me understand the sight picture, trigger action and felt recoil.
Getting to the point of this review: the Remington 1911 R1 shot and handled outstanding right out of the case.
From the very first shots, the 1911 R1 was on target. In the video below, you will notice how comfortable I was hitting the targets from 10 yards. I then backed up to 24 yards to see how well I could tag a miniature IDPA target with one mag of eight rounds. From this distance, the slightest shooter error will result in a miss. While fully understanding the 1911 R1 was far more accurate than I could ever be, I was still able to tag the target six out of eight times.
The bottom line is, the Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced is a quality built, beautiful looking and an extremely accurate handgun. It embodies all of the characteristics of a classic 1911 along with some added features that are shooter friendly. I found the light single action trigger pull and the accurate point of aim to be most enjoyable.
The MSRP for the Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced is $990, but the street price is in the mid $700s. Comparing that price with other 1911s on the market, the 1911 R1 is a good deal, in my opinion. 1911 shooters look for accuracy, reliability and beauty. The Remington 1911 R1 Enhanced excels in those areas.
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