Intro:
A few months ago I was in need of a new concealed-carry handgun, and being a 1911 fan, I decided to browse the models within my price range. I was willing to shell out $1500, but like most of us during these trying times, I wanted to keep the price low to offset the cost of ammunition. There were a few manufacturers to consider: one had a model priced over $1400, another manufacturer had one priced right around $1500, and then there was the Remington R1 Carry that was conveniently priced at $1100. I knew that Remington was fairly new to the 1911 scene (after taking a 60+ year break from manufacturing 1911’s), so I was naturally a little hesitant to throw down over one thousand dollars on a relatively unproven handgun. I normally seek advice from industry contacts or through online after-action reports, but none were available. I was in quite the conundrum; do I risk spending this money on a handgun that could ultimately fail me? Or do I spend hundred’s more on proven options?
I decided to take the risk and purchase the Remington for a couple reasons. First, Remington performed very well with the presentation of this handgun. I find this 1911 to be very to attractive; mainly due to the tasteful rollmarks and the eye-pleasing cocobolo grips. The slide-to-frame fit was above par for 1911’s in this price range. Second, the R1 Carry had all the features I was looking for: a functional, 25-LPI checkered front strap, a beavertail safety with a 25-LPI checkered memory bump, an ambidextrous manual safety, a tritium front sight with a blacked-out rear sight, and a dehorned frame and slide. If you ask me, there is a ton of value for a 1911 at that price point with so many features. Finally, I wanted an American-made 1911, and this one was easily the best-priced option for the features I wanted.
The case is an industry-standard case, which includes a flush magazine and a magazine with a basepad.
Initial Backlash
“You got a what?!”
“Whoa, Mr. Bigshot with his Remington…”
“I would have gone with brand X, Y, or Z”
These are all comments I have heard from industry contacts when I purchased my Remington. At first, I will admit, I was concerned with the reaction I received. I worried that maybe the reason I couldn’t find any objective testing on the R1 Carry was because I was the only person foolish enough to purchase the firearm. I wondered if this was going to end up being a $1000 mistake… but I quickly learned that the Remington R1 Carry was one of the best $1000 investments I ever made.
Under the hood of the Remington R1 Carry
Exceptional Performance
I have heard everything from “you have to spend more than $3000 to get a 1911 worthy of defensive application” to “my $399 gunshow special can outshoot any fandangled semi-custom 1911”. I try to venture away from either extreme with my approach, as I believe a respectable defensive 1911 can be purchased for a moderate sum. The R1 Carry has sustained my view in this regard. In the last couple of months I have fired over 3200 rounds through the R1 Carry, and beyond the breaking-in process with the first 70 rounds, I have had ZERO malfunctions I can attribute to the 1911. Given that many people consider the 1911 to be an outdated design, and most agree that the firearm is not on the same level of reliability as it’s polymer counterparts, I have been absolutely pleased with the reliability of this handgun.
Accuracy has been what one can expect out of a 1911 geared for defensive purposed. The trigger pull averages out around 4.25 lbs; which has provided accurate shooting at logical defensive distances. I am not an IPSC or IDPA professional competitor, but I am a competent shooter who has participated in handgun training with the likes of Larry Vickers and Ron Avery. With that being said, I can consistently hit in the “0” zone of IDPA or “A” zone of IPSC targets at defensive distances in a variety of drills.
Final Conclusion
I have owned and worked with several 1911’s in my career, and I can honestly say that this 1911 is one of the best values in the 1911 market. While it is not a perfect handgun, it provides shooters with the opportunity to own a 1911 geared for defensive carry, while at a moderate price point. If you are in the market for a 1911, I recommend you give the R1 Carry some serious consideration. Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts; I look forward to the following discussion.
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Originally Posted by Spectre'sWrath
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