Gun Review: Remington 1911 R1 Carry Commander .45 Pistol

1. Someone might have thrown it into a sonic cleaner and that ruined the tritium vial. I had my Coonan at at range in Vegas that did free sonic cleanings at the end of your range session and it trashed the front vial on mine.

2. Could it possibly be that The Recoil spring was worn out in the gun causing the sharp recoil pulse you are feeling? Is it possible they sent you a gun that had thousands upon thousands around shot through it and they didn’t replace the recoil spring assembly? That’d be my guess.

3. Re the front sight, just using the gun won’t make the tritium decay early, but if they installed an empty vial, either as an oops or on propose for whatever reason, that could be it. (There are some places so strict about radionuclides, even my tritium watch dial was verboten.) Or, as a previous poster noted, an ultrasonic cleaning could have spalled the phosphor off, although I hadn’t heard of that before.

   If the shock of shooting opened up a crack in the vial, that would be surprising; this a .45, after all, not the dreaded hyperballistic 0.9mm.

   Maybe ask Remington?

4. “For those of you who haven’t carried a commander-sized 1911, there are very few firearms with a 4.25-inch barrel that carry as easily and conceal as well. ”

   I take issue with this statement.

   A Glock 17 is smaller in every dimension than a 1911 Commander, even without an ambi safety, except it’s .1″ longer. The barrel is even longer than the Commander. It also holds 17 rounds, and weighs less loaded or empty, 10 or 12oz respectively. You’d have to carry a spare magazine to equal the capacity of the loaded 17.

   I’m not a Glock (or any modern pistol) fanboy, I use it as an example because it’s a known quantity, and I do happen to have one. I used to carry a Springfield Armory Champion (Stainless Commander), Springfield Armory Micro Compact (Officer), and presently carry a Dan Wesson CCO (AL Officer frame with Commander slide), so I think one can understand I dislike the 1911. I love the 1911 history and lineage. It handles great. It shoots great. The small ones are fairly easy to carry concealed.

   But after being beaten about the brain with the realities of modernity such as multiple assailants, concealed carry becoming more popular, vast improvements in ammunition leading the 9MM to be every bit as effective as .45, and more and more choices of *good* modern pistols, in my opinion it is harder and harder to justify the 1911 as much more than a range toy. We are talking carry here, not aesthetics.

   I’ve owned and carried a Springfield Armory Champion, a Micro Compact, and presently a Dan Wesson CCO. I’m not going to stop carrying the 1911, but I’m not sure why. Probably because I’ve invested in it, not because it’s more practical. I’m not saying this to start a huge discussion. But the facts don’t seem to align with the quoted statement, and if we base decisions strictly on fact, the 1911 is a lot harder to justify, and I don’t think many that espouse the virtues of the 1911 are using fact when doing so. If we were talking a “real” 1911, this might be a different conversation. But this article is about a gun that is apparently supposed to be carried, presumably used for self defense, which just so happens to be 1911 derived. That opens it up to comparison to other pistols that are also designed to be carried and used for self defense, especially when making statements like “For those of you who haven’t carried a commander-sized 1911, there are very few firearms with a 4.25-inch barrel that carry as easily and conceal as well.”

   • My Officer 1911 conceals much easier than any double stack 9mm I’ve ever had. Even on a single side safety 1911 that adds to the width measurement, but it’s just over that tiny area, the rest of the handgun is noticeably thinner…

     • “My Officer 1911 conceals much easier than any double stack 9mm I’ve ever had. ”

       I can see where slide thickness would help in not needing as much waistband to hold it. However, the gun is held against your body. The wider 1911 grip is what is going to push against your body, depending on holster.

       And generally, in my experience, a tiny projection is worse than a larger one. In the case of a safety with a leather holster though, I’ve not noticed it.

     • Take a look at a commander size 1911 next to a Ruger SR9c. Note the grip width in particular. That SR9c holds 10+1 rounds with the standard mag.

       http://gunnuts.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/p_1600_1200_49919413-380a-457f-af5f-662aa2c2ec35.jpeg

       • lol. For concealed carry, it should be a lot harder for people to justify .45, and the 1911-based designs, the pictures posted in these threads should be all that is needed.

         All the evidence proves the 1911 is no longer practical (to include reports from just about any training class where people try to get 1911’s to last the course) but apparently nostalgia trumps fact.

   • Glock 17 slide width: 1.18″
     1911 slide width: 0.91″

     1911s are a lot slimmer than Glocks, when it comes to concealability, that’s what’s important.

     • “1911s are a lot slimmer than Glocks, when it comes to concealability, that’s what’s important.”

       This guy took pics. If you ignore actual width when measuring width, your statement is correct:

       http://s831.photobucket.com/user/dyeager535/media/Guns%20and%20hunting/Glock%20vs%201911/0327172052.jpg.html

       Don’t forget, that’s only a single safety as well, and even THAT is not factored into the width difference. With no safety at all, a 1911 is wider than a Glock.

       • The rounded shape of 1911 grip panels is a lot easier to conceal than the 2×4 like grip of a Glock. Also there are some real slim 1911 grips out there, some as thin as an 1/8″, remember the 1911 frame is only 0.75″ wide. If you do not understand this, I am guessing you don’t own either of the pistols being discussed.

         I EDC a commander size 1911 at work because it is easier to hide than my G19.

     • “If you do not understand this, I am guessing you don’t own either of the pistols being discussed.”

       I am guessing based on this statement, you didn’t read my comments that you are commenting on.

       The butt on a 1911 is sharper. The 1911 slide is longer. The butt of the Commander is almost a full inch longer than the G19. The 1911 has a beavertail that protrudes from the rear of the frame. The glock already has a cut off frame at the rear (only done on bobtail 1911’s). Rugers lightweight commander (AL frame) is STILL 20% heavier than a G19. A steel frame commander is 36% heavier. That does not help me with concealability, as I don’t wear suspenders on a daily basis.

       Comparing a true commander to the G19 isn’t even apples to oranges. In no way other than slide width, is the commander smaller. A larger dimensioned gun that conceals better? Color me skeptical. However, personal preference and experience is whatever it is.I don’t know how you can conceal a wider, longer, sharper butt more easily than the opposite. Good on you if you’ve found a way. I’m taking you at your word, even though you chose not to apparently.

5. I almost bought a 5″ version a month or so ago but ended up going with a stainless ‘Enhanced’ model instead. They were both ‘old new stock’ and they said the tritium sight might not be as bright. So I did a little research and found that they have a half life of 12 years so that was a minus for the Carry model. But I bid on it first and when someone outbid me I settled for the Enhnaced. $585 shipped, I think I did alright. Those grips and blued (not parkerized [Springfield Armory]) finish are pretty though.

   • I’ve got a Yugoslav AK I bought in ’88 (?) that has tritium, and it still glows. Maybe not as bright, but visible in darkness. I think you’ll see a long life out of tritium sights in general.

     • It wasn’t a deal breaker, but I figured you’d want to swap them out every 12 years or so and if I’m getting an already 5 or 6 year old firearm… But it takes 24 years to reach 25% and 36 to reach 12.5% etc. so maybe they are bright enough to not be a concern.

       • If my dad’s experience is anything to go by 25 years is often enough. New tritium sights are darn bright if they’re well made.

       • “If my dad’s experience is anything to go by 25 years is often enough.”

         Tritium’s half-life is about 12 years, so if it was fresh tritium, after 12 years will still be quite bright, and even 12 after that, still bright enough to use. And likely functional longer than that.

         And as you mentioned, all new tritium vials are *not* made the same. Those with better phosphor coatings and having more of the gas in them will be brighter.

         There’s a very strong incentive for manufacturers to cheap out on the gas, one number I’ve heard tossed about is 30,000 USD per *gram*…

6. No surprise there, even coming from Remington. The 1911 platform is a lot like pizza; the design is so foolproof by this point that it doesn’t take much to make a good or even great one, and to make it truly bad you need to either cut a lot of corners in throwing it together, or put some weird crap on it that nobody likes.

7. I think Rugers commander is quite a bit less expensive.
   Mine has run very well.

   • You can never go wrong with a Ru ger, but Remi ngton has 3 lines of R1s and this is the top model.

8. I don’t know why it wouldn’t be a decent BBQ gun. Not everyone can afford a Brown or Wilson 1911, and a nicely blued, wood stocked R1 looks plenty good to me. I’ve never felt the need to bling up my guns to impress someone though. As a bonus it also seems quite functional,

9. I had a Remington 1911a1 about 1966 in Vietnam. Folks told me it was Remington Rand, the office machine company.

   • You may have had a Remington Rand M1911A1 made between 1942 and 1945. I don’t think that the Army had any new 1911s made for ‘Nam and Remington Rand was acquired by Sperry Corp. in 1955.

     You were carrying a piece of history!

10. Where is all the Remington and 1911 haters? This gun was more reliable on TTAGs testing that any in recent memory. They probably hated the fact that they couldn’t hate on two of their favorite targets.

11. I would like to buy one of these but I’m still holding out for the Para-Ordnance products to get integrated into the Remington line. I want my R1911 Warthog, damnit!

12. I carried my standard R1 for years, until I could afford a second hand gun decided to switch. It’s never failed to run. My ONLY complaint was the finish, both the actual black oxide and the (lack of) finish machining. The oxide showed surface rust after just ONE DAY in a leather holster, and I had slag and machining marks so deep it wore the finish off the slide.

    If they fixed the QC issues I’d give them another shot…

13. I got one for 556 ,+ 100 MIR, you can’t beat that with a stick, considering this gun is a “looker” and was priced a 1300 a year or two ago. For the value of a cheap ATI or Titan pistol, or other chealo gun, you get a quality gun worth a thousand bucks even in this market. I could buy 3 Glocks for what these were going for at msrp.
    Now what the gun is really worth, it’s worth what the market will bare plus what you feel a real nicelly finished 1911, with beveled edges great sights, and a near perfect set of internals, and a beautiful finish.
    Other than hand fitting, it could shoot as well as a much higher Baer or, at least a Springer Trp, handgun. If you want a more narly tacticle look just throw a set of G10’s on it, and you have a “Special Operations Black Ops” style gun, lol.
    Bottom line is , Great looking and great shooting gun with better than average care taken in production. I owned the stock R1, when they first came out about 8 year ago, put a nice set or Sarge’s “Handler Grips” in burled Mahogany, and it shot 2″ groups right out of the box, “with the fuller grips”. I missed that gun since trading it for a more expensive EMP, which didn’t shoot nearly as well in 40. So I am thrilled with the gun, and advise you to pick one up while Remington continues to run the MIR on it. It is a score at this price, and if you hated it, you could easily get your money out of it any time.

14. I have the gun 3 weeks and it shhots really well. I can’t find one fault with it. And it was a $1300 dollar gun up until yhe past 12 months, so as far as Value goes it’s like geyying a TRP for half price, you can’t beat that.

15. This is really an excellent gun that doesn’t get enough credit. Remington’ s reputation may have taken a hit with some or their in house designs but I can say it doesn’t carry over to their 1911 line and recently has led to some excellent deals. Burns above summed it up pretty well with the R1 Carry being a TRP at half the price.

16. I bough my Carry Commander for $550 used last year. The original owner said he put 100 rounds thru it and I believe him. I’ve put about 500 thru it the last year. It’s very accurate and has been reliable after my first 100 rounds or so, which was probably the break in period.

    I agree about the grip safety being too sharp, I might replace it or have that worked on.

    One thing I didn’t see mentioned is that the slide serrations are a bit TOO smooth. It might be my hardest gun to rack.

    I actually don’t carry it- my PPS is much lighter and I like to CONCEAL my EDC’s. I would certainly feel well armed if I did- but it will have to wait until late fall/winter.

17. When this article was originally published, the Remington r1 may have been relevant. As of now, 2018, I would not recommend any Remington product. The past few years have seen a once great brand turn into garbage. I have witnessed the demise in quality in person, both at the range and with my own purchases. Bought 3 rem. guns as of late, all got sent back at least once, 1 went back 4 times. All were traded on for a loss, but replaced with reliable firearms.

18. I have the Remington 1911 carry. I called trijico and they are going to replace it under there waranty. Just sent the slide in.

19. Your EDC options should have more to do with body type, clothing choices, and what type of holster you have more than anything else. There is no such thing as a “magic” carry gun. My advice, buy what you like and practice, practice, practice. You will be fine.

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21. That’s my comment, from 2017 up there under Burns. My problem is I sold my R1’s for 2-3 times what I paid for them, and now am in the market for another. Any help in finding one would be appreciated. The only problem I have is that I have an inoperable spine, that hurts like hell and because of that, I have gone to a Gen 5, Glock 19 with a Hollowsun 507C on her. It shoots ok, and it still aien’t no PM9 as far as weight. But maybe it’s just a few of us, that just can’t shoot anything better than a 1911. I’m 75 now, and don’t get to the range as much as I should because of that Spine thing. But I miss that gun every time I go.
    Also been thinking about the SA-35 Browning Hi Power clone, especially if they were to make it in 45. But for now I carry a Glock 21, because they are good guns that hold Mucho rounds. I figure if you can’t get it done with 14 rounds of 45 Civil Defense ammo moving at 2000 FPS. You are probably dead and don’t know it. So the 19 and 21, are ok for me, reliability , and accuracy wise, but they just lack that feeling you get when you hit second gear at the redline on a 455 Camaro. Happy Trails, Gents.

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