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Old June 14, 2018, 03:55 PM   #1
Jim567
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GI Contract verses New Remington 1911

I just got a new Remington 1911.

Finish is ok, looks like it may wear prematurly although its smooth, no tooling marks.

The fit is really good and the accuracy is better than any of the Colts I have owned. Series 80s up.

My question, folks will say this is a starter 1911.

How does it compare to the old gov contract 1911s and would they be considered starter 1911s?

BTW I was shocked at how well it shot. Trigger is very good.

Funny note, I had sold all my 1911s about 6 years ago when I went to SIGS.

My very first thought was, " My God, this is an antique".

Then I started knocking steel down with it and couldn't miss
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Old June 14, 2018, 04:29 PM   #2
lamarw
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I assume your new Remington has the Huntsville, AL name on it.

I have a Colt Government M1911 which was manufactured on October 11, 1918 and shipped to Bush Terminal Brooklyn, NY on October 15, 1918. I purchased it on July 4, 2011. I have a Remington R1 made in Ilion, NY. I purchased it new on December 28, 2011.

If you step away 20 paces, they look almost identical. I have fired exactly 5 rounds out of the M1911 and about 2,000 out of the R1. It is sort of difficult for me to compare the two. I carried a M1911A1 both in Colt, Remington Rand and probably a few others during my service years and in Nam.

The Remington R1 is a superior pistol from my experience. I have all the paper work ready to send to the Civilian Marksmanship Program on September 4 to get a random sorted number for a M1911A1. Hopefully my number will be low enough to get a nice one after October 4th of this year. It is in recognition and a memento of my past to me vs. a quality of gun thing.

Congrats on your new pistol. I think it is a nice pistol for the money.
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Old June 14, 2018, 05:56 PM   #3
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An old government contract pistol in nice shape is worth north of $2000, and I don't think anyone would consider that a "starter" for anything but a high-end collection.
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Old June 14, 2018, 05:58 PM   #4
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Personally, if it cost $300 or $800, if it works and delivers bullets to where it's pointed, it's a good gun.

I don't buy into this "starter" gun mess. You can buy a LOT of expensive junk too.

I had great fun with my SW40VE which cost me $239 shooting circles around my buddies $500+ guns. Priceless.

I just bought a $366 ATI GI 1911. I'm waiting to get my buddy to the range with the $1200 SIG 1911 he bought. Bet mine doesn't shoot any worse than his.

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Old June 14, 2018, 07:01 PM   #5
Jim567
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It’s an Alabama Remington.
Understand the old 1911s are not considered starters because of historical value.
Folks are throwing around “starter” 1911 like the are inferior.
Seems to me the new Remington’s are certainly as good and more acurate than anything I was issued in the Army.
Unless I am missing something.
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Old June 14, 2018, 10:07 PM   #6
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I think some say it's a "starter" or "basic" 1911 because it is pretty much a no-frills government style pistol - although it has the improved sights & lowered ejection port (over the GI model).

My Alabama R1 is just as nice as the NY made one I bought several years ago. Paid $399 for this one after the $100 cash rebate offer last year. It's a great value, IMO.

Of course there are the detractors who bash the R1 because of the Remington/Marlin fiasco of recent years and those who had actual bad experiences with the ones they bought. However, I've read similar complaints about every other major brand except for the expensive custom builders. If I relied on Internet opinions about which guns to buy, I'd be carrying a Louisville Slugger for self defense.

Anyway, my R1 is a good gun and a keeper:


Last edited by Armybrat; June 14, 2018 at 10:16 PM.
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Old June 15, 2018, 06:41 AM   #7
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I purchased a new stainless R1 shortly before the move to Huntsville. Have since sold it however I found fit and finish to be excellent, functioned perfectly through several hundred rounds and was very accurate with its factory sights. As others have stated, don't put much stock into the "starter" deal. I have around 10 1911s left. My Colt is my second most expensive (bad timing a few years back) and my least favorite.
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Old June 15, 2018, 07:11 AM   #8
rodfac
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Glad it's working out for you...take pleasure in its accuracy and good functioning and ignore the snobs who seem to delight in bad mouthing based on cost alone. Paying $1500 and up for a glitzy, dolled up standard .45, then being advised to "break it in" with 200+ rounds because "we fit 'em so tight" is BS.

I have a Remington-Rand WWll 1911A1 that's seen some heavy use, but will stay with most any .45 I've owned. Guys that have shot with me here on our farm range, poo poo it until the targets are retrieved...then it's, "whoa, that old piece of junk can shoot!" For me, that's a gratifying moment...hope you have yours as well. Best regards, Rod
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Old June 15, 2018, 07:11 AM   #9
Jim567
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Maybe I misinterpreted starter to mean inferior, not basic.
All I did was install a colt long trigger.
There is nothing else I want or need on it.
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Old June 15, 2018, 03:47 PM   #10
lunger
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I have never liked the term starter or entry level. Usually used by someone who over paid to make themselves feel better about their model.
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Old June 16, 2018, 03:51 AM   #11
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I have enjoyed shooting 1911’s since my DCM $15 pistol arrived from DCM in 1963, I shoot GI pistols as well as civilian and the Remington will hold its own with any of them.
My Rem is a SS pistol with high visibility sights and will shoot a lot better than I can hold anymore. My Colt’s cannot out shoot it.
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Old June 16, 2018, 11:37 AM   #12
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Here is a picture of my old and new for comparison. The old one has all the correct parts but does show its years of service.
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Old June 18, 2018, 09:19 PM   #13
Jim Watson
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An unaltered USGI is a collector's item. Even an arsenal rework will sell for more than a new Remington.
The major parts of the Remington are of better materials than old military. The small parts may be hoped to be good enough.
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Old June 19, 2018, 04:15 PM   #14
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My Remington R1 still has not had a jam. And it shoots well.
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Old June 21, 2018, 07:24 PM   #15
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Starter 1911... sounds to me like a term used by the tactidolts to justify there $4000 custom guns with their .0001" tolerances that are so tight the guns won't even work properly if they get the least bit dirty or not even then. And for what? Oh, accuracy, that's right... well when the stuff hits the fan we'll see how much of a difference that 1" group at 50 yards makes when the gun locks up because you haven't hit that magical "1000 round break-in period" recommended by the manufacturer. At least that's his excuse, anyway.

GI guns rattle! Oh, they're so inaccurate! Sorry, but I've yet to see a GI 1911 or looser tolerance clone that won't put its magazine into a 4" group at 25 yards off a bench. Trust me, in a gunfight, that's all you'll ever need and nobody alive can shoot 1" groups at 50 yards when they're being shot at or charged by someone lit up on the latest wonder drug.

OP it sounds like you have a fine 1911. Don't let anyone tell you it's just a "starter" gun or any other such crap. Often the simpler the better, and too tight of tolerances are not what you want despite what some people with more money than sense might lead you to believe.
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Old June 21, 2018, 07:40 PM   #16
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Quote:
Sorry, but I've yet to see a GI 1911 or looser tolerance clone that won't put its magazine into a 4" group at 25 yards off a bench.
I have. The old 1911s we had on my ship (mid '80s) had bushing so loose that we were lucky to even do basic quals with them. Navy was just about to start switching to M9s so there was no incentive to have them re-arsenaled.
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Old June 21, 2018, 10:14 PM   #17
Bill DeShivs
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"Starter gun"- one that you buy new that shoots well.
Then, you start changing parts on it until it no longer works.....
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Old June 22, 2018, 12:13 AM   #18
Model12Win
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill DeShivs View Post
"Starter gun"- one that you buy new that shoots well.
Then, you start changing parts on it until it no longer works.....
Couldn't have said it better, Bill.
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Old June 22, 2018, 05:21 AM   #19
Ibmikey
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Thumbs up Bill, I love the logic!
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Old June 22, 2018, 11:45 PM   #20
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A long time ago. 1988 or so, all 1911’s were considered starter pistols. You bought a new Colt and sent it to a Smith to turn it into a using gun. We referred to a new Colt as a kit.

Norinco was a true starter pistol. And, a good Smith could turn it into a fine gun.

This one went to Wilson. Still carrying it. Put 200 rounds through it today.
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Old June 23, 2018, 07:07 AM   #21
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I currently have almost a dozen 1911's. The most expensive of my shooters (I have several 75-100+ year old military 1911's that I no longer take to the range) is a newer Colt M45A1 and the cheapest is a Rock Island CS, which cost about one third as much as the Colt. I can say that the Colt is a bit smoother but both have been reliable and will shoot better than I can.

I do think that there is a HUGE amount of snobbery amongst those that have plunked down big money for their custom guns. Of course, there is the tackticool crowd that thinks that anyone who doesn't have a pimped out gun just can't be relevant.

My opinion is that if it shoots well and you like it, why do you need something that cost four times as much? Now if you just want a custom 1911 then you don't have to have any other justification. I personally have a great many guns that I bought just because I wanted them.
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Old June 23, 2018, 07:38 AM   #22
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Quote:
How does it compare to the old gov contract 1911s and would they be considered starter 1911s?
OP's questions.
R1911, the slide has an enlarged ejection port and tear drop relief,the barrel bushing is thicker at the front and the barrel is stainless steel,it has dovetailed
screwed on sights and a series '80 safety system.The receiver has a flat mainspring housing,extended ejector, aluminum trigger pad,beveled magazine well and very short barrel to feed ramp clearance.
The pistol in general is well machined and finished and the term starter 1911 is
meaningless and does not warrant consideration.
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