I called Remington again today and found out more information. Production lines have not been started up as they have not yet moved into their new facility. That move and restart isn't expected until the 2nd Quarter of next year. Options are: 1) Continue waiting for the Gen 2 R51, extra mags & Pelican case as promised until April, May, June, maybe???; 2) Process a refund.; or 3) call them and let them give you, brand new in box, a 1911-R1 base model and call it even. (About $210 more value than the R51). I opted to get the 1911. She asked me if I wanted 2 of them since I had 2 R51s. I said to send me one for now for the one I sent in already. I need to get the other one back from my son, send it in, and maybe haggle with them for a good booster stock of ammunition. If not, I'll get another 1911, making it 3 1911s in my safe. Guess you can't have too many 1911s. Heh-heh. Anyway, you pick the FFL dealer you want the 1911 shipped to and have them fax in a copy of their license with the information Remington gives you. Then, in about two weeks, you'll have your new 1911 R1. Remington will pay the FFL transfer fee.
The way I see it, this is a pretty generous deal, especially since I've been looking to buy a 1911-R1 anyway. This is the full size Government Model 80 style w/ 5" barrel, blued finish w/ fine-checkered American walnut grips. Order (item) number is 96323 in the Remington catalog. It comes with 2 standard 7 round magazines, barrel bushing tool, lock, and it's fitted green case as it would come if you purchased one new. If you're into 1911s, this is a sweet deal.

That is a good deal! If I still had my R51 I would jump on that in a heartbeat. Bad news if your glued to wanting a R51 still. Have not heard of any major (If any) issues with their 1911 line. Thanks for that info Rick. Let us know when you receive your 1911 and what you think about it.

I believe there is a $75 rebate on them until Dec. 31st.


http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and ... tions.aspx


A msrp several hundred dollars more than an R51 plus $75 back in your pocket, no decision to make if I was still in your guys' situation.

I assume your R1 'purchase' would be as soon as you accept the offer from the Remington Rep or maybe when its actually received at your FFL? If it takes several weeks I wouldn't wait to long. I bet the cashier receipt would need to be dated before Dec. 31 is my guess and also send in your UPC sticker on the back of your owners manual (Both items needed for rebate). Need to be post marked by Jan. 24 2015 FYI.

Rick 51/ R51 wrote:I called Remington again today and found out more information. Production lines have not been started up as they have not yet moved into their new facility. That move and restart isn't expected until the 2nd Quarter of next year. Options are: 1) Continue waiting for the Gen 2 R51, extra mags & Pelican case as promised until April, May, June, maybe???; 2) Process a refund.; or 3) call them and let them give you, brand new in box, a 1911-R1 base model and call it even. (About $210 more value than the R51). I opted to get the 1911. She asked me if I wanted 2 of them since I had 2 R51s. I said to send me one for now for the one I sent in already. I need to get the other one back from my son, send it in, and maybe haggle with them for a good booster stock of ammunition. If not, I'll get another 1911, making it 3 1911s in my safe. Guess you can't have too many 1911s. Heh-heh. Anyway, you pick the FFL dealer you want the 1911 shipped to and have them fax in a copy of their license with the information Remington gives you. Then, in about two weeks, you'll have your new 1911 R1. Remington will pay the FFL transfer fee.
The way I see it, this is a pretty generous deal, especially since I've been looking to buy a 1911-R1 anyway. This is the full size Government Model 80 style w/ 5" barrel, blued finish w/ fine-checkered American walnut grips. Order (item) number is 96323 in the Remington catalog. It comes with 2 standard 7 round magazines, barrel bushing tool, lock, and it's fitted green case as it would come if you purchased one new. If you're into 1911s, this is a sweet deal.

Thanks for letting us know, that is indeed a generous deal. I had been looking at various Remington R1 1911 pistols before purchasing the R51. Since I bought the R51 I found a pair of 1911s in an auction, but as you said, "Guess you can't have too many 1911s. Heh-heh."

If that's the case, I'm out. Found my receipt. Will get my money back.

This R1 deal is a "straight-up" swap out for the returned R51. No extra money, just a simple yes or no by phone and the 1911-R1 is yours. I have already sent in the FFL copy and my Remington ticket number for the first R1. It's in the works as of this morning. Trying to decide what I want to do with the 2nd R51 I haven't sent in yet. She offered me 2 R1s but I might want to barter with the 2nd one for some ammunition and accessories.

So, at the moment, I'm just waiting on delivery of my 1st 1911-R1. I have handled (but not fired) numerous Remington R1s from Basic to Enhanced versions and they have the feel of already "worked over" 1911s... Even better than my Colt 1991 and my brother's Gold Cup. One R1 Base model owner I know was asked by his gunsmith, who did the trigger job? It is the original pistol as it came from Remington. They come with a Stainless Match barrel and the sweet 3.5-5 lb short trigger already. I handled 4 more new ones last night at my local Gander Mountain and I'm sold on the Remington R1. Feels better than the Kimber and S&W I handled last night too. I've been planning on buying an R1 but now I don't have to. I'm really pleased with this deal.

Scuttlebutt I heard is that Remington 1911-R1s might go 50% OFF on Black Friday at some popular retail stores. Don't know which one(s) though, so be ready to jump if you hear the announcement because it'll be just one day for that promotion.

mr220v wrote:If that's the case, I'm out. Found my receipt. Will get my money back.

Let 'em give you the R1, then turn around and sell it NIB for more than you paid for the R51 initially if you don't want the R1. (M.S.R.P on this R1 is $729 where the R51 is $429) Just my thoughts... +++???

Yeah, not a bad idea. Turn around and trade that straight-up for a cz75 rami.

mr220v wrote:Yeah, not a bad idea. Turn around and trade that straight-up for a cz75 rami.

Well, maybe. Unfortunately, once the pistol is in your hands, fired or not, it turns into a "used market" gun. But still probably gives you $450-$625 worth of negotiating power. There again, could be more if you find the right person looking to buy what you have in the box.

Which one do they want to send us specifically? Weighing my options on how a trade would go.

mr220v wrote:Which one do they want to send us specifically? Weighing my options on how a trade would go.

Remington's Order# is 96323 "Model 1911 R1" full size on Gov't 80 platform in satin black oxide and double diamond walnut, stainless match barrel & bushing, 3.5-5 lb short aluminum trigger, dovetail 3-dot sights, late style flared & lowered ejection port, and 2) 7-round magazines.

I called today and got the same offer. I am done with the runaround so I requested a refund. I had to fax in a copy of the receipt (which they already had when I sent the gun in for repair). Seems it is a 30-90 day wait for a refund. Doesn't matter I guess.

Rick 51/ R51 wrote:

mr220v wrote:Which one do they want to send us specifically? Weighing my options on how a trade would go.

Remington's Order# is 96323 "Model 1911 R1" full size on Gov't 80 platform in satin black oxide and double diamond walnut, stainless match barrel & bushing, 3.5-5 lb short aluminum trigger, dovetail 3-dot sights, late style flared & lowered ejection port, and 2) 7-round magazines.

Thanks again Rick. I called Remington and arranged to exchange my R51 an R1 1911. I just had to have my FFL fax them a copy of their FFL.

I was looking at the Remington 1911s before the R51 came out. I have since found a Nano that I can shoot well, though the (DA only) trigger pull isn't as nice as the R51 and it requires NATO 9mm rounds or something hotter/heavier to function reliably.

That's great 'pinetree'. If you like 1911s, you'll like the R1. Their triggers get smoother over the fresh machining after just a few mags of shooting. They like "CLP Break-Free" for cleaning and "Gun Butter" for their lube. I keep both thin and heavy Gun Butter but don't use the heavy formula during cold weather.

Rick 51/ R51 wrote:That's great 'pinetree'. If you like 1911s, you'll like the R1. Their triggers get smoother over the fresh machining after just a few mags of shooting. They like "CLP Break-Free" for cleaning and "Gun Butter" for their lube. I keep both thin and heavy Gun Butter but don't use the heavy formula during cold weather.

Some years ago I had a Colt Gold Cup that I traded for an 8" Python target in .38 Special only. At the time I was a member of a fantastic gun club in Texas that had grass everywhere. As a hand loader, it made me nuts always losing brass. They tend to land primer down and those blackened case mouths are hard to see in grass. I did love shooting that pistol so I am looking forward to the R1.

I have used CLP for many years along with Gunslick. More recently I added FireClean for my AR, CorrosionX and SuperLube synthetic grease. I'll take a look at Gun Butter. I usually try minimal lubricant during break in to allow surfaces to mate, after that, I use a little more, but I don't like too much.

Just a light touch of Gun Butter is all it takes, even on a well worn mechanism.

I just don't reload any more with all the quality factory loads out there now. I no longer keep a ledger either, which makes the pleasure of shooting, "all pleasure". And yes, a Gold Cup is a pleasure to shoot and I'd suspect that the R1 isn't far from that same pleasure.

Sounds like a good deal to me Rick...

BTW...I was out at the range the other day with my Colt GCNM...

Shooter, that's a beautiful piece. I want to put that grip on my Colt, but I hesitate to change anything on that one because of its origin, being made & numbered for the Army's Duke Brigade. I'll be getting TWO of the 1911 R1's, so maybe I'll just soup-up one of them instead. Shouldn't take much because they come original with a short 3-1/2 - 5 lb trigger and the 16-twist stainless Match barrel and bushing. I'll just get more 47-D Wilson Combat 8-round magazines and that grip like yours and go from there. Guess I'll have to get a Hogue brand grip because I don't think there are any with Remington's "R" on them. By the way, what's your trigger setting and it's adjustment range?

Ironsides wrote:I called today and got the same offer. I am done with the runaround so I requested a refund. I had to fax in a copy of the receipt (which they already had when I sent the gun in for repair). Seems it is a 30-90 day wait for a refund. Doesn't matter I guess.

Yeah, me too. The r51 is a great concept, but now that we've pushed our re-release date out until sometime between next april and june, it's hard to say if they will ever get this fixed. So, I just requested my refund. The r1 might have a higher msrp, but that trade is only a good deal if it's actually a gun you want. I don't want to deal with finding a buyer, or being at the mercy of a dealer on some trade. I might consider picking an r51 up later, but there's no reason for them to hold onto my money in the interim.

That's what I'm going to do mr220v. After they release the Gen2 model of the R51, and it proves itself like the 1911 R1s did, I'll buy another one. I want this R51 to work out because I want my old Remington Model 51 to have a new kid brother. My Model 51 is 95 years old, quite well worn, but functions 100% all the time, every time. Scored 250 on my CHL range proficiency test with it and it shoots quite a tight group. It's a .380 Auto. I'm a firm believer in the delayed blow-back design of Pedersen action and I also know it does what it is expected to do, but there needs to be precision in its machining. I wish they would get away from the aluminum alloy frame and build a steel frame like the old 51. That new R51 is a sweet shooting and very accurate pistol and I'm not giving up on it.

I like the aluminum frame. Keeps the gun competitive with the plastic guns in the weight department. I tend to think wear is not an issue, and if it is, Remington should know about it at this point.

Good point! Steel ramp inserts set deep in the locking ledge would do the trick.

At that point you could make it out of plastic.

My FFL faxed my info to Remington that is needed to get the R1 in exchange for my R51. Remington folks said to give it 2-3 weeks. We will see !?!?

This whole experience has not made me a fan of Remington but it sure has created a desire to have a good working 9mm handgun with the Pedersen action. Folks that never got to shoot the R51 just don't know what a sweet shooter they are.

Funny they market it as low recoil. Recoil is about like a makarov. Not easy on your hand.

I picked up a pair of pa-63's from wideners for $400. That's my r51's replacement. Same dimensions and weight, and blowback is extremely reliable.