{"id":136935,"date":"2021-03-01T13:57:51","date_gmt":"2021-03-01T18:57:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gunsamerica.com\/digest\/?p=136935"},"modified":"2025-11-26T04:42:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T10:42:58","slug":"hunt365-remingtons-1911-r1-hunter-10mm-auto-hunting-power-anda-collectors-gun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gunsamerica.com\/digest\/hunt365-remingtons-1911-r1-hunter-10mm-auto-hunting-power-anda-collectors-gun\/","title":{"rendered":"Remington\u2019s 1911 R1 Hunter: 10MM Auto Hunting Power and\u2026A Collector\u2019s Gun?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After putting over 300 rounds through the Remington<\/a> 1911 R1 Hunter FDE 10MM pistol, I recommend this semi-automatic as a top firearms investment for at least two reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, with its six-inch-long stainless-steel barrel and match-grade sights, the R1 Hunter is accurate and powerful and, as the name suggests, a fine choice for handgun hunting.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Second, given the financial and managerial turmoil that has been Remington Arms, it\u2019s possible the world will never see another R1 Hunter 10MM FDE being made. Buy one now, and you may have a collector\u2019s item.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
Remington\u2019s 1911 R1 Hunter FDE in 10MM AUTO: a real hunter with collector potential.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When the gun talk turns to Remington, the focus is usually on the company\u2019s Remington 700<\/a> centerfire rifles and the Remington 870<\/a> pump-action shotguns. Understandably so, given the literally millions of each purchased by hunters and shooters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But most gun talk never gets to Remington\u2019s handguns. And that\u2019s too bad. Because despite one flat-out disaster a few years ago (the Remington R51 9mm semi-automatic pistol), Remington has actually been making some pretty damned good 1911\u2019s since 2010 when it launched its R1 line of pistols. And, actually, they also fixed the R51. It is a very accurate and serviceable 9MM, very suitable for concealed carry and home defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
Among Remington many handgun endeavors is the R51 9MM.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Handguns are nothing new for Remington. Actually, one of Remington\u2019s first handguns was the 1858 revolver and it saw service during the US Civil war. Remington’s answers to the Colt 1873 included the model 1875 and later the model 1890.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remington UMC manufactured the company\u2019s very first 1911\u2019s during World War One and Remington made more of this workhorse pistol during World War Two. As noted, it re-launched the current 1911 R1 line of 1911\u2019s a decade ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
Remington jumped back into 1911\u2019s a decade ago with the R1 Line. Shown: 1911 R1 Stainless Two-Tone model.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Remington 1911 R1 Hunter FDE is a single-action semi-automatic sporting a stainless-steel frame and slide, a great trigger, and a long sight radius thanks to the six-inch-long, stainless steel match-quality barrel. It is the \u201cyounger brother\u201d of the more established standard R1 Hunter, but unlike bigger bro, this model sports a Flat Dark Earth (FDE) finish on the frame. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The pistol is no lightweight, not at 41 ounces unloaded, which means that loaded with eight rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber, the R1 Hunter is pushing up against the 50-ounce mark. Weight bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That weight and the tactical, high-quality word VZ-1o grips, though, work to make the powerful 10MM AUTO round relatively easy to handle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recently, I was visiting the St. Charles Sportsmen\u2019s Club<\/a> in Elburn, Illinois, and did some handgun training with the Club\u2019s assistant manager Lisa Palazzo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
All of 5\u20193\u201d and maybe 120 pounds, Lisa Palazzo, asst. manager at the St. Charles Sportsmen\u2019s Club, shot the full-sized R1 Hunter accurately and comfortably.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We shot a couple of different 9MM semi-autos, a 380 compact, and a full-sized 1911 chambered in 45 AUTO, plus the R1 Hunter FDE I brought along. And though she\u2019s a relatively small woman at 5\u20193\u201d, Palazzo actually did her best shooting that day with the R1 Hunter FDE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt looks like it\u2019s going to be a real handful,\u201d she told me afterward about the R1 Hunter. \u201cBut it\u2019s really easy and fun to shoot. I haven\u2019t shot a lot of pistols, and I can\u2019t believe some of the hits I made with it!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Credit the pistol\u2019s weight and balance and first-rate grips for much of the shoot-ability Palazzo found with this pistol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For my accuracy and function testing with the R1Hunter FDE is used three brands of 10MM ammunition: Honor Defense<\/a> shooting a 125-grain hollow point frangible bullet; Remington<\/a> Hog Hammer launching a 155-grain Barnes all-copper XPB bullet; and, Winchester\u2019s<\/a> Defender Elite loaded with a 180-grain bonded and jacketed hollow point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 10 yards and firing offhand, all three brands of ammunition placed multiple five-shot groups at 1.5-inches and under. The best group was with the Honor Defense 10MM loads, which pegged five shots at 1.15-inches\u2014and three of those shots were touching for a .59-inch group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
The Honor Defense 10MM AUTO frangible round proved to be very accurate with the R1 Hunter FDE, scoring this 1.15\u201d group at ten yards offhand.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Then, I moved to the 25-yard range and fired the three ammunition brands shooting from a rest. My five shot groups were 3.0-inches and under, with the Hog Hammer scoring the best with a 2.14-inch grouping on a hog hunting target. The Winchester Defender scored a couple of groups right at 2.5-inches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
With Remington\u2019s Hog Hammer, the R1Hunter FDE scored this 2.14\u201d groups at 25 yards.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Initially, the pistol was shooting several inches low and to the left at 10 yards. But that was easily fixed as the rear sight on the R1 Hunter FDE is fully adjustable for windage and elevation. Several clicks on each control, done with a small, flat-bladed screwdriver, soon put the pistol on the bullseye. The luminous fiber optic front sight pops nicely and pulled in my eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
The R1 Hunter FDE\u2019s rear sight is match grade and fully adjustable.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The trigger pulled on the R1 Hunter FDE came in at a crisp 2-pounds, 8-ounces according to my Lyman Digital Trigger Pull Gauge<\/a>, and it reset very quickly for follow-up shots. The trigger is also adjustable, but I didn\u2019t feel the need to make any changes to mine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
Under barrel rail for easy attachment of light or laser.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The R1 Hunter FDE sports an ambidextrous butterfly manual safety and an extended beavertail grip safety. It also has a rail under the barrel for attaching lights and lasers or a shooting rest, and the pistol is sold with two, eight-round stainless steel magazines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Operator II VZ G10 Grips provided a very firm hold on the pistol, even when pulling off multiple shots fast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
The pistol\u2019s Operator II VZ G10 Grips provide superior grip surfaces.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve hunted with my R1 Hunter FDE and the best holster I\u2019ve found for it is the Great Alaskan Chest Holster made by Galco Gunleather<\/a>. In the field, the Great Alaskan balanced the R1Hunter FDE nicely to the left side of my body, provides a good draw, and keeps the pistol very secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
Near-perfect hunting holster for the R1 Hunter FDE: Great Alaskan Chest Holster made by Galco Gunleather.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You are supposed to say something negative in a critical sense in a review to show balance and objectivity. Frankly, I am unsure what to say that might be \u201cwrong\u201d or a bit off on the R1 FDE Hunter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, it\u2019s heavy, but that\u2019s not a surprise with a large pistol sporting a steel frame and slide. The Great Alaskan Chest Holster is a big help there when afield with the Hunter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recoil from a 10MM, no matter the weight of the platform, is more significant than the ubiquitous 9MM or even a 45 AUTO. But, again, that comes with the caliber and territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, it does list for over $1,300, and that isn\u2019t anywhere close to inexpensive. But, A), I can\u2019t tell people what is too expensive for their incomes and tastes; and, B) as long as you don\u2019t hurl this handgun down a rocky-strewn gorge, you should be able to pass it down to your grandchildren. Something I doubt you can say about the $300 striker-fired pistols available today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
A \u201cHunter\u201d from \u201cHuntsville\u201d for the collector?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As to possible collector value? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Remington Outdoor Company or ROC went into bankruptcy this past summer. The various ROC brands–including Bushmaster, DPMS, Marlin, and Remington Arms<\/a> proper–were sold off to the highest bidders, with the sales recently approved by a federal bankruptcy judge in Alabama in September 2020. Remington Arms now belongs to the Round Hill Group and investment group.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are handguns, including the R1Hunter FDE, in Round Hill Group\u2019s plans? Even if that is the case, will future R1 Hunters function and look at all like the current R1 Hunter FDE?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

No one knows. The Round Hill Group could start turning out new and essentially the same R1 Hunter FDE\u2019s in 2021, could take a year or longer to get out these handguns, or could abandon handguns or this particular model altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remington handguns were manufactured at ROC\u2019s facility in Huntsville, Alabama. Media and internal sources tell me that various machinery was removed from Huntsville, including some used for firearms manufacture. Whether or not Huntsville will see future Remington production is anyone\u2019s guess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, a \u201cHunter\u201d from \u201cHuntsville\u201d could be a rather unique pistol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever happens, there\u2019s a decent chance any original R1 Hunter FDE could have collector value one day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Remington\u2019s
Collector potential aside, the R1 Hunter FDE is first and foremost what the name says: a hunting pistol.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Not that mine will. It\u2019s already been on two hunts and will be on many more over the next several years, and with the banging around my handguns get afield and during practice sessions, my R1 Hunter FDE will likely have too many dings and wear to interest a collector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that\u2019s okay. I am a hunter and a shooter, after all, not a collector. And the 1911 Hunter 10MM FDE is really made for the shooter and hunter who likes the power and versatility of the 10MM AUTO round.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SPECS: Remington 1911 R1 Hunter FDE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caliber: 10MM AUTO<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Action: Semi-Auto<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Frame: Stainless Steel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slide: Stainless Steel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barrel: 6\u201d, Stainless Steel<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twist Rate: 1:16<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sights: Adjustable match grade rear, fiber optic front<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Trigger: Single Action, Skeletonized, Adjustable<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finish: Flat Dark Earth, PVD finish<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Length: 9.5\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall Height: 5.75\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weight: 41 Oz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Capacity: 8+1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Misc.: Under-barrel rail, Operator II VZ G10 Grips, front and rear slide serrations, sold with 2 8-round stainless magazines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MSRP: $1,340.00.<\/p>\n\n\n\n