I recently had the change to really get into a Remington R1 pistol, shoot it (a lot) and examine the guts.
Shockingly well made. The internal machining was clean and precise. The parts fit together without any slop, or tight spots. The finish as smooth and even and consistent… and attractive, if I might add. Overall, I liked it a lot. For the money, the R1’s seem to be a fantastic Bang for the Buck option. You are getting a lot of 1911 Goodness for a very reasonable amount of money…. a couple hundred bucks over a Glock. (This one was sporting optional Crimson Trace grips, which add about 350 bucks for the Master Series)
Accuracy was very good with most rounds fired. Excellent with some. The worst was with Aguila FMJ’s, but the R1 was redeemed with Federal and Hornady ammo. Remington’s own UMC ammo was not tested.
I didn’t record FPS #’s as I did not have a Chrono. I still need to buy another one.
No Malfs were encountered, and I do not anticipate many would happen, as this is a good 1911 built right.
I’m very much looking forward to the new 1911’s made in the new facility in Alabama where the Remington R1 are absorbing Para USA like a Big Green Borg Cube… We’ll see if the R1’s are as good as they used to be.
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Still can’t stop thinking about it…
I know I’ve talked about the Mossberg 464 SPX before. I know I’ve said that I wanted it. Passing fad sort of want… But lately I’ve been thinking about it a lot more. Can’t get it out of my mind. Stupid sort of thing… like a pop-song that’s stuck in your head.
Gah… If I’m still jonesing for it this hard later this week, I’m going to have to do something about it. Something drastic and terrible. Like just buying one.
Okay guys – now talk me out of it.
Between Gun Wants, and Gun Buys
We all say that we “Want” that next cool gun… But the reality is that Want isn’t the same thing as “That’s the next on the list after this payday” sort of thing. I’ve said that I want probably every gun on the market at one point or another.
For example, the Ruger Scout Rifle. You bet, I wanted that. Still want it. But then the actual practicality of it comes home to roost and when it comes right down to spending my own actual dollars on it – I really don’t think I’ll be buying the Ruger Scout any time soon. Instead, I’d probably buy a Savage Scout, or the Savage Hog Hunter.
I say I’d really like to buy a Browning Hi-Power. In reality I’ll probably end up with a CZ 75 variant of some sort. Probably the 75 BD POLICE model.
This isn’t so much “settling” for a lesser gun or anything like that, but it’s more like taking a stern look at the realities of price and availability or making a more rational decision on something more practical for your actual use.
Examples of this abound in my Gun History. How about yours?
The Dan Wesson Valor Bobtailed Commander
It’s called the V-Bob by those that are fans. It’s quite easily the very best production 1911 you can buy. Period. To get better, you have to go up into the Customs like from Wilson, Nighthawk, Brown and Baer…
What’s your favorite 1911?
Aguila Ammo
Aguila Ammunition. I’ve been shooting a bit of it lately and I have some observations. For a Mexican Import, it’s really not bad stuff. It seems to be loaded pretty consistently and groups decent enough. It’s not as tight as Blazer Brass or Federal white box stuff… but it’s not bad. It’s somewhere in a C+ to B- grade I think. Which for FMJ range ammo for practice, isn’t bad at all. The downside is that the stuff shoots dirt as hell. I’ve noticed more smoke and far more fouling afterwards. Clean up after shooting this stuff shows a lot more carbon and residue than most commercial ammo.
But hey, with ammo being not as easy to find as it is now… I’ll take some Aguila, no problem. I like it far better than Remington UMC stuff.
SHOT 2015 was rather lackluster.
No, I didn’t go to SHOT. And I really don’t think I missed out on much this year. Looking at all the new Products that came out at the 2015 SHOT Show – very little impressed me.
SIG’s new Electro-Optics – Very cool. But damn, the market really doesn’t need another 1200 ACOG Alternative. Granted – this Bravo 4, is nicer. Better glass, better field of view, yada yada yada… But it’s 1200 bucks. And then there is the Leupold D-EVO. Which is cool and different, but for hell’s sake it’s a 3 thousand dollar package.
What the Market really needs – are some new good, solid AR type Optics in the 200 to 400 dollar range that don’t suck and are not made in China. Is that too much to ask? Has the Gun Industry not realized that we’ve had a losing economy for the last decade?
You know what I’m sick of?
Teases. Companies that Show us something cool and here’s the next SHOT SHOW, and you are still pimping it – and still not taking orders because it’s Vapor Ware. Show us what we can order. I want to see what I can have. That being said – I’m also really sick of all that MILITARY LAW ENFORCEMENT ONLY crap. Stop making Fantasy Guns for Storm Troopers and make some Available Guns for the Sheepdogs. What can I buy that I can use to defend my Liberty with? So me THAT. That’s what I want to see. Something new and innovative and cool and not too expensive and something that I can place an actual damn order on. THAT’s what I want to see.
Glock’s new CORE MOS line is nice… Finally that Longslide 10mm we’ve been wanting. That’s cool. But not really cutting edge.
The SIG P220 10mm’s are awesome. We’ve only been asking for that for a Decade and a Half. FINALLY! That’s almost the coolest thing at SHOT… but we’re not there yet.
That Taurus Curve – Stupid. The TCP with Wings – Stupid. The View – Stupid. Taurus – instead of trying to come out with new stupid shit, how about you start making good, simple, solid guns? How about you try that?
CZ I think has nailed it with that new Scorpion Evo pistol. Make it a simple Carbine and it would be a real home run. CZ remains a steady climber in quality and consistency and making guns I would be willing to spend my own money on.
Speaking of spending money… Beretta’s 92 Centennial looks amazing. But it’s 3 grand. Make a regular Bruniton finished version that’s… oh… say… Not more than 1200 bucks… make it a regular production item… WINNER.
You know what – That frame mounted safety would sure go a hell of a long way to help silence a fuckton of critics. But it’s only on the Centennial and was on the Billenium. The A3 should have had that. That with a Vertec frame… Damn. I’d buy two. Seriously.
But you know what the coolest thing at SHOT show was? For me that is…
This. The Crye Precision Six12, with the Salvo Suppressor on it.
I want that Six12. That’s the coolest damn shotgun – but even then the thing came out last year. But that Gun Muffler packaged like that… Damn. That’s cool. So there’s that. The coolest thing at SHOT.
Gun Cleaning
Firearms Ownership is a long and proud American Tradition.
Before you shoot your new firearm for the first time, it’s a good idea to clean it and learn the mechanical functions before you load it. Cleaning guns is also a long and proud tradition. If you plan on shooting a lot, you will be cleaning your gun a lot as well. But don’t worry, this process is simple and enjoyable.
Work in a well lit, and ventilated area that’s safe for gun cleaning. A easy way to prep your gun cleaning area, is to cover your desk, table, or bench with a plastic trash bag. Spread the bag out flat, and then cover the plastic with newspaper or paper towels, or a reusable cloth that you don’t mind getting dirty and stained… like a Washington Redskins T-Shirt.
Make sure the gun is unloaded and clear. Check twice. Take all the ammunition, and make sure it’s well away from the firearm. Check to make sure the gun is unloaded two or three more times. It’s okay to be OCD about this. We recommend putting all the ammunition in another room or secured in your gun safe, a locked drawer, or other designated spot where you wont easily dip into while you are handling your firearm. Check to make sure the gun is unloaded one more time.
Safety Glasses and Protective Gloves are a good idea. Solvents and Lubricants can cause skin irritation. Especially in your eyes.
Now we can Field Strip the gun. This is the basic break down to the gun’s basic components. For a semi auto pistol, the parts are generally the Barrel, Slide, Frame, Recoil Spring and Guide Rod, and of course, the Magazine. Double Action Revolvers, all you have to do is open the cylinder. Single Action Revolvers, pull the cylinder pin and remove the cylinder from the frame.
We like to start with the barrel. The the barrel is going to be the dirtiest, as this is where the combustion happens. Because of this, it’s going to take the most work. Some propellants will leave residues and chemical compounds that can be toxic to humans and can be corrosive to the barrel. Firing residues can also hold moisture which can degrade barrel life and accuracy, so we want to get them out as soon as we can.
Apply solvent to your bore brush or bore-snake at the bristle end. Run it through the bore five or six times with a bore brush, or once or twice with a bore-snake. Always go from Breach to Muzzle. This will break up the fouling in the bore. But we’re not through with it yet.
Quite note: Never dip the bore brush or snake into the solvent bottle. Doing so will contaminate the solvent. Instead, drip or spray the solvent on to the brush or snake. I do this over rags made from cut up political campaign or pop-music shirts.
Wet the bore again with your solvent of choice and let it sit a moment to allow the chemicals time to do some work for you.
After a couple minutes of soaking, give that bore another good scrub with the brush or snake. If using a rod type cleaning kit, switch the brush off for a patch holder and mop out the bore. This is the great thing about a Bore Snake… It does the mopping every time you pull it through. We recommend getting one for every caliber you own a gun in.
Once the barrel is clean and shines like a glass in a dish soap commercial, use a patch to apply a nice light coat of gun oil through the bore to help protect it from moisture.
If you are cleaning a revolver, repeat the above steps through each chamber in your cylinder.
Use a nylon brush with some solvent to scrub the components of your gun. The frame, the slide, and your magazines. If you have removable grips, it’s a good idea to carefully take them off to clean under them. You don’t want dirty solvents and oils to pool up under there. Check all the nooks and crannies for any buildup of gunk. This is like cleaning behind your ears. No short cuts! You want to practice good Gun Hygiene!
For semi-autos pistols make sure you clean the length of the frame rails, matched by the slide rails and under the extractor. For revolvers, make sure you scrub around the forcing cone, the face of the cylinder and the cylinder ratchet and ejector star. With a Single Action Revolver, make sure you clean that ejector rod!
Now that it’s all scrubbed clean, run a cloth over everything and wipe it all down nice and dry. Take a moment to inspect all the cleaned parts. Take time to appreciate the craftsmanship and details. And make sure all the parts look like they are in good working condition.
Your firearm is really a little machine, and all machines run better lubricated. Lubricants are critical to reliable function. Using a good lubricant that’s recommended for your firearm, apply a light coating over all the components. Not too much though, as excess oils can attract contaminants, such as dust and unsolicited advice.
Once all the components are lubed, reassemble your firearm, and give it a good function check it to make sure that the gun is operating as advertised and the safeties and trigger are all good to go. After you cycle the action a few times, it’s normal for some lubricant to seep out. Just wipe it off.
Give the firearm another good wipe down to remove all your oily finger prints and appreciate your having participated in a cherished American Tradition. Now, all that work done, secure your firearm, clean up any mess, and don’t forget to wash your filthy filthy hands.
In defense of the obsolete.
Working in a gun store again, I get to hear all the old rundowns and complaints about the “Obsolete Old Man’s Guns”. Maybe they are guns for the Older and Wiser crowd, but one thing they are not, is obsolete. Windows 3.11 is obsolete. A 1911 is going stronger than ever.
The 1911 has seen continuous use by the US Military ever since it was first adopted. Sure, it was replaced in the Mid 80’s by the Beretta, but many units chose to keep their 1911’s in service. Typically special operations type units. These are guys who had the option to pretty much get whatever they wanted, and they chose to stick with what has been working. For example, Marine MARSOC just bought a whole mess of Colt 1911’s… which replaced a whole mess of Springfields, which had replaced a whole bunch of Colts. Now, forgive me, but either MARSOC is staffed by overly sentimental geriatric clowns, or the 1911 is still a fine sidearm. Given the fact that MARSOC follows an operational tempo that makes Call of Duty seem boring… I’m guessing those guys pretty much define “High Speed, Low Drag”. Having met many MARSOC Operator, and worked with them on various things… Let me tell you… MARSOC knows their trade. If a 1911 is so obsolete, I don’t think they would be using them. On a side note, they also use Glock 19’s for when they are rolling incognito and have to carry concealed. But that’s another subject.
Competitive shooters are still running a lot of 1911’s as well. Guy’s who’s paychecks demand that they shoot as well as possible. They are using those old obsolete 1911’s. I don’t know about you, but every competition I’ve ever been in, hiccups in accuracy and reliability could pretty much cost you the match.
Here’s the thing. The 1911 requires a bit more knowledge, and a bit more TLC than other more recent designs. But too many guys Harsh on the 1911 for the same “problems” that they give passes on the AR-15 for. You just gotta know your gun. Know how to take care of it. Know what ammo shoots best in it. The 1911 is complicated some people will say. No, it really isn’t. It’s a very simple machine and easy to understand if you will stop holding your breath and pouting that it isn’t a Glock. Pay attention and learn… and show some respect. The design is over a hundred years old and remains a top choice for handguns.
For the serious 1911 Operator the rituals of maintenance are part of the satisfaction of running it. For them, the 1911 breakdown is like a Japanese Tea Ceremony. It brings them peace and joy, and a belter understanding every time. The Glock Operator is a crass barbarian in comparison.
Revolvers are also far from obsolescence. .357 Magnum remains the Gold Standard of defensive handgun cartridges. .45 Colt is no slouch either. .44 Specials, .44 Mags, always a crowd pleaser and few can shrug off catching one of those. Loaded Light or Hot… Heavy slugs well aimed, no, that’s not obsolete. Never will be… until we have a 40 watt Phased Plasma option.
Revolvers offer reliability with uncompromised accuracy and power. If you call that obsolete, I’m calling you a fool.
The only thing truly obsolete is ignorance. Yet in this Age of Internet, misinformation is at your fingertips and Urban Legends become forces of nature. Opinions and facts feud like Hatfields and McCoys.
There is also the fact that like older cars, these Old Guy Guns are just better looking. The visual appeal is biological… 1911’s, Revolvers… There are no new guns is as Sexy. Maybe this is where the older and wiser comes in. We take the time to appreciate the finer things.
Of course, all things considered, I guess Beretta 92’s and SIG 220/226/228/229 guns are Old Guy Guns as well.
No… they are not Obsolete. They are Classics. Classics never go out of style for good reasons. It’s why they are Classics.
Kimber’s Micro
You guys know I’ll call out a gun company if they put out crap… And you guys know I’ll give kudos to those that pull it together. I’ve talked about Para, and Ruger, and others… This one though… This surprises me.
Kimber. Kimber is a company that basically took Colt and bent them over a knee and gave them a good old fashioned whipping about how 1911’s are supposed to be made. It changed the gun industry as far as 1911’s go. It used to be that you bought a new Colt 1911 and you immediately set about working on it or having it worked on by a Gunsmith. And it wasn’t just Colt, that was everyone pretty much. That’s just the way things were.
Until Kimber. Kimber set about making 1911’s that ran right out of the box.
Until a few years ago when Kimber’s Quality Control dropped through the floor. I had brand new guns with what looked like used parts in them. I had barrels that had waves in them. All this, I’ve talked about before. It’s in the Archives at the Old MadOgre.com section. I had to send back a whole shipment of Kimber Tac Custom II’s. I just couldn’t trust Kimber anymore.
That was then. This is now. Kimber looks like they are taking things seriously again. If fact, it looks like Kimber is better than ever. And I’m not talking cosmetics. I’m talking internals, machining, everything. It looks like they are making some great stuff again. Not only that, but they once again bent Colt over the knee and gave them a whipping again.
See, Colt had the Mustang. A mini 1911 like pistol in .380. Colt gave the middle finger to the American Gun Owner and decided they wouldn’t sell to us unwashed masses. Guns like the Mustang were all discontinued. That was many years ago. Many years later SIG came out with the SIG 238, which was SIG’s version of a Mustang. It sold so well that Colt was like “Hey!” and they started making the Mustang again. Well, Kimber looked at the SIG, and looked at the Mustang. And then threw down the Kimber MICRO. It’s like what Kimber did the the Colt 1911’s. It makes the Colt look pretty dated. There are various versions of the Kimber Micro. All 13.4 Ounces in weight, all 6+1 Capacity. All look great. But the Micro Raptor… it just looks drop dead gorgeous. And it’s a .380. And I like it. Crazy. Now if Kimber does what SIG did… and make a version in 9mm… I’d be very tempted to buy that. I’m very tempted to buy the Micro in .380 as it is. And I don’t even like Pocket Guns. That’s how cool these Micros are.
Don’t get me started about the SOLO. Great looking guns that don’t work right. There’s a sexist political jab I could make there, but I wont. If Kimber could just take the SOLO back to R&D and engineer that thing to run right – That would be great. Other than the SOLO, I think Kimber is back to making real guns again.
SIG P220’s in 10mm
Over on WeTheArmed.com, the subject is being discussed. This is something I’ve been wanting now for – let me check – about 15 years. And it’s finally happening. SIG is going to release some variants of the P220 in 10mm Auto.
This isn’t just good for us 10mm fans. This is really good for us 10mm fans. Really, outside of custom 1911’s that cost the same as a decent used motorcycle or even a car… There have only been two options for a production 10mm pistol.
1. Glock.
2. EAA.
Let’s look at Glock. The Model 20, and the Model 29 have been it. Luckily for us, Glock is also bringing out the Model 40 MOS in 10mm so we have another decent option… the Model 40 sporting a long slide and being optics ready. I’ve handled this gun and it’s going to be great.
EAA on the other hand… While they make a great gun in the Witness series, I still have a hard time taking EAA seriously because of their past marketing. At least they’ve finally dropped the embarrassingly sexist crap with girls that look like they came from the Red Light District of Richmond, VA. Looking at the new Witness line up, I see that EAA is taking great strides to be actually competitive in their offerings. They are making some new models now that I’d be very interesting in trying. But a lot of guys I know refuse to even look at an EAA for various reasons. And EAA is not considered a top tier provider of service handguns. Not like Glock, not like SIG…
With SIG finally breaking bad and throwing down 10mm, this legitimizes the 10mm cartridge even further. If these guns have any degree of success, like I think they well… I will expect to see the likes of Beretta and S&W jumping on board with 10mm service pistols down the road. I can even see Ruger offering a few variants of their 1911 in it…
I’d still really like to see CZ-USA offer a 97B in 10. The 97B and the P220 have been my dream Tens. I am very happy about this.