First Look: Remington 1911 R1 Ultralight Commander

The idea behind the new Remington 1911 R1 Ultralight Commander is to provide personal-defense-minded citizens with a handgun that is light enough to carry yet still has the look, feel and construction of a traditional 1911 pistol.

The Remington 1911 R1 Ultralight Commander is built on an aluminum frame built to the same specifications as a standard steel-framed 1911. However, swapping a steel frame for an aluminum frame provides a weight savings of more than 20 percent, shaving 7.5 ounces off the total weight of the gun.

The aluminum frame features a hard-coat anodized finish, along with an adjustable trigger that can be tuned to user preferences with a total adjustment range between 3.5-5 pounds. The gun also features a PVD-finished slide that incorporates both front and rear cocking serrations, as well as checkered laminate grips for improved handling.

The barrel on the Ultralight Commander is constructed from stainless steel and measures 4.25 inches long, incorporating a 1:16 rate of twist. The gun is only available in .45 ACP and features a total capacity of 8+1.

The gun also features an adjustable rear sight that is paired with a fiber-optic front sight, providing a bright aiming point for shooters to focus on, as well as for quick target acquisition. The overall length of the pistol is 7.5 inches long with a height measuring 5.5 inches and a width of 1.3 inches. With the aluminum frame, the pistol weighs in at 31 ounces. 

Other features of the new pistol include a skeletonized hammer as well as an extended beavertail grip that provides protection against slide and hammer bite. The mainspring housing and the bottom of the grip safety feature a textured finish, while the front strap of the gun is left unfinished.

The suggested retail price of the new Remington 1911 R1 Ultralight Commander is $849.