Remington's RP 9mm Luger Autoloader

There are so many last minute projects to wrap up before the holidays. My wife and I are traveling to Texas to visit number one son and family. We were just advised the trip includes a Griswoldian side junket to Disney World and Universal Studios; a four adults and one hyper holiday granddaughter road trip. We are happy to be invited to share in this time, but hoping we don’t end up riding on the roof of the van or being castigated by Goofy for a queuing line etiquette infraction. Ah, well…

I like Remington Outdoor Company, Inc. It is an American company generating approximately $809 million in sales, while providing jobs to 5,000 Americans and creating countless business opportunities to companies at the corporate periphery. Remington has been an American institution for over 200 years, supplying sportsman, law enforcement and our military with firearms throughout their history. More recently, Remington has demonstrated unabated enthusiasm in becoming a participant within the handgun segment of the firearms industry; more of a good thing.

The Remington 1911 R1 was released to accolades, the RM380 was greeted with enthusiasm, the R51 brought just a touch of controversy, and now the RP has arrived as a very solid, high capacity handful of an autoloader. The RP is available in both 9mm Luger and 45 Auto. The subject pistol is the 9mm version, however, the differences are minor in form; Capacity 18+1 Vs 15+1 and both have 10+1 version options where state and/or local laws require, Twist rate 1:10″ Vs 1:16″, all nominal dimensions and weights are common to all.

Manufacturer	Remington
Point of Manufacture	Huntsville, Alabama
Order #	96466
UPC	8 85293 96466 2
Model	RP
Origin	Huntsville, AL
Type Action	Single Action Striker
Slide	Stainless Steel
Finish – Barrel/Side	Black IonBond© PVD Finish
Frame	Polymer – SS Insert
Caliber	9mm Auto
Capacity	18+1
Barrel Length	4.5“
Twist	1:10″ LH
Weight – Empty	26.4 oz
Overall Length	7.91″
Overall Height	5.56″
Sights – Rear	Two Dot – Drift Adjustable
Sight – Front	One Dot – Drift Adjustable
Sight Radius	6.50“
Trigger Pull	5 lbs 3 oz (Actual)
MSRP	$489
Includes: Display box, 3 Grip Inserts, 2 Magazines, gun lock, and manual

The Remington RP is a tilt barrel, locked breech, striker fired, autoloading pistol. Single action in operation, it is fully cocked when the slide cycles and the slide locks open when the pistol is fired to empty to expedite reloading. The trigger does not participate in cocking the striker, which contributes to the pistol’s crisp, light pull.

A double stack magazine pistol, the RP is supplied with three backstrap inserts to assure a good fit with all hand sizes. With the most shallow insert installed, the grip angle and deep inset beneath the beavertail extension feels like a single stack auto that would comfortably fit smaller hands and provide proper trigger finger reach. More pronounced inserts fill the palm of larger hands and adjust trigger finger reach accordingly. The undercut trigger guard puts the hand in a natural high hold, leveling sights and moving the hand closer to bore centerline for good recoil control. The grip surface is long, providing a comfortable home for all grasping fingers.

A form that is made for function

It has become popular for manufacturers to tout low profile slides on new products as bringing a bore centerline closer to the shooting hand for greater control under recoil. The Remington RP has a larger surface slide, but a lower profile frame, which seems to end up with the same bore “closer to hand” geometry. The result is the same improved recoil control, but also a larger surface to grasp, regardless technique applied, and probably the easiest to actuate slide. The converging cut slide front makes for snag free holstering. The standard Picatinny rail is there to support a wide range of accessories.

The single handed reload rear sight or “fighting surface” rear sight in Remington vernacular is handy, especially under dire circumstances where an injury or circumstance prevents two hands from being used to actuate the slide. The squared front of the sight can be retained by any stationary edged surface while the pistol is pushed forward to cycle, however, the rounded ears make for a no snag surface. The square pad at the front of the extractor protrudes just barely from the surface of the slide when a cartridge is in the pistol’s chamber allowing a finger touch to determine if the chamber is loaded or not, even in darkness or with impaired vision.

The sights are dovetail mounted and drift adjustable. There is a visual chamber full indicator in the form of a small port at the rear of the barrel hood.

The cross section of the Remington’s RP slide forms an isosceles trapezoid; it narrows from 1.2″ at the base to narrow 0.875 at the top where it is also radiused. The form shaves weight and makes for easier snag free concealment.

The Remington RP is an easy to fieldstrip weapon. Pull the magazine and check chamber for empty. Lock slide back with the slide stop, which places the disassembly notch over the take down lever and allows the lever to be rotated down. Release and ease the slide forward until it stops, pull the trigger and move the slide forward and off. Lift out the recoil spring and barrel, which should result in this –

No, you will not find two barrels inside, the second, larger barrel reflects my need to illustrate that the barrel is ramped. The flat wound recoil spring and guide rod are a captive assembly that plops in between the barrel and slide.

The grip frame is polymer, however there is lots of steel to assure longevity of precise operation to form all fire control components and frame slide rails. The poly frame is heavily ribbed to assure strength and dimensional stability.

Personality and performance

The Remington RP has a very good feel. With the large backstrap in place, the pistol fills my hand providing a lot of support, the trigger reach and pull is ideal and parallel to the slide. The balance puts a little weight on the front sight when empty, but this quickly becomes neutral when a loaded magazine is inserted and the pistol settles in the shooting hand.

The simple three dot sight system is appropriate for this defensive weapon. They are quick and easy to get on target and, dots mounted on a black surface, they standout against virtually any backdrop. The PVD finish slide and barrel finish is more durable than bluing or surface coatings. PVD is a molecular bond with the surface it covers. The surface finish is not flat matte, but close enough to defuse any sign of glare to eliminate reflective surfaces.

A variety of ammo types and weights were tried. All successfully, even with mixed types and weights loaded into magazines, partial magazines, and standard and +P pressure loads.

 

The targets above are representative of the RP’s accuracy; two hand hold from the bench, supported with shot and sand bags. Handloads in equivalent weights produced very similar results. All showed a surprisingly small shift in point of impact, regardless weight and velocity. A Part II is scheduled with this information. Felt recoil, muzzle rise and report were modest at most.  Follow up shots were quick. There was no shooting discomfort, there were no faults in operation.

Conclusion… I promise

For me, this full size 9mm fits my needs. The slide and controls are made for man size hands and the grip will adapt to my wife’s smaller hands. The slide is easy to operate for either of us because of its size and springing, the trigger is excellent. It is accurate; I need a handgun that does not spray shots beyond 7 yards. It is an aesthetically pleasing firearm that I would be proud to carry and be seen with at the range. Finally, the PVD finish wipes clean and I am a lazy guy when it comes to firearm cleaning. Anything else I’d like? Sure, thanks for asking. Fiber optic sights as an accessory.

Some folks have asked why Remington would introduce a striker when there are many already on the market. My guess is that Remington sees a huge market opportunity that is not going away soon and, strategically, they are a competitive bunch. Remington needed to add this type of striker to reach a large segment of the handgun market that includes civilian, agency and potential military customers. Remington is demonstrating that they are serious participants that they are committing to servicing that opportunity. My best guess.