Range Report: Remington R51 - Some light reading

[Ferrisfan]

I had an opportunity to buy one of the most infamous handguns of the last 5 years, so I did it. Why? I was interested in these before the first gen was even released. I grew up with an Ortgies 7.62 in our arsenal, and it was a fun little gun to plink with. It was a colossal PITA to disassemble (I finally learned to do it inside a trash bag to catch the flying parts) but is was dead-on accurate up to 20 feet or so. The R51 was noted for using a Pedersen block, but the lines and 1911 style safety reminded me of the Ortgies. So for me, it was a nostalgia purchase.

For the TL;DR results skip to the last post.

The initial release of the firearm was a total disaster. The thing was a jam-o-matic that was eventually completely recalled. Production was moved from NC to AL and a second generation was quietly released. The new gen retailed for $400 or so, and was widely panned as being inferior to everything else in that price range.

Scouring the internet revealed these concerns from those who had already bought and shot one:

Won’t shoot steel case ammo

Hollow point ammo won’t feed

Jams after first shot if you shoot it 7+1

Jams (or FTF) on second shot routinely

Needs a 100 round break-in

Prefers 124 gr ammo or +P ammo

Magazine quality is low and needs user adjustments (trim legs on the bottom of the follower/trim coils off spring/replace spring with Glock spring)

I developed the following plan. My range doesn’t allow anything but brass ammo, and I didn’t have any hollow points so those issues would remain untested. I decided I would number the mags, and put them through a break-in process loading them/unloading them/repeat 20 times with at least 5 nights of resting under tension overnight. I would take the gun apart, take pictures of the parts so I could compare for wear and tear later, clean, lube, and reassemble. Then I would shoot 100 rounds of 124 gr ammo followed by 100 rounds of 115 gr ammo and track any jams or FTF. Boxes of 50 rounds meant I would shoot 6 mags from full at 7 rounds, and the 7th mag I would shoot as 7+1 (twice for each mag).

 

[Ferrisfan]

When breaking in the magazines, I encountered a big problem (at this point I had not even shot the gun yet). There was a metal tab that helps to hold the follower in. When unloading the magazine some rounds (especially the 2nd round) would snag on the tab and stay seated low. I confirmed they stayed so low that the slide could pass completely over the round without hitting the edge to chamber it. It is easy for me to imagine that with the force of the previous round firing, the position would vary and sometimes jam while other times completely FTF. I observed this with regular ball ammo, so it’s easy to assume that hollow points would snag even worse. I didn’t want to do all the things that had been suggested in other write-ups without even shooting the gun, but this clearly was an issue to resolve. I bent the tabs back and used a flat file to smooth all the edges. I figured that future things to try might be removing it entirely, but I wanted to both leave something in place to hold the follower and do as little pre-modification as I could.

On to disassembly and photos. OMG is this thing a PITA to disassemble (nostalgia in full force)! I watched a video on how to do it that was put out by Remington, and either this guy has hands of steel or they gave him a half strength spring for the video. After several pinches and one instance of the spring bushing flying across my basement, I was reassembled and ready to shoot.

 

[Ferrisfan]

I had a clipboard ready to track all my problems. For consistency sake and to save my fingers, I used an UpLula to load my mags every time. I loaded both up with 124 gr Sellier & Bellot ammo. I inserted the first mag, pulled back on the slide, released it, and…nothing. It caught on something and I couldn’t tell what. I pulled it back to the slide catch, dropped the mag, tapped it to reseat the rounds, and put it back in. This time I used the slide release with no problems. For consistency sake I decided for now to blame it on weak hands and used the slide release lever every time I switched mags. I never needed my clipboard after that. 200 rounds with zero issues. I did 100 rounds of the S&B 124 grain, 50 of Remington UMC 115 grain, and 50 of Browning 115 grain. The magazine needed some coaxing to shoot 7+1, but it worked. After that my hands hurt so I wrapped up.

A couple of other misc. things to know. The sights are simple 3 dot (white). They are neither better nor worse than any typical 3 dot sights. They worked well indoors, but I can see where the shape of the rear sights might cast a shadow. My personal preference is for color differentiation between front and rear, but that is just preference and easily remedied. The trigger is skeletonized plastic. I can’t believe this was what the engineers designed on a gun that otherwise avoids being poly. I chalk it up to Remington’s “build it cheaper” mentality. Pull is Ok and reset is short. The whole thing feels cheap, but seems to work well. Break is clean. Reset lacks a definitive “click” but you can feel it once you know where to expect it. Front strap grip is great. Panel grips are more aggressive than I like. Rubber panels used to be available and go on my list of things I hope to stumble across on eBay. Visually, you’ll likely either love it or hate it. I love it. Somewhat ray-gun looking to my eye. I think the gun screams to be two-tone color and I might save up for a cerakote job in the future. Or I might just buy colored grips to give it a “less matte black” look.

 

[Ferrisfan]

Conclusion

If you can get this for the right price, this is a fun single stack 9mm. I paid $250 with a Davidson warranty I fully expected to need. I would say if you can get one for under $225 it would be worth it. It is no Glock. It might not even be a SCCY. The Pedersen block does seem to manage some recoil. It shoots well. I personally shoot low with it, but for a medium frame gun built for short range they are adequate. It is a much better gun than the internet would have you believe if you can get some decent magazines. If you want reasons to hate it, the lack of aftermarket accessories, and the disassembly/assembly process are its true shortcomings. Buy one with confidence if it is something that intrigues you. I’ll be shopping for grips and a holster because I think it is worth keeping.

 

[NKD]

Great review/post. This gun really intrigued me at and prior to it's release. I really dig the Buck Rogers space gun aesthetic. It ticks a lot of boxes with a crisp trigger and slim profile. At the time the market was slim on single stack ccw nines. I was very disappointed (if unsurprised) to watch Remingtons utter failure with it.
But, to be honest, the greedy side of me massaged my hands and thought "yesssss, I see these for dirtcheap at some point". I just posted in another thread how I don't buy cheap or stupid guns anymore, but with my softspot for these, it's a real possibility!

I just always suspected it's a good design poorly executed/finished. Felt like it would be fun to get one, take a really close look, and take a file/stone and polishing wheels to anything that looked suspect, and probably end up with a gun that runs, as you have. Just have seen it so much will guns of all price ranges. Seems the basic final hand finishing is where most gun/magazines are lacking and where cost are most often cut, and where most problems lie.
I wonder how many folks really even looked at and examined the magazines as you have, for example. A little love goes a loooong way with guns I have found, and have come to realize full disassembly and close exam, along with some elbow grease and a good lube are super important and can make a relationship with a new gun start out far more pleasant. Well, at least after the initial cursing and cut knuckles!

Honestly can't see it ever outperforming my G43, but I still like the design a lot and would like very much to have one to fart around with.

I watched a video on how to do it that was put out by Remington, and either this guy has hands of steel or they gave him a half strength spring for the video. [/MEDIA]

Travis Tomasie: Likely its hands of steel!

 

[88Mustang]

Excellent write up @Ferrisfan. For awhile after Remington botched the original release I had it in my head to pick one up when they went on clearance. But that went out the window after I handled a P365.

 

[chiefjason]

Never had any problems with mine. I bought it the first day it came in the lgs so it’s a first gen. Didn’t bother to send it back.

If you need a holster I can work one up for you.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[llaht]

Bought one used here on forum slightly used... was missing one grip screw, but McMaster Carr solved that with some nice ss ones.
Mainly cuz of neat factor and rollmarked in NC.
Did 'ok' for a while, did experience those first round fail to feed and some other stuff...
Ignored the recall, but observed where those that did the recall were offered remington 1911's hmmmm
still ignored recall.

then finally one day, the trigger went dead, nada, nuttin, etc.
could not see 'issue' on a strip down, but did manage to regain trigger, then it repeated.

Made the call for recall and now have AL rollmark gun, have not shot it 'much' since
hated to give up the NC roll mark

Interesting on the magazine modifications.. care to share additional photos??

 

[Friday]

Better than most magazine write-ups. Thanks.

 

[Alfred]

FYI Todays Rural King email has these for $199.

 

[Ferrisfan]

Bought one used here on forum slightly used... was missing one grip screw, but McMaster Carr solved that with some nice ss ones.
Mainly cuz of neat factor and rollmarked in NC.
Did 'ok' for a while, did experience those first round fail to feed and some other stuff...
Ignored the recall, but observed where those that did the recall were offered remington 1911's hmmmm
still ignored recall.

then finally one day, the trigger went dead, nada, nuttin, etc.
could not see 'issue' on a strip down, but did manage to regain trigger, then it repeated.

Made the call for recall and now have AL rollmark gun, have not shot it 'much' since
hated to give up the NC roll mark

Interesting on the magazine modifications.. care to share additional photos??

Sorry I don’t have any additional photos that I took “as found”. I’ll try to answer any questions you might have though.

 

[Ferrisfan]

Bought one used here on forum slightly used... was missing one grip screw, but McMaster Carr solved that with some nice ss ones.
Mainly cuz of neat factor and rollmarked in NC.
Did 'ok' for a while, did experience those first round fail to feed and some other stuff...
Ignored the recall, but observed where those that did the recall were offered remington 1911's hmmmm
still ignored recall.

then finally one day, the trigger went dead, nada, nuttin, etc.
could not see 'issue' on a strip down, but did manage to regain trigger, then it repeated.

Made the call for recall and now have AL rollmark gun, have not shot it 'much' since
hated to give up the NC roll mark

Interesting on the magazine modifications.. care to share additional photos??

I never saw the first GEN version but my understanding is that the magazines have a follower with a much steeper angle. I have read that first generation magazines will not work well in the second generation gun. My slide still has the Charlotte stamping on it but from what I have read at least some of the parts are from the Huntsville plant. I think they might have refurbished some frames and slides to reuse.

 

[Ferrisfan]

Reviving an old thread, but I wanted to post that I have continued to shoot this and had no problems* with ball or Hornady ammo with the hollow point "filled". I have never shot steel ammo because I have still never shot it anywhere but TSA in Raleigh. Disassembly has been easier with practice and with the break-in.

*Well, one problem. I cannot for the life of me get it to feed by pulling back on the slide and releasing it. It feeds every single time if I use the slide release lever.