Remington R51 Brief Range Test

[DWalt]

I have a friend who just bought a new 9mm R51 (I think he paid too much for it, but that's another story). I have been very interested in the R51 since it came out, as I am a fancier of the original Remington Model 51, owning four of them at present (two in .32, two in .380). We took his gun out for a trial run Friday morning. In total, we fired three boxes of the Wal-Mart "Perfecta" 9mm ammo (115 grains). We didn't attempt to do any serious grouping performance testing, mainly just trying to keep all shots in the black of a paper target at 15 yards, which wasn't much of a problem. Recoil was fairly mild and the sight picture was good, and it appeared that the sights were regulated properly. It came with two magazines. There were a few FTFs experienced initially, but those went away after the first few full magazines were fired. One feature I liked was a loaded chamber indicator, in the form of a small hole (maybe 1/8" dia.) in the top of the slide just behind the chamber mouth. You can see the case through the hole if a round is chambered. But no way to tell in the dark by feel if the chamber is loaded. It also has a grip safety, as does the original 51. Ergonomically it feels good in the hand and can be easily be carried concealed.

Having disassembled my original Model 51s many times, I didn't expect any problems in disassembly of the R51, as the operating mechanism and disassembly method is about the same for both. But nonetheless, it was fairly difficult to perform, more difficult than the original Model 51. It really helps if you have a friend, as there is no way to lock the R51 barrel into the slide to facilitate removal of the breech piece as there is with the original 51. My friend had previously attempted disassembly by himself before I showed up, and gave up on it. Remington could have done a much better job in explaining the disassembly procedure in their instruction manual. I think most users would be better off not disassembling it unless absolutely necessary - just blast out the slide assembly (when removed from the frame) with carb cleaner and lube it. Or else, enlist the help of a friend.

In summary, I can't find much fault in the R51 and I'd buy one at the right price. About two months ago, I passed up a new one at a price of $279, and wish now that I hadn't.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I own one of the original Remington 51s in .380 caliber. The designer, John Pedersen, had a penchant for making simple things more complex, and his hesitation-lock on this gun and the newer 9mm was a prime example. Disassembly and reassembly is not intuitive. Browning, on the other hand, made potentially complex guns simpler - making disassembly a breeze. An excellent example is the 1911 .45 pistol, which I can completely disassemble without using a single tool, just some of the parts and a cartridge. The 1911 is essentially its own toolbox.

I do like the ergonomics of the original Model 51; the grip was designed after much deliberation, seems to fit most folks very comfortably, and the pistol points naturally. Many of the cops that used them as backup guns back in the day called the gun "the steel finger."

John

 

[CATI1835]

I have the R51v2 also. I have about 700-800 rounds through it, various ammo, including Perfecta. It has been perfect out of the box, not a single failure that was firearm related. Did have one magazine that was problematic, but that has been fixed.

I like it enough that it is now my primary EDC gun.

 

[shocker]

Take down/reassembly gets easier as the gun breaks in, I've found. It will never be as easy as the tilting barrel guns but it's not difficult if you have strong fingers.
I had an oddball failure - pull trigger and hammer didn't fall, evidently the reset didn't reset. Blasted out the trigger mechanism with Ballistol and all was normal. Suggests to me the blowback design might allow more powder residue into the trigger mechanism. All I've shot is UMC FMJ so far. About 300 rounds total so far, 50 Blazer aluminum case worked fine.

 

[DWalt]

"Suggests to me the blowback design might allow more powder residue into the trigger mechanism." It's really more of a hesitation locked blowback, actually not all that much different in intent from the Browning drop-barrel design. But it was probably a machinist's nightmare to make the original Model 51 slide and breech piece.

 

[Electraclyde]

I had a version 1 and a version 2. Version 2 was 100% reliable for me thru about 750 rounds. However, it was not accurate. Its gone now to someone that is more forgiving than I. I did not have any trouble with dis assembly or re assembly. You do need strong fingers.

 

[DWalt]

Handguns such as the R51 are not intended for use as target pistols. My feeling has always been that if one can simply keep most hits consistently inside the 8-ring of a B-29 silhouette target at 15 yards from a standing position, that's plenty good enough. Just from our simple abbreviated shooting test, that seems to be an achievable goal for the R51.

 

[shocker]

Mine shoots where I point it, the question is how accurately can I point it considering it has a thin grip and heavy trigger. I don't have a problem hitting 12" plates at 50' with it. Just keep the front sight on the target and don't flinch.