Back from the range. I had a few problems with a magazine as noted below. Otherwise the gun ran fine. It is soft shooting and recoil is very controllable for a gun of this size and weight—almost as good as my HiPower. Accuracy is good. I can hold 2" at 10 yards if I really try. (I may do better after my next cataract surgery. ) 115g shoots low, 124g is dead on.

214 rounds:
50 Rem-UMC 124g FMJ: 2 FTF. These rounds all pass the plunk test
50 Fed American Eagle 115g: 3 FTF, 1 FTE. Plunk OK lands engrave slightly.
100 MBC 9Cone 125g /4g W231: 4 FTF, COL 1.090 Plunk PASS.
14 MBC 9Cone 124g /5.6g PP: 5 FTF 2 FTE, COL. 1.125 Plunk FAIL, lands heavily engraved. These are +P loads.

All FTFs in the first 200 rounds were with the same magazine. I'll have to take a look at that one. The other mag was fine except on the last 14 rounds where it had two of the FTFs. All of the FTFs took the same form, with the bullet nosediving into the feed ramp. A sharp rap on the butt of the magazine cause all but two to feed. On these two, I had to drop the mag as the nose of the bullet was caught under the front lip of the mag. Both of these were with the Fed AE.

The cases all show the scuff marks from the rough chamber walls that seem to be a signature of this pistol. The primers of the first 200 rounds were normal except for a "pimple with a dimple" where the metal fire formed around the firing pin and firing pin hole. On the 14 +P loads, the dimple was gone and the pimple somewhat flattend. I'm taking that as a pressure sign for now. Otherwise, there were no bulged primers or bulged cases.

On cleaning, I saw nothing out of the ordinary. I found no metal shavings and only one new wear mark on the frame. Grip screws and sights stayed tight and in place, as did all of the pins. i'll check the problem child mag tonight, but I suspect a sticky follower which a little silicone will take care of.

All in all, I'm happy.

Thanks for the range report...!!

JRH6856 wrote:The primers of the first 200 rounds were normal except for a "pimple with a dimple" where the metal fire formed around the firing pin and firing pin hole.

I mean no offense and really appreciate the detail of your report - but I will say that dimpled primers are not/never normal and indicative of a serious problem.

I bring this up as I don't want the issue to be assumed to be less than what it is by someone less knowledgeable about firearms. While dimpled primers/primer-flow seems to be (unfortunately) *very* normal with R51s, generally such issues are not common at all. Primers are "normal" or they aren't and can't be a little of both. Abnormal primers indicates a gun with a problem that requires repair. I called Remington today and the customer service rep wouldn't even record the issue as a problem with mine - he stated that the firing pin had been redesigned and would automatically be updated when pistol was received, regardless as to anything else that may or may not be addressed.

Again, sorry to belabor the issue! I just think that while there are individuals out there working overtime to disparage the gun, that it is also important that serious problems don't get glossed over either. Issues with abnormal primers, case separations, and bulged cases are WAY too common with the R51 and I don't want a sense that these things are normal on any level getting into peoples minds. They might not be the instant death-ray that some might insinuate - but there are still very significant underlying problems causing them and those issue are associated with a much higher chance of damage, injury or other worse bad things happening.


Thanks for the report. Also, curious - what do you consider the "plunk" test?

Also, would it be possible to take a pic of your frame and post it? Given the galling on mine, I've been trying to get a peek and any I can to see if it is typical or not.

Thanks!

445r51 wrote:

JRH6856 wrote:The primers of the first 200 rounds were normal except for a "pimple with a dimple" where the metal fire formed around the firing pin and firing pin hole.

I mean no offense and really appreciate the detail of your report - but I will say that dimpled primers are not/never normal and indicative of a serious problem.

I bring this up as I don't want the issue to be assumed to be less than what it is by someone less knowledgeable about firearms. While dimpled primers/primer-flow seems to be (unfortunately) *very* normal with R51s, generally such issues are not common at all. Primers are "normal" or they aren't and can't be a little of both. Abnormal primers indicates a gun with a problem that requires repair. I called Remington today and the customer service rep wouldn't even record the issue as a problem with mine - he stated that the firing pin had been redesigned and would automatically be updated when pistol was received, regardless as to anything else that may or may not be addressed.

Again, sorry to belabor the issue! I just think that while there are individuals out there working overtime to disparage the gun, that it is also important that serious problems don't get glossed over either. Issues with abnormal primers, case separations, and bulged cases are WAY too common with the R51 and I don't want a sense that these things are normal on any level getting into peoples minds. They might not be the instant death-ray that some might insinuate - but there are still very significant underlying problems causing them and those issue are associated with a much higher chance of damage, injury or other worse bad things happening.

I agree that on any gun with a locked breech , or even a blowback where the case head is held agains the breechface by the extractor, these pimples are not normal. But the R51 is neither of those. To date, there has been no perforations or gas leakage, which are, to me, clearer problem signs.

Thanks for the report. Also, curious - what do you consider the "plunk" test?

Remove the barrel from the gun, Hold it vertacle with the muzzle down. Drop a round in the chamber (it usually makes a "plunk" sound, hence the name of the test but that is not the test) Rotate the barrel 180 degrees so the muzzle is up. If the round falls out, it passes the test. If it is stuck in the chamber, the case may need resizing or the bullet may be seated too long. If the bullet is seated too long, the bullet will stick on the rifling lands.

Also, would it be possible to take a pic of your frame and post it? Given the galling on mine, I've been trying to get a peek and any I can to see if it is typical or not.

Yes, when I can figure out how to post a pic on this forum.
Thanks![/quote]

445r51 wrote:Also, would it be possible to take a pic of your frame and post it? Given the galling on mine, I've been trying to get a peek and any I can to see if it is typical or not.

Thanks!

Here you go:
Before firing:


After 214 Rounds