barnbwt on The High Road has detailed stripped his R51. The thread with pix and full description of the internals is here: http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9445083&postcount=1

Thanks for the link JRH...

What is interesting is that he did not comment on the chamber/barrell issues that have been the subject of some detailed analysis on this forum. While he generally faults the components and construction of the receiver, he hasn't addressed the slide (yet?).

FWIW, I did run across and pick up an R51, s/n 50xx, and I have run around 200 rounds through it this week. I carefully disassembled and cleaned the pistol per the owner's manual before taking it to the range each time and, also per the manual, I have shot mostly Remington ammo -- 115 gr, 115 gr+p, and today 124 gr. When I load 5 rounds into the mags, it seems to run fine. With full mags, and with one in the chamber, I have had occasional failure to return to battery. When I released the mag, the slide would go into battery, and I could re-insert the mag and continue shooting, so I think this issue is mag feed related. Anyway, I did try one mag of Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr, and it did hang up on that ammo, which has an extended shoulder before it becomes conical. Overall, my gun seems to be running better than many, but it is not confidence inspiring yet.

CharlieW wrote:What is interesting is that he did not comment on the chamber/barrell issues that have been the subject of some detailed analysis on this forum. While he generally faults the components and construction of the receiver, he hasn't addressed the slide (yet?).

FWIW, I did run across and pick up an R51, s/n 50xx, and I have run around 200 rounds through it this week. I carefully disassembled and cleaned the pistol per the owner's manual before taking it to the range each time and, also per the manual, I have shot mostly Remington ammo -- 115 gr, 115 gr+p, and today 124 gr. When I load 5 rounds into the mags, it seems to run fine. With full mags, and with one in the chamber, I have had occasional failure to return to battery. When I released the mag, the slide would go into battery, and I could re-insert the mag and continue shooting, so I think this issue is mag feed related. Anyway, I did try one mag of Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr, and it did hang up on that ammo, which has an extended shoulder before it becomes conical. Overall, my gun seems to be running better than many, but it is not confidence inspiring yet.

Not much to say about the slide that hasn't been said. And anyone that field strips their gun can see what's there. The same holds for the barrel/chamber. What specifically are you wanting to know?

Regarding mags and FRTB, a full mag is really tight and there is little room for compression of the rounds against the bottom of the breechblock when seating a fully loaded mag with the slide in battery. The manual says to insert the mag with the slide locked, then slingshot to chamber the round. That should put it onto battery if the round headspaces properly. Topping off and reseating the mag requires extra attention to insure that it seats. Even then, it is binding on the breechblock and can inhibit cycling of the slide on the first shot. I know it is advertised as 7+1. but 6+1 is probably more realistic. It is the same problem that many have with flush fit 8 round mags in a 1911.

Thanks -- I didn't really have a question on the slide/barrel that hasn't been touched on in this forum. As thorough as it was, I though the write up on the other forum could benefit from some of the analysis here. The scraped cases, dimpled and pushed primers, and loading issues I have seen appear to be more attributable to the barrel chamber, rifling etc.

Your comments on the mag loading do fit my experience so far. I have been slingshotting the slide consistently. I have not marked the mags and run enough rounds yet to see if they both run the same.

I guess I remain cautiously optimistic for the R51.

There is a mega-thread on the R51 on THR. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=742463 We were pretty thorough there once we could get them in our hands.

BTW, barnbwt is going to run a finish reamer into the chamber this weekend. Should answer some questions.

JRH6856 -- Thanks again! I saw the second thread but not the first. Now I have additional reading to do. Looks like great info and analysis.