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Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 9:43 am
by JRH6856
From what I can gather from all over the web, the lower the SN, the higher the incidence of problems. Mine is 0006xxxR51 and I don't have anywhere near the number of failures Rick reports. That said, I can create all of the failure conditions if i try by using ammo that will not fully chamber. And that is not really hard to do, because the chamber is is so undersized.

Looking at the parts inside the frame in the trigger group and fire control group, I'm still convinced this is a good design that has been poorly manufacured for whatever reason. If they had to completely shut down the Para plant as has been reported, it suggests a serious problem at Para. It really looks like Freedom Group has some real problems getting its various companies to work together.

I am curious why there has been no general recall issued, but it may be because quality is all over the map. Some guns are so bad they are already back in Remington's hands. Others, like mine, function just fine if ammo is carefully selected. But it seems all it takes to get an RMA is to call and ask for one. At this point, if one has serious problems there is no reason not to send it back. Especially if, as has been reported, the warranty restarts after repair.

I'm going to wait and see if they decide to do anything about the chamber. If not, I don't want to surrender my gun to them without first talking to an attorney because it is the only evidence I have of their false claim that the gun is chambered in 9mm Luger. Because if the chamber is measured it obviously is not close to SAMMI spec for 9mm Luger.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:05 am
by draidt
Class action suit ? I'll sign up as much as I would detest doing so, I am out upwards of 500 bucks. Refund what I paid and I will go away. never to return I might add.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:17 pm
by JRH6856
draidt wrote:Class action suit ? I'll sign up as much as I would detest doing so, I am out upwards of 500 bucks. Refund what I paid and I will go away. never to return I might add.


It may be an option if Remington doesn't address the issue. I had never checked before because I generally don't buy Remington ammo (except for an old box of 147g Golden Saber), but all of the Remington 9mm ammo I have had my hands own since buying the R51 is under bore, measuring 0.347-0.351. It is safe to shoot in a SAMMI 9mm Luger chamber but probably not as accurate as full bore 9mm (0.355) even in the R51. Since while the R51 chamber is undersize, the barrel is correctly bored with 0.355 grooves and 0.346 lands, it is kind of like using.380ACP bullets to reload 9mm Makarov.

But trying to go the other way doesn't work so well. Standard 9mm Luger in an undersized chamber with no leade does not always fully chamber and creates an out of battery condtion as I have described earlier.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Tue Apr 29, 2014 3:59 pm
by Rick 51/ R51
draidt wrote:[quote= Rick 51/ R51
I'm not so sure I'll even waste my time sending it back to Remington for repair. My honest opinion... It's just another pretty wall decoration with an ugly track record. Don't depend on this thing to save your life in that showdown... it'll most likely fail to fire when you need it. It's an accurate and beautiful shooter... when it functions!


Why not send it back ? In the event they do the right thing and redesign the whole gun and replace all the ones they are holding for repair which by now is a growing number. I got my "American Rifleman " May 2014 magazine yesterday, Almost choked on my adult beverage when perusing it last night Page 47 check it out. I am frankly flummoxed as to why the once great Remington arms company has not issued a formal statement about what is being done. Does anyone seriously think that their particular gun is actually being worked on by the Gunsmith's( ? ) at Para ? I have temporally replaced my R51 with a Cheap $239.00 Zastava M88A. It goes bang every time ejects and feeds every time and pretty damn accurate.
I do have 2 other Remington products that I bought new a 1962 and 1963 Nylon 12's 22 S/L/LR bolt action rifles they are both keepers. :mrgreen:[/quote]

Hey draidt, thanks for that. I will send it back to Remington after they have ingested the bulk of returns for warranty repair or replacement. I'm still waiting for "the solution" to emerge before I do send it. I have other shooting iron for pleasure and protection, so the issue with my R51s isn't critical in the least. I have spent more than twice, thee times, four times or more, than the price of this pistol in ammunition trying to get a readable pattern inside this gun. So, I have over $2000.00 invested because of the issues with it. My typical range time is 1 to 2 hours, but the last few have been hours on end feeding & reading these 2 R51s. I don't want the range time to become a job... it's meant for pleasure at this stage in my life.
Trust me when I say that I have some beautiful and very reliable Remington rifles, shotgun, and pistols and they're not for sale. I'd trust my life with them and compete with them without a 2nd thought. I'm sure Remington will fix this situation and I have the time to wait it out and give them the opportunity to come through for us. Then I will send mine in...

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Sun May 11, 2014 6:48 pm
by remingtontoter
I have seen them in only one out of five gun shops in my area. The price was set at 429. I held the gun and loved how it handled, but have not shot one yet. I am glad Remington went with an Aluminum grip frame instead of the usual polymer that seems to go on this type of gun.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Thu May 15, 2014 12:45 pm
by draidt
June issue, someone not doing due diligence.

http://www.ammoland.com/2014/05/june-is ... z31nPoMTz0

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Thu May 15, 2014 2:05 pm
by remmy
I'm finding it funny that Remington has since introduced a 1911 model airgun and a new overpriced muzzleloader on their website, but still no page for the R51 after how many months ..... and can you blame them???? Even Remington doesn't want to promote the R51

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Fri May 16, 2014 1:54 pm
by lklawson
draidt wrote:June issue, someone not doing due diligence.

http://www.ammoland.com/2014/05/june-is ... z31nPoMTz0
I have friends who've worked in the publishing industry. This article has been in the works for longer than you might expect and they certainly couldn't kill the article. That throws off the publishing schedule, which they absolutely MUST keep.

"Due diligence" has nothing to do with it.

Here's what you can do. Read the article and then write a Letter to the Editor. The way that magazine publishing works a LttE should get published (and answered) by the next issue if the Editor thinks the letter is a good fit for the LttE section.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Thu May 22, 2014 11:07 pm
by remmy
Asked hickok45 if he was ever going to do a review on the R51 or if they had sent him a T&E gun, as I respect his opinion on all products. His response was "Remington wouldn't want me testing the R51 in front of thousands of viewers."

fyi, he has well over a million followers.

I'm sure a review is in the future, he just realizes it has so many issues that it would just be a waste of time at this point.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Sun Jun 15, 2014 6:14 pm
by rabbit hunter
I hope someone will report in this forum when Remington has solved the problems, and is producing reliable R51s. I would really like to have one, but not until the problems have been corrected.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Thu Jun 19, 2014 3:35 pm
by SHOOTER13
Welcome to the Remington Owners Forum rabbit hunter !!

Your wait may be long...

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Fri Jun 20, 2014 2:59 am
by Rick 51/ R51
rabbit hunter wrote:I hope someone will report in this forum when Remington has solved the problems, and is producing reliable R51s. I would really like to have one, but not until the problems have been corrected.


Welcome to the forum "rabbit hunter". Shooter 13 is right... It might be a long wait. More like, will be. I have 2 R51s and they are a dream in the hand, and on the target, and "back on" the target. Actually a natural pointer as they advertise. I also have an original Model 51 in .380ACP, which this R51 was supposed to follow. When the R51 functions, it is a dream shooter and feels natural and is quite accurate. 2nd to those though, in my honest opinion, is the Sig Sauer P938. Get the 7 round mags with the pinky extension, and it feels almost as good as the 51s. I'll put the P938 up against the R51 on the targets and have greater confidence in the Sig because I know what will happen on the next squeeze of the 1911-like trigger. For $200 & some change more than the R51, the level of quality is worth the extra money. And, for concealed carry, the Sig is easier to conceal than the R51. If .380ACP (9mm Short, if you will) is in your realm of adequate firepower, the Sig P238 is almost identical to the P938 in size, and of course, a little tamer than the 9mm.

Seriously though, don't hold your breath on the R51. Get something else that's reliable and pleasurable to shoot until such time that Remington comes through with a revised R51. R51A, or R51M maybe? Someday soon maybe? I too, especially after shooting 'some' successful mag-fulls, want a real R51. But, 'some' successful mag-fulls just don't cut it... even for just a range gun, much less for self defense.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 7:42 am
by lincen
After some thought I've decided to keep my R51. I have a good number of guns and it certainly is not the first time I've been unwise with $400. My R51 has broken in and seems to function rather well. Last time out just shot four full mags with only one failure to return to battery, used the slide release instead of the slingshot method. The slide is much easier to rack than when new but still not a s easy as advertised.

I figure that this thing may be the Edsal or Corvair of handguns, very unpopular now but command a premium in 20 or so years. My son may be able to reap the gains. I'm staying in the game.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 11:23 am
by SHOOTER13
Edsel or Corvair...that's nothing compared to the "lemons" being recalled by the big three today !!

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 12:29 pm
by draidt
SHOOTER13 wrote:Edsel or Corvair...that's nothing compared to the "lemons" being recalled by the big three today !!


Edsel was stuck with that god awful Horse Collar grill and came out in the recession of 1958, My Dad had one and it was actually a good running car. Corvair was killed by Ralph Nader's rise to fame.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 5:42 am
by lincen
I may have chosen the wrong things to compare the R51 to, but my comparison had to do more with potential value than quality.

Some one PM'd me about buying their extra R51 mags. I would like to reply but this forum, like some Remington products, does not work well for me. Please PM me your email or phone number as I cannot reply and cannot find the moderator links..........

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 5:57 am
by draidt
lincen wrote:I may have chosen the wrong things to compare the R51 to, but my comparison had to do more with potential value than quality.

Some one PM'd me about buying their extra R51 mags. I would like to reply but this forum, like some Remington products, does not work well for me. Please PM me your email or phone number as I cannot reply and cannot find the moderator links..........



If Remington does not request them back before I get my refund, Ill give them away you pay shipping .

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:00 am
by lincen
I will be more than happy to pay the shipping for your R51 mags! Wish I could PM like on GunBoards :(

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 10:17 am
by SHOOTER13
lincen wrote: I would like to reply but this forum, like some Remington products, does not work well for me. Please PM me your email or phone number as I cannot reply and cannot find the moderator links..........



Can't help ya with the R51...but I can help ya with this forum !!

What seems to be your problem lincen...!?

PM sent...

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Wed Jul 02, 2014 8:26 pm
by lincen
I can receive PM's but when I try to reply, this is what I see;

"We are sorry, but you are not authorised to use this feature. You may have just registered here and may need to participate more to be able to use this feature."

I'm not the sharpest forum user but it just will not work for me.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 12:16 pm
by SHOOTER13
Now I see...You need the required 30 posts to enable this feature ( ...and 30 days a member, which you already have. )

When you reach 30 posts ( 22 now )...read and reply to the PM I sent you.

Thanks !

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 8:34 pm
by lincen
Thank you for the answer Shooter13, sorry that I cannot PM other forum members.

To the member that is selling the mags, glad you received the payment and I will not need the range bag.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Sat Nov 12, 2016 11:32 pm
by Necron99
So I took the R51 to the range. I'm in love. From the very first shot I found this gun to be an intuitive shooter. It handled very well in my hand, and as advertised it had great recovery time. It felt a lot like shooting a .380. I never used a Crimson trace before. I could see the use in a scary real world circumstance. It was super easy to take just enough pressure off to not activate the laser. But I really couldn't be happier than I am with this handgun. Not a single issue of any kind, shooting 124 grain.

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Sun Mar 11, 2018 9:05 pm
by johnnysR51
2018, I own a r51 with 869 rounds threw her and I use Remington, blazer brass, Magtech, all 115gr fmj and rem UD 124gr, going for a 1000 rounds tues ,,,, AND I just order my 2nd R51, pick it up Friday plus 600 rounds of ammo,, armscor 50Rds, Fiocchi 50Rds, seller& bellot 50Rds. Sig Sauer 50Rds, Remington 50Rds. Blazer brass 50Rds. Magtech 50Rds. Agoila 50Rds. Tulammo 50Rds. independence 50Rds. Centry arms 50Rds. America Eagle 50Rds. all 115 gr FMJ,, my next 400Rds. I plan on 5 brands (boxes of 20Rd) Defence ammo and 300rds of 124gr. I will not use reloads as from the prices I see it is just about the same so why not use New I donot load my own ammo ,, if any body reads this and thinks there is a ammo not mention let me know .. I have bin on the internet and seen reviews that are good and bad , and when somebody ask what iam using, I tell them a Remington R51, they start with they have a bad rep, the frist thing I ask when when they say that is you didn't like the way it shoots or did you have problems , and 98 percent have never pick up or fired a R51, and I say if I listen to what everybody said I wouldn't have the right gun ,and most of the gun stores I was going in talk about how bad it is but NEVER fired one, they wanted me to buy what they thought I needed, and ill go in there stores and tell them how great the gun is and there customers listen to me they donot like that,,,,,i like going to the gun range with it as every body looks at it,,, will give reports as I go ,AND iam not a gun magazine or a writer just a guy off thev street JohnnysR51

Re: Remington R-51 Reviews

PostPosted: Wed Mar 14, 2018 2:17 pm
by 5 iron
The first Gen 2s from 2016 had magazine issues that caused some feeding problems but I believe that has been resolved.