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Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 7:20 am
by hrfunk
Hi all! I disassembled my R51 to see what Remington did to improve its functioning. Check out the video below to see what I found. You might also want to see if you can spot anything I missed!

HRF

https://youtu.be/Ar0vPGXIf9I

Re: Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:16 am
by 5 iron
That’s interesting. I thought that the bottom lip on the block was something that Remington added to the Gen 2 model. Maybe they overdid it on the lip dimensions. I can see how that would affect the cycling with a full magazine, which was the condition when the misfeeds were occurring.

Re: Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 8:33 am
by hrfunk
5 iron wrote:That’s interesting. I thought that the bottom lip on the block was something that Remington added to the Gen 2 model. Maybe they overdid it on the lip dimensions. I can see how that would affect the cycling with a full magazine, which was the condition when the misfeeds were occurring.


Is that lip on yours? I keep trying to decide if it was really there or if I imagined it. If it IS on yours, could you please send me a photo of it?

Thanks,

HRF

Re: Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 10:40 am
by 5 iron
hrfunk wrote:
5 iron wrote:That’s interesting. I thought that the bottom lip on the block was something that Remington added to the Gen 2 model. Maybe they overdid it on the lip dimensions. I can see how that would affect the cycling with a full magazine, which was the condition when the misfeeds were occurring.


Is that lip on yours? I keep trying to decide if it was really there or if I imagined it. If it IS on yours, could you please send me a photo of it?

Thanks,

HRF

No problem. I’ll upload a couple of photos this evening or early tomorrow morning.

Re: Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 10:41 am
by hrfunk
5 iron wrote:
hrfunk wrote:
5 iron wrote:That’s interesting. I thought that the bottom lip on the block was something that Remington added to the Gen 2 model. Maybe they overdid it on the lip dimensions. I can see how that would affect the cycling with a full magazine, which was the condition when the misfeeds were occurring.


Is that lip on yours? I keep trying to decide if it was really there or if I imagined it. If it IS on yours, could you please send me a photo of it?

Thanks,

HRF

No problem. I’ll upload a couple of photos this evening or early tomorrow morning.


Thank you!

HRF

Re: Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 10:56 am
by hrfunk
OK, see what you all think of this. After comparing a photo of the breech block of another R51 (sent to me by another owner), it appear the projection at the bottom of the breech face of my pistol was shortened noticeably. His is definitely longer and more pointed than mine (I know, that sounds weird, but stick with me). The malfunctions I was experiencing only happened on the first round from a full magazine when there was already a round loaded in the chamber. Upon firing, that longer projection might drag across the rim of the top round in the magazine. Under full magazine spring tension, the pressure exerted against the rim of the case as the slide/breech block was moving rearward, might have caused the front of the cartridge (i.e. the bullet) to cock slightly upward in the magazine. As the slide came forward, the breech face would strike the base of the cartridge that was now at too steep an angle to move up the feed ramp as it normally would. Instead, the bullet would move forward and jam against the top of the barrel. In some instances, the drag/snag against the cartridge rim was so strong that the entire cartridge was pulled/flipped out of the magazine. In those instances, the cartridge was either captured by the slide and wedged against the barrel, or it exited the ejection port with the spent casing. Those were exactly the malfunctions I was experiencing, that that longer projection on the breech block COULD have caused them in that manner.

(Does this all sound a little mentally ill?)

Howard

Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Fri Aug 24, 2018 7:01 pm
by 5 iron
hrfunk wrote:
5 iron wrote:
hrfunk wrote:[quote="5 iron"]That’s interesting. I thought that the bottom lip on the block was something that Remington added to the Gen 2 model. Maybe they overdid it on the lip dimensions. I can see how that would affect the cycling with a full magazine, which was the condition when the misfeeds were occurring.


Is that lip on yours? I keep trying to decide if it was really there or if I imagined it. If it IS on yours, could you please send me a photo of it?

Thanks,

HRF

No problem. I’ll upload a couple of photos this evening or early tomorrow morning.


Thank you!

HRF[/quote]

Here are a couple of photos showing the lip below the breech face. How much of it did the warranty center remove?
Image
Image

Re: Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 11:13 pm
by tdbru
Howard,
that reduction on the bottom of the hesitation lock at the breech face to fix the first round jamming issues was interesting. as i understand it, Gen1 R51s did not have the extension on the hesitation lock at the breech face.

so it appears that if one is having the issue you had, one possible remedy would be to take a fine cut file, reduce the height of that extension slightly, and then go re-try the R51. once the malfunctioning goes away, you're done. very interesting. thank you for your diligence in sorting out what had changed.

as far as the shooting a bit low, that bothered me too. i solved it, and added 3 dot self luminescent sights by installing a trijicon rear R51 replacement sight, and had Dawson Precision build for me a front sight that was 0.040" shorter. they then sent it to trijicon for the H3 self luminescent vial installation. it raised the point of impact to be more like what i was use to. a 25 yards, a 6 o'clock bullseye hold now puts rounds in the black with a SR-1 100 yard rifle target.

Re: Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Sat Aug 25, 2018 11:17 pm
by tdbru
hmmm....... i tried to upload the image of the target, but i don't think i have it figured out yet. no matter.

Re: Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 9:31 am
by hrfunk
tdbru wrote:Howard,
that reduction on the bottom of the hesitation lock at the breech face to fix the first round jamming issues was interesting. as i understand it, Gen1 R51s did not have the extension on the hesitation lock at the breech face.

so it appears that if one is having the issue you had, one possible remedy would be to take a fine cut file, reduce the height of that extension slightly, and then go re-try the R51. once the malfunctioning goes away, you're done. very interesting. thank you for your diligence in sorting out what had changed.

as far as the shooting a bit low, that bothered me too. i solved it, and added 3 dot self luminescent sights by installing a trijicon rear R51 replacement sight, and had Dawson Precision build for me a front sight that was 0.040" shorter. they then sent it to trijicon for the H3 self luminescent vial installation. it raised the point of impact to be more like what i was use to. a 25 yards, a 6 o'clock bullseye hold now puts rounds in the black with a SR-1 100 yard rifle target.


Thanks! Just FYI, I don't know if I would file the breech block myself. Without knowing the ramifications of "over-doing" it, I would rather have Remington handle that. If they mess it up, they can grab another breech block out of a bin and replace it. If I screw it up, they may well charge me for the replacement.

I may do something similar with my sights eventually. Then again, after I adjust the windage, I might just leave them be. The R51 is a close-range defensive pistol. In that role, I don't see the elevation deviation being all that critical.

Howard

HRF

Re: Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Mon Aug 27, 2018 11:54 pm
by tdbru
Howard,
well, i'm sure Remington did design it with a close range defensive scenario in mind. however, due to it's delightfully light weight, i thought i'd use it as a trail gun as well. and if small game presented itself, i didn't think it would hurt at all to bag one with it. so i wanted the POI to be at least a wee bit above the top of the front sight. and if having a rather low POI doesn't mess up a close range defensive scenario, then i suspect neither would a slightly high POI cause an issue with that scenario either. yet having the bullets hit just above the front sight would make it better as a trail gun for me. true, there are probably many lightweight handguns in 22LR that might make an even better small game getter trail gun, in terms of lower noise and lighter weight ammo, and maybe better accuracy. but, my R51 should do ok and be a bit more versatile for defense than a 22LR (not to mention i don't have to buy another handgun). and occasionally we do run into a skunk out during the daylight when woods bumming, and i do have concerns about rabies from them. they do carry that pathogen and usually one or two a summer test positive. so far, my R51 is certainly minute of skunk at 25 yards. and minute of bunny at 20 yards. not bad for a nice lightweight fixed sight 9mm. anyway, i enjoy your honesty on the reviews and the whole story.
-tdbru

Re: Here's what Remington did to fix my R51

PostPosted: Tue Aug 28, 2018 11:30 am
by hrfunk
tdbru wrote:Howard,
well, i'm sure Remington did design it with a close range defensive scenario in mind. however, due to it's delightfully light weight, i thought i'd use it as a trail gun as well. and if small game presented itself, i didn't think it would hurt at all to bag one with it. so i wanted the POI to be at least a wee bit above the top of the front sight. and if having a rather low POI doesn't mess up a close range defensive scenario, then i suspect neither would a slightly high POI cause an issue with that scenario either. yet having the bullets hit just above the front sight would make it better as a trail gun for me. true, there are probably many lightweight handguns in 22LR that might make an even better small game getter trail gun, in terms of lower noise and lighter weight ammo, and maybe better accuracy. but, my R51 should do ok and be a bit more versatile for defense than a 22LR (not to mention i don't have to buy another handgun). and occasionally we do run into a skunk out during the daylight when woods bumming, and i do have concerns about rabies from them. they do carry that pathogen and usually one or two a summer test positive. so far, my R51 is certainly minute of skunk at 25 yards. and minute of bunny at 20 yards. not bad for a nice lightweight fixed sight 9mm. anyway, i enjoy your honesty on the reviews and the whole story.
-tdbru


That makes perfect sense for use as a trail gun. As you said, in that capacity the R51 gives you a little more oomph, and it doubles as a defensive tool. I hope it continues to serve you well in both roles!

Howard