Saw one of those rare and shy R51's in the wild.

So I had to capture it.

I had an email in with one of my LGS's asking about availability. The sent me an alert today and, because I was already off work for a Dr. appointment, I hightailed it over and pkunkrd my money down.

I'm now the proud owner. The serial number is oddly quite long and engraved quite small on the frame.

I bought at Olde English Outfitters in Tipp City, Ohio.

$399 + tax.

Pics later.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk (mobile)

Here's a quick cell phone pic of it beside my Taurus 738.



Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Looking forward to pics. As well as your impressions of the pistol.

Notice the QR code engraved on the frame?

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

iklawson, can you tell us how many they have made from your serial number. I don't want the serial number, just how many digits & the first one or two numbers. The only number I have seen so far is around 753R51.

I don't recall the exact SN at the moment but my recollection is that it was comically large. There may be a way to tell the exact production number but I wouldn't be able to figure it out.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Generally on most guns the serial number is pretty much the number of guns of that type they have made. Walther has been that way. I hope your number was VERY large as that means they have made a bunch. I guess they will all have the R51 at the end of the number.

Thank goodness you found that gun, you have put new life into this forum. maybe it will take off now, it sure did need it.

gene51 wrote:Generally on most guns the serial number is pretty much the number of guns of that type they have made. Walther has been that way. I hope your number was VERY large as that means they have made a bunch. I guess they will all have the R51 at the end of the number.

It's a 10 digit number, beginning with 000 and ending with R51. Assuming that what falls between is a serial counter, my particular example is just over the first 1,100.

Thank goodness you found that gun, you have put new life into this forum. maybe it will take off now, it sure did need it.

Perhaps.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

OK, finally got a chance to do my initial "just brought baby home" break down and cleaning. It came apart pretty easy but it's definitely different from most of what I'm used to. The disassemble reminds me of the Astra 400, the way you have to manipulate the barrel with the slide back. There's a small learning curve to taking it down but after a few times through, it's not too horrible. Same with reassembly. It's just a wee bit different from the usual. I found that I was far too worried about getting the Slide Stop back in the right position to engage the spring. I took it out two or three times because I thought that it wasn't right. But it was right. There's a small step that catches the spring, not the whole end. The hardest part, really is keeping the slide pulled back and that really wasn't too bad once I figured out where to stick my fingers into the ejection port to hold it just right.

Of course it was covered internally with that anti-rust jelly that Remington shipped in it. Ed's Red dissolved it and it washed away.

Lubed with Ed's Red on most places and a tad of RIG on the rails and the hammer face and the hammer interface on the Breech Block and back together.

One thing in particular stands out that makes me extra glad I took it all the way down to clean first instead of just dabbing some lube here and there and shooting it. At the very rear of the unusual Pederson Breech Block was a bur. Actually, more than a bur, it was a 3-4 mm long sliver still hanging on to the rear. I assume that it was from the machining process. It popped off easily and I didn't feel any leftover bur but it's probably there anyway; just not in any place to catch. I can only imagine what would have happened if that sliver had broken off during operation and made its way into, well, anything. Malfunction for sure.

Once lubed, it smoothed right out and cycles snap caps just fine. The trigger is surprisingly nice for what it's supposed to be. Better than the Kel Tec PF9, which isn't too bad over all, really.

Speaking of the PF9, the barrel on the R51 is only 3/10" longer than that of the PF9, yet the over all length is of the R51 is a full 3/4" longer than the PF9. The reason for this is because the Pederson Breach Block requires a bit more internal space than the built in firing pin in the PF9 slide.

Can't wait to see how it shoots. It feels really comfortable in the hand.

Peace favor you sword,
Kirk

Thanks for the info. Very excited to get mine. Please let us know how she does if you get some range time!

iklawson, That was a great post. I learned a lot from what you said. Right now you are the hero of all R51 threads. Thanks.

R1V3R5 wrote:Thanks for the info. Very excited to get mine. Please let us know how she does if you get some range time!

I'm so busy that sometimes I barely know if I'm coming or going. Hopefully some time this coming week I'll get to the range.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

So I carried it around in a Tuckable IWB for about 18 hour total Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I didn't have a perfect fit holster, but my PF9 holster was pretty close. Turns out it's just a little bit loose, but when I cinched the belt in, it held the gun nice and close.

It carried very well. Nice and comfortable. I believe that a better holster, made for it specifically, would have been even more comfortable. After I'd carried it for a few days, as a backup (because I still haven't gotten to the range yet, so I can't trust it yet), I swapped the PF9 back. Truthfully, I really could tell a difference. The PF9 does feel just a tad lighter on my belt and I could feel the difference in barrel lengths on my hip. However, again, I believe this was partially due to the fact that I was not carrying it in a holster made for it. But, on the other hand, the PF9 really is a little bit lighter and 3/4" shorter. I also don't think I would have noticed the difference if I hadn't been looking for it. While I really could tell the difference, it was quite minimal.

The R51 definitely passes the CC Comfort and Concealability test.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

lklawson, thank you very much for posting all this very useful in hand information! I'm very much looking forward to my LGS giving me the call, hopefully this week as I already have a range day plannned Sat!

Also welcome to the forum!

Picked up mine Saturday. Finally got to shoot it today. SN5139. Put four mags of Georgia Arms 115gr tmj thru it flawlessly. Was not too impressed with side play in trigger which causes finish to be worn off trigger. Functions fine though, all other fit and finish is awesome. All who have held it like it. Did first two mags from 25', first centered on about 3.5 radius. Second probably 2,5. Moved to 15' , third mag did a c shaped pattern about 3" from one end to other, shot fourth rapid fire with about a 1.5" radius. Going to like it! Own a lot of Bersas, the size of this pistol is almost the same as my B Thunder 380's. Felt recoil and muzzle were extremely minimal for small 9mm. I think they have a winner! Oh yes, $375 out the door at local boy shop. Bob

iklawson I know you are also a member of the Kel-Tec forum and you have already mentioned the comparison with the PF-9. I was preparing to "upsize" my P32 and P3AT with a PF9. I was looking for a hard chrome model and was almost ready to buy until I saw the press release about the R51. I am now on hold with the PF9 until more information is known about the R51. I am most interested in your thoughts concerning these two single stack 9mm's. After some range time with the R51, please post your personal thoughts about the two pistols and how they compare to one another. Looking forward to hearing back from you.

amos moses wrote:iklawson I know you are also a member of the Kel-Tec forum and you have already mentioned the comparison with the PF-9. I was preparing to "upsize" my P32 and P3AT with a PF9. I was looking for a hard chrome model and was almost ready to buy until I saw the press release about the R51. I am now on hold with the PF9 until more information is known about the R51. I am most interested in your thoughts concerning these two single stack 9mm's. After some range time with the R51, please post your personal thoughts about the two pistols and how they compare to one another. Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Well, like I wrote above, the PF9 has less length and less height. The width is pretty close, however. There are some times when I can pocket carry my PF9, though it's pretty unusual and, honestly, I don't do it. So the PF9 is "smaller" than the R51. But it's not enough smaller, in my opinion, for size to be the only factor. I can tell you already that the R51 has a better trigger and slightly better sights. How it shoots, in comparison, will be a big deal when they're this close to each other in size. Of course, the PF9 has a lower price point and will typically run around $75 less at a guestimate.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Since I already own a P32 and P3AT, I will not be buying a 9mm for pocket carry. That's what the .32 and .380 ACP are for. If I pocket carry a 9mm, it will probably only be in the cargo pocket of my shorts in the summer. I am looking more for something to carry IWB. I particularly want to know the difference in recoil between these two pistols. With the PF9 being slightly "snappy" for some people, will the R51 be significantly better in this regard. After you have shot the Remington, give us some feedback on the difference between the felt recoil of the two.

Well, I'm off to the range...

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

OK. I took it out to the range today.

I have to say it equals the most mild recoiling 9mm I've ever shot. I compared it to both my Kel Tec PF9 and my Hi Point C9. The PF9 is my most "snappy" recoiling 9mm and my C9 is my most softly recoiling 9mm. The felt recoil on the R51 was similar to that of the C9. It's just a very mild recoiling gun, even with the comparatively narrow grip.

Even when I shot a few mags of Hornady Critical Duty 135gr. 9mm +P, I couldn't feel any real difference than when shooting standard Federal FMJ.

It points naturally and is more accurate than I am, though I tended to shoot just a little low with it. The sights are nice. The front sight seems huge in comparison with the others.

However, after about 8 or 10 mags through it, it started dropping the mag during recoil. It wouldn't drop free but would slip out about 1/16" of an inch. It did this reliably through about three mags before I got tired of thinking, "I'm just getting to practice my tap-rack-bang drills" and gave up on it.

There's something wrong. Something might have come loose but I won't know until I get it torn open to see if anything jumps out at me (literally or figuratively).

I'm really disappointed. If not for the mag drop, this thing would definitely be in my immediate carry rotation.

No, I didn't save any targets.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Thanks for the info. Great to hear about the low recoil! Sorry about the mag release issue though. Hopefully it's a simple fix.

Hopefully I'll know more when I clean it (after I put my kids to bed).

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

Something has definitely gone wrong. I can replicate the problem using snap caps and manually cycling the slide. This way, I can be certain than I'm not accidentally hitting the mag release button.

Might need a trip home to see mom.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk

If you load mags like most of us do with brand b or c stop and be sure you have the mag locked in, then see if racking in rounds back a mag out. I had that happen twice right off the bat with my wifes R51 slapping in amag like it was my kahr. and as my CC pistols have the mags as the lowest point on the frame and easy to besure you get it well set and locked in . The R51 fits very flush and needs a little more attention payed to seating them . Note there is a false feeling of the mag locking in if pushed in easy and with slide back it can or will allow a round to be stripped and chambered before backing out. But its not locked in, still a good 1/8th inch short of where it should be.

I am thinking many newer shooters to p[istol will be better off if they add some stick on 1911 rubber bumps to them to aid mag seating. OR just slow down and pay more attention to how close to topped out it is before locking tightly in place. If you make a thumb push died center of the mag you probably get a solid lock in right and note that the mag "clicks " in about 1/16 above the bottom of the frame and then settles back to a flush fit do to spring pressure?

Or push the mag in to a lock position pushing on the front edge of the mag but a simple push falt along the bottom may not get the job done well enough every time .

But using the ole palm push alone may not get the mag pushed beyond the lower point of the frame to lock it in place.

With 46 years of shooting handguns If there a way for me to do something wrong with a new to me pistol I have done it and found most all of MY flaws not the firearms.

hand a dan wesson revolver to a seasoned s&w revolver shooter and watch them try to open the cylinder on a DW.

hardluk1 wrote:If you load mags like most of us do with brand b or c stop and be sure you have the mag locked in, then see if racking in rounds back a mag out. I had that happen twice right off the bat with my wifes R51 slapping in amag like it was my kahr. and as my CC pistols have the mags as the lowest point on the frame and easy to besure you get it well set and locked in . The R51 fits very flush and needs a little more attention payed to seating them . Note there is a false feeling of the mag locking in if pushed in easy and with slide back it can or will allow a round to be stripped and chambered before backing out. But its not locked in, still a good 1/8th inch short of where it should be.

I am thinking many newer shooters to p[istol will be better off if they add some stick on 1911 rubber bumps to them to aid mag seating. OR just slow down and pay more attention to how close to topped out it is before locking tightly in place. If you make a thumb push died center of the mag you probably get a solid lock in right and note that the mag "clicks " in about 1/16 above the bottom of the frame and then settles back to a flush fit do to spring pressure?

Or push the mag in to a lock position pushing on the front edge of the mag but a simple push falt along the bottom may not get the job done well enough every time .

I am absolutely 100% sure this is not the problem. First off, I successfully seated the mags 8 or 10 times first. Second off, when it started malfunctioning, I reseated the mags (with each and every shot) complete with "push in the center of the base plate and be sure you hear the click." Third, I was able replicate the problem at home with snap-caps. Load 'em in, seat the mag, jack the slide and watch it spit the mag.

100% there is a problem.

But the thing shoots nice. I'm sure Rem. will fix the problem for me and when they do it'll be a good carry option.

Peace favor your sword,
Kirk