Has anybody else noticed the little green piece of polymer under the back of the extractor on
the breech block of their R51? I was cleaning my R51 and noticed it because it was oozing
out a little. I cannot believe it. I have never seen or owned a firearm that used rubber as a
spring.
I wonder what Hoppe's #9 or Hornaday one shot will do to that little piece of rubber?
I have sent an email to Remington to see what they have to say, if anything.
It is disappointing to finally get all the kinks and hiccups out of a new firearm and
realize that very soon, I will have to send it off to replace a piece of rubber.
Blackie in Texas

I have noticed it, but I didn't notice it oozing out. I'll check it more closely when I clean it next. Thanks for the heads up!

Yup. I noticed it first time I took it apart. Don't know if solvents, etc. will have an effect on it. It's kind of like it's more of a shim than a spring because it pushes against the extractor and keeps it down pretty well. Seems like they use plastics in a lot of places these days I never thought they would.

I would imagine "rubber" and even some plastics would start to degrade when hit with some of todays copper solvents and cleaners...

I always remove the Pachmayr grips on my guns when cleaning it with solvents...just for that reason.

SHOOTER13 wrote:I would imagine "rubber" and even some plastics would start to degrade when hit with some of todays copper solvents and cleaners...

I always remove the Pachmayr grips on my guns when cleaning it with solvents...just for that reason.

Hey, SHOOTER,
Thanks for the heads up on the grip removal. Never thought about that.
I will start removing the grip on my Governor when I clean it.
Blackie

Not a problem Blackie...

SHOOTER13 wrote:Not a problem Blackie...

FYI all,
Still waiting for a response on query to Remington about the "rubber" extractor spring.
Blackie

1911 SHOOTER wrote: I was cleaning my R51 and noticed it because it was oozing
out a little. I cannot believe it. I have never seen or owned a firearm that used rubber as a
spring.

What solvents and oils have you used on it? I would expect they used a fairly resistant elastomer type on this, and would be able to predict the likely chemical environment to avoid susceptibility to common solvents.

Never know though, import Kalashnikovs had know paint issues...

if Remington picked the elastomer correctly, it will work very well. springs, as you know, take a set. they can rust. they can break. as long as the elastomer doesn't degrade, which, if they picked a correct one, it should outlast the rest of the pistol, i would think. i thought it was innovative myself. do not confuse "oozing" with preload compression. this is the extractor "spring" and is under compression. and to be expected as you compress this the sidewalls will distend outward. that's how it works. i am sure Remington is not so naive to not pick an elastomer that wouldn't be resistant to all the commonly used solvents and oils in the gun industry. i am not going to worry about it at all.

it's sort of like the plastic trigger. if chosen correctly it will last very well, contributes to the light weight, meets all structural requirements. not sure why the complaint on the trigger being plastic when GLOCK, S&W M&P, etc. frames are almost entirely plastic. anodized aluminum would be heavier. Steel, heavier yet. one of the attractive things about the R51 is it's modest weight.

as an aside, the more i shoot this the smoother and lighter the trigger pull becomes. still a bunch of overtravel, but i don't think there's any easy fix to that.

i have a heavy full size 9mm platform. it shoots great for a duty size firearm. if i go to one of those shoot a lot matches, it goes with. if i just head to the range to plink, it's the R51 that goes with. no, it's not quite as accurate as my full size 9. but i can keep 13/15 in the black at 25 yards with an SR-1 target. it's not bad. i am delighted by the modest weight and portability. i am impressed with the lack of recoil and muzzle flip, though the 9mm ctg isn't a big kicker anyway. just plain fun to plink with.

only downside is finding all those empties. i can never seem to find them all.

and as you can surmise, i reload for it, and my R51 has digested all my reloads without hiccup.

its a cool unique design, this R51.

-tdbru

I’ve got well over 1,000 rounds through mine and haven’t had any issues with the extractor. I’m sure it has a finite service life like any moving part but so far so good.