BSA1
member
The magazine is the most important part of a semi-automatic...
and they still didn't get it right.
and they still didn't get it right.
Remington R51 in American Rifleman
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John Joseph
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I wouldn't buy an improved reissue Edsel either.
It's a shame because the original model was pretty slick.
Coal Dragger
member
My father bought one of these after Remington fixed the reliability issues. He put approximately 800 rounds through it, with one malfunction that was ammo related (misshapen round). After all that he determined that he doesn't like it.
I put a few magazines through it out of curiosity when he and my mom last visited. I despise that pistol. The trigger has no discernible reset for starters, and more annoyingly the grip frame chews up the top of my hand at the web of the thumb and index finger. It's as if the clowns at Remington had never seriously shot a pistol. If you want to take a high grip on the pistol the frame punishes you for it due to the poorly contoured "beaver tail" which is not really the correct term. If the pistol had a proper beaver tail it would at least be comfortable to shoot.
I put a few magazines through it out of curiosity when he and my mom last visited. I despise that pistol. The trigger has no discernible reset for starters, and more annoyingly the grip frame chews up the top of my hand at the web of the thumb and index finger. It's as if the clowns at Remington had never seriously shot a pistol. If you want to take a high grip on the pistol the frame punishes you for it due to the poorly contoured "beaver tail" which is not really the correct term. If the pistol had a proper beaver tail it would at least be comfortable to shoot.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
I would think it must.
Every time an engineer comes running to the bean counters with a nifty new pistol concept ( or reboot of an old one), they will shake their heads and remember the R51 debacle, saying "Can't we just do another Glock knockoff?"
Which REALLY sucks, because I would actually take a chance on an R53 .45, perfect or not, just on cool factor.
Would also plunk down real money on a new Savage M1911! Please please, Savage!
wally
Member
I think that this American Rifleman review really put their credibility on the line. The originals were all "great" in the magazine articles until production guns hit the mass market
I hope the new production guns are reliable, its an "different" design and probably won't suit a lot of folks, but if it is a reliable pistol I'd probably end up with one just because it is a fundamentally different design from the bulk of what is currently out there. The first version sure made me glad I waited!
I hope the new production guns are reliable, its an "different" design and probably won't suit a lot of folks, but if it is a reliable pistol I'd probably end up with one just because it is a fundamentally different design from the bulk of what is currently out there. The first version sure made me glad I waited!
I'm a fan of slim 9mm pistols and may consider the Remington in the future. Its shaky start doesn't inspire confidence, however. As far as the Perderson action, I don't see much advantage over a tilting barrel except a bit of savings from mounting the recoil spring around the barrel. (I once owned a CZ52 with a similar spring and it was a neat pistol. Again, though, it was more complicated that a Browning/Colt lock.) I also wonder about a single action semi without a manual safety. Maybe I could get used to that, or maybe not. Thinking about it gives me the willies.
1SOW
Member
I bought one of the first ones made. The good the bad and the very ugly.:
I took mine to the range with both light and heavy S.D. reloads with several different 124/125 gr RN and JHPs.
The Good: The pistol pointed perfectly and felt great in my smallish hands. The sights were good enough for shots to25 yards. The felt recoil and muzzle flip with SD loads using Speer G.D. bullets and others was amazingly light. As advertised the recoil was close to straight back. It was accurate with targets at 5,10 and one at 25 yards. The stainless mags dropped and inserted fast. All fed smoothly. The R51 was very comfortable in a cheap holster I had on hand.
The Bad: My trigger finger was in pain after 20 rds. The slightest trigger pressure to the left (weak hand side) caused a huge pull weight increase. I started missing 10 and even 7 yard shots and found the rear sight would slide to the right with just a little push of a finger.
The UGLY: I managed to get about 40 rds downrange when my trigger finger gave up. I checked the pistol closer and found the rear dovetail was "curved" across the top of the slide instead of straight. The cheapy trigger was loose left to right and when left it rubbed and binded.
I contacted "Remington", who really wasn't the owning company; and they said send it back and they would repair or replace it within 4-6 weeks. Okay, I sent it back. I never heard from them again. I repeatedly called/emailed , but the reply was we don't know what "they" are going to do. I went through this for "1 YEAR". After the year, they offered to send a free 45 cal or my original cost money back. If I had wanted a 45, I would bought a 45; so I asked for a refund. About a month(?) later the refund arrived.
To this day, I LIKED everything about this pistol except the horrible machine work and lack of ANY quality control. It had exceptionally good ergonomics. I wish they hadn't screwed it up. I won't trust the new-Remington firearm or Remington's service again.
P.S. I still have the two mags they didn't want back. They worked fine.
I took mine to the range with both light and heavy S.D. reloads with several different 124/125 gr RN and JHPs.
The Good: The pistol pointed perfectly and felt great in my smallish hands. The sights were good enough for shots to25 yards. The felt recoil and muzzle flip with SD loads using Speer G.D. bullets and others was amazingly light. As advertised the recoil was close to straight back. It was accurate with targets at 5,10 and one at 25 yards. The stainless mags dropped and inserted fast. All fed smoothly. The R51 was very comfortable in a cheap holster I had on hand.
The Bad: My trigger finger was in pain after 20 rds. The slightest trigger pressure to the left (weak hand side) caused a huge pull weight increase. I started missing 10 and even 7 yard shots and found the rear sight would slide to the right with just a little push of a finger.
The UGLY: I managed to get about 40 rds downrange when my trigger finger gave up. I checked the pistol closer and found the rear dovetail was "curved" across the top of the slide instead of straight. The cheapy trigger was loose left to right and when left it rubbed and binded.
I contacted "Remington", who really wasn't the owning company; and they said send it back and they would repair or replace it within 4-6 weeks. Okay, I sent it back. I never heard from them again. I repeatedly called/emailed , but the reply was we don't know what "they" are going to do. I went through this for "1 YEAR". After the year, they offered to send a free 45 cal or my original cost money back. If I had wanted a 45, I would bought a 45; so I asked for a refund. About a month(?) later the refund arrived.
To this day, I LIKED everything about this pistol except the horrible machine work and lack of ANY quality control. It had exceptionally good ergonomics. I wish they hadn't screwed it up. I won't trust the new-Remington firearm or Remington's service again.
P.S. I still have the two mags they didn't want back. They worked fine.
1SOW
Member
Oh, I forgot that the grip safety had to be squeezed extremly hard to disengage the safety. THIS while trying to make a steady smooth trigger pull with a sometimes binding trigger.
NIGHTLORD40K
Member
Ya, I think the lack of candid, timely information on Remington's part was just as damning as the actual product problems. Your experience was typical of their customer service with this gun, as if Freedom Group told Remington to " shut up and lawyer up."
Of course, with the giant Walker trigger class action suit looming, I think I know why they were extra cagey.
SwampWolf
Member
The aforementioned American Rifleman article explains your question(s) pretty well.
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