Remington R51

Folks at the Mesquite, TX Academy say they have 131 at their distributor in Katy. Bass Pro said they've had/sold a couple in the last couple weeks. The guns are at least making their way out there, now, it seems. I'm still bemused that they only seem to have pushed out maybe a dozen pistols across the entire DFW area after a month (3 at Bass Pro, 2 at Cabela's, 0 Academy, 0 Gander Mtn, 0 small shops I've checked with)

*foil on* Academy told me a similar story about 3 weeks ago (it was "distributors probably have them, they'll be out soon") which has me wondering if the store may be holding them in expectation of a "hidden" recall wherein the guns go back from the distributor for follow-up QC rather than very publicly from owners. If I were the new Marketing VP I would probably be considering the option, since the only thing worse than delaying the rollout after fumbling it at this point, would be to continue blowing out defective merchandise at demand-elevated prices.

TCB

Wow.

You, are like, totally on a crusade.

I'll continue to disagree though, since I actually OWN one.

Phantom Captain said:

Wow.

You, are like, totally on a crusade.

I'll continue to disagree though, since I actually OWN one.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your post!

I believe you. I'm glad there are some good R51's out there.

I hope Remington (Freedom Group, Cerberus, et al) doesn't drop the ball.

barnbwt said:

Folks at the Mesquite, TX Academy say they have 131 at their distributor in Katy. Bass Pro said they've had/sold a couple in the last couple weeks. The guns are at least making their way out there, now, it seems. I'm still bemused that they only seem to have pushed out maybe a dozen pistols across the entire DFW area after a month (3 at Bass Pro, 2 at Cabela's, 0 Academy, 0 Gander Mtn, 0 small shops I've checked with)

Click to expand...

Cabelas in FW told me last week they had sold 3, each about 10 min after arrival. Other numbers are consistent with what I've been told.

My R51 has about 200 rounds through it now and "seems" to be getting more reliable. Most new guns regardless of manufacture suggest several hundred rounds to improve reliability. My slide is some better but still unable to rack the slide, as advertised by Remington, with one or two fingers.

Cool, lincen; sounds like some of the problems may be my favorite kind --the ones that fix themselves . Are the lingering problems in regards to bolt camming (at the last bit of slide travel) or disconnector/FCG related toward the rear of slide travel? Trigger improving any?

"Cabelas in FW told me last week they had sold 3, each about 10 min after arrival. Other numbers are consistent with what I've been told."
Which is weird, right? DFW is like the third largest metro area in the country, and it's like only a dozen guns or so have been moved (rapidly) in the course of the month-plus rollout. I just figured we'd get like 50-100 out here at nearly the same time (like the 131 Academy showed at their distributor)

"If it were as well built as a real PA51 or even an R1, there would be fewer complaints. Except about the necessarily higher price."
Yup. That's why I thought a 'deluxe' model would have been a great ambassador for the new brand/concept out of the gate, followed by cheaper stuff for the masses. Same way S&W did the magnums, and Dodge did the latest Challenger (SRT came first, not the 6cyl SE )

TCB

DFW is like the third largest metro area in the country, and it's like only a dozen guns or so have been moved (rapidly) in the course of the month-plus rollout. I just figured we'd get like 50-100 out here at nearly the same time (like the 131 Academy showed at their distributor)

Click to expand...

Yeah, I certainly thought we would see a lot more than we have by now.

I bought one two weeks ago at local range GS after a pistol match.
I field stripped, cleaned and oiled it. Kinda tricky field strip and re-assembly but doable.
I took it to the range the next day and fired 40- 50 rds of both range and SD loads.
1. The rear site moved and was loose in the dovetail.. You could move it 1/2" with thumb and forefinger
2. It was really stiff--everywhere. Slide, trigger and safety grip engagement
3 If ANY pressure was applied to the left on the trigger, it was really hard to pull to the break.
4. Muzzle flip was very minimal with Comp or SD ammo--better than my P239
The web of your stronghand is almost behind the way low bore axis.
The pistol is also way lighter and thinner than my Sig---nice to carry
5. At 10 yards it shot to POA with actually good groups---when the rear site hadn't moved. Both front and rear sights are in dovetails. The sights were actually pretty good 3-doty--white. It points well.
The locking block action worked as advertised. LIKE.
6. Both stainless Mags fed fine
I had planned to shoot more, but my strong hand was aching from trying to keep the safety engaged while pulling the extremely rough trigger. The web of my hand took a beating from the tight grip needed to keep the safety disengaged while pulling the trigger.

I contacted Remington on their site two days after I bought it. The pistol isn't even listed in the menu to select problems or "other" with that pistol on the warranty site. No spare mags are available for the pistol yet. When asked, they said sometime later this year. No parts are listed as available.

I emailed directly to customer service and told of the the loose sight and trigger issue. They gave me a number and said they would be in touch. Three days later I emailed again using the contact number and said I hadn't heard from them. They responded a day later, and asked for all the data: ser #, date & place purchased etc etc. Then said they would be in touch soon.
A couple of days later, they emailed another contact number and said they would send a mailing label --soon-- to send in the pistol-. Several days passed and nothing

I emailed again a couple of days ago and no response yet, but it was the start of the weekend.

Not happy at all. Worse, I think this could be a very good pistol for CC if some grunt work smoothing and fitting were done. They haven't provided any encouragement that it will be done.

One of the youtube guys reviewing this gun showed some fairly disconcerting wear on the aluminum frame from the steel parts it contacts. I'm thinking Remington should have had steel inserts in the aluminum frame to contact the steel parts of the slide. I wonder if that will be a potential issue with these guns down the road?

At this point, it looks like I'll be keeping my Shield for CC.

One of the youtube guys reviewing this gun showed some fairly disconcerting wear on the aluminum frame from the steel parts it contacts.

Click to expand...

I could not find this.

Do you have a link?

JB

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4M_TUodIUc&list=UUcIx5HR1g6NpyqV3xJvbk6g

Around the 10 minute mark.

Orion8472 said:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4M_TUodIUc&list=UUcIx5HR1g6NpyqV3xJvbk6g

Around the 10 minute mark.

Click to expand...

I would find his comments a lot more credible if he didn't have a Glock bench mat as a background. It kind of compromises any claims of objectivity.

That said, and his conclusions aside, the possible problems of wear on the aluminum frame from the steel slide have been and are one of my concerns.

Having spend over 20 years working with software companies who, for marketing purposes, released software before it was ready, I'm familiar with customers being used as involuntary beta testers. That looks a lot like what is happening with the R51.

Thanks guys!

JB

I watched the video and to me it looked as if poor machining of the slide is to blame.

JB

I'm sorry, but to blame for what exactly? The milling marks he was complaining about in the barrel channel may be ugly, but I"m not sure what problem they would cause.

The milling marks on the breech block is another matter.

For the excessive wear and gouging on the rear rails.

JB

Those places on the frame are where I was saying they should have inserted steel. It would have been much better than just being a part of the aluminum.

I've run a lot of rounds through aluminum frame SIGs with no signs of anything like what was shown in the video. I think it's just sloppiness on Remingtons part.

JB

Well, I'll let you know. I just picked one up a couple hours ago at Academy.

Man this new Remington handgun seems like it's a hot mess!

I hope the company can sort all this stuff out, I WAS excited about the pistol but not so much now!

I won't be buying one... at least anytime soon.

Mine has similar wear in the anodizing on the rear part of the frame. It's just caused by the breech block dragging over the surface after it is pulled over the shoulder. There is no "gouging" on mine. I'll try to take some pictures later this evening.

First impressions:

Feels really good in the hand and points naturally. With grip panels with a little palm swell, it would fit my hand as well if not better than my BHP and for me, that is saying a lot.

Sights are tight. At least, they do not move under finger pressure. Very visible and easy to pick up.

Slide is tight and a bit rough. Yes, it is hard to rack. Is a lot easier if the grip safety is fully depressed and even easier if the trigger is held back while racking. Then release the trigger so it will reset. Slde doesn't hang or remain open or even seem to want to. Return to battery is strong. After stripping, cleaning and regreasing, including the rails which did not appear to be greased, slide is smoother.

Trigger has some side to side play but it doesn't seem to have any detrimental effect. Pull is crisp with about 1/8" take up and a clean break around 5-5.5#

Grip safey is not stiff. Disengages with noticable pressure. There is an audible click but it is not loud. It offers enough resistance to prevent inadvertent depression but not enough to interfere with functioning. Anyone using a grip with push-pull tension should have no problem with the safety. Using a thumbs forward grip with side to side tension may result in erratic depression of the grip safety. It may take concious effort to remember to depress it.

The overall feel is a bit rough, but is about what I would expect from newly machined parts with a matte finish on the bearing surfaces. Should smooth out with use.

Field Strip

No issues field stripping. Woked just like the videos and the manual, once I got the hang of holding the slide in the right position with the take down notch aligned properly.

A Look inside.

The breech block does not have any rough spots on any bearing surface. In fact, the camming surfaces appear to have been polished.

The gouges in the frame reported by Tactical Existance on YouTube are not present but I haven't been to the range yet. The gouge points are the surfaces that cam the breechblock. The finish is worn off at these points from hand cycling the action, but there does not appear to be any deformation of the metal.

There are no machined groves in the barrel area of the slide as in the TE video. Barrel and chamber look smooth and free of burrs and machine marks.

Range tomorrow or Thursday. I'll get some pics up as soon as I can find my camera.

500+ and this is what mine looks like. No metal damage just wear to the micron thin anodizing Remington used. Hasn't changed much since the first 100 or so rounds.

Well, I picked up one today at Academy and I will say that I pretty much agree with
JRH6856's post #347 above except I have not yet taken mine apart yet.
I was able to examine mine at the store so I assured myself the rear side wasn't going to slide out and it's in tight, so that much I know. The slide racks OK and I don't really notice much difference holding the safety down or not.
I also like the size & feel of the grip. It reminds me a lot of my Walther PP in .32 except it's bigger and of course there's that safety on the rear. That is a bit .... "chunky" and pressing it makes a distinctive clicking sound if done while one is not holding it.
The sights are fine...I rather do like the rear sight which ought to make it draw well.
The gun is real nice, all around.
BUT the real proof as they say, is "in the pudding." Does it shoot OK? Can I hit the inside of a barn with it? Will it spontaneously go nuclear like that Glock animation?
How reliable is it? As others have said that's the test for a gun which may be a CCW piece.
Hopefully in the next few days I will get to the range and will find the answers to these questions.

Undue Wear on Frame From Steel Slide ?

I'm curious to see what the consensus is re: wear on the aluminum frame, where it meets the steel slide.

If that is a problem, perhaps steel, titanium, or other metal contact points could be adhered to the frame. Hard metal moving against soft metal could prove to be a problem that is solvable.

I like the idea of keeping the frame aluminum, holding the cost and weight down.