Handled a R51 yesterday at Academy Sports

[Torian]

I was so looking forward to the hype when the 1st gen R51 came out, and it failed to meet expectations for numerous reasons (lots of QA/QC failures which are well known).

Yesterday I stopped in at our local Academy Sports, and they had an R51 there on display (2nd gen). When I asked to see it, the employee was surprised, stating not a single individual had wanted to look a the weapon since it was put in the display case.

https://www.americanrifleman.org/ar...e-report-second-chance-for-the-remington-r51/

The feel and profile of the weapon was good. Appears to be a great design for 9mm single stack CCW. I even convinced them to let me dry-fire (they put snap caps) the weapon. Maybe being in uniform helped on this one as everyone said no initially.

The trigger pull wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great either. There was play in all directions. I would describe it as a sloppy Browning HP trigger pull, with slightly less resistance once you hit the back end of the pull. I really wanted to love this gun, but I'm struggling to consider even buying it at this point.

Need some convincing. Who here actually owns the new gen R51 and has some honest and helpful feedback? $399 is not a lot of money. It's less than I spent on my G43.

 

[larryh1108]

I own one and have no complaints. It functions fine. It is a sleek design. I like the weight for carry and it is a single stack which makes it another reason for good carry. Sleek/light/thin are all good reasons for comfortable carry as well as being 9mm instead of .380.

I've had no reliability issues with mine. They seemed to have fixed what was wrong. I can't speak for other owners but it performs as expected for me.

The recoil is a bit less than a similar size/weight 9mm. That's a good thing. Racking the slide is also easier for those who have issues there. Accuracy is acceptable for a SD gun as it is not a target gun. Field stripping it is a challenge because it is different than what we are used to but once you understand how to do it, it is no different than many other guns as far as degree of difficulty.

If you understand that it is what it is, a sub $400 gun made for concealed carry, then you will not be disappointed. It is a nicely made/designed gun for just that purpose. If you want a tack driver for shooting competitions then I'm sure you can find better options. Accept it for the niche it belongs in and you may be very happy with it. It is not a cutting edge pistol that will change how we perceive handguns. It is just a nice, sleek, under $400 9mm pistol of which there are dozens of options.

 

[Torian]

Great response from an actual R51 owner. Many thanks!

 

[SC Shooter]

I have an original model 51 manufactured in 1927. I was excited about the new model 51 but when as a result of it crashing and burnig, I have been reluctant to jump up and purchase one. Now that I am seeing some positive comments, I most likely will.

 

[larryh1108]

What's not to like if it's reliable?
So far mine has proven to be just fine.

 

[CNobbe]

I'm tempted to give one a try. I have a couple other inexpensive 9mms that have been perfectly reliable, I like the look and feel of the R51, so we'll see.

 

[Torian]

I did notice that the grip safety required quite a bit of pressure to release the trigger pull. I initially grabbed hold of the weapon and couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong (why it wouldn't dry fire).

 

[larryh1108]

It's not the pressure to release it, it's the position of your hand. It's a light release but you have to grip it high. A high hold and you don't notice the grip safety I suppose that if you don't use a high hold then it may not be right for you (general statement, not you specifically)..

 

[barnbwt]

The feel and profile of the weapon was good. Appears to be a great design for 9mm single stack CCW. I even convinced them to let me dry-fire (they put snap caps) the weapon. Maybe being in uniform helped on this one as everyone said no initially.

Maybe that, plus the hard time off-loading these things --you LEOs get all the perks

I did notice that the grip safety required quite a bit of pressure to release the trigger pull. I initially grabbed hold of the weapon and couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong (why it wouldn't dry fire).

Like Larry said, you really do have to snug up on the beavertail, and use your thumb-web to press on the lever as high as possible. A lot of folks initially thought the R51 layout was unsafe, since the grip safety was a 'passive' safety like the Glock's trigger, but always disengaged once drawn; having owned one, I see it as a manual control the same as any slide release or safety lever, just activated by squeezing the gun between your middle and thumb fingers. I hold the gun firmly with my thumb placed low on the grip for Safe, and move my thumb up to point forward to Fire. I think some shooters tend to secure a gun by gripping it between their fingertips and palm, and in that case, the grip safety is a bit harder to deactivate on this gun. I suspect finger/hand size may play a role as well, since the R51 has a fairly long grip shape.

FWIW, having a more secure front/back grip on the frame means the gun will not pitch & roll as much during recoil, and the edges of the slot the grip safety fits into will be less likely to abrade your hand (an issue with some people who also mentioned how stiff the safety was). The new R51's certainly seem to be doing much, much better going by the lack of negative commentary you see anymore...or perhaps it's just that they aren't selling. Little column A, little column B. I think the R51 is under tremendous pressure now that Remington has their own Glock-a-like 9mm on the market, if it doesn't sell as well or cost significantly less to make.

TCB

 

[gc70]

I have a second-generation R51 and my experience and thoughts are nearly exactly as @larryh1108 described.

The R51 has some very appealing design characteristics for concealed carry. I did not carry the R51 for quite a while, but mine has proven to be reliable and I have recently begun carrying it.

 

[PCFlorida]

I have a 2nd gen as well, and it has been flawless. Accurate, less recoil than you would expect from a pistol of its size and weight. I think I posted about it when I first got it, about 6 months ago or so. It is normally my EDC.

 

[Jim NE]

I have one. There are some negative reviews out there even on the 2nd gen R 51. Not near the problems of the original R 51 but not perfect by some people's account. I think the early 2nd gens (sold in the summer of 2016) may not be as reliable as the later ones - mine was bought new in the fall of 2016.

YES, I bought one, but haven't shot it because for me it's more of a conversation piece and an awesome and unique looking gun. BUT I have worn it in different CC applications just to try it out. Even though it's a single stack, it doesn't necessarily feel better carrying around than my Taurus PT 111 G2, which holds 12 rounds (5 more than the R 51) and has a reputation for reliability and is cheaper. (PT 111 is 1.10" wide, R 51 is 1.08" wide...not much difference.)

I think the R 51's market is supposed to be for people who have trouble racking slides or dealing with the recoil of small 9mm's. My Taurus and Ruger SR9c offer more firepower as concealable carry guns, my CZ 75's and Hi Power more ergonomics as range guns. The R 51 also has a relatively involved field strip compared to other guns. Seems there are better options.