Remington M51 parts source sought

[GonzoGeezer]

Hello All,

I just acquired a very nice looking Remington Model 51 in .32 ACP at a great price. Part of the reason was that a piece is missing. Remington calls it the 'action spring bushing'. It apparently helps retain and cover the base of the recoil spring. This photo shows it missing.

I'm thinking it serves more than a cosmetic function so I want to find one. I've tried all the usual suspects: First, Poppert, Numrich, Sarco. No bushings to be found.

If anyone here has a suggestion for a source I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks for reading.

 

[BBBBill]

Parts occasionally come up on GunBroker and Ebay. That part is not currently listed, but if you save the search below and check it regularly you might get lucky.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Pistol-Parts/BI.aspx?Keywords=remington+51

 

[GonzoGeezer]

Thanks, Bill. I have saved searches on both sites. I hope one turns up soon, this 51 shouldn't be a safe queen, it should be out on the range, but I'm worried about shooting it without the bushing.

 

[boom boom]

If they don't have it, then you might try Jack First http://www.jackfirstgun.com/--you will have to call to see if they have it.

 

[MilsurpShooter]

did some google sleuthing and found this place:
http://www.poppertsgunparts.com/cgi...MINGTON+MODEL+51&pagenum=1&cgifunction=Search

Can't say I've ordered from them but might not hurt to give'em a call? $10 minimum order and a minimum shipping of $4.75 so might want to see if they have any other parts or backup parts to add on if you do order from them though.

 

[rcmodel]

It doesn't look like much more then a steel sleeve.

It would be super simple for anyone with a lathe to make one if it comes down to that.

It would help to have the actual measurements of one.

But it wouldn't be impossible to make one without them.

rc

 

[GonzoGeezer]

A guy on gunboards gave me overall dimensions, 5/8 x 5/8. But inside is a ridge that I think is important.

 

[rcmodel]

Well, 5/8's" x 5/8's" isn't exactly what I had in mind.

I envision it being a hollow cup that fits around the barrel and captures the recoil spring against a 'lip' on the inside at the back end???

It would be great if you could get someone that has one to accurately measure it in 1/1,000".

Both O.D, and I.D, and thickness of the lip.

rc

 

[Jim K]

OK, here are the dimensions: They are approximate since the original parts are not that precise.

Note that this is for a .380 pistol, barrel diameter .470.

Length: .592"
OD: .618"
ID at front: .580"
ID of internal flange: .480
From front of bushing to front of flange: .403"
The front of the flange is a right angle to support the spring.
The rear of the flange is radiused to match the barrel to which it fits.

The purpose of that bushing is not cosmetic. It supports the spring and prevents the spring from digging into the barrel or expanding and jamming the slide.. I recommend not firing the gun without it.

BTW, every time I take one of those guns apart, I cuss John Pedersen, loud and long. That is probably one of the most fiendish takedown methods of any pistol that made it past the drawing board.* Pedersen's problem was to somehow get around John Browning's patents; he achieved his goal, but at a cost for the customer. (Make no mistake; no matter what benefits are claimed for that delayed blowback action, its real purpose was to evade the Browning patent for a breechblock made as part of the slide.)

*OK, the Campo-Giro is worse, but they are not very common.

Jim

 

[GonzoGeezer]

I own two Astras, a 300 and a 600/43, and I agree both are painful to disassemble. Thankfully, the Count, or his successor, designed the field strip system to bypass the need to remove the barrel bushing too often.

I am very appreciative of all the time and effort put into discussing this bushing. I'm certain it will prove useful in the future. For my part, I returned the pistol to the seller. An eBay seller I contacted has a bushing available for sale; I passed his contact information onto the seller for future action.

What pushed me over the edge to return the gun was my discovery of additional parts requirements just from an external evaluation, so I decided it was best to cut my losses. I remain on the lookout for a model 51 in 32 ACP; I hope someday I'll find another one requiring less work to make it serviceable. Thank you again for everyone's input, it's been very informative.

 

[Jim K]

The Astras are much simplified and quite easy to field strip. The Campo-Giro is another animal. Field stripping is hard, and detailed disassembly and reassembly is a nightmare.

Jim