The New Remington R51

[Billy Shears]

Another nice thing about the R/51/Model 51 grip safety is that the pivot point is at the bottom, so that a high grip (which is desirable to reduce muzzle flip), can't become a source of shooter-induced malfunctions as it can on 1911-style grips safeties which pivot at the top. On those, gripping the gun as high as possible means gripping it closer to the pivot point where you can't engage it as positively. The "speed bump" on most modern 1911 beavertail grip safeties was invented to solve that problem, but it's a problem which can't arise on the Remington's grip safety.

 

[gc70]

That link goes to the Remington Catalog specs. HERE is a good link to the FireamBlog

Thanks; I must have flubbed the copy key on that link.

 

[SwampWolf]

I'm pretty sure if Buick brought back the Master Six next year, it wouldn't look like it did in 1927

If it didn't look like the 1927 Master Six, it wouldn't be a 1927 Master Six; it'd be something else, for better or worse, just as is in the case of the new Remington "Model 51".

 

[Mitlov]

If it didn't look like the 1927 Master Six, it wouldn't be a 1927 Master Six; it'd be something else, for better or worse, just as is in the case of the new Remington "Model 51".

It wouldn't be a 1927 Master Six, but it could still be a Master Six. A 2015 Ford Mustang isn't a 1964 Ford Mustang, but it's still a Ford Mustang. A gen-3 Glock 19 and a Gen-4 Glock 19 aren't identical, but they're both Glocks, right?

Since Remington is selling this with a similar-but-not-identical name (R51 instead of Model 51), and not stating it's following a particular model year design, I think it's more comparable to the Ford Mustang example or the Glock 19 example than the 1927 Master Six example.

 

[JRH6856]

If it didn't look like the 1927 Master Six, it wouldn't be a 1927 Master Six; it'd be something else, for better or worse, just as is in the case of the new Remington "Model 51".

There is no "new Remington 'Model 51'". The new Remington is a Model R51.

 

[chris in va]

I don't suppose someone could overlay the R51 compared to a CZ P01 and Kahr K9? I have both. The K9 is my more 'covert' carry pistol but I can't shoot lead through it.

 

[Billy Shears]

For what it's worth, here's one of the first shooting reviews:

http://www.downrange.tv/blog/remingtons-r51-9mm-pistol/27518/

 

[barnbwt]

Remember how I said earlier "if Remington uses that stupid 'Express' finish from their shotguns on the new flagship pistol it would be very unwise?"

Sure enough;

Hop over to Gunblast; the super hi-res images even capture the finish already peeling from the corners of the gun:banghead:. Probably already impregnated with a protective rust-like coating, too. I don't get it; even painting over the machine/tumble marks with Duracoat is a superior finish, so why not do that? Or cheap chrome plating? Or anything else, for that matter? To go to all the trouble of designing and programming those graceful curves into CAD and CNC, then coarse-blasting the thing and spraying --I don't know, frying-pan Teflon?-- all over it to form the single worst finish for a sweat-soaked carry gun imaginable.

I'm not ready to write off Big Green, or any company (I still think Caracal is a good pistol company), but it is obvious they have no idea what their customers' expectations are. Remington should have done the first few waves of guns as primarly 600$ "deluxe" models* with polished slides (like the publicity photos, sheesh ) and attractive grips, since that's what people will be paying over msrp early on anyway, and those guns would have been good ambassadors for an untested product from a company that is disgraced in the eyes of many. Oh well, at least Pedersen's patents have long expired, and Remington has shown that there is interest in the design, so perhaps a company with a clue about marketing (Taurus) will cash in on the concept if Remington refuses to**.

Putting that bit of disappointment aside (for now);
A Mr. Adam Walker is apparently the man behind this new offering. We should probably keep an eye on him; unless the gun literally bursts into flame and maims thousands, he should be a rock star in the industry for a while. Especially since he is a younger guy (kinda cool to know that gohmers aren't running everything even at a company as staid as Remington)

Another SHOT review (apparently the safety clicks when released)
http://www.hausofguns.com/2014/01/17/remington-r51-9mm-shot-show-2014/

TCB

*Warhawk Edition

**Like, why isn't this gun being forced into Hollywood as we speak? The suppressed version looks as iconic as anything Bond ever held.

 

[gym]

It seems like just one more gun for the under 8 round mag limit states. Otherwise why not make it a 10 rounder. Every large company wants to have at least 1 pistol in the game, for the states that require 8 rounds or less.

 

[JRH6856]

*Warhawk Edition

Now that is ugly.

 

[mgmorden]

It seems like just one more gun for the under 8 round mag limit states. Otherwise why not make it a 10 rounder. Every large company wants to have at least 1 pistol in the game, for the states that require 8 rounds or less.

Because a 10-round 9mm magazine would make it a double stack and they were going for the concealed carry market where a thin gun is desirable. .

Kahr, Ruger, Keltec, S&W, Taurus, Beretta, and Bersa were all making 6-7 round single stack 9mm's before NY adopted their 7 round limit.

 

[barnbwt]

10 rounds makes it like 5/8" longer in a direction that's harder to conceal. I guess the 1911 is just a ban-pandsring platform, too ?

TCB

 

[gc70]

Hop over to Gunblast; the super hi-res images even capture the finish already peeling from the corners of the gun. Probably already impregnated with a protective rust-like coating, too. I don't get it; even painting over the machine/tumble marks with Duracoat is a superior finish, so why not do that? Or cheap chrome plating? Or anything else, for that matter? To go to all the trouble of designing and programming those graceful curves into CAD and CNC, then coarse-blasting the thing and spraying --I don't know, frying-pan Teflon?-- all over it to form the single worst finish for a sweat-soaked carry gun imaginable.

The slide is reportedly given a ferritic nitrocarburizing treatment, which is discussed here: Metal Treatments: Ferritic Nitrocarburizing/Melonite/Tenifer.

Of course, who knows what final cosmetic finish is applied over the ferritic nitrocarburizing or over the anodized aluminum frame.

 

[HammsBeer]

Looks to be melonite on the slide, hard coat anodized frame, and stainless barrel. All relatively corrosion resistant.

 

[JRH6856]

Looks to be melonite on the slide, hard coat anodized frame, and stainless barrel. All relatively corrosion resistant.

And some where, I saw a report that the slide was stainless as well.

 

[maxsnafu]

I sure hope this gun is easier to field strip than the original Model 51. The original is a booger.

 

[Mitlov]

maxsnafu--here's a video of how to field-strip the R51 (starts about halfway through): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWpeAqe4k0k

 

[MagnunJoe]

It seems like just one more gun for the under 8 round mag limit states. Otherwise why not make it a 10 rounder. Every large company wants to have at least 1 pistol in the game, for the states that require 8 rounds or less.

Actually liberal states require 7 rounds or less.

 

[Mitlov]

Actually liberal states require 7 rounds or less.

The Remington R51 is 7+1 capacity, and New York limits magazines at 7 rounds. I don't think the +1 in the chamber counts for purposes of the NY magazine limit. I'm not certain, but that's my understanding.

 

[maxsnafu]

maxsnafu--here's a video of how to field-strip the R51 (starts about halfway through): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KWpeAqe4k0k

Thanks Mitlov. Here's a video on field stripping the original: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hewd6JrORwo

 

[Orion8472]

I wonder how the barrel and bolt comes out of the new one, . . . . . since I watched how detailed it is on the old Remington 51.

 

[VA27]

There's a new vid from SHOT on youtube showing a field strip. Looks fast and easy.

 

[barnbwt]

The rings on the new barrel are there to grip with your fingers as the barrel is (I think) pulled forward and rotated to free it from the frame.

TCB

 

[JRH6856]

I believe the original 51 had those rings as well. But the question (at least for me) is how does the R51 slide assembly break down. That isn't shown.

 

[Eb1]

I am going to get one. I live near Lonoke, and I figure "The Rock" comes from slang for Little Rock, AR.

If the gun is as cool as it looks and ride good iwb, and the have new +p golden sabers then I'll give it a shot. Haha