Should I buy an R51?

Well after such an aray of glowing reports on a pistol most have not even touched ( I have not handled one either)---i learned the R 51 that I have had on back order will be shipped on Monday. So by the end of the week i will have a few hundred rounds through the pistol and will be able to give first hand info on whether it will float or sink.
I gave the RM 380 a try and although it is not my favorite micro pistol it is a good shooter and pocket carry pistol, hopefully the R 51 will come through ok. My other two Remington pistols (blue 1911 and Stainless 1911) are everything i expected of them, shooting just as tight as my Colt Gov I received foor Christmas. Wish me good luck with the new product.

My own reloads, an admitted powderpuff 124 grain load that cycles a PX4, EMP4, and Beretta 92 just fine, stovepiped on every round...just not enough power to cycle the slide fully and reseat a round.

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Unlike your Berettas, the R51 eats +P ammo --the gun needs hot ammo, we're finding.

The very nature of the action effectively chops off part of the pressure curve driving the slide, unlike a recoil action whose entire inertia contributes. If it barely cycles a recoil gun, I can see it failing here. Same as how a load that barely cycles a blowback will have trouble in a recoil action. The benefit is it can run much higher recoil ammo without damaging the side/frame (a little like gas operation in this respect)

TCB

I have had no problems with my R 51. So far I have a little more than 300 rounds of ammunition through it. I do see a problem in field stripping the pistol. It is not your Glock or Sig pistol ease of take down yet it does get easier the more times it's done.
I like it and am going to keep it.

Welcome aboard Fquico, you would pick a very controversial topic for post #1. I have great expectations out of the R 51 when I get it and will post the results here. I am happy to see a new poster with a positive report.

The new Remington R 51 arrived at dealer and after buying my breakfast in the morning he will release it to me. I have my can full of assorted 9mm and will see just how the new pistol performs tomorrow.

Why would anybody in their right mind rush to buy this pistol?! There are many other quality choices out there. You'll know more in a year or two to make a better informed decision. If you need something sooner see previous sentence.:banghead:

I've never even seen one, but if I wanted one, I'd just buy it. You've said it's to be a range toy only so what's the worst thing that will happen? It won't work? Send it back and get it fixed. Demand your money back. Use it for a paperweight and enjoy a good laugh on yourself. I've owned Kel-Tecs, High-Points, Taurus, Rossi, Harrington & Richardson and probably several others that people on these boards regularly rip from top to bottom. Big deal.

It's not a life altering decision. It's not the kids college fund being squandered. I'm assuming you have enough sense to pay the mortgage and buy groceries first.

It's just a gun.

I am now up to 600 rounds through my gen 2 and still very pleased with mine.

BOARHUNTER

Due to their early issues I wouldn't touch one. Circa 2016 there is a nearly endless variety of 9mm handguns that just work.

This gun has been bashed enough I feel a good turn for this thread might be towards people's experiences with all Remington warranty services in the past 10 years to get a feel for how they might deal with future issues. If the o.p feels I've overstepped here I'll delete.

Im done with remington. Over the past 10 years. I bought 3 870's. All of them had to go back. First one was in 05. A tactical 870 for hd, could not get the spent shells out. Got it back and worked flawess after.

Christmas in 2014, bought my wife a 20 gauge youth, pink camo 870. Same problem.

2 weeks ago, i decided to replace my small game shotgun. It was a single shot h&r from the 80's. Got the 870c in 20 gauge. And it has the same problem. And i still have not got it back. I am glad i didnt buy it the week before opening season like i planned on

Boarhunter said:

I am now up to 600 rounds through my gen 2 and still very pleased with mine.

BOARHUNTER

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What ammo does it like or dislike?

So...Boarhunter, what does the locking block ramp look like now? We've seen pics of them being all beaten up with metal displaced something terrible after just a couple hundred...yours would maybe give an indication of whether they've improved this area for long term service.

We've seen pics of them being all beaten up with metal displaced something terrible

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No, we haven't; we saw acclerated wear across the face and top from abrasion. Mostly just wore through the anodizing. Certainly no peening or setback, as the aluminum-skeptic crowd was certain would be the case.

I am at 250 rounds with mine. So far no malfunctions. Very soft shooting and seems to be very accurate.

Zen dude, the Remington has not rejected anything yet. Blazer Brass and Georgia Arms "canned heat" are what I usually shoot, but I have also put about 100 rounds of defensive hollow-points...Golden Saber, I believe.

RecoilRob, no signs of any inappropriatr wear and tear on the inside.

My gun is working just fine!

BOARHUNTER

The only real issue I have with the gun is that it shoots approximately 2 inches low at 25 feet. And disassembly and reassembly are a bigger challenge than most modern pistols, but I get better and more efficient each time I do it.

BOARHUNTER

I received my R 51 on Friday and immediately shot over 150 rounds, the only malfunction was round 11 where the slide remained to the rear. Since have put another 100 rounds through it without incident. The grip safety must always be engaged or the pistol does not fire, requiring a very high hold and (at least for now) conscious effort to have it depressed.
The pistol shoots great with minimal recoil and feels good in the hand and points well. The take down and reassembly for a person with arthritic hands and diminishing strength was.....brutal. Also the instruction manual with it's tiny and not clear photos in a word...stinks!
The R 51 is a keeper that i hope to have a lot of fun shooting. I Had no incidence of bulged brass and also shot some new Win. Steel case ammo that went through just like it was supposed to. Pistol gets an A, take down/assembly a C and instruction book ( that i read out of necessity) F.

No. Look at The Firearm Blog's YouTube channel and elsewhere. The gen 2 version still seems to be having issues. In a day and age in which we have tons of small, lightweight, and reliable pistols available (LC9, Shield, PPS, XDS, etc), a $350-400 pistol that is picky about its ammo preference is not going to win me over. I really wanted the R51 to do well as I think it's profile is nice and it is reportedly accurate. For me though, reliability and versatility (ability to digest all ammo types) is more important than looks and accuracy.

With all the other options out there why take the chance unless you just have time and money to burn?

If you have money and don't mind being a "Guinea Pig" there is no reason not to buy it. Just reaize that it is carry pistol not designed to be shot thousands of times. If you want rage toy something like Springfield Armory "Range Officer" is what you want.

It amazes me why this question keeps coming up. I see getting one for the "be different" category. Get a pps or glock and dont look back.

Remington has fantastic firearms in the 700 and 870, this is just a mistake where engineering doesn't work as it was drew up.

The OP has the money and time to make it right, if needed. What's the big deal? It's $400, not $4000. It's his money and time. Worst case scenario, he'll have a collector's item in 30 years if they stop selling it again. Think about it, if anyone owns one of the original issue R51s then I'd say it will be worth some cash since there are so few in the general population. So what if there are 30 other similar sized pistols out there. He wants this one for whatever reason. I may get one too, just because, and maybe it will pizz off some people here. That, alone, makes it worth owning.

Should I buy an R51?

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Only if you like throwing your money away. Heck, why not buy a .22lr ZipFactory gun while you're at it?

Guess I am really a dumb bell according to the posters that have no intention of buying one before or after the recall but really know how to browbeat the OP. My R 51 is not my only weapon (I have over several hundred) but if it were all I had and taking into consideration the three hundred rounds I just shot through it, I would not feel under gunned . But what do I know?