Finally got to the range

[44fanatic]

I've had my R51 for about 3 weeks now and wanted to share my impressions of the gun after finally locating some ammo and getting to a range. 

When I first got it, it seemed very stiff and somewhat "gritty", for want of a better term.

I disassembled it, cleaned it (Remington must have test fired mine as it was a bit dirty with powder residue) and lubricated it with Tri Flow. I must say the re-assembly was both frustrating and painful, but I got it done. I then cycled the action perhaps a hundred times and it felt much better.

I loaded a magazine, chambered round, topped off the mag and put it on the bureau and went to bed.

The next morning, I attempted to remove the mag and it wouldn't budge. I tried working the slide and got it about halfway to the rear and that was it.
Eventually, I pushed the magazine up using my knee and with Herculean effort, managed to press the mag release enough to get it out. The chambered round then came out easily.

I decided that for now, this is a 6+1 pistol. Seven rounds in the gun and seven in the spare magazines.
Easy to count and remember. This doesn't bother me in the least for a couple of reasons.

1) I own another semi auto that holds six in the mags and will jam every single time on the first round of a full magazine, after firing the chambered round. If I load the mags with 5 rounds, the gun is 100% reliable.
2) I often carry a revolver with a couple of speed strips. Same round count in the gun and the reloads. It works and is easy to remember if you count your rounds when shooting.

As far as ammo goes, I had 100 rounds of new manufactured, no name 124 FMJ, 100 rounds of Magtech 124 FMJ and 40 Gold Dot 124 JHP. (I'd hate to tell you what I had to pay for those, but I wanted to test them).

After firing over 100 rounds of ammo, I had ZERO malfunctions. The gun handled everything and was a pleasure to shoot. No issues, no slide bite nada.

My wife tried the gun and complained that it hurt her thumb but we quickly realized that she was holding it wrong so that there was a gap between the tang and the web of her hand that allowed it to slap her  under recoil. When we adjusted her grip, the issue went away.

I absolutely love this pistol. I still haven't found the reassembly to be a breeze as others have mentioned. But that is a minor gripe.

[FlatEarther]

Thanks for the report... I think a reasonable person would rate the disassembly/assembly as above average difficulty, but not a reason to reject this pistol if all else is good - Joe

[scouts owner]

The stuck mag problem is caused by the mag follower legs being too long. Carefully disassemble the mag and grind about a 1/16 of the bottom of both mag follower legs. Problem solved.

[sebvox]

My wife took the smokey to the range.  She ran 50 rounds through it with no problems.  I also shot another 50 through it with no problems.  It does seem to shoot  low and to the left.  The laser guard is not sighted in so that will help on accuracy.  The rear sight can be adjusted for windage but not elevation.  May look at machining the front sight so the top is lower.