Last round stove pipe, and the fix

[Ben B.]

Short version. If you have a problem with last loaded round from the magazine "stove pipe" feed jamming or completely exiting the pistol, you may need stronger magazine springs. Glock 43 magazine springs fit the R51 magazine. You may or may not need to clip a single coil from the bottom. I used the +15% springs purchased from Ghost Inc. It appears to have fixed this problem for me. All of my magazine followers already had the legs trimmed about 1/8", prior to this.

https://ghostinc.com/43-plus-15-magazine-spring-for-glock/

Posting this for others who may benefit.

My two R51s occasionally had last round "stove pipe" feeding failures, where a loaded round would end up with bullet out of the ejection port. Occasionally the bullet would fly out of the gun completely. I found this to be vexing.

I assumed it was soft magazine spring, but couldn't find report of an alternate. So I lived with it. A range trip 2 weeks ago produced this loaded last round stove pipe a few times, and once I  got home I started a-Googling for a solution again.  This time I got a hit to an old thread on this very forum, which said Glock 43 magazine springs from Ghost work in the R51 magazine, if you clip a coil.

So ordered a batch. I've tested moderately well, started with just a few mags with the G43 springs, and have had no "last round stove pipe feeding failures". I was able to reproduce the stove pipe with a few stock spring mags. One mag needed adjustment to G43 spring to load all 7 rounds.  I've now switched 9 magazines to G43 +15% springs and no stovepipe or other problems. Feeds a full mag of 7 rounds with 1 in chamber. A few times I tried the full G43 spring and it worked great, others I clipped one coil. One needed a little adjustment to bottom coil so 7 rds would load. It looks like a legit solution at this time.

I am happy.

[Tucker]

Thanks for the Tip, Ben.
Nice to see a recent post on this forum. I fear most people have abandoned the R51. I have 2, but due to the myriad of problems, they are safe queens now. I got nostalgic and pulled one out to dry-fire and have a dead trigger periodically.

The biggest failure with this gun seems to have been the magazines. I just loved it and shot it well, but it just became too unreliable to trust.

[Ben B.]

I have now taken my two R51 pistols to the range 4 times, using the Glock 43 magazine springs in the R52 magazines. More than 200 rds fired.

No failures of any kind. This appears to be an excellent option. Hope this helps someone.

[Zorba]

I did the Glock springs and I also did a bit of filing on the front edge of the mag to smooth it out. Dunno if that did anything, but I haven't had a stovepipe the last several times I've shot the thing... FWIW...

[SCurmudgeon]

I stop in every blue moon to see if there has been any action.  Happily there is still the faintest of heartbeats.

It is good to see that folks are still providing useful tips.  I'll remember the G43 spring trick if I ever run into problems.

The R51 was a cool gun that came out at the wrong time with way too many problems.

[mhartler]

Hi there...
  Can you please post a picture of your magazine follower trimming? I ordered the springs to try first, then trim if necessary.

Thanks in advance!
Marc

[Zenshot]

Stiffer magazine springs have also solved the last round nose up jams for mine too.