Hello all, My name is Mike. I recently purchased an R51, and found this forum to have the best (only) helpful information on the web about these guns.
Honestly, I don't keep up on guns, and I had never heard of an R51. I had in my head that I wanted to add a 9mm to my small collection, so I was out buying some 9mm ammo on Black Friday. I live in an unpopulated area, so black Friday crowds aren't much of anything around here.
Anyway, I went to get some buckets of 9mm ammo, and I saw a sign on the counter for a sale and rebate on the R51. I took a look at the last one they had, and said I'd take it. $199 after rebate+tax+$2 for paperwork. I couldn't pass it up.
I got it home, and immediately disassembled it to clean and learn the gun. After I cleaned it, I went out in the back yard and loaded up the magazines. It was pretty late, and I wasn't planning to fire it, but I was in a safe area and prepared for a discharge.
Here is what I found on my R51. If I put 7 rounds in a magazine, I was not able to rack the slide to feed the first round. 6 rounds was sketchy. 5 rounds in the mag was smooth and really nice.
The next morning, I went out and shot 50 rounds. No failures, but I was only loading 5 in a mag. I tried loading 7 again in each mag, and I couldn't rack the slide with either magazine. It physically won't go all the way back. Seemed quite obvious to me that the ammo was pushing too hard on the slide, so I went home and started researching the R51. Wow, what a pile of negative reviews. I searched something like "R51 magazine fix", and bumped in to this R51forum. Immediately, I was reading useful and helpful info.
I really haven't sorted out what I should do with the current magazines, but I did gather that I should email or call Remington and see about getting some other magazines.
My R51 is marked NC, which I have learned is disappointing.
I shot another 100 or so rounds today with a couple of my friends who are big in to guns. I started by giving them each magazines with 5 in them. They both shot, and really liked the gun (no issues feeding or firing). I then had them both load 7 in a magazine with the breech closed, and neither could rack the slide far enough back to pick up the first (or 7th) round.
I definitely like the feel and shape of the R51, but mine definitely isn't right. Hopefully I can get it sorted out. For now, it is a great 5 round pistol.
I've never had the problem you're having (and mine is an NC frame, too), but I guess a lot of people do. Have you tried locking the slide back, inserting the mag, and chambering a round and then topping off the mag so you have 7+1 and then firing it? This is probably a better way to load it anyway...
Pat
[ssues feeding or firing). I then had them both load 7 in a magazine with the breech closed, and neither could rack the slide far enough back to pick up the first (or 7th) round.
I definitely like the feel and shape of the R51, but mine definitely isn't right. Hopefully I can get it sorted out. For now, it is a great 5 round pistol.
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Addicted,
Welcome to the forum. You will get all the help you need here.
:ike plunkster said. There is a long lost paragraph in the R51 owners manual that
says lock the slide back, insert the loaded mag (7RDS) into the firearm, and pull the slide back and let it slingshot home.
We all found that out. If you have any problems with the mags, let Remington know, they should send you two more.
We can tell you how to fix the first two mags. :<)
Blackie
Quote from: plunkster on November 26, 2017, 05:35:28 PM
I've never had the problem you're having (and mine is an NC frame, too), but I guess a lot of people do. Have you tried locking the slide back, inserting the mag, and chambering a round and then topping off the mag so you have 7+1 and then firing it? This is probably a better way to load it anyway...
Pat
Pat,
I haven't tried what you are suggesting, but I get it and I'll try it for break-in purposes. I have never carried with a round in the chamber. To each his own on that topic, and I won't get into my reasoning. I may talk myself in to carrying with one in the pipe some day, but not today. For now, I want to know I can rack my slide to go.
Quote from: Addicted on November 26, 2017, 06:27:19 PM
Quote from: plunkster on November 26, 2017, 05:35:28 PM
I've never had the problem you're having (and mine is an NC frame, too), but I guess a lot of people do. Have you tried locking the slide back, inserting the mag, and chambering a round and then topping off the mag so you have 7+1 and then firing it? This is probably a better way to load it anyway...
Pat
Pat,
I haven't tried what you are suggesting, but I get it and I'll try it for break-in purposes. I have never carried with a round in the chamber. To each his own on that topic, and I won't get into my reasoning. I may talk myself in to carrying with one in the pipe some day, but not today. For now, I want to know I can rack my slide to go.
Addicted,
From what I read on here, and on the web, the R51 should be : slide locked back, insert mag with 7 rds, pull back and release. Even the manual tells yo to do
that. I love my R51 and carry it as a back up. I would never trust the R51 with an "Israeli Draw"! Too many tales I have heard of people trying
the option and having it not work. Just my feelings.
Blackie