I have noticed over the holidays, that the problem comments with the R51 seem to have abated.
Is this due to lack of action over Xmas and New Years, (and Boxing day for the Blokes),
or are problems being resolved?
     My only problem left is field stripping the weapon.  Ain't getting any younger, and these
old hands are no match for the Action Spring.  But, I  can still handle the other semis. (1911s, etc.)
The Rugers, LCP, LC380, LC9 and LC9s no problem and Yugo Tokarevs, my secret loves.
(Thunder on the range)
     I guess I will just have to see how long the R51 shoots dirty! 
Kirk, I never heard back from Remington on the question about the magazines.
Blackie 

Quote from: 1911SHOOTER on January 13, 2017, 02:59:15 PM
  I never heard back from Remington on the question about the magazines.
Blackie

What did you ask them? I do not think it is unusual to have mags that start out either very hard to fully load or hard to insert when full. I have owned several new guns that just took some time for the mags springs to take a set.

Quote from: Texas-Mark on January 13, 2017, 04:50:51 PM

Quote from: 1911SHOOTER on January 13, 2017, 02:59:15 PM
  I never heard back from Remington on the question about the magazines.
Blackie

What did you ask them? I do not think it is unusual to have mags that start out either very hard to fully load or hard to insert when full. I have owned several new guns that just took some time for the mags springs to take a set.

tex,
I asked them about the inability to rack the slide on a full magazine.  That is not normal for any semi-auto. I had a Ruger P-95 that was a booger to load the mags.
never got better.  Finally got a maglula loader.  When I lock the slide back on my R51, the magazine goes in easy, and drops out easy, with no effort on the mag release.
But with a full mag, 7 rds, and the slide closed, it seems like the whole gun changes.  Hard to push in the mag release, unable to rack the slide etc....
That is what I wrote Remington about.  Still no answer.  But As long as I can insert the mag, with the slide locked open and  slingshot the  slide and shoot all day, I am happy.
Blackie

I had a Springfield Armory EMP that initially was nearly impossible to insert a full mag when the mags were new. But once the mag springs broke in, it got much easier. What makes the R51 harder to rack is that the bottom of the breech block is not flat like most guns. It has that "claw" (for lack of a better word) that is harder to drag across the top round than the flat bottom on other guns. But that is also what helps it to have such a low bore axis.

I've had my R51 for about 6 weeks now and with leaving the mags fully loaded and also leaving a fully loaded mag in the gun, racking that first round is now about 75% easier than it originally was. Certainly nothing like some of my other guns, but also not as hard as some either. basically, I consider the problem gone (given the design).

Quote from: Texas-Mark on January 14, 2017, 01:42:35 PM
I had a Springfield Armory EMP that initially was nearly impossible to insert a full mag when the mags were new. But once the mag springs broke in, it got much easier. What makes the R51 harder to rack is that the bottom of the breech block is not flat like most guns. It has that "claw" (for lack of a better word) that is harder to drag across the top round than the flat bottom on other guns. But that is also what helps it to have such a low bore axis.

I've had my R51 for about 6 weeks now and with leaving the mags fully loaded and also leaving a fully loaded mag in the gun, racking that first round is now about 75% easier than it originally was. Certainly nothing like some of my other guns, but also not as hard as some either. basically, I consider the problem gone (given the design).

Tex,
     As do I.  The only problem left is field stripping and re-assembly of the weapon.  But I will persevere!  I could always boil it in soapy water, dry it off and soak it in gun oil.
(Tongue in cheek)
Blackie

Hello All, I spoke on this subject before. My gun would not rack with a full magazine. What I found is that a stack of bullets is too tall for the magazine. I found this by removing the spring from the magazine, loading it with bullets and putting the follower and floor plate back in but not the bottom cover. I inserted the magazine and racked it. The bullets pushed the floor plate past the end of the magazine.

I ended up "repairing" it by cutting off about 0.2" of the follower legs. The spring is also way too long so I cut off 2 coils.

It now racks easily with a full magazine and has functioned flawlessly for several hundred rounds.

Quote from: sirbrian on January 17, 2017, 07:52:02 PM
Hello All, I spoke on this subject before. My gun would not rack with a full magazine. What I found is that a stack of bullets is too tall for the magazine. I found this by removing the spring from the magazine, loading it with bullets and putting the follower and floor plate back in but not the bottom cover. I inserted the magazine and racked it. The bullets pushed the floor plate past the end of the magazine.

I ended up "repairing" it by cutting off about 0.2" of the follower legs. The spring is also way too long so I cut off 2 coils.

It now racks easily with a full magazine and has functioned flawlessly for several hundred rounds.

sirbrian,
     I am glad you got your pistol running.  I wonder what Remington would say about this fix?  Perhaps you could call them, (forget email, they will only send you a
shipping package.) and explain and see what they think.
Blackie

I mentioned before that IMO cutting the springs is not a good long term solution. The springs are not too long., They are just very stiff when new. All of my mags were nearly impossible to rack with a full mag when I first got it. Now they all rack just fine now. I even posted a video in the other thread. Here it is again. No modification to the mag other than just giving them time to break in.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7exqqu7piA&app=desktop

Sorry, I don't buy the breaking in of magazine line of thought. I am an engineer and have been working with springs for over twenty years. Springs have  linear tension range then the pressure to compress increases greatly. I found the coils mashed together at the bottom of the magazine when loaded.

I have many magazines for other guns and none have had spring issues. Springs don't need breaking in.

Quote from: sirbrian on February 11, 2017, 09:12:14 PM
Sorry, I don't buy the breaking in of magazine line of thought. I am an engineer and have been working with springs for over twenty years. Springs have  linear tension range then the pressure to compress increases greatly. I found the coils mashed together at the bottom of the magazine when loaded.

I have many magazines for other guns and none have had spring issues. Springs don't need breaking in.

Believe what you want, but I have been shooting for over 30 years. it's a well know fact that new mag springs will be tight until they take a set. I have had it happen with other guns too. And the fact is that I did nothing to my mags except leave them fully loaded (and shoot them a lot) and after time it went from being nearly impossible to rack a fully loaded mag to being easy. If mag springs did not get weaker over time and use, there would be no need to ever replace them.

Just do a Google search for "new mag springs tight" and you will find that this is a common thing.

Sirbrian,
Tex

I think both of you are right,  but still the follower in the magazine is out of tolerance.
As noted in an earlier post, I bought a new mag and took 3/16" off the legs of the
follower.  Did not touch the springs, That is above my pay grade.
The mag release button is smoother, I can rack the top cartridge,
and Rack my slide with a full (7 rds) mag.  Which I could not do before.
Tomorrow, I am taking the pistol out for a walk with about 200 rounds or so.
All junk ammo.  Which feeds well in my other 2 mags.   
As it stands right, now, The R41 is backup carry in my back pocket. and I trust it
right along with my SR1911. 
Will fill y'all in tomorrow night.
Blackie 

I think I am having some of the same problems.  My r51 is almost impossible to rack with a full magazine.  And too the mag button is hard to press at times as well.  I have bee shooting this piece for a bit now with around 350 rounds through it and no real improvement.  This gun certainly no SIG but I love this little piece and not willing to give up on her yet.  I did load a magazine just to see if I can move the ammo down and they will push down past the lip....so I don't think modifying my floor plate will help.  I am hoping the springs will settle down a bit to make her little more reliable.  I go out and shoot around 100 rounds at a time with probably a 85% success rate.  I haven't wrote down or kept track every time is messes up but still not reliable enough to be certain it will be there when I need it. 

Fun cool little gun that I hope starts running better but will keep shooting and see.

Took the R51 out today and shot a 100 rounds of aluminium case ammo.
in the modified mag.   Had 1 FTF due to dead primer.  Deep dent in primer
no BOOM!  Not the guns fault.  The mag worked flawlessly,  I have shot
all kinds of 9MM ammo now,  good, Great, crummy and what was laying in
the bottom of my range bag.  I am satisfied with the mag and tonight will
take 3/16' off the other two followers.  (the part that goes down with the ammo).
Not the floor plate.
Couple of guys are confused on that issue.
Blackie

Quote from: mattwilson on February 13, 2017, 10:20:50 AM
I think I am having some of the same problems.  My r51 is almost impossible to rack with a full magazine.  And too the mag button is hard to press at times as well.  I have bee shooting this piece for a bit now with around 350 rounds through it and no real improvement.  This gun certainly no SIG but I love this little piece and not willing to give up on her yet.  I did load a magazine just to see if I can move the ammo down and they will push down past the lip....so I don't think modifying my floor plate will help.  I am hoping the springs will settle down a bit to make her little more reliable.  I go out and shoot around 100 rounds at a time with probably a 85% success rate.  I haven't wrote down or kept track every time is messes up but still not reliable enough to be certain it will be there when I need it. 

Fun cool little gun that I hope starts running better but will keep shooting and see.

Matt,
     I took 3/16' off the legs of the follower, not the floor plate.  Now when I press down on the modified mag,  the ammo will depress about
half a cartridge's thickness.  The two unmodified mags  only press down about 1/10' or less.  I made a mark on each leg of the follower with
whiteout, and filed to down that point only.  The Mag will also rack from a closed slide now.  One thing
about this little gun, every time I make a correction that works, it is like Christmas.  I love it.  I trust the gun enough now to use it as
a back up.   
Blackie

     Took out the other two mags and pulled the Followers.  Removed 3/16ths of the legs
and now all three mags will rack with a full mag.  WOOPEE!  I have no more worries,
problems or anything.  Like Xmas again.  Now I can shoot all I want to,  carry with
no worry and go to the range and have a ball.  With any kind of 9mm ammo.
Now I need to start accumulating more junk 9mm In my range bag.  This
little gun is a real challenge.
     Guys/Gals
do not cut the springs in the mags!    It won't help.  but shortening the legs on the
Followers will make a world of difference. 
     DO NOT mess with the base plates.  Please!