I'm in Central Texas at a lake 8 miles north of a town, population 20,000 +/-. Been here since 1999. Retired in 2013. I check the forum about once per week.

No, I did not send it back in the original box.  I had a used USPS Priority Mail box that I sent it in. They sent the pistol back in a R51 box with the serial number labels removed.  Unless they have changed their process, they will not return the box you send it in. I suggest you use another box and keep your original box.

I finally made it back out to the range this afternoon.  I am thrilled: 4 of my 5 mags now work with 7+1 !!  The one that doesn't work is STRANGE, but I'll take it down tonight to determine what's happening. 

So if your R51 does not work with 7+1, send it in!  Once they polish the breech block, it should work like a champ!

i hope that does the trick for you, Joe!

We just had a nasty cold front here and it's not supposed to reach 40 until Sunday afternoon.  Odds are pretty good that I won't shoot again until then!
Y'all stay warm and safe!!

I enjoyed a brief visit to our outdoor range yesterday. I took an additional misbehaving pistol so my time was split and brief. As previously stated, I have 5 R51 mags (3 gen2 and 2 gen1).  I took all 5 to the range although only the 3 gen2 mags had been sent for repair.  I shoot guns better than I shoot cameras!

As best I could determine, all breech block polishing was on the one side (bottom).  Polishing was not drastic, extensive - it was slight, modest.  I did not see any evidence of the lip described by HRFUNK.

*********************************************************************************************************
Remington's Repair Work Performed Document
Problems I reported:
Consumer states handgun fails to feed when loaded to capacity. Fails to cycle as well. Including 2 original magazines and 1 magazine that he purchased for testing. Using American Eagle 124 grain and Remington UMC primarily. All problems were running 7 + 1: 7 in the magazine & 1 round chambered.

Remington coded it as follows:
Problem Reported                                                                Problem Found:
A_M019 - Fails To Feed                                                        Action Binds
B_M020 - Fails To Cycle

Notes
Polish bolt, adjust mags, safety/function check and test fire.
*********************************************************************************************************

I do not believe they tested with 7 + 1.  I believe they merely made sure it would fire and that it was functioning safely. I have no clue how they adjusted the mags.  They polished the bolt to improve the action and returned the pistol.
Soooooo, yesterday tested all 5 mags at 7 rounds without 1 in the chamber.  I had NO problems.  She ran smoother than she ever has before.  I fired 50 rounds of Magtech 115gr FMJ without incident.  I used my mag loader for each round.  The action is now flawless!  I will use the same approach on the next range trip.  If all goes well, I'll progress to testing 7 + 1.

This tool works great!  It makes a huge difference! Great job, GerryR!

I tore the magazines down and I see no changes to the magazines.  I sent them 3 new style mags and have 2 old style.  One of the old style mags has a spring that is one coil shorter than the others.  I put that short spring into one of the mags I sent them.  And it came back in the mag I sent it in.  There is no difference in the length of the legs of any of my 5 magazines.  I believe they did absolutely nothing to my mags.  I will check the breech block (bolt) tomorrow after I receive GerryR's take-down tool.

Ooops!  They did NOT replace my slide and barrel.  I misread the repair document.  My bad...

I got my R51 and all 3 of my magazines back from Remington this evening.  I sent her in because she would not run at 7+1 - full magazine with one in the chamber.  The repair work documentation states that they found the problem: Action Binds!

So they gave me 2 new parts: 1) and new slide, and 2) a new barrel.  They also polished the bolt (breech block?) and "adjusted" the mags. 

I will hit the range this weekend and report back.

Remington is taking this seriously!

I sent you a PM.  My pistol is still at Remington.  They sent an email that they started evaluating it on Jan. 22.  So, hopefully, I'll get 'er back WORKING soon!

I'm interested, Gerry.

I agree that it's a good sign!

The Remington site has all the R51 accessories again.  Magazines are back to $29.95! 

Kirk, interesting read.  One would think, indeed, that they would have 1911 mags down pat! 
Well, mine is on the way to Huntsville, AL!  Hope they get it right this time!

Yes, do let us know...

Don't you think it's somewhat ridiculous for us (the consumers) to be forced to try to overcome the production failures of Remington?  Some have measured and adjusted the distance between the lips of the magazine.  Others have trimmed the magazine follower to change its height. Some have substituted magazine springs from other pistols.  And yet, several have received 100% functional R51s right out of the box!

When the R51 is working as intended, it is amazing and I love it!  I'm hoping Remington will fine tune mine as they did HR Funk's pistol.  Either that or replace it with a "100%er"!  I'll keep sending it back on their nickel until they get it right!